§ 2. Slow Development
After the difficult beginnings, religious life began to develop slowly. Therefore, guided by the interests of the faithful, the priests introduced paraliturgical services at the end of the 1940s. Among their many forms, the May, June and October devotions were the most popular, each attracting several hundred people. Around 1,000 of the faithful took part in the Forty Hours’ Devotion before Ash Wednesday; the same number participated in Stations of the Cross services held during Lent.
Religious instruction for children and young people was organized. From 1945 to 1960, it took place in schools, and religion classes were taught by priests, religious sisters and teachers with a canonical mission. In addition to catechesis, an hour of pastoral instruction was held for older young people, preparing them for the sacrament of marriage.
The successive parish priests, namely Fr. Wilhelm Boczek (1952–53) and Fr. Józef Tomaszewski (1953–57), sought to maintain religious zeal among the faithful through regular preaching and retreats, which the parish tried to organize every year during Advent and Lent. In 1956, Fr. Tomaszewski established a perpetual novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The following year, all of Bolesławiec experienced the second Holy Mission since the liberation.
Fr. Piotr Rybicki administered the parish in Bolesławiec from 1957 to 1960 and received Bishop Wincenty Urban, who visited the parish in 1960. The bishop confirmed approximately 4,000 people and, in his post-visitation decree, recommended special pastoral care for the religious life of children and working young people.
The new parish administrator, Fr. Ludwik Gilewski (1960–67), was responsible for implementing the bishop’s recommendations. However, their implementation was complicated by the need to establish catechetical work at the church following the abolition of religious instruction in schools. In the Bolesławiec parish dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, Fr. Gilewski organized Marian Days in 1961 to strengthen the religious and moral life of its members. During the services and solemn Eucharistic assemblies held daily from 14 to 20 August, all social groups paid homage to the Mother of God by taking part in the preached teachings and receiving the holy sacraments. At the conclusion of the Marian celebrations, Bishop Wilhelm Pluta, ordinary of the Diocese of Gorzów, came to Bolesławiec.
The Holy Mission held from 10 to 18 March 1962 was of considerable importance for the revival of religious life in Bolesławiec. It was conducted by Dominican fathers. Many people gathered for the 27 general sermons and 5 sermons addressed separately to fathers, mothers, children and older young people. During the Mission, approximately 70 percent of the faithful went to confession and received Holy Communion.
The purpose of the Mission was to continue preparing the parish in Bolesławiec for the great celebrations of the Millennium of the Baptism of Poland. In addition to the Mission, an important stage in preparing for these great celebrations was the Visitation of the Copy of the Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Częstochowa, which was carried in procession through all the parishes in Poland.
A crowd of twenty thousand Bolesławiec residents welcomed the Image from Częstochowa on 30 March 1963. The faithful and the clergy waited in the streets surrounding the church. The Image of the Queen of Poland was carried into the church and placed on a special throne. During its stay in Bolesławiec, priests celebrated 20 Holy Masses before the image of the Mother of God for the intentions of the parishioners. For two nights and the entire day, the church was full of the faithful praying and keeping vigil. During this time, 19,273 people received Holy Communion.
In 1964, the parish had 25,000 faithful, for whom 13 Holy Masses were celebrated on Sundays. Approximately 11,000 people regularly attended Mass, and by 22 September 1964, 64,070 Holy Communions had been distributed. Children and young people received catechetical instruction in Bolesławiec, Bożejowice, Łaziska and Kruszyn.
Further important religious events in the parish were connected with the celebrations of the Millennium of the Baptism of Poland. In Bolesławiec, this subject was commemorated with a Holy Mission held from 14 to 24 April 1966. The jubilee events were also highlighted during the patronal feast on 15 August, when bishops from Wrocław came to Bolesławiec. Bishop Andrzej Wronka celebrated the solemn Mass. After the evening service attended by Archbishop Bolesław Kominek, the hymn “We Praise You, Our God” was sung. Six thousand faithful honored the Millennium of the Baptism of Poland by receiving Holy Communion.
In 1966, the territorially large Bolesławiec parish was reduced somewhat. An independent curacy was established in Brzeźnik, taking over the administration of Brzeźnik, Bolesławice, Dobra and Mierzwin.
To be continued.