St. Joseph Joseph (; el, Ἰωσήφ, translit=Ioséph) was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who, according to the canonical Gospels, was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. The Gospels also name some brothers ...

St. Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

St. John Vianney John Vianney (born Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney; 8 May 1786 – 4 August 1859), venerated as Saint John Vianney, was a French Catholic priest who is venerated in the Catholic Church as a saint and as the patron saint of parish priests. He is of ...

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

pontifical right In Catholicism "of pontifical right" is the term given to ecclesiastical institutions (religious and secular institutes, societies of apostolic life) either created by the Holy See, or approved by it with the formal decree known by the Latin nam ...

Primate of Poland This is a list of archbishops of the Archdiocese of Gniezno, who are simultaneously primates of Poland since 1418.Venerable August Cardinal Hlond, in cooperation with Venerable Father Ignacy Posadzy, SChr, on August 8, 1932. The priests of the Society of Christ serve the religious needs of Polish communities around the world. They are often asked by diocesan ordinaries to assume responsibility for a diocesan parish which then serves as the center of the diocese's ministry to the Polish community.

History

The Society was founded on September 8, 1932, by Venerable August Cardinal Hlond,

Primate of Poland This is a list of archbishops of the Archdiocese of Gniezno, who are simultaneously primates of Poland since 1418.Ignacy Posadzy Ignacy Posadzy Society of Christ Fathers, SChr (February 17, 1898 – January 17, 1984) was a Polish Priesthood in the Catholic Church, Roman Catholic priest who ministered to Polish migrants from the interwar period, through World War II and ...

, in

Potulice Potulice (german: Potulitz) (previously also ''Kantów'') is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nakło nad Notecią, within Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It lies approximately south-east ...

near Nakło. After

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

regained independence in 1918, church and civil authorities made efforts to provide Poles living in other countries with every manner of assistance, especially spiritual care. Church leaders in Poland could not ignore the requests for Polish priests raised by Poles in all corners of the world. As guardian of the Polish emigrants abroad,

Primate Primates are a diverse order of mammals. They are divided into the strepsirrhines, which include the lemurs, galagos, and lorisids, and the haplorhines, which include the tarsiers and the simians (monkeys and apes, the latter including huma ...

Cardinal A. Hlond consulted with the

Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...

how to meet this demand. After receiving a directive from

Pope Pius XI Pope Pius XI ( it, Pio XI), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939), was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 to his death in February 1939. He was the first sovereign of Vatican City fro ...

, he established the

religious institute A religious institute is a type of institute of consecrated life in the Catholic Church whose members take religious vows and lead a life in community with fellow members. Religious institutes are one of the two types of institutes of consecrate ...

of the Society of Christ for Polish migrants Cardinal Hlond prepared the Society's Constitutions and by-laws. The Society opened its own seminary and houses in

Gniezno Gniezno (; german: Gnesen; la, Gnesna) is a city in central-western Poland, about east of Poznań. Its population in 2021 was 66,769, making it the sixth-largest city in the Greater Poland Voivodeship. One of the Piast dynasty's chief cities, ...

,

Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John ...

,

Puszczykowo Puszczykowo (german: Puszczykowo; Unterberg) is a town in Poznań County, Poland, with 9,331 inhabitants (as of 2015). It is located about south of Poznań, the area is surrounded by the Wielkopolski National Park (located within the park buff ...

, and

Dolsk Dolsk (german: Dolzig) is a town in the Greater Poland Voivodeship of Poland. As of December 2021, the town has a population of 1,550. A capital of Gmina Dolsk within the Śrem County, the town is a minor centre of trade and commerce. The town i ...

, as well as printing and publishing houses in

Potulice Potulice (german: Potulitz) (previously also ''Kantów'') is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nakło nad Notecią, within Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It lies approximately south-east ...

. The first priests of the Society left for pastoral work among the Polish diaspora in 1937 to Paris and London. In 1938, to Estonia. In 1939, the number of members of the Society increased from 40 to 184. After the outbreak of World War II, the Main House in

Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John ...

and the Mother House in

Potulice Potulice (german: Potulitz) (previously also ''Kantów'') is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Nakło nad Notecią, within Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It lies approximately south-east ...

were seized by the Germans, the Society lost all its property. During the war, priests of the Society officially worked in

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

and within the territory of the

General Government The General Government (german: Generalgouvernement, pl, Generalne Gubernatorstwo, uk, Генеральна губернія), also referred to as the General Governorate for the Occupied Polish Region (german: Generalgouvernement für die be ...

