Historia mazurskiej parafii pw. Św. Józefa w Opaleńcu w XIX i pierwszej połowie XX wieku
History of the Masurian St. Joseph parish in Opaleniec in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century

Summary/Abstract: In 1864, the St. Wojciech Association in Frombork bought a land property in Opaleniec, and the buildings located on it were transferred to a Catholic school founded as early as in 1856 by the priest Josef Jordan from Lesiny Wielkie. In 1872, the priest from Wielbark, which is two miles away from Opaleniec, celebrated a Mass there four times a year. He was also charged with the task to build a temple in Opaleniec. Finally, the church, together with school rooms, was erected in 1873 for about 7,000 thalers by the priest Johannes Szadowski. Th e St. Joseph church was consecrated by the priest Walenty Tolsdorf on 25th November 1873. From the materials obtained after the pulling down of the old Lutheran church, a Catholic shelter consisting of six rooms was built in 1881. Th e celebration of the consecration of the altar in Opaleniec took place on 28th June 1884. Th e fi rst priest who lived in Opaleniec was Wenceslaus Osinski. He was nominated on 3rd February 1899. During the First World War, about 30 parishioners of Opaleniec died. As a result of military operations, the parish and the utility buildings were burned, and German troops were quartered in the church. Th e inside of the temple was devastated at that time. Th e presbytery was rebuilt in the years 1917–1918. In 1926, the said pastoral institution was legally approved by the state authorities. In the fi rst half of the 20th century, about 400 Catholics lived in Opaleniec and surrounding areas. Apart from the local Catholic community, also numerous associations and Church organisations from the Diocese of Warmia nad other parts of Germany participated in the maintenance costs of the parish – particularly the St. Boniface and Wojciech Association.

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