The Marian Martyrs of Rosica

106 The Marian Martyrs of Rosica them were missing; in winter, I sometimes celebrated Holy Mass wearing gloves because it was so cold. The temperature reached almost minus 30 degrees centigrade. The holes from the beams were filled with masonry. The roof was partly rebuilt over the side naves. In springtime, the ice melted on the eaves and water flowed down the walls. From one such spot, I emptied 37 pails. This is how the faithful were taking care of their buildings. The Sisters mobilized themselves, and 13 of them started working. One worked in the kitchen, another one around the church, and the others went out on mission in pairs. Fr. Leszczewicz prepared them for teaching religion. So, the Sisters started going in pairs to each village for two weeks and there they taught religion to children, youngsters, and adults. At the end of each course, an afternoon time chapel was arranged when we listened to everyone’s confession. Then, the next day there was Holy Mass with a solemn Holy Communion. These were wonderful services. First, the Rosica parish went through the religious curriculum, and then Zaszczyryn. In the village of Pierepieczki, after one such catechization, 17 candidates sought admission to the convent. Unfortunately, subsequent events interfered with these vocations. The organ was completely destroyed by the “cultural bar- barians,” but the church had very good acoustics. When the girls began to meet there to sing, their amplified singing sound- ed as if it were a large choir. The souls of the faithful were par- ticularly touched when they sang the Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with its very peculiar melody. As I had no musical score, I began to teach the Missa Tertia by Haller for two parts from memory. The talented girls were soon singing during Holy Mass in two parts without accompaniment, so we had a choir as well. A SPECIAL CELEBRATION Corpus Christi was approaching. What about the proces- sion? We had nothing! Inventive Miss Helen suggested weav-