Topicality of the Hlondian Idea of the Emigration Apostolate

Abstract

In 1926, when Cardinal A. Hlond assumed the office of Primate of Poland whose see is in Gniezno and Poznań, the number of Polish emigrants exceeded 6 million and was still rising. In the USA there were already about 800 Polish parishes. In other countries Polish pastorate was only being formed, or there was none.

Primate Hlond knew the problems and needs of the emigrant pastorate of those times. At the first convention of Poles living abroad he informed its participants that “the Polish Episcopate through the Primate of Poland tries to give the pastorate abroad a new organization and new forms, that is: a central management of the apostolate abroad, organization of the apostolate in Poland, and organization of the apostolate abroad”.

The Hlondian ideas are carried out by the Institute of Emigration Pastorate (1984) and the Emigration Apostolate Movement (1985) in Poznań, numbering about 4 thousand members and supporters both in Poland and abroad. The Movement brings together apostles, communities and institutions devoted to emigration apostolate, and especially: the apostolate of prayer, the parish apostolate, the culture apostolate and the apostolate of ties with the Motherland.