Nowicjat saletyński w Rzeszowie (1947-1951)

Abstract

Candidates from Poland who applied for Saletinian’s membership before 1924 had to travel abroad to undergo the noviciate in Suza (north of Italy). The first Polish Saletinian’s noviciate was opened in Dębowiec in 1924. In 1929 this noviciate was moved to Hurko near Przemyśl and functioned there to the beginning of World War II. When the war had finished it turned out that from all Saletinians’outposts only in Rzeszów (except overpopulated Dębowiec) there were required facilities indispensable for correct spiritual development of the novices and that is why the noviciate was moved to this town. The Saletinian’s formation house was located in the suburbs of Rzeszów and functioned there from 1947 to 1951. Priest Franciszek Czarnik was the master of this noviciate. Three other priests cooperated with him and as supporters helped him to achieve correct spiritual formation of the novices. These were the following people: Tadeusz Bąk (1947-1948), Stanisław Łach (1949-1950) and Edward Mokrzycki (1948-1949, 1950- 1951). What is more, in Rzeszów there were well-equipped facilities so that the candidates were able to live in solitary confinement, devote their lives to solitude, contemplation and prayer. During the period of the time from 1947 to 1951 sixteen candidates to Saletinian’s membership attended the noviciate in Rzeszów. Thirteen of them consecrated themselves to God by taking their first vows of religion. Most of these candidates came from Diocese of Przemyśl and Province of Rzeszów. In 1950 the Polish educational authorities liquidated a private grammar school that was also located on the area of the Saletinian’s formation house in Dębowiec. As a result, it was possible for the Saletinian’s authorities to move the whole noviciate to Dębowiec again.