The Higher Theological Seminary in Tarnów under the rector of Bl. Fr. Roman Sitko (1936–1941)

Abstract

During the two centuries of its existence, the Seminary in Tarnów boasted many great rectors, including Fr. Roman Sitko, who was elevated to the glory of the altars. The blessed person of the rector still inspires not only priests and graduates of the Major Seminary in Tarnów or the Major Seminary in Rzeszów, but also lay people. His dedication to the question of vocations and the good formation of the new priests deserves to be taken into account. This article presents a fragment of the history of the seminary in Tarnów, during which the rector's office was held by Fr. R. Sitko – the composition of the educational and professorial staff, the number of alumni and newly ordained priests. The paternal relationship between him as the rector and the seminarians is shown, which facilitated an atmosphere of good formation. The quoted fragments of testimonies of seminarians of the time are valuable here. It also shows the situation of the seminary during the difficult time of the outbreak of World War II and the occupation of the building by the Wehrmacht. However, this did not prevent the continuation of the formation of seminarians. Rector Sitko organized a center in Błonie near Tarnów, where the process of clerical preparation for priestly ordination continued. He was soon arrested and imprisoned for that. After a year of arrest, he ended up in Auschwitz, where he confirmed his absolute devotion to the case of the Seminary and seminarians with a martyr's death.