Polish Catholic Mission in Hanover

We are one of many Polish Catholic Missions in Germany and all over the world that provide pastoral care for Poles living abroad, preserve Polish traditions and religious customs, and engage in dialogue and cooperation with other local churches. The Polish Catholic Mission in Hanover covers the deaneries of Hanover, Celle, Verden, Hildesheim, and Hameln-Holzminden.

Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Częstochowa

A special sign of the presence of Poles in Hanover at the Maria-Frieden church has long been the church's chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Częstochowa. The chapel is still used today for Holy Masses and devotions in Polish and, as in the meantime the entire church, serves the Polish mission. Thanks to the decision of Bishop Josef Homeyer, the episcopal curia in Hildesheim decided in 1988 to renovate the chapel from scratch. In this chapel there are, among others, showcases with votive offerings of gratitude from people who survived the ordeal of World War II. In the main altar there is since 1988 a new picture of Our Lady of Częstochowa.

The decision to build the Maria-Frieden church in the Hanover-Buchholz district was made by the episcopal curia in Hildesheim in 1963. After the church was consecrated on 8 May 1965, the Bishop of Hildesheim, Heinrich Maria Janssen decided to hand over the chapel in the northern part of the church to the Polish citizens.

The parish house

Another very important event for the Poles in Hanover was the construction of the parish house. Until then, religious education, meetings of the Parish Council and pastoral meetings were held in the rooms of the parish house of the German Maria-Frieden parish or in the chapel. The establishment of the Polish Mission house was initiated by Father Stanisław Budyń (pastor from 1982–2002 and 2002–2020 rector of the Polish Catholic Missions in Germany).

The construction work began in September 1984 and on June 2, 1985, the building was inaugurated by Auxiliary Bishop Heinrich Pachowiak from Hildesheim. Through the newly created parish house the life of the "Polonia" (Polish term for Poles living abroad) was revived, it serves the development of religion, culture and community life. Systematic religious instruction for children and adolescents, community choir rehearsals, youth and senior meetings, and courses for Polish, German and English are held in the parish house. There are readings, concerts, and performances. A library was also established, which quickly expanded and is still in full operation today.

Already during the inauguration, it became apparent that the parish house was too small. One must not forget that these were the years of martial law in Poland, which brought thousands of asylum seekers to Germany, and therefore also to Hanover, who had fled from the communist regime in Poland. It was here, in the Polish Catholic Mission, that they found a small piece of Poland, heartfelt shelter, spiritual protection, as well as social and legal assistance necessary for acquiring an apartment, the right of residence, etc. In this regard, in 1992 Father Stanisław Budyń made further efforts to improve the existing situation by expanding the parish house. These efforts were successful, and construction began at the beginning of March 1994, and on August 21, 1994 Bishop Tadeusz Pieronek (then General Secretary of the Polish Bishops' Conference) inaugurated the new enlarged center of the congregation on August 21, 1994.

The expansion of the parish facilities enabled the foundation of the Center for the Promotion of the Polish Language and Culture at the Polish Catholic Mission in Hanover e. V., a school where every year many children and adolescents learn Polish as well as Polish history, geography and culture in numerous groups and under the guidance of qualified teachers. In addition, after the expansion, the parish house serves with its rooms even better to the needs of other Polish diaspora organizations, groups and associations.

The Cross of Solidarność

A very special symbol is the solidarity cross, which stands next to the chapel. On January 1, 1982, Poles erected a cross in the center of Hanover (Steintor) as a sign of solidarity with their country and the people plagued there by martial law imposed on December 13, 1981. After half a year the city administration ordered the removal of the cross and so it found a worthy place next to the Polish chapel. On the cross were placed the names of the victims of martial law. Those who could not return to their homes after the war, were separated from their relatives, had to flee to save their freedom and lives, gathered at this cross. To this day it is a place of remembrance and prayer for those who fought for a free Poland and a dignified life. On Good Friday 2000, a new cross was erected, as the first one unfortunately fell to destruction due to its age.