The Marian Martyrs of Rosica

41 Mission. Father Leszczewicz was in communication with Fr. Abrantowicz on many subjects, even more so because in the early 1930s Fr. Abrantowicz was also the Administrator for the faithful of the Latin Rite in Harbin. Above all, they renewed their personal relationship based on their old friendship in St. Petersburg. After two decades of zealous and fruitful work, Fr. Leszczewicz had earned widespread love, respect, and recog- nition. His sensitivity to the needs of the poor, to whom he gave almost all that he owned, was also appreciated. He always cov- ered the expenses related to high-school studies for a group of able but poor boys and girls. BECOMING AMARIAN The silver jubilee of Fr. Leszczewicz’s priesthood was approaching when, in early 1937, he made a surprising decision to join the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. OnApril 20, 1937, he applied for permission to do so to Primate August Hlond in Poznan who, in a letter dated May 24 of that same year, made it known to him that he “puts no obstacle in the way of his intention to enter a congregation.” Before this request was sent, Father Andrzej Cikoto, Superior General of the Marians and a former classmate of Fr. Leszczewicz, came to Harbin for a visitation. They certainly discussed the matter. A Marian novitiate had been opened in Harbin at the end of 1937, and on December 4 two graduates of the Marian high school had been enrolled. However, Fr. Leszczewicz did not remain in the Harbin novitiate. On December 23, 1937, he left town discreetly, avoiding thanks and farewells. He first went to Japan and saw Tokyo. By January 23, 1938, he was already on his way to Rome where, on February 27, he received the papal blessing. On March 3, 1938, he submitted a letter to the Superior General in which he “humbly requested admission to the Marian Congregation,” indicating that he would like to go through the novitiate in Druja. After spending some time in Blessed Anthony Leszczewicz