. Clandestinely, however, priests of the Society served in

Pyzdry Pyzdry (german: Peisern, yi, פּײַזער or ''Peizer'') is a town in Września County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 3,163 inhabitants (2004). History Pyzdry was first mentioned in 1232, when army of Silesian Piast Duke Henry ...

,

Ostrów Wielkopolski Ostrów Wielkopolski () (often abbreviated ''Ostrów Wlkp.'', formerly called simply ''Ostrów'', german: Ostrowo, Latin: ''Ostrovia'') is a city in west-central Poland with 70,982 inhabitants (2021), situated in the Greater Poland Voivodeship; ...

, as well as within

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

, using false names in order to serve Polish slave laborers that were deported into

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. With the permission of German occupying force, the Society's priests served Catholics in transit camps. During the war, 26 members of the Society died. During this same time, however, the Society continued seminary formation of its seminarians, in secret, in

Kraków Kraków (), or Cracow, is the second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city dates back to the seventh century. Kraków was the official capital of Poland until 1596 ...

. As a result, 43 new priests were ordained during the war. After the war ended, only the destroyed house in Ostrów Tumski in

Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John ...

and the house in

Puszczykowo Puszczykowo (german: Puszczykowo; Unterberg) is a town in Poznań County, Poland, with 9,331 inhabitants (as of 2015). It is located about south of Poznań, the area is surrounded by the Wielkopolski National Park (located within the park buff ...

were recovered. Since then, the Main House in

Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John ...

has become the center of the Society and its headquarters. The priests of the Society of Christ were the first to undertake pastoral work in

Western Pomerania Historical Western Pomerania, also called Cispomerania, Fore Pomerania, Front Pomerania or Hither Pomerania (german: Vorpommern), is the western extremity of the historic region of Pomerania forming the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, Weste ...

. On May 6, 1945, Fr. Florian Berlik SChr, celebrated the first Holy Mass in post-war

Szczecin Szczecin (, , german: Stettin ; sv, Stettin ; Latin: ''Sedinum'' or ''Stetinum'') is the capital and largest city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in northwestern Poland. Located near the Baltic Sea and the German border, it is a major s ...

. Gradually, priests of the Society began serving throughout West Pomerania, from

Pyrzyce Pyrzyce ( csb, Përzëca; formerly german: Pyritz) is a town in Pomerania, north-western Poland. As of 2007, it had 13,331 inhabitants. Pyrzycw is the capital of the Pyrzyce County in West Pomeranian Voivodeship (since 1999), which was previousl ...

to

Kamień Pomorski Kamień Pomorski (; csb, Kamiéń; german: Cammin or ''Kammin'') is a town in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship of north-western Poland, on the Baltic coast. It is the seat of an urban-rural gmina (administrative district) in Kamień County which ...

and

Trzebiatów Trzebiatów (pronounced ; ; formerly german: Treptow an der Rega) is a town in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, with 10,119 inhabitants (2016). Trzebiatów is located on the Rega River in the north-western part of Poland, roughly 9 kilo ...

. To this day, despite the transfer of many parishes to the Archdiocese of Szczecin, the Society serves in 18 parishes in the Archdiocese of Szczecin, in addition to serving at parishes within the archdioceses of

Gdańsk Gdańsk ( , also ; ; csb, Gduńsk;Stefan Ramułt, ''Słownik języka pomorskiego, czyli kaszubskiego'', Kraków 1893, Gdańsk 2003, ISBN 83-87408-64-6. , Johann Georg Theodor Grässe, ''Orbis latinus oder Verzeichniss der lateinischen Benen ...

and

Wrocław Wrocław (; german: Breslau, or . ; Silesian German: ''Brassel'') is a city in southwestern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the River Oder in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Europe, rou ...

