The Marian Martyrs of Rosica

118 The Marian Martyrs of Rosica After some time, Lucek Pawlik joined us. After him, our provincial delegate from Poland in Lithuania, Fr. Walter Laszewski, joined us. He was a vburdened and weary man, yet he was also very kind with a beautiful heart, great goodness, and a noble spirit. He cared so much that he was sometimes a nuisance. He had been a distinguished gentleman, an attorney. Attorney Laszewski often acted as a diplomatic courier, and during the plebiscite in the Mazurian district, he was one of the delegates of the Polish government. Theological studies in Rome had ruined his health. Anervous type, he was neverthless always composed. None of our Poles remained in Lithuania. SENT TO ROSICA A few weeks before Christmas, the superior of the house summoned me: “Brother Henry, you will go to Rosica as a sac- ristan. We need help there. Please get ready. Father Felix Czeczott will take you along.” “All right, with great pleasure.” Rosica was 40 kilometers away, in the former Bolshevik ter- ritory. The superior was Fr. Anthony Leszczewicz, my best friend from the novitiate. He had joined us three years earlier. Before that, he had worked in Harbin among Polish immi- grants. In recognition of his labors, he received the Golden Cross of Merit. So I would again see my dear Father from whom I had parted during novitiate. I remember him in the refectory waiting on table. Dressed in a white apron, he approached me and whispered: “If I missed something that needs to be done as a server, please tell me because I don't know how to wait on table yet.” He served the tureen and passed the platters with a smile. He cleared the tables. And he was to be my superior. Father Czeczott prepared everything and off we went by sledge, bundled up in hooded coats and sheepskins, because of the biting frost.