Bożejowice, although still an independent administrative unit, is so closely connected with our city through its location, development and various ties—including religious and moral ones—that this religious community should be discussed as part of the individual pastoral institutions of Bolesławiec.
Some of the repatriate families who arrived in the Bolesławiec area in early spring 1946 came from, among other places, Lviv, Buchach, Deltak and Prynjawor. Some of them settled in Bożejowice, Rakowice and Otok. It was precisely from these three villages that, on 25 June 1991, by decree (ref. no. 2017/91) of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Wrocław, Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz, the parish discussed here was established, separated from the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Its first parish priest was Fr. Jan Czachor. How did this important event come about?
Immediately after settling, the residents began organizing social and religious life in these localities. Bożejowice had two assembly halls, one of which the residents designated for religious worship as a public chapel for the three localities. Three representatives of the community were also chosen: Michał Zimny, Aleksander Nawrocki and Jan Siniorski. They were to arrange for a branch of the parish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bolesławiec to be established in Bożejowice. The required permission to obtain the aforementioned hall was secured from the Land and Municipal Offices, after which the then parish priest of the Assumption parish, Fr. Józef Tomaszewski, obtained branch-parish rights for Bożejowice and appointed a priest who celebrated liturgical services in the prepared chapel.
The chapel prepared at that time is now the parish church. Holy Mass was celebrated there every Sunday and on feast days. The first priest to do so was Fr. Jan Skowronek, a curate from the Assumption parish. The next parish priest, Fr. Jan Gromadzki, also cared for the religious life of the Bożejowice branch. In 1967, administration of the Assumption parish was taken over by Fr. Władysław Rączka. During his tenure, until 1970, numerous curates ministered in Bożejowice. Thanks in part to the efforts of Fr. Jan Sowa, stained-glass windows were installed in the local church.
In 1970, the Bożejowice branch became part of the newly established parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Thanks to the dedication of its parish priest, Fr. Edward Bober, a catechetical room was added to the Bożejowice chapel in 1979, where children and young people received religious instruction. It should be added that until 1979, Mrs. Jadwiga Dąbrowa made her home available for religious instruction. Then, in 1984–1985, the chapel was renovated, replacing the barrel-vaulted ceiling with a coffered one. The pews were made by carpenters Franciszek and Stanisław Stupicowie from Gościszów, while the floor was laid by Antoni Dąbrowa and Kazimierz Gawęda from Rakowie. The interior of the church was beautified by the artist Jerzy Masterniak from Kotowice near Wrocław, who painted the following images on the walls: “The Flight into Egypt,” “The Holy Family” and “The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.”
When an Independent Pastoral Centre was established in Bożejowice in 1991, its first rector was Fr. Jan Czachor, who had served as a curate at the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bolesławiec from 1982 to 1987. Fr. Czechor lived beside the chapel, adapting the catechetical room for residential use. Construction of the parish house began in autumn 1992. The excavations were carried out by Mr. Józef Wysocki, while local parishioners worked on the foundations. The building has now been completed and roofed, but it still lacks complete furnishings. The chapel is also awaiting modernization. Parish priest Czachor intends to raise the height of the sacred building and add a tower to it.
The parish in Bożejowice includes the filial church in Otok, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. It was built in 1984–1986 through the generosity of the faithful of the entire parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help together with its parish priest, Fr. Edward Bober. A great deal of wood was used inside. The ceiling, pews, altar and pulpit were made, among other things, from larch. The confessional and kneelers, on the other hand, were made from oak. The church was renovated for the 1983 First Communion celebration. A grotto was also built, in which a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary was to be placed.
Mr. Antoni Fabonik has rendered considerable service to the church in Bożejowice; since 1958, he has been its devoted custodian. It should also be noted that the piety of the residents of Bożejowice, Rakowice and Otok is worthy of emphasis: of approximately 900 residents, around 60 percent attend Sunday Mass.