Society of Christ

The Society of Christ for Poles living abroad (SChr) (Latin: Societas Christi pro Emigrantibus Polonis; Polish: Towarzystwo Chrystusowe dla Polonii Zagranicznej) is a Roman Catholic clerical religious congregation of pontifical right founded by the then Primate of Poland, Venerable August Hlond, in cooperation with Servant of God Ignacy Posadzy SChr, on September 8, 1932.[1]

Society of Christ
MottoWszystko dla Boga i Polonii Zagranicznej (Polish)
Everything for God and the Polish Diaspora
FormationSeptember 8, 1932 (September 8, 1932)
Founders Venerable August Hlond
Servant of God Ignacy Posadzy
TypeClerical Religious Congregation of pontifical right
PurposeSpiritual care of Poles living abroad
Headquartersul. Panny Marii 4, 61-108 Poznań, Poland
Region served
Worldwide
Members (2017)
439 (382 priests)
Superior General
Fr. Krzysztof Olejnik, SChr
Post-nominal initials
SChr
Websitehttp://tchr.us/about-us
RemarksServes Polish communities abroad

History

After Poland regained independence in 1918, church and civil authorities made efforts to provide Poles living in other countries with every manner of assistance, especially spiritual care. Church leaders in Poland could not ignore the requests for Polish priests raised by Poles in all corners of the world. As guardian of the Polish emigrants abroad, Primate Cardinal A. Hlond consulted with the Holy See how to meet this demand. After receiving a directive from Pope Pius XI, he established the religious institute of the Society of Christ for Polish migrants in 1932. Hlond charged Fr. Ignacy Posadzy, a priest of the Archdiocese of Gniezno-Poznan, with the execution of this task and he is considered the co-founder of the Society of Christ. Due to changes brought about after the Polish October, 1956 was a watershed moment in the realizing the mission of the Society. The first priests began to travel to the territories of their mission work. They are present in a number of countries including New Zealand, Brazil, Australia, Germany, France, Canada, the United States.

On 22 April 1950, the Holy See issued Decretum Laudis recognizing the presence of the Society of Christ in the Universal Church.[2]

Roman B. scandal

In 2008, a priest of the Society of Christ, Roman B. was arrested. He was accused of repeatedly raping a teenage girl over the course of a year. Investigators also discovered pedophile content on his computer, as well as e-mail correspondence with other children. Roman B. was found guilty and sentenced to prison. He was defrocked and is no longer a member of the Society. The victim filed a lawsuit against the Society of Christ. A lower court judged in favor of the victim, awarding her PLN 1 million in compensation and a life annuity of PLN 800 per month. The Society of Christ appealed the decision. On October 2, 2018, the Court of Appeal in Poznań upheld the decision of a lower court. On March 31, 2020, the Supreme Court of Poland also upheld the decision.[3] [4]

Mission

The priests of the Society of Christ serve Polish communities around the world. They are often asked by diocesan ordinaries to assume full responsibility for a diocesan parish which then serves as the diocesan pastoral center for the local Polish community.

In addition to serving abroad, August Hlond added that the Society is to teach the public about the Holy Mass--increasing awareness and knowledge of liturgy. When this was presented to Pope Pius XI, he blessed this addition saying that this should always remain part of the Society's mission.[5]

Spirituality

The spirituality of the Society Christ strongly emphasizes devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and exceptional care to the liturgy, particularly that of the Holy Mass.[6][7]

Formation

Formation begins at the novitiate in Mórkowo where candidates enter into postulancy. After about a month, postulants are accepted into novitiate. They then spend a year in prayer and discernment, prior to their first profession of temporary vows.[8] After their first profession of vows, they are accepted into the seminary in Poznań. Seminary formation lasts six years during which, after their fifth year of formation, seminarians make their final profession of vows and are ordained deacons. After a year as a deacon, they are ordained priests. The Superior General and the General Council must explicitly grant approval prior to any profession of vows or ordination.[9]

Causes for Beatification

There are multiple open causes for the beatification of individuals related to the Society.

