Pastoral care of Polish emigration in countries of Western Europe in the first half of 19th century. Current state of research and postulates

Abstract

The article deals with the subject of pastoral care and the presence of the Polish clergy among emigrants from Poland in the post-partition period. Its purpose is to outline the research issues regarding the role of the clergy among the Polish Diaspora and to present the current state and directions of research. The chronological framework covers the period from the beginning of the 19th century until the failure of the January Uprising. The author of the article studied the activity of the Polish clergy in France during the Great Emigration period. An archival and library inquiry showed that, apart from France, Polish priests could be found in the British Isles, Austria, the Italian countries, Spain, Belgium, and other countries where subsequent waves of emigration had arrived. The following issues will be presented in the respective Western European countries: 1) an outline of emigration after the partitions; 2) the number of clergy; 3) pastoral and social initiatives of Polish priests; 4) the state of research; 5) postulates for further scientific researches.