The first convention of the priests of the Polish Catholic Mission in France

Abstract

The First Convention of the Priests of the Polish Catholic Mission in France – this is what the innovatory pastoral institution for Polish emigrants was called. It was established on 13 May 1922. Its first rector was Rev. Wilhelm Szymbor of the Congregation of the Mission. In the place of the one-man pastorate in Paris an Institution was established that comprised the Polish community in the whole of France. A lot of priests were necessary to carry out this task. The institution was supported by Cardinal Dalbor and the Polish bishops. Most participants in the first convention who came to France in 1922, after the Mission was established, were priests sent to work in the Polish language pastorate and were part of the Mission; and then there were priests sent by their bishops to universities, who were able and ready to help with the work in the Polish pastorate. The Convention that is presented in the article touches upon a few important issues with which the Mission had to deal. It also mentions the problem of the aversion that some Church circles in France, including specific bishops, took to it. Some people wanted to rule it, and others did not want to have Polish priests in their territory. These problems are revealed by the correspondence between the first Rector of the Mission Rev. Wilhelm Szymbor and Cardinal Dalbor as well as by the Protocol of the first convention of the Polish priests working with Polish emigrants in France that took place on 13^th April 1923 on the premises of the Polish Mission in Paris.