Several Polish Catholic priests have already left Belarus or are preparing to leave after the authorities refused to renew their permits for religious activity, Katolik.life reports.
According to the outlet, Marian Szerszeń, dean of the Stoubtsy Deanery, left the country after 36 years of ministry without a public farewell. He served in Nalibaki, where he restored the local Catholic church, and had previously been featured in state media reports. His departure indicates that efforts to have the decision denying the renewal of his permit reconsidered, as had happened in previous years, were unsuccessful, the authors note.
According to the report, at least one more Polish priest is expected to bid farewell to his parishioners in the near future, while the others still hope to remain in Belarus and have taken a significant step toward that goal.
Among those whose permits were also not renewed is Lech Bachanek, who has served in Belarus for more than 25 years. Pilgrims passing through Iwianiec on their way to Budslau noted his absence. According to parishioners, he and several other Polish priests intend to apply for Belarusian citizenship. According to the report, the authorities made this a condition for Polish priests serving in the Minsk-Mahiliou Archdiocese. However, the article notes that there have been cases in which Polish priests were denied citizenship.
With their permits expiring and their citizenship applications still unresolved, the priests have been forced to suspend their religious activities and have therefore stayed out of public view.
Bogusław Madziejewski, dean of the Miadzel Deanery and parish priest in Svir, is also expected to leave his parishioners soon. In the Hrodna Diocese, Zbigniew Dragula of the Michaelite order has already bid farewell to the parish in Staryja Vasilishki after serving in Belarus for 27 years. In his farewell address, he said he was not the only priest forced to leave his parish and noted that there were five such priests. It remains unclear whether he was referring specifically to priests serving in the Hrodna Diocese.
