Polish-American Parish – an Element of Americanization

Abstract

The author points to great cultural differences between Polish peasant immigrants and highly Protestant American culture. He notices that though religion was the strongest cultural factor both for the Polish peasant immigrants as well as American Protestants, they had distinct systems of cultural values and different historical experiences. Consequently, the Polish ghettos came to existence and numerous religious conflicts followed.

The process of Americanization of the Polish parish communities was particularly strong in the 1920s. The Polish ethnic parishes and parish schools happened to become an indispensable element of real Americanization, understood as full loyalty to America with the simultanous preservation of some cultural elements of the country of origin.