RMG – SDB Provinces: The "Saint Hyacinth" Province of Poland-Krakow

18 March 2025
RMG – SDB Provinces: The "Saint Hyacinth" Province of Poland-Krakow

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesians of Don Bosco officially took possession of their first house in Polish territory on August 15, 1898, in Oświęcim at the request of Cardinal Puzyna and with the approval of then-Rector Major, Fr. Michele Rua.

Initially the Polish Salesian houses belonged to the Venetian Province of "Saint Mark" and later on passed on to the "All Saints" Province of the East. On October 14, 1905, the "Guardian Angels" Province was established, headquartered in Oświęcim, for Salesian presences within the borders of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. These included Oświęcim, Daszawa, Ljubljana, Vienna, and Krakow.

Division into New Provinces

On November 27, 1919, the province was divided. Fr. August Hlond became Superior of the "Guardian Angels" Province, headquartered in Vienna, which included Austrian, German, and Hungarian missions. Meanwhile, Fr. Pietro Tirone was appointed as the new superior of the "Saint Stanislaus Kostka" Province, headquartered in Oświęcim, covering Polish and Slovenian territories.

By decree on November 18, 1922, the Rector Major separated five presences from the "Saint Stanislaus Kostka" Province to create the Yugoslav Vice-Province of "Cyril and Methodius." Fr. Tirone remained the superior of "Saint Stanislaus Kostka" and relocated its headquarters to Warsaw in 1922.

As the Salesian charism and apostolic activities continued to grow across Poland, the Rector Major, Fr. Pietro Ricaldone, reorganized the province in 1933. A division was made along an east-west line: the northern part, headquartered in Warsaw, retained the patronage of "Saint Stanislaus Kostka," while the southern section became the "Southern Poland Province," dedicated to "Saint Hyacinth," initially headquartered in Oświęcim and later moved to Krakow in 1934.

After more than 40 years of development, on December 16, 1979, the Rector Major, Fr. Egidio Viganó, further divided the "Saint Hyacinth" Province, establishing the new "Saint John Bosco" Province with headquarters in Wrocław. In 2012, following the dissolution of the Eastern Special Circumscription, the Rector Major, Fr. Pascual Chávez Villanueva, incorporated the Salesian presences of the Roman Rite in Ukraine—Bóbrka, Korosteszów, Odesa, and Przemyślany—into the Krakow Province.

The Holiness of PLS

The Krakow Province (PLS) is a land rich in Salesian holiness. Among its spiritual heritage are Blessed Fr. August Czartoryski, Blessed Fr. Bronisław Markiewicz, Blessed Fr. Józef Kowalski, Blessed Edward Klinik, Servant of God Jan Tyranowski, and the Salesian martyrs of World War II: Fr. Jan Świerc and his companions—Fr. Ignacy Antonowicz, Fr. Ignacy Dobiasz, Fr. Karol Golda, Fr. Franciszek Harazim, Fr. Ludwik Mroczek, Fr. Franciszek Miśka, Fr. Włodzimierz Szembek, and Fr. Kazimierz Wojciechowski.

A commission of historians from the Holy See (March 2023) and theological consultants (December 2024) has given a positive opinion on the martyrdom of these last nine Salesians. The decision of the cardinal commission is currently awaited.

Number of Salesians

The Krakow Province (PLS) currently has 185 religious members, including:

  • 165 priests
  • 7 coadjutors (6 with perpetual vows, 1 with temporary vows)
  • 13 in initial formation (3 with perpetual vows, 10 with temporary vows)

Krakow is also home to the post-novitiate and theological seminary for students from all four Polish provinces. Since two years ago, the seminary has also welcomed students from Africa.

Missionary Presence

The PLS Province is committed to international solidarity, with several of its members serving abroad:

  • 16 as full-time missionaries ad gentes
  • 20 on temporary assignments through interprovincial agreements

Additionally, young Salesians of PLS customarily spend a year of internship abroad, broadening their Salesian horizons and acquiring new language and cultural skills.

Apostolic Works

Currently, the PLS Province operates

  • 24 canonically erected religious houses (21 in Poland, 3 in Ukraine)
  • and 8 additional presences (6 in Poland, 2 in Ukraine).

The Salesians of PLS oversee:

  • 22 parishes and pastoral centers (some with youth oratories), serving around 50,000 faithful
  • 4 sanctuaries
  • 7 school complexes, with nearly 3,000 students (all with attached youth oratories), including: 5 primary schools, 6 secondary schools (lyceums), 2 technical schools, 1 vocational school, 1 kindergarten
  • 4 youth centers or oratories
  • 1 day center
  • 3 retreat houses
  • 2 formation houses
  • 2 boarding schools and
  • 1 student residence
  • 13 local Salesian sports associations, engaging 800 participants regularly (rising to 2,000 in the summer)
  • Salesian Missionary Volunteering "Youth for the World", supporting missions in over 30 countries

Youth Ministry

The PLS Province has developed an extensive youth ministry network through schools, parishes, oratories, associations, prayer groups, pilgrimages, and various pastoral initiatives.

During the summer, the province organizes a large number of youth camps and events. In 2024 alone, nearly 90 activities were conducted, involving over 500 educators and animators and reaching around 4,000 children and teenagers.

The Salesian Family

The Salesian Family Council of the province serves as the coordinating body for all its branches, meeting annually to foster collaboration and exchange experiences. Given the autonomy of each group, the Council primarily provides integration and coordination.

Salesian Family groups present in PLS include:

  • The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), collaborating with Salesians on joint projects in four locations
  • The Salesian Cooperators, with 11 local centers (most having a designated Salesian Delegate)
  • The Past Pupils of Don Bosco, with three formal centers
  • The Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), with four centers
  • The Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB), with five groups, all accompanied by a Salesian Delegate
  • The Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel
  • The Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Michael the Archangel

Conclusion

The Krakow Province continues its strong tradition of Salesian education, pastoral care, and missionary outreach, fostering faith and service among young people and communities in Poland, Ukraine, and beyond.

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