The Marian Martyrs of Rosica

103 Eyewitness Accounts We had a fairly large rectory that we made out of a hospital which was no longer in use. In winter, we were cold because there were holes all the way through the floor. We put down newspapers to prevent drafts. There were as many as nine rooms, enough for everyone. Parishioners brought beds, tables, and wardrobes. There were three of us. Father Laszewski came from Lithuania and Seminarian Henry Tomaszewski was sup- posed to be helping us while finishing his studies. The territory covered by our work was expanding. Rosica became the base. Since the church was in need of repair, I took up permanent residence in Rosica and Fr. Laszewski took over the more remote parish in Zaszczyryn. There the parishioners created a large chapel in the barracks. Father Leszczewicz reached out even further, as far as Zamosze. There used to be a beautiful church there, but the “good people” could not stand looking at it, so at night they blew it up with dynamite and left the rubble as a monument. He also reached out to Oswieja, where people prepared a chapel in the manor. In the town of Dryssa on the Dvina, there was an old church, so he took over a large area in which he already had four organized parishes. The war was far away, and we could live and work undis- turbed. On Sunday, after travelling and working, the priests returned to headquarters. On the Third Sunday of Advent, I announced that on the fourth Sunday there would be a rehearsal of carol singing so as to be well prepared for Christmas. Therefore, the church was full of people for the High Mass. I wondered why they didn't bring their prayerbooks, but where were they supposed to get them? They could be sent to Siberia for five years just for having a Polish prayerbook. I stood in the presbytery, and I began to sing and conduct. Suddenly the whole church picked up the words and tune of the first carol. The church was trembling on its foundations, and the people were singing all the carols from memory, one after the other, according to “my” songbook edited by Fr. Siedlecki. After