The Marian Martyrs of Rosica

CHAPTER FOURTEEN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF A LOCAL RESIDENT DOMINIC MARCHEL, ROSICA From 1941 to 1943, I attended religion classes in Rosica, taught by the Sisters and priests. At this time, I met Fr. Leszczewicz and Fr. Kaszyra. We attended classes very eager- ly, and listened to the stories about Jesus and His mother with great interest. As children, we could see the great faith of the priests and the Sisters and their love of God, and we also expe- rienced their love for us. We were poor, rural children and we felt that the priests loved us. We loved them too. All we could see was goodness and kindness. They addressed us in our local language. They never raised their voices to us. It was enough to say silence — and we were immediately quiet. This instruction prepared me for my First Confession and Holy Communion. During the pacification, the Germans apprehended me and I found myself in the church as early as February 16, 1943. Father Leszczewicz was saying Mass and then he climbed the pulpit and gave the sermon. He tried to calm and console us since there was great wailing and lamentation. Germans walked around the church and formed groups of people. They subsequently took them to the school and burned them there. The priests were allowed to come and distribute bread and water among the children. So, they were free. I heard from people that the Germans wanted to set the priests free. They actually ordered them to leave Rosica. The priests pleaded and begged on behalf of the people. They point- ed out their innocence. They said: “If you set everybody free, we will go with them. If you don’t, we will stay too.” This was the story told in the Satsapils camp when we were there after our expulsion from Rosica.