The Roman Catholic Church in Bolesławiec in 1945–1995 Parishes established in the 1990s of our century.
In the development of Bolesławiec after the Second World War, issues connected with the religious life of its residents always held a significant place. Excellent evidence of this is the establishment after 1945 of six new parishes alongside the Roman Catholic parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which had existed since the 13th century. This series of articles has already presented the aforementioned parish, as well as the following pastoral centres: Our Lady of the Rosary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and Cyril and Methodius. In this article, I would like to say a little about three further communities of the faithful, namely the parishes of Christ the King, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Parish of Christ the King It was created from part of the parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. First, on 14 January 1981, the Jelenia Góra Voivode granted permission to build a church in Bolesławiec.
Then, on 12 February 1982, the town head allocated a suitable plot for its construction in the "Piastów" Housing Estate. Later, within three and a half months, residents built a temporary chapel and two catechetical rooms. On 27 June 1982, Rev. Józef Gołębiowski was delegated to oversee the church’s construction, and in November of the following year, Prelate Stanisław Turkowski consecrated the cornerstone. The construction of the church encountered numerous difficulties. Nevertheless, the undertaking was carried through to completion with perseverance, culminating on 23 November 1991, when Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz consecrated the new church. The next event was the establishment of the parish, which took place on 1 February 1993.
Parish registers concerning the residents of the "Piastów" Housing Estate had already been kept since the end of 1982. Thus, we know that, for example, in 1983 there were 117 baptisms and 22 funerals, while in 1993 there were only 37 baptisms and 26 funerals. At present, the parish has 5 thousand residents, whom the parish priest, together with two vicars, serves through the ministry of the Word and the sacraments. Catechesis is provided in three kindergartens. More than 40 hours of religious instruction per week are allocated to the primary school and 10 hours to the Vocational Construction School. The parish is home to a day-care centre for elderly and single people and the Voivodeship Hospital for the Nervously Ill.
Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
On Corpus Christi, 2 June 1994, a temporary Mass chapel was consecrated in the Kwiatowe Housing Estate, and on 24 June 1994 a parish was established there. Its first administrator was Rev. Józef Hupa.
Parish of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
The circumstances and timing of the establishment of this pastoral centre were very similar to those of the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In June 1994, a parish was established at a temporary chapel on the plot at the junction of Łąkowa and Orzeszkowej Streets, from part of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Its first parish priest was Rev. Andrzej Gidziński.
The very brief history of the above parishes may inspire optimism for the future, since their activities to date and those planned for the future are aimed at the good of every resident of our city.