Roczniki Teologiczne, 2006, T. 53, z. 4

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    Życie organizacyjne wychodźstwa polskiego w Belgii (1939-2000)
    Szymański, Józef (Wydawnictwo Towarzystwa Naukowego Katolickiego Uniwersytetu Lubelskiego, 2006)
    The structure of the organisational life called for co-ordinated actions on the part of the Polish activists abroad. They were taken by various institutions, including – aside to the Polish Catholic Mission – Polish diplomats. During the occupation, in relation with the Poles’ engagement in the movement of resistance, two Polish organisations appeared in Belgium in half 1942. One of them was subordinate to the Polish government in exile in London: the Polish Organisation of the Battle for Independence (Pol. POWN), whereas the second to the communist activists – the Alliance of Polish Patriots (Pol. ZPP). Within the ZPP a Youth Club was established, then transformed into the clubs of the “Grunwald” Polish Youth Alliance in Belgium. Similarly, the Women’s Club ZPP was transformed into the M. Konopnicka Alliance of Polish Women in Belgium. ZPP called on its activists to establish Committees of Unity in all colonies inhabited by Poles, and then – following the country – National Councils, and elect representatives for the assembly of all Polish emigration in Belgium. The National Council was established at that time. Under its patronage the 1st Assembly of the Branch of the Polish Workers’ Party (Pol. PPR) in Beligium was held. PPR sought to win the Polish Socialist Party (Pol. PPS) for common actions, but its range of activities was small In 1948 the National Council numbered over 7.000 members (ZPP itself numbered 2500). It embraced the Association of Polish Jews in Belgium. Despite, as it may seem, such a broad support the organisation lost its importance and year by year the number of its members dwindled. The year 1956 witnessed a breakthrough, when many organisation under its patronage were dissolved. This resulted in the modification of its structure and forms of activity. Under the patronage of the National Council the following organisations worked: the Alliance of Polish Patriots, the Association of Poles in Belgium – only in Liege, the Polish Cultural Alliance in ZwertbergGenk (established in 1970), the Alliance of Poles in Limburg, Parents’ Committees, Olympic Committees, Clubs of Culture and Entertainment of the Polish Youth in Charleroi, Committees for the Celebrations of the Third Millennium of the Polish state, youth organisations, folklore song and dance assemblies, and sports teams. On behalf of the Polish government in exile in London, the Alliance of Poles in Belgium (Pol. ZPB) renewed its activity in May 1945. It initiated in 1946 in Liege an organisation named the Workers’ Catholic Youth whose founder and at the same time regional chairperson was Jan Kułakowski, a year later to be nominated vice-chairperson of the board for all Belgium. Starting from 1st January 1948 a decision was made to establish the Polish Catholic Action. At the same time the Oblate Fathers took the leadership of Polish pastoral care. Its rector took a decisive stance to consolidate religious organisations, a fact that brought fruit still in the end of 1949. St. Barbara’s and St. Adalbert’s associations established the Association of Catholic Men, and women’s organisations the Alliance of Fraternities of the Living Rosary for Women and Young Ladies. In 1955 E. Pomorski, the chairperson of ZPB, took an initiative to establish a Christian of the Union of Free Poles in Belgium. Inspired by Primate Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński Belgian Polonia joined the celebrations of the Jubilee of the Baptism of Poland. A Committee for the Third Millennium of Christian Poland was set up. The Millennium Committee was so important that although supposed to be dissolved after the celebrations in 1966, its members made a suggestion to maintain the organisational form of the Committee. According to many Polish activists abroad, the establishment of the Principal Committee of Free Poles in Belgium was the most telling monument erected by the Poles in Exile in Belgium for the celebration of the Third Millennium of the Baptism of Poland. This organisation consisted of 16 out of 19 Polish institutions, social and political organisations in Belgium. The Christian Union of Poles in Belgium was composed of: the Alliance of Fraternities of the Living Rosary for Women and Young Ladies (numbering over 1000 members), the Association of Catholic Men (ca. 500 members), the Catholic Association of the Polish Youth (several hundred members), and less numerous associations, such as the University Catholic Youth (Bratniak), Crusade and the Movement of Young Christian Democrats. The Section of Polish Christian Syndicates, numbering over 1800 members, was more loosely connected with the Union. In the beginning of the 1990s the influx of Poles to Belgium was doubled. Accordingly, there was a need to co-ordinate actions. On the initiative of the rector of the Polish Catholic Mission (Pol. PMK) in 1991 a Sacerdotal Board and Catholic Forum were established. Their members were lay activists. These organisations did not correspond to the demand of Belgian Polonia. The chancellor established a new body which composed of the boards of Polish Homes all over Belgium, associations, and alliances. The principal value is the fact that it gathers the living forces of the Polish society abroad, gathers people owing to whom Polish, cultural, religious life exists. In the new political situation the church and socio-cultural organisations established the Polish Union in Belgium on 29th June 1991. The Union embraced 15 social, veterans’, and religious organisations. Moreover, in relation with a possibility to integrate Poland with the European Union a Pastoral Board was established. Another manifestation of consolidating the Polish milieus abroad was the establish the Board of Belgian Polonia in 1994. It was proposed by Jacek Janusz-Kisielewski, the general consul in Brussels. The organisation from its beginning aspired to represent all Polonia towards the Belgian and Polish authorities. The Board was represented by 80 representatives elected in democratic elections all over Belgium. With integration and consolidation of the Polish milieus in mind a Polonia Centre was opened on 7th September 1997 in Brussels. Its purpose was to “serve as a venue for Polonia and Poles living temporarily in Belgium, support integration of Polish milieus with one another and with Belgian society, popularise Polish culture and tradition.”