Venerable August Hlond
Main article: August Hlond

The cause for the beatification of the Society's founder, Venerable August Hlond, commenced January 2, 1992. The diocesan investigatory phase was completed October 21, 1996. On October 22, 2008, the cause's "Positio" was submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. On March 9, 2017, the Congregation's Theological Commission reviewed the "Positio" positively. On May 19, 2018, Pope Francis, after an audience with the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints Angelo Cardinal Amato, signed a decree regarding Hlond's heroic virtues and declaring him Venerable.[10]

Servant of God Ignacy Posadzy SChr
Main article: Ignacy Posadzy

The cause for the beatification of the Society's co-founder and first Superior General, Servant of God Ignacy Posadzy SChr, commenced January 17, 2001. The diocesan investigatory phase was completed May 6, 2009. On September 3, 2009, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints issued a decree permitting the cause to continue in Rome. On July 7, 2011, the Congregation issued a decree validating the diocesan investigation and its report. On June 20, 2018, the cause's "Positio" was submitted to the Congregation. The "Positio" is yet to be reviewed by the Congregation's Theological Commission. Ignacy Posadzy is referred to as Servant of God.[11]

Father Paweł Kontny SChr
Main article: Paweł Kontny

The cause for the beatification of a priest of the Society, Paweł Kontny SChr, is in its early stages. In 1945, Father Paweł Kontny was killed by Soviet soldiers in Lędziny while protecting two girls from being kidnapped and raped by a Soviet officer.[12]

Notable members

Rudolf Marszałek SChr
Main article: Rudolf Marszałek

Chaplain during World War II, serving in the Home Army and National Armed Forces. As a member of the military arm of the Polish Underground State, he was arrested in December 1946 by the Ministry of Public Security. After spending a year in Mokotów Prison, he was sentenced to death on January 17, 1948. President Bolesław Bierut refused to exercise his pardon powers when requested and on March 8, 1948 ordered that the sentence go forth immediately. Marszałek was executed on March 10, 1948. The location of his burial is still unknown.[13]

Bishop Stanisław Stefanek SChr
Main article: Stanisław Stefanek

Congregation structure

The Order, and the realization of its mission, is directed by the Superior General and General Council. It is divided into provinces, which are overseen by the Provincials and Provincial Councils.[14]

Report directly to the General Council

Queen of Polonia Province (North America)

Immaculate Conception Province (South America)

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Province (Europe)

St. Joseph Province (Europe)

Our Lady of Częstochowa Province (Europe)

Holy Family Province (Oceania)

References
  1. "About the Society". Society of Christ. 2009. Retrieved 2011-05-06.
  2. Rev. Tadeusz Winnicki, SChr, Superior General (December 22, 1998). "Ministry of the Society of Christ Fathers to Polish Migrants". Society of Christ Fathers. Retrieved 2011-05-06.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. http:// www. pap.pl/aktualnosci/news,1589321,sad-utrzymal-wyrok-milionowego-odszkodowania-dla-kobiety-gwalconej-przez-ksiedza.html
  4. https:// www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-church-paedhophilia/polish-court-upholds-damages-from-church-in-pedophile-case-idUSKCN1MC206
  5. "Misja zgromadzenia". www.chrystusowcy.pl. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  6. "Historia". www.chrystusowcy.pl. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  7. Kozioł, Bogusław. (2008). Wszystko dla Boga, wszystko dla dusz... : duchowość Towarzystwa Chrystusowego według o. Ignacego Posadzego TChr. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Towarzystwa Chrystusowego Hlondianum. ISBN 978-83-60214-67-1. OCLC 1150674464.
  8. "Księża Chrystusowcy » O nas" (in Polish). Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  9. "O nas..." seminarium.chrystusowcy.pl. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  10. "Historia procesu beatyfikacyjnegosługi Bożego kard. Augusta Hlonda". www.patrimonium.chrystusowcy.pl. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  11. "Przebieg procesu beatyfikacyjnego sługi Bożegoks. Ignacego". www.patrimonium.chrystusowcy.pl. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  12. "Osoby". www.patrimonium.chrystusowcy.pl. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  13. "Biografia". www.patrimonium.chrystusowcy.pl. Retrieved 2021-01-16.
  14. "Struktura zgromadzenia". www.chrystusowcy.pl. Retrieved 2021-01-15.

Bibliography
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