85 Fathers Leszczewicz and Kashira made their joint decision to follow Christ in His Paschal sacrifice at the beginning of 1943. Witnesses recall that as the priests heard of the Nazi plan to destroy the population of Rosica and its vicinity, they had a plan for their further actions, clearly reminiscent of the words of Christ: Can people be left alone at such a time? No, where there are sheep, there should be their shepherds. By remaining with people to the end, in accordance with the teachings of Christ, the Marian martyrs revealed their deep spiritual unity with the Lord who, in His Paschal sacrifice, gave His life for the salvation of mankind. Unity is always one of the main fruits of Passover. The paschal departure of the chosen people from Egypt and the subsequent annual celebrations of this event contributed to the unity of people within individual families and entire nations. On the other hand, Christ’s Passover produced a universal brotherhood because, through His death and Resurrection, He broke the wall of sin that separates man from God and from his brothers. Passing through the lives of the Marian Martyrs, Christ also filled them with a spirit of mutual unity and brotherhood. A Marian cleric, Henry Tomaszewski recalled that he went from Druja to Drysa (about 30 kilometers away), where Fr. Leszczewicz was staying at the time, to warn him not to return to Rosica, because a punitive expedition had already set off from Druja and that the situation was very dangerous. With a sad smile and some nervousness Fr. Anthony responded: “I have to go back. There are people there. Besides, I left the Blessed Sacrament in the church. I can’t let them desecrate Him. Father George is there as well. How can I leave him alone in such hardship?” Christ’s paschal passing though the lives of the Blessed Marian Martyrs also united them with people doomed to death who were assembled in the parish church. Unlike the town residents, the priests had the right to enter and leave the church freely and could leave Rosica at any time without any problems. However, they stayed until the end to perform their priestly service: they celebrated Masses, gave Communion, heard confessions, baptized children and adults, comforted those who fell into despair, and brought bread to children. Ultimately, they went to death with these people for God and for men.
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