Parafie i duchowieństwo polskie w USA w walce o niepodległość Polski
Parishes and Polish clergy in the USA fighting for Poland’s independence

Summary/Abstract: Polish national parishes of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of North America were the most important institutions in exile in this country. The greatest development occurred during farmers’ emigration from Poland’s land (1870-1914). The first Polish parish was created in 1854 in Panna Maria in Texas. In 1870 there were 10 such parishes, and in 1910 over 500. Each parish had from over a dozen families to several tens of thousands of the faithful. In 1880 there were around 2 thousand faithful to one priest, and in 1910 – around 4 thousand. From 1870 onwards, there were two clashing trends attempting to unify American Poles: one (Polish Roman Catholic Union of America) strove to integrate social and political activity around church institutions (parishes, Catholic associations), the other one – Polish National Alliance, did it concentrating on national organizations. Both fractions trying to maintain the cultural integrity of Poles – the Republic of Poland’s independence – were very popular with Polish clergy. In December 1912, the leaders of the largest Polish organizations established the National Defense Committee. On 8 June 1913, the Polish National Council was created, 2 October 1914 – the National Council and the National Defense Committee appointed the Central Polish Committee.After 1900 two political trends developed in Poland, and each of them sought support among American Poles. Both Roman Dmowski and Józef Piłsudski attempted to receive financial aid. In the mid-1913, Dmowski established the Polish National Committee, which was later transformed into the Polish National Department. Similarly, the Polish community in the USA, due to different attitudes to Poland’s independence was divided into two fractions. The National Department shared Dmowski’s views while the National Defense Committee shared Piłsudski’s views. Ignacy Paderewski, who came to the United States in May 1915 tried to reconcile both parties. From 1 July 1917 onwards, he was formally authorized to represent the organization of the Polish community while talking to the authorities of the United States. American Poles, irrespective of their views, tried to achieve their goals by being active in various fields and striving to influence President Thomas W. Wilson. All efforts made by Ignacy Paderewski and the Polish National Committee based in Paris proved to be effective. Polish parishes became the basis for the recruitment to the Polish Army. In November 1917, 35 395 people declared their readiness to join the army.President Wilson gave in to the pressure of the Polish community, and on 8 January 1918, he issued the fourteen-point resolution, in which the 13th point of the peace program devoted to Poland stated that: ‘An independent Polish state should be erected(…)which should be assured a free and secure access to the sea.’

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