The Marian Martyrs of Rosica

63 Eyewitness Accounts This inhuman work lasted about two weeks until the whole area was empty. During this fury, Fr. Laszewski and two Sisters, A. Woronko and J. Lowkis, were working in Zaszczyryn near the Latvian border. The Latvian militia arrested them together with many civilians and drove them to a temporary prison in Lithuania where they stayed for about two months and were subsequent- ly released. Father Laszewski then went to the Marian monastery in Latvia and the Sisters went back to Druja. In Rosica, there was a large church that had been repaired by the Marian priests. This church was filled with people even before the roundup. There were also priests there: A. Leszczewicz and G. Kaszyra, and six Sisters who would soon be moved from the church to the rectory where they ran the kitchen for the military until the inhuman work was finished. All day and all night during those few days, the people gath- ered in the church were confessing, receiving Holy Communion, praying, and crying; the priests were preparing them for inevitable death. The Sisters working in the kitchen could visit the people locked in the church and bring them food from the rectory. They took them pails of milk, coffee, and whatever they could. After a few days, the roundup was com- plete. Those able to work were taken to the trains; and the older people and children, together with Fr. G. Kaszyra, were taken to several buildings and burned alive. Father A. Leszczewicz was taken away somewhere as well. When there was no priest left, the Sisters refused to work in the rectory and asked the German officers to let them join the people locked in the church because they wanted to share their fate. However, the chief officer said that they would be driven to Latvia and then to Druja. The Sisters agreed, even though they did not believe what he said. So, the Sisters were given a few horse carts and a German or Latvian escort, and they were taken to Przydrujsk in Latvia. From there they were taken on a truck across the frozen Dvina to their convent in Druja. Together with the Sisters, two German officers and a male secretary went to Druja. An officer