History

Papież Pius XI

The history of the Chotomow Orphanage commenced with the establishment of the Foundation for Disabled Polish Soldiers. The Father Pius XI Foundation was created, in order to celebrate the memory and work of pope Pius XI, who was an apostolic nuncio in Poland in the years 1918-1921. Achilles Ratti served as an apostolic legate, and later as an apostolic nuncio in Poland, earning the recognition of the church authorities and the community. The foundation was established November 22nd 1922 by Field Bishop Stanisław Galla, General Bolesław Olszewski, General Stefan Suszyński, Father Zygmunt Kaczynski, Father Stanisław Ugniewski. The latter stood behind the initial spark of the project, and as a result was nominated by Bishop Stanisław Galla to become the Secretary of the Foundation. General Bolesław Olszewski became the President of the Foundation, whereas Cardinal Aleksander Kakowski became its' Active Protector. Marshal Jozef Piłsudski was selected to become the Honorable Protector. The Pope Pius's XI Breve, was especially important for the Foundation. It was written November 25th 1922, and thanked the founders for creating the Foundation and also contained an Apostolic Blessing. This document was very useful, at times when the assets and the work of the Foundation were at jeopardy. Starting from 1924, the Foundation administered an Institution for Disabled Soldiers in Chotomow, and from 1926 an Institution for Orphaned Children, with a focus on girls aged between 3 and 18. The Congregation of the Servant Sisters of Virgin Mary Immaculate Conception Province of Lodz took over the management the Children's home. The first facility for orphaned children was located in old wooden buildings. An effort was made to construct a new building. On August 2 1932, a ceremony took place, during which the corner-stone, laid beneath the foundation of the new facility, was blessed. The construction process, was composed of three stages, and was finished June 19, 1937. The official blessing of the house was given by the Apostolic Nuncio arch-bishop Philip Cortesi. Once the children's home was finally completed, a tailor's workshop was established, and was made available to girls from Chotomow, Legionowo, and Jabłonna.

A difficult time for the orphanage was the period of world war II. On September 14 1939 the institution was taken over by the German army and for almost four months there was a food shortage, which resulted in starvation. During the occupation, a preschool was opened in the orphanage, and later on, a day school. Also, during the occupation, the German government tried to close the facility, however this did not happen, thanks to the efforts of the Foundation's management and the mentioned above Papal breve. Among the orphans, the staff managed to hide Jewish children. The Sisters, risking their own lives hid the persecuted children. On October 10, 1944, the residents of the Institution were resettled to Krasice, near Czestochowa The building in Chotomow was damaged during the war and was no longer a suitable living place. After leaving Krasice, on April 19, 1945 the Sisters, along with the children traveled to Liskowo, near Kalisz, where they took shelter, until the damaged building in Chotomow was restored. The Chotmow children's home was resettled on November 5, 1945. During this time, the name of the institution was changed to Children's Home of Pius XI. In the period after the war, in the year 1960, the communist regime, attempted to take over the building, which belonged to the Foundation. As a result, the name of the facility was changed back to The Educational Institution for Girls named after his Holiness Father Pius XI.

In the defense of the Institution, stood a friend of the Chotomow home for children, Primate Stefan Wyszynski and Father Stanislaw Ugniewski. The brave and selfless work of the Sisters, played an important role in the history of the orphanage. Often they were forced to face problems related to financial limitations and governmental persecution. After experiencing the destructive force of World War II, the Children's home was rebuilt. New agricultural machines were purchased. During the difficult years of communism the director of the Educational Institution for Girls was Sister Irena Teresa Wołczynska. For her brave and steadfast composure, whenever dealing with the regime, Sister Irena received the highest honor, given by the Vatican, PRO ECCLESIA ET PONTIFICE. With time, the Educational Institution for Girls in Chotomow, became a well know center in the Warsaw archdiocese. Very often Primate Stefan Wyszynski, came to visit the Children's Home. Until this day, the institution functions as a solid reminder of the charitableness of the Polish society. In present times, the Children's home is called Orphanage of Pius XI. The institution is co-educational and cooperates with the local authorities, to help with activities, which benefit children and families.