Muzeum Lat Dziecięcych Prymasa Tysiąclecia Stefana Kardynała Wyszyńskiego w Zuzeli
The Museum of the Childhood Years of the Primate of the Millenium Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński in Zuzela

Summary/Abstract: Zuzela is a village in the Diocese of Łomża, where Stefan Wyszyński was born on 3 August 1901. His father Stanisław was an organist in the local parish. The Wyszyński family lived in the vicar’s building opposite the church. In 1910, the family moved to Andrzejewo, where Stanisław Wyszyński was given the position of organist and better accommodation conditions for the growing family. The Museum in Zuzela was established in 1990 in the building of the former primary school, attended by Stefan Wyszyński. The institution is run by the parish in Zuzela, and each parish priest serves as its custodian. For more than twenty years, the institution was looked after by the habitless Sisters Serv­ants of Mary Immaculate. The hall of the primary school from the early 20th century, which Stefan Wyszyński attended, and the apartment of the family of the organist Stanisław Wyszyński were reconstructed within the museum. In the interior design ef­forts were made to reconstruct them as faithfully as possible, so that the visitor could learn about the living conditions and religious and intellectual devel­opment of the future Primate of Poland. The exhibition space also includes the Parish Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, in the construction of which Stefan and his father took part. The temple has a baptistery where Stefan Wyszyński was baptised and the altar of Our Lady of Częstochowa, in front of which the Wyszyński family prayed, and Stefan served at Mass. There are also 14 stained-glass windows installed in the church, which describe the events in the life of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński from his birth until his death and funeral. The church is also surrounded by several reminiscences of important anniver­saries in the life of the Primate of the Millennium, such as birthdays or priestly ordinations. One of the bells is named after Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. In the church square, in front of the entrance there is a large bronze statue of the Primate presented as the Father of the Nation. The Museum of the Childhood Years of the Primate of the Millenium Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński in Zuzela is an example of a museum that was created as a fruit of pride of the parish inhabitants with their most revered compatriot, but it is also a testimony of understanding of the importance of preserving the traces of the past. This place skilfully combines a traditional visit to the museum with religious experiences, through the following order of learning about Zuzela, proposed by the custodi­an: a visit to the church, prayer (mass), learning about the life of Cardinal Ste­fan Wyszyński through stained-glass windows in the church and the commem­orative elements in the church square, and finally visiting the Museum of the Childhood Years of the Primate of the Millenium Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński in Zuzela, i.e. the former school and apartment of the organist Wyszyński. This parish museum is an example of the implementation of the recom­mendations of the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Church and the Polish Church legislation on the mission of church museums. Not only does the institution implement cultural activities, but it also exerts a pastoral impact on the community of the particular Church.

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