Rev. Stanisław Franciszek Bełch’s Work with Polish Emigrants

Abstract

Rev. Stanisław Franciszek Bełch was born on 13th of January 1904 in Róz˙anka. He attended the secondary school in Jasło. In 1924 he entered the Seminary in Przemyśl and on 29^th of June 1928 he received the sacrament of ordinations. He conducted pastoral work in Jasienica Rosielna, Przemyśl, Dobromil, Sokołów Małopolski, Krosno and Wrocanka. In 1939 he was appointed Secretary General of the Catholic Association of Husbands and Assistant of Christian Trade Unions in Przemyśl.

During World War II he left Poland. He worked and studied in Rome, he was a chaplain in the Polish Army in France. Then he made his way to Great Britain. At the break of the 1940s he was a chaplain working with nuns in the United States and then he returned to Great Britain.

Rev. Stanisław Bełch engaged in many activities while being abroad: he was a researcher, a publisher, a journalist, an educator and a social activist. His research was mainly connected with history and concerned Jan Długosz, Paweł Włodkowic and St Stanislaus. Apart from that he defended Pope Pius XII’s good name. St Thomas Aquinas’ “Summa Theologica” was another sphere of his interests. He translated three volumes of this work into Polish. He also made translations from Latin and tried to promote a 17th century drama about Bolesław the Bold’s penance in Poland.

Rev. Stanisław Bełch was also active as an editor. He edited the weekly „Jestem Polakiem” („I Am a Pole”). He established the Catholic Editor Fund, and then the Catholic Editor Centre „Veritas” in England. He published books and Polish magazines: „Życie” („Life”), „Gazeta Niedzielna” („Sunday Gazette”) and „Droga” („The Way”). He also worked as a journalist, writing articles on theology, history and social life. Owing to his efforts in 1962-1986 St Thomas Aquinas' “Summa Theologica” was translated into Polish and published.

The priest also worked on the social and educational fields. As a military chaplain he gave lectures on theology for officers. He set up The Circle of Inner Life and The St Thomas Aquinas Circle in England. He was the initiator of the Polish Catholic University Association „Veritas”. He was a chaplain in the Enfield school and a university chaplain. He established the St Stanislaus Hospice in London and St John Kanty Hospice in Cork as well as a girls' secondary school in Pitsford and a school for Polish boys in Fawley Court. Apart from that he appeared on the Vatican Radio, he led retreats during the Lent in the Netherlands and Ireland. He also supported Catholic communities in Poland.

In July 1987 Rev. Stanisław Bełch moved to Korczyn in the Przemyśl Diocese. He died on 3rd of June and was buried at the Jasło cemetery. Later his body was transferred to the cemetery in Sobniów. After his death efforts were made to start the process of his beatification.