, and in the diocese of Koszalin. Leaving Poland for pastoral work was very difficult following the war. Communist authorities made obtaining a passport very difficult. Despite this, priests of the Society continued to prepare and train candidates for the priesthood, anticipating that, one day, it would be possible to travel abroad. In fact, in order to ensure the Society had priests ready to serve when the time came, as early as 1945, the Society opened a dormitory for junior high school students. This later became the minor seminary which operated until 1962. The Society's major seminary began operating in 1948. Initially, it offered philosophical studies in

Ziębice Ziębice (german: Münsterberg) is a town in Ząbkowice Śląskie County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. The town lies on the Oława River, approximately east of Ząbkowice Śląskie and south of the regional capital ...

. Two years later, the seminary moved to

Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John ...

and began offering theological studies. On October 22, 1948, the founder of the Society of Christ, Venerable August Cardinal Hlond, Primate of Poland, passed away. On April 22, 1950, the Holy See issued

Decretum Laudis The ''decretum laudis'', Latin for “decree of praise”, is the official measure with which the Holy See grants to institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life the recognition of ecclesiastical institution of pontifical right. ...

recognizing the presence of the Society of Christ in the Universal Church. Due to changes brought about after the

Polish October Polish October (), also known as October 1956, Polish thaw, or Gomułka's thaw, marked a change in the politics of Poland in the second half of 1956. Some social scientists term it the Polish October Revolution, which was less dramatic than the ...

, 1956 was a watershed moment in the realizing of the mission of the Society. After the "thaw" of 1957, when it was easier to obtain passports, the Society undertook a foreign mission on a larger scale. In 1964, the Society obtained the full approval of the Holy See. The years following saw the rapid development of the Society's ministry, with the establishment of numerous institutions. Religious priests and brothers traveled to new countries, and to other continents, taking up pastoral work there. In 1976, the Congregation already had 124 religious houses and pastoral centers. Currently, the Society carries out its mission in parts of Poland, in 6 foreign provinces, and a select number of countries in which priests answer directly to the Superior General.

Spirituality

The spirituality of the members of the Society of Christ is based primarily on the charism and spirituality of its founder, Venerable August Cardinal Hlond. This spirituality was implemented by Fr

Ignacy Posadzy Ignacy Posadzy Society of Christ Fathers, SChr (February 17, 1898 – January 17, 1984) was a Polish Priesthood in the Catholic Church, Roman Catholic priest who ministered to Polish migrants from the interwar period, through World War II and ...

SChr, the Society's co-founder. The external sign of the religious spirituality of the Society of Christ is simple piety, based on a deep life of prayer and well-prepared liturgy. Emphasis is placed on the worship of the Eucharist, for which members of the Society show a deep personal love for the Holy Mass. The Society prioritizes spreading knowledge about the Holy Mass and promoting love of the Eucharist among the people of God. When this part of the Society's mission was presented to

Pope Pius XI Pope Pius XI ( it, Pio XI), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939), was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 to his death in February 1939. He was the first sovereign of Vatican City fro ...

, he praised this part of the Society's mission adding that it should always remain a part of the Society ministry. From the understanding and love of the Eucharist, in turn, flows a deep devotion to the

Sacred Heart of Jesus The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus ( la, Cor Jesu Sacratissimum) is one of the most widely practised and well-known Catholic devotions, wherein the heart of Jesus is viewed as a symbol of "God's boundless and passionate love for mankind". This dev ...

. The worship of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which should assume a formative character and shape the entirety of the Society's values, encourages members to undertake penance and make spiritual reparations to God for their sins, and those of the whole world. Asceticism in the Society takes a simple form and is understood mainly as fidelity to one's religious vows, faithfully executing the duties that one has been entrusted with, and accepting with faith all that God sends in His Providence. The spirituality of the Society of Christ is Christ-centered, meaning that members of the Society are to follow Jesus Christ in their lives and conform themselves to Christ. This is the primary feature of the spirituality of the Society of Christ. This, in turn, constitutes basis for the existence of the Society of Christ, which is to give glory to God by caring for the sanctification of its own members and of Polish emigrants. The second characteristic feature of the spirituality of the Society of Christ is the spirit of sacrifice. Sacrifice in religious life is a means to achieve the greater glory of God and is the starting point for the implementation of God's plans for the salvation of every person. The third trait of the Society's spirituality is humble obedience and discipline in the spirit of faith. Respect for the Church and its hierarchical authority and teachings is expressed by each member's observance of the laws of the Church as well as the Society's own constitutions and by-laws. The spirituality of the Society of Christ is also deeply Marian. Marian devotion is a basic element of Polish spirituality and piety. Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is a means for members of the Society of Christ to inspire Poles living abroad to seek greater holiness through the imitation of Mary. The titular celebration of the Society of Christ is the

Solemnity of Christ the King The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly referred to as the Feast of Christ the King, Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday, is a feast in the liturgical year which emphasises the true kingship of Christ ...

