Wychowanie religijno-patriotyczne w Krucjacie Eucharystycznej w parafii Krzepice w latach 1933-1949

Abstract

The Eucharistic Crusade was founded in France in 1916. It quickly reached the Polish society and the church. The parish in Krzepice is an example of this. In this parish, in 1933 the crusade was established by the priest Władysław Karlik. The Eucharistic Crusade worked without interruption until the outbreak of World War II. During the war its activity was suspended. It was reactivated by priest Władysław Konieczko in 1946. In 1949 the communist authorities disolved activity of all non-governmental organisations. Formation in the Eucharistic Crusade included people between 7 and 15 years old. The first aim was Eucharistic formation and the second was patriotic education. In the parish in Krzepice these two formations were compatible. Eucharistic formation was depended by frequent confessions, participation in Latin Masses, Vespers and by participation in so-called priesthood Saturdays. Patriotic education included regional and sightseeing tours, reading, participation in theatre and film productions and through pilgrimages with the fag of the crusade. The unifcation of over 200 young people around the important issue of religious and patriotic education was a positive effect of the Eucharistic Crusade in Krzepice. Unfortunately the period of the communist regime limited this trend. In the 1990s the new religious groups in the parish were reactivated. However, the idea of the Eucharistic Crusade has not returned.