Archidiecezja Szczecińsko-Kamieńska. Historia i teraźniejszość

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THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SZCZECIN-KAMIEŃ. HISTORY AND PRESENT

On 28 June 1972, Pope Paul VI established the Szczecin-Kamień diocese with the papal bull Episcoporum Poloniae coetus. Two decades later, on 25 March 1992, Pope John Paul II, with the papal bull Totus Tuus Poloniae populus, raised it to the rank of metropolitan see and entrusted the neighbouring dioceses of Koszalin-Kołobrzeg and Zielona Góra-Gorzów to its care. John Paul II’s document did not introduce signifi cant territorial changes; only one village (Szumiłowo) was separated from the Szczecin-Kamień diocese. Its current territory covers 12,754 km². Th e episcopal cathedral is the Basilica of St. James the Apostle in Szczecin, and the co-cathedral is the Church of St. John the Baptist in Kamień Pomorski. Th e patrons of the diocese are: the primary patron – the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and the secondary patron – St. Otto of Bamberg.

The Archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamień has undergone signifi cant changes over its existence, primarily personnel-related ones, but also structural, organisational, and pastoral changes. Its seven leaders (four archbishops, two bishops, and an apostolic administrator), assisted by four auxiliary bishops, have contributed greatly to its development, which is clearly refl ected in the religiosity and mentality of the inhabitants of Western Pomerania.

Currently, the Archdiocese of Szczecin-Kamień has all the central offi ces necessary for its functioning: the Episcopal Curia, the Episcopal Court, the Archbishop’s Higher Seminary and the Faculty of Th eology of the University of Szczecin (it off ers two majors: Th eology and Family Studies), the Diocesan Archives, the Szczecin Cathedral Chapter, and four collegiate chapters: in Kamień Pomorski, Myślibórz, Stargard and Wolin (in total they include an exceptionally large group of canons, as many as 168), as well as 20 sanctuaries – 7 of Our Lord, 7 of Our Lady and 6 of the Lord’s saints (with the most famous: of Divine Mercy in Myślibórz, of Our Lady of Fatima in Szczecin, and most recently of the Children of Fatima in Szczecin in the Kasztanowe residential area and of the Blessed Stefan Cardinal Wyszyński Primate of Poland in Kobylanka). Diocesan houses also operate here, though only at the diocesan level. However, the diocesan “Caritas” organisation is becoming increasingly active. Th e diocese can also be proud of running educational institutions, i.e. 10 Catholic schools, including one of the best in the city and province – the Catholic Secondary School of General Education in Szczecin. Unfortunately, the diocese currently lacks its own publishing house (it has been dissolved), and only one of the numerous bookstores remains. In terms of media, only one radio station in Szczecin – Radio Plus – is currently operational; two others (in Gryfi ce and Lipiany) recently closed. As for the Catholic press, the only remaining publication is the supplement to the “Tygodnik Katolicki Niedziela” (Catholic Weekly “Sunday”), i.e. “Kościół nad Odrą i Bałtykiem” (Church on the Odra River and the Baltic Sea).

Th e faithful belong to 276 parishes (comprising 36 deaneries). Th ey gather for the Eucharist in 796 churches (273 parish churches, 469 fi lial churches, 49 chapels, and 5 auxiliary churches), primarily dating from the Middle Ages (4 from the 12th century, 109 from the 13th century, 38 from the 14th century, and 150 from the 15th century) and from modern and contemporary times (33 from the 16th century, 29 from the 17th century, 56 from the 18th century, 148 from the 19th century, 171 from the 20th century and 58 from the 21th century). Th eir spiritual life is cared for by 491 diocesan priests and 173 religious priests (from 10 orders and congregations, working in 39 parishes), with another 10 clergy from other dioceses. Th e priests are supported by 161 nuns (from one order, 17 congregations, one community, and two pious associations) serving in 38 religious facilities, as well as 66 sisters from the Community of the Sisters Disciples of the Cross. Th e diocese faces challenges in this regard in the future, as the Archbishop’s Higher Th eological Seminary currently educates only 12 seminarians. Th is is all the more distressing given that over the past few years, 552 deacons have been ordained to the priesthood in the Archdiocese (in 1987–1988, the diocese enjoyed the highest number of seminarians in its history – 169; the highest number of priests ordained in 1991 – 25).

Currently, the Archdiocese has a population of 1,000,746. Unfortunately, the participation of the faithful in the life of the Church – dominicantes and communicantes – is among the lowest in Poland: Sunday Masses are attended by 10-20% of the faithful. However, their faith has certainly been strengthened over the years by visits from numerous church dignitaries (e.g., on the occasion of the Plenary Conferences of the Polish Episcopate – three were held in Szczecin), led by Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński and St. John Paul II (over 80 parishes and institutions possess relics of the Polish Pope), as well as by the currently celebrated Otto Jubilee.

Th e diocese enters the future with the task of facing serious pastoral challenges. Solutions to these challenges were sought during the First Diocesan Synod and the First Metropolitan Synod, but these events did not yield the expected results. It would be worthwhile for the diocese to consider utilising the potential inherent in the numerous movements, groups, communities, and associations of the faithful that exist here, but which do not have a broader impact. Another concern is the fact that fewer and fewer pupils attend religious instruction (78.14% in primary schools, 24.80% in general secondary schools, 20.52% in technical secondary schools, and 32.81% in vocational schools). Th erefore, there is a need to reshape the awareness and sense of responsibility of priests and the faithful for this particular Church.