, celebrated on the last Sunday of the liturgical year. The patrons of the Congregation are:

St. Joseph Joseph (; el, Ἰωσήφ, translit=Ioséph) was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who, according to the canonical Gospels, was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. The Gospels also name some brothers ...

,

St. Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

, St. Stanislaus Kostka,

St. John Vianney John Vianney (born Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney; 8 May 1786 – 4 August 1859), venerated as Saint John Vianney, was a French Catholic priest who is venerated in the Catholic Church as a saint and as the patron saint of parish priests. He is of ...

, St. John Bosco, St. Teresa of the Child Jesus and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.

Formation

Formation begins at the novitiate in Mórkowo where candidates enter into

postulancy A postulant (from la, postulare, to ask) was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a Christian monastery or a religious order for the pe ...

. After about a month, postulants are accepted into

novitiate The novitiate, also called the noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a Christian ''novice'' (or ''prospective'') monastic, apostolic, or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether ...

. They then spend a year in prayer and discernment, prior to their first profession of temporary vows. After their first profession of vows, they are accepted into the

seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological seminary, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called ''seminarians'') in scripture, theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy, ...

in

Poznań Poznań () is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John ...

. Seminary formation lasts six years during which, after their fifth year of formation, seminarians make their final profession of vows and are ordained

deacon A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Churc ...

s. Priestly ordination follows a year later. The Superior General and the General Council must explicitly grant approval prior to anyone making a profession of vows or accepting holy orders.

Publications

Since its foundation, the Society has operated a publishing house. In 1933, the Society began issuing a bimonthly magazine devoted to the pastoral care of Poles in exile, entitled "Głos Seminarium Zagranicznego". From 1936, the Society began issuing a biblical-liturgical monthly entitled, "Msza Święta" (translation: ''Holy Mass'') and, later, a hagiographic quarterly entitled "Cześć Świętych Polskich" (translation: Veneration of Polish Saints). The Society continues its publishing tradition with the operation of two publishing houses: Hlondianum and Agape.

Causes for Beatification

There are multiple open causes for the beatification of individuals related to the Society.

Venerable August Cardinal Hlond

The cause for the beatification of the Society's founder, Venerable August Cardinal Hlond, commenced January 2, 1992. The diocesan investigatory phase was completed October 21, 1996. On October 22, 2008, the cause's ''Positio'' was submitted to the

Congregation for the Causes of Saints In the Catholic Church, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, previously named the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (), is the dicastery of the Roman Curia that oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, pa ...

. On March 9, 2017, the Congregation's Theological Commission reviewed the ''Positio'' positively. On May 19, 2018, Pope Francis, after an audience with the Prefect of the

Congregation for the Causes of Saints In the Catholic Church, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, previously named the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (), is the dicastery of the Roman Curia that oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, pa ...

Angelo Cardinal Amato, signed a decree certifying the Hlond's

heroic virtue Heroic virtue is a phrase coined by Augustine of Hippo to describe the virtue of early Christian martyrs and used by the Catholic Church. The Greek pagan term hero described a person with possibly superhuman abilities and great goodness, and "it ...

s and declaring him Venerable.

Venerable Ignacy Posadzy SChr

The cause for the beatification of the Society's co-founder and first Superior General, Venerable Father Ignacy Posadzy SChr, commenced on January 17, 2001. The diocesan investigatory phase was completed May 6, 2009. On September 3, 2009, the

Congregation for the Causes of Saints In the Catholic Church, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, previously named the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (), is the dicastery of the Roman Curia that oversees the complex process that leads to the canonization of saints, pa ...

issued a decree permitting the cause to continue in Rome. On July 7, 2011, the Congregation issued a decree validating the diocesan investigation and its report. On June 20, 2018, the cause's ''Positio'' was submitted to the Congregation. On November 30, 2021, the ''Positio'' was reviewed by the Congregation's Theological Commission, who positively opined it. The Congregation's commission of Bishops and Cardinals reviewed the ''Positio'' on December 13, 2022 and opined it positively. Posadzy's cause was then forwarded to the Pope for his approval. The Pope recognized Posadzy's heroic virtue and declared him

Venerable The Venerable (''venerabilis'' in Latin) is a style, a title, or an epithet which is used in some Western Christian churches, or it is a translation of similar terms for clerics in Eastern Orthodoxy and monastics in Buddhism. Christianity Cathol ...

