Excerpts from the Polish chronicles in the magazine 'News from Poland'. This issue describes the Polish House in Palestine, with Father Trocki as director. He is to be assisted by three Elisabethan Sisters from Greater Poland (Source: "Wieści z Polski", Warsaw 1932, R: 6, no. 7-8, p. 18, after: Jagiellonian Digital Library).

A modernised reading of the text

Under the roof of the Polish House in Palestine.

There are different kinds of tourists and travellers. Some, having found themselves abroad, wish to forget everything that smacks of their homeland, family and friends, and find themselves alone with a foreign world and life, thus escaping from their countrymen they meet in great numbers all over the world, as if from a plague or some other scourge. Others again adhere to the principle that it is better to visit foreign countries in the company of one's own people and that it is more comfortable to stay in Polish guesthouses or hotels, scattered here and there in various seaside and continental locations.

There is no fixed rule in this area. What is more comfortable is nicer. However, there is a type of tourist destination, of a religious nature, where the view does not strictly apply. It is better, therefore, that in such places as Rome, Lourdes and especially Jerusalem, a pilgrim or tourist can stay in a Polish hotel, guesthouse or house and encounter the atmosphere, cuisine and language of Poland, often without having a different language and adequate knowledge of the area. An environment calling for a similar institution is Jerusalem. In it, the threads of interest in the entire Holy Land converge. It is the centre of pilgrimages to such points as Bethlehem, Nazareth, Mount Tabor, Capernaum, Tiberias, Jordan and the Dead Sea.

One leaves for them and returns on the same day by today's means of transport, especially the automobile, displacing the railway in Palestine. Happy and blessed was the initiative of the already deceased Fr. Pinciurek, who, having lived in the Holy Land for a number of years, sensed the lack of such a home where Polish pilgrims could take refuge. He thought logically: other nations have beautiful and sometimes splendid hospices, why could not Poland. So he set to the highly unrewarding work of raising funds for this purpose.

He found it difficult locally. So he set off for the United States, and there, travelling to Polish parishes, he collected cents and dollars through his sermons. Having collected a few thousand, he returned to Palestine and realised his intentions by purchasing a property near the 7th Station of the Cross. The property, however, did not suit its purpose. It had to be cleared to the ground and rebuilt. After all, it was the beginning of the Polish House in Jerusalem. Feeling increasingly weak, Father Pinciurek placed his foundation under the care of Father Primate. He soon gave it up to God.

Father Trocki, the prelate, became the director of the Polish House on behalf of the Primate, and three Sisters of St Elizabeth from Greater Poland were added to help him. With this, work began in earnest. The house was thoroughly rebuilt. Electricity and plumbing were installed, a nice chapel, courtyard, lounges, dining room, kitchen and several living rooms were furnished with necessities. In a word, thanks to the energetic foresight of the Prioress of St Innