Ksiądz Bernard Jan Popowski (1955–1999). Początki pracy duszpasterskiej salezjanów w Ugandzie na podstawie korespondencji (1989–1999)

Abstract

To celebrate in 1988 the 100th anniversary of Don Bosco's death polish salesians undertook a missionary activity in Uganda. On 9 October 1987 Fr Henryk Juszczyk (PLO), Fr Tomasz Grzegorzewski (PLS), Fr Ryszard Jóźwiak (PLN), Fr Bernard Popowski (PLN) set off for Nairobi (Kenya), where candidates for a missionary work were being prepared. They were accompanied by Fr Augustyn Dziędziel. Initially Card. Emanuel Nsubuga offered to salesians work in one of two suburb parishes in Kampala: Ggaba or Busega. Then he changed his mind and asked them to set about working in Bombo-Namaliga. New parish was erected on 10 December 1988. Fr Bernard Popowski became the first parish priest in there. He carried on this hard task till his unexpected death on 27 August 1999. According to the diagnosis that was a 'chemical' death, hence poisoning cannot be excluded. Thanks to saved family correspondence and letters to Mr and Mrs Kądziela in Nowogródek Pomorski (117 letters altogether) work, difficulties and pastoral success of the first salesian parish priest in Namaliga-Uganda could have been trailed.