Kontakty biskupa Teodora Kubiny z duchowieństwem i wiernymi diecezji częstochowskiej w tzw. Kraju Warty w okresie okupacji niemieckiej 1939 – 1945

Abstract

The bishop of Częstochowa diocese Teodor Kubina organised religious demonstration in Częstochowa on 5th September 1939, just before the outbreak of war. By this demonstration, people wanted to reply to persecution of Catholic Church in Germany especially countering the worship of Mary of Częstochowa among Polish temporary workers and families living in Upper Silesia. Kubina expressed his worried about political situation before the Second World War. When the war out broke he came back from Koniecpol where he had stayed and he was in Częstochowa during all war. Częstochowa was in quite good situation because this city was in General Government where the conditions for Catholic church were relatively the best. Bishop Kubina and others bishops lost his right to rule the diocese area joined to the Third Reich. He couldn’t carried out the canonic visits and administer the Sacrament of Confirmation. He designated his representatives to control church issues and contact with German authorities. Fr. W. Przygodzki was the representative in the part of Czestochowa diocese joined to Warthegau, and when he went to General Government he was replaced by fr. Wtorkiewicz. On 25th May 1940 Kubina met with Hans Frank – general governor and wanted to persuade him to let Kubina move freely in area of diocese joined to the Third Reich. This meeting wasn’t successful. In this case the best alternative for contact with priests and secular people in the Third Reich were official and private correspondence. Bishop was informed about the religious situation in the Warthegau area. In the correspondence there were the following problems mentioned: the arresting, destructions and confiscation of Church possessions, absence during the Sunday Mass and services and renovations. Kubina asked priests not to leave their parishes but to stay with people.