Catholic Sacramental Formation for Polish Children and Young People in England and Wales

Abstract

According to official data, currently there are over two million Polish emigrants. Several hundred thousand of them live in Great Britain. Many studies and publications have been devoted to Polish emigration, but there have been none focussing on their religious life or Christian education and formation. To fill the gap, for the first time, empirical research has been carried out among Polish priests working with Polish emigrants in England and Wales. The survey concerned preparations for receiving the Sacraments organised by parishes of the Polish Catholic Mission established in that area. The survey tool in the form of a questionnaire was developed by academics from the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin. The results obtained facilitated the determination of the organisational framework, topics, forms and methods of Catholic sacramental formation for Polish emigrants. This paper presents and analyses the results of the survey concerning the preparations of Polish children for their first Confession and Holy Communion, and the preparations of young people for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Furthermore, an attempt has been made at determining the major challenges faced by religious education and formation for Polish emigrants living in England and Wales, and the areas requiring further investigation have been identified.