.

Father Paweł Kontny SChr

In 1945, Father Paweł Kontny was killed by Soviet soldiers in

Lędziny Lędziny (; german: Lendzin; szl, Lyńdźiny) is a town in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It borders the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million which is located in the Silesian Highlands. Th ...

while protecting two girls from being kidnapped and raped by a Soviet officer. On February 9, 2022, the Society of Christ's postulator, Father Bogusław Kozioł SChr, submitted a formal request, ''Suplex libellus'', to the Archbishop of Katowice Wiktor Skworc asking to begin the diocesan phase of the beatification process for Father Paweł Kontny SChr. On August 9, 2022, the Curia of the Archdiocese of Katowice, officially approved the text of a prayer for the beatification of Father Paweł Kontny. A film about Father Paweł Kontny is currently in development.

Notable members

Józef Miękus SChr

In 1932, Józef Miękus was one of the first people to join the Society of Christ. As a seminarian he served as the Society of Christ's first chronicler, recording the Society's first years. As part of his studies, he attended seminary in Rome, returning to Poland after falling ill. In 1937, after a few months of illness, he passed away in the opinion of sainthood. He was the first seminarian, and the first member of the Society, to pass away. He is buried in Miłostowo cemetery in Poznań. His writings, which were compiled, edited, and published by Anna Zahorska in 1939 under the title ''Ofiara Poranna'', presented the Society's early life, as well as his own spiritual reflections.

Father Rudolf Marszałek SChr

Chaplain A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a Minister (Christianity), minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a laity, lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secularity, secular institution (such as a hosp ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, serving in the

Home Army The Home Army ( pl, Armia Krajowa, abbreviated AK; ) was the dominant resistance movement in German-occupied Poland during World War II. The Home Army was formed in February 1942 from the earlier Związek Walki Zbrojnej (Armed Resistance) esta ...

and

National Armed Forces National Armed Forces (NSZ; ''Polish:'' Narodowe Siły Zbrojne) was a Polish right-wing underground military organization of the National Democracy operating from 1942. During World War II, NSZ troops fought against Nazi Germany and communist pa ...

. As a member of the military arm of the

Polish Underground State The Polish Underground State ( pl, Polskie Państwo Podziemne, also known as the Polish Secret State) was a single political and military entity formed by the union of resistance organizations in occupied Poland that were loyal to the Gover ...

, he was arrested in December 1946 by the Ministry of Public Security. After spending a year in

Mokotów Prison Mokotów Prison ( pl, Więzienie mokotowskie, also known as ''Rakowiecka Prison'') is a prison in Warsaw's borough of Mokotów, Poland, located at 37 Rakowiecka Street. It was built by the Russians in the final years of the foreign Partitions of P ...

, he was sentenced to death on January 17, 1948. President

Bolesław Bierut Bolesław Bierut (; 18 April 1892 – 12 March 1956) was a Polish communist activist and politician, leader of the Polish People's Republic from 1947 until 1956. He was President of the State National Council from 1944 to 1947, President of Polan ...

refused to exercise his pardon powers despite appeals. On March 8, 1948, Bierut ordered that the sentence go forth immediately. Marszałek was executed on March 10, 1948. The location of his grave is still unknown.

Father Florian Berlik SChr

Father Florian Berlik joined the Society of Christ in 1932, as one of the first members. Father Berlik was already a

subdeacon Subdeacon (or sub-deacon) is a minor order or ministry for men in various branches of Christianity. The subdeacon has a specific liturgical role and is placed between the acolyte (or reader) and the deacon in the order of precedence. Subdeacons in ...

when he joined the Society of Christ. On May 10, 1934, he was ordained a priest in by Venerable August Cardinal Hlond. As the first ordination, Father Berlik played a key role in the early years of the Society of Christ, assisting Father Ignacy Posadzy with the Society's development. During World War II, from January 1941 to December 10, 1941 he was imprisoned in

Kielce Kielce (, yi, קעלץ, Keltz) is a city in southern Poland, and the capital of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship. In 2021, it had 192,468 inhabitants. The city is in the middle of the Świętokrzyskie Mountains (Holy Cross Mountains), on the bank ...

