The Marian Martyrs of Rosica

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE WHOLE SKY ON FIRE SR. HEDWIG WIRSZUTO, SJE, SLOBODKA Father Anthony Leszczewicz, as the Superior of the mission in Rosica from 1941 to 1943, felt responsible for us Sisters. It was at his request that Mother Superior sent young Sisters to do missionary work. Therefore, he asked us officially if we want- ed to go back to Druja or to stay despite the impending danger. All the Sisters filed a declaration in writing that they had decid- ed to stay with the priests and didn’t want to go back to Druja. He presented this declaration to our Mother Superior. This shows how experienced in life and prudent the priests were. At the end of 1942, we could tell that danger was near. The partisans began to intensify their activities. We went through a difficult moment in Borsuki when they assaulted the house where we slept, and again in Rosica itself when they stormed the rectory at night just before the All Saints Day celebration. A few times they also harassed Fr. Leszczewicz to make him meet with them. But even though the priests knew well that danger was approaching, they did not leave the parish but continued to do their pastoral work. We were even traveling around less, con- centrating more on work within the church. The faithful were seeking more and more support at church, so how could we leave them without help? On Sunday, February 14, 1943, Fr. George Kaszyra was left alone in the church in Rosica because Fr. Leszczewicz went to Dryssa where there was no priest. People were warning him of the danger. They even tried to keep him there because the spe- cial troops were already beginning their march from the Lat-