Religious Associations in the Life of Danish Polonia

Abstract

The author states that religious associations in Denmark were of mere importance and little effect on Polonia. It resulted mainly from the seasonal character of the emigration and its dispersion when finally settled, lack of Polish priests and a strong assimilative pressure from other foreign priests. The existing associations were not of Polish character. Thus, they only indirrectly served to maintain the national identity of a part of the first generation of Polish immigrants. They enabled some extra meetings and exchange of opinions. Thus, in a sense, they might serve the aim o maintaining the group links. After the second world war, when the Polish pastoral care was finally organized in Denmark no religious associations existed any more.