Initiatives of the Greek Catholic Church in Pomeranian Voivodeship aimed to deepen the religious and national identity of the children and the youth in first two decades of Polish political transformation

Abstract

After the war was over, the situation of the Greek Catholic Church was particularly difficult, because the state authorities refused to recognize its legal personality and equal rights along with other churches. There has been issued a permit for its functioning to a limited extent, in condition of being represented by the Roman Catholic Church. Erection of each new Greek
Catholic temple was possible only after obtaining permission from the Denomination Office. Limitations in access to religious practices, lasting for years, caused the worshippers to move to the Roman Catholic Church or to abandon the faith.
The situation of the Greek Catholic Church could improve only after political transformation in Poland in the year 1989. After many years of limited pastoral activity, the hierarch started intensive actions in favour of the children and the youth to build and deepen their religious and national identity. In the first 20 years of political transformation there have been numerous events organized for the children and the youth, just as “Sareptas”, “Little Sareptas”, Festival of Children’s Sacral Art in Biały Bór and Górowo Iławeckie. In many Pomeranian parishes there have emerged children and youth artistic groups, musical bands and choirs, presenting their repertoire at various reviews and festivals in diocesan level, as well as elsewhere in the country. The Greek Catholic Church made also efforts to bring forward Ukrainian language, tradition and rituals in ways attractive for the children
and the youth, for example: by organising football competitions, Christmas and Easter card contests, thematic workshops, Ukrainian Easter egg school or
icon painting classes.