The Polish Catholic Mission, , (PMK) is a permanent Catholic chaplaincy for migrant Poles. It operates in a number of countries under the direction of the Polish Episcopal Conference.
England and Wales
History
After the Second World War there were almost 200,000 discussed Poles - mainly soldiers, among them 120 Military chaplains and priests. In 1948, following a visit to Poland the previous year for talks with cardinal Hlond, and after consulting with the Catholic episcopate of England and Wales, Cardinal Griffin nominated the rector of the Polish Catholic Mission, rev. Staniszewski as Vicar delegate for civilian Poles in England and Wales, with the powers of an Ordinariate. Around this time Hlond had nominated Bishop Józef Gawlina, also a Divisional general and based in Rome, to be responsible overall for the Polish diaspora.Kunert, A. K. ed. (2002)."Józef Feliks Gawlina Biskup Polowy Polskich Sił Zbrojnych" in Emigracyjna Rzeczpospolita 1939-1990, vol. III. Warsaw.
The temporary Polish parish hosted in Central London by the fathers of Brompton Oratory was able to be moved westward in 1962 to the newly acquired building from the vacating Scottish Presbyterians. It became St Andrew Bobola church in Shepherd's Bush, the second Polish owned church in London since 1930.P.Best, M.Reczek, A.Suchcitz, Kronika Kościoła Św. Andrzeja Boboli w Londynie 1961-2011, Polska Misja Katolicka, Londyn 2012, The Mission was boosted by the integration of male religious orders, the Polish Jesuits in Willesden northwest London, the Marian fathers in Ealing and Fawley,Polish Jesuit parish in Willesden - Marian Fathers in Great Britain - and the Society of Christ Fathers, to deal with the Polish diaspora abroad who run a parish in Putney.Society of Christ Fathers in Great Britain -
21st century The next wave of immigrants to the United Kingdom occurred after Poland's accession to the European Union and the opening of the UK job market to Poles, among other Central Europeans. Churches are full on Sundays, despite the estimate that 10% of Poles actually attend services regularly.Polish Catholic Mission in UK - The Polish Catholic Mission in England and Wales has charitable statusCharity registration
Scotland A separate Polish mission operates throughout Scotland.The Polish Catholic Mission in Scotland - Polska Misja Katolicka w Szkocji http://www.kosciol.org
Sweden
In Stockholm the Mission is called "Polska Katolska Missionen". In Malmö the mission operates in the Catholic churches of Maria and Rosengard.S:ta Maria i Rosengård Polska Misja Katolicka.
United States The Society of Christ Fathers is a ministry for Poles
References
External links PMK Anglia i Walia - In England and Wales PMK Francja - in France PMK Niemcy - in Germany PMK Szwecja - in Sweden