. In May 1945, Father Florian Berlik celebrated the first post-war mass in

Szczecin Szczecin (, , german: Stettin ; sv, Stettin ; Latin: ''Sedinum'' or ''Stetinum'') is the capital and largest city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in northwestern Poland. Located near the Baltic Sea and the German border, it is a major s ...

, beginning a tradition of the Society of Christ serving in the

recovered territories The Recovered Territories or Regained Lands ( pl, Ziemie Odzyskane), also known as Western Borderlands ( pl, Kresy Zachodnie), and previously as Western and Northern Territories ( pl, Ziemie Zachodnie i Północne), Postulated Territories ( pl, Z ...

in

West Pomerania Historical Western Pomerania, also called Cispomerania, Fore Pomerania, Front Pomerania or Hither Pomerania (german: Vorpommern), is the western extremity of the historic region of Pomerania forming the southern coast of the Baltic Sea, Weste ...

. He served as the Society of Christ second Superior General from 1968 to 1970, resigning early due to state of his health. He passed away on October 15, 1982 in

Kiekrz Kiekrz is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Rokietnica, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Gmina Rokietnica, within Poznań County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. It lies approximately south-east of Rokietnica, Great ...

and on October 19, 1982 he was buried in Miłostowo cemetery, Poznań.

Father Stanisław Ułaszkiewicz SChr

Father Stanisław Ułaszkiewicz was a priest of the Society of Christ and an outspoken critic of the Communist regime in Poland. He was born on November 9, 1923. During World War II, he was deported into the

Third Reich Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

for

forced labor Forced labour, or unfree labour, is any work relation, especially in modern or early modern history, in which people are employed against their will with the threat of destitution, detention, violence including death, or other forms of ex ...

. Ułaszkiewicz returned to Poland in 1945 and joined the Society of Christ. He was ordained on June 7, 1952. After ordination, Ułaszkiewicz served in multiple parishes in West Pomeraria. In the 1960s and 70s, Ułaszkiewicz served as a priest in France and Canada. After returning to Poland in 1981, Ułaszkiewicz served as a chaplain in a hospital in Szczecin. In April 1984, he was one of the first members of the Society of Christ to work in Iraq where he began serving Polish workers. He died due to an apparent drowning on December 31, 1985 near

Nasiriyah, Iraq Nasiriyah ( ar, ٱلنَّاصِرِيَّة; United States Board on Geographic Names, BGN: ''An Nāşirīyah''; also spelled ''Nassiriya'' or ''Nasiriya'') is a city in Iraq. It is on the lower Euphrates River, Euphrates, about south-southeas ...

. Ułaszkiewicz was buried in the Baghdad cathedral. The status of his grave is unknown. Ułaszkiewicz's death remains the subject of controversy and speculation.

Bishop Stanisław Stefanek SChr

Bishop Stefanek was ordained as a priest of the Society of Christ on June 28, 1959. He served as the Society's vicar general. He was appointed an auxiliary bishop of the

Archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamień In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...

on July 4, 1980. On October 26, 1996 he was appointed as the Bishop of Łomża. On November 11, 2011,

Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the sovereign ...

accepted his resignation and appointed Janusz Stepnowski to succeed him. Stefanek passed away on January 17, 2020 in Lublin. On January 23, 2020, Stefanek was buried in the Łomża cathedral.

Congregation structure

The Society, and the realization of its mission, is directed by the Superior General and General Council. The Society is divided into provinces, which are overseen by their respective provincials and provincial councils. Report directly to the General Council:

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Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...

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Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...

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South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

Queen of Polonia Province (North America):

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Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

Immaculate Conception Province (South America):

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Province (Europe):

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

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Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

St. Joseph Province (Europe):

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

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Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

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Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia a ...

Our Lady of Częstochowa Province (Europe):

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

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Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

Holy Family Province (Oceania):

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

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New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

List of Superior Generals of the Society of Christ

References

Bibliography

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External links

Society of Christ for Poles Living Abroad official website
{{Authority control Christian organizations established in 1932