Portsmouth bishop halts regular Mass in Polish
By Mark Greaves
22 August 2008

Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth has dismayed Poles in his diocese by telling them that they cannot have weekly Polish-language Masses in their local church.

He said in a letter that priests were unanimous in opposing the idea of a Polish Mass celebrated each week.

Such a Mass has been held at St Swithun's Church in Southsea, Portsmouth, since June when an extra priest arrived from Poland.

But in a letter to members of the congregation Bishop Hollis said the Mass should only be celebrated once a month.

He was responding to one of the 20 or so letters sent to him by Poles upset by an earlier announcement from Canon David Hopgood, the cathedral dean.

Canon Hopgood said in a letter dated June 14 that a Mass in Polish every Sunday was likely to damage integration and so should not be established.

He said: "Some of the Polish friends I have consulted appreciate the occasional opportunity to keep in touch with their cultural roots, but they do not think that a separate Sunday liturgy would help in the important work of integration within the local Catholic community. This is also the view of the clergy in the area."

His comments reflect a wider concern that Polish migrants are failing to integrate into the English Catholic Church.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor caused controversy in December when he said Poles should join English parishes rather than create "a separate Church".

But Poles argue that integration takes place over generations and should not be imposed -- especially when their faith is so closely linked to national tradition.

They have accused the bishop of "social engineering" and are shocked that he has refused permission for Mass even though a priest is available to celebrate it.

The congregation, made up of about 50 Poles, have inundated the bishop with letters both in English and in Polish. Bishop Hollis replied to the Polish letters by saying he could not understand them and asking the sender to write again in English.

Lukasz Jurkowski said "no one expected" the bishop to refuse permission for Mass. "We can't understand what the problem is," he said. "We want to pay for the church and help to maintain it - we don't want it for free."

Katarzyna Dzwonkowska said it was difficult for some Polish migrants to go to English Mass because they did not understand English. The nearest Polish Mass is nearly an hour away in Eastney.

She said: "When you go to Mass you have to feel like you are talking to God and expressing yourself to God. You have to do that in your own language."

In particular Poles find it difficult to go to Confession in English. "You cannot take in a dictionary and translate the words," Miss Dzwonkowska said.

Another member of the congregation said the decision not to allow the Mass was a "shock" because in Poland churches were open all the time.

Jaroslaw Dzwonkowski said: "Asking for a weekly Mass is something basic and now we have to fight for it. Our religious life here is very basic - it's really the bare minimum. Many people in Poland go to church on a daily basis."

He stressed that Poles did not want to "argue" with the English Catholic Church. "We know we are in England, not in Poland, and we don't have to stay here," he said. "But we are here and if it's possible for us to have Mass then we would really appreciate it."

A spokesman for the Diocese of Portsmouth said the decision to stop the weekly Polish Mass was made after consultation with priests and lay Catholics. "Many people, including some Poles, felt it was becoming divisive," he said. "Some Poles felt that if there was Polish Mass they had a loyalty and they weren't sure whether to go to the usual English Mass.

"Poles were not getting the opportunity to get to know the Catholic community and the clergy weren't getting the opportunity to get to know the Polish people."

He said the diocese worked "very hard" to meet the pastoral needs of immigrants.

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor visited Poland in March in an attempt to mend fences with the Polish hierarchy.

He promised that Polish-language Masses would continue to be provided in Britain and clarified his earlier comments about integration. He said he meant that Poles could "maintain their own traditions and at the same time keep in touch with the English Church". He also announced that a working party would be set up to advise on "appropriate structures" to accommodate Polish migrants.

It will be headed by bishops from both countries and may revise an agreement that allows the Polish Church to run parishes in England and Wales. It is expected to meet later this year.