Contribution of the Polish Missionaries of the Society of the Divine Word to the Church’s Development in the Little Sunda Islands (Indonesia) based on letters written to the “Verbinum” and “Misjonarz” Periodicals (1965-2000)
Contribution of the Polish Missionaries of the Society of the Divine Word to the Church’s Development in the Little Sunda Islands (Indonesia) based on letters written to the “Verbinum” and “Misjonarz” Periodicals (1965-2000)

Summary/Abstract: The Polish SVD missionaries’ contribution to the evangelization of the Lesser Sunda Islands can be followed on the basis of letters written by them between 1965-2000 to the Polish periodicals: “Verbinum” and “Misjonarz”. The said correspondence shows that the missionaries took up various challenges encountered in their then-current pastoral work: they taught catechizes and celebrated the sacraments, proclaimed the Gospel including the use of mass media (parish bulletins, films, radio broadcasts). Their activities contributed to the integral improvement of the living standard of their parishioners. Particularly noteworthy is the missionaries’ contribution to broadly understood education: they founded Catholic primary schools, minor and major seminaries as well as institutes for lay people. The pastoral work of missionaries proceeded in a spirit of dialogue with the religions and cultures of evangelized peoples of the Lesser Sunda Islands. From the Polish missionaries in Indonesia one can learn how to wisely proclaim the Gospel, taking into consideration inculturation of the Word in non-Christian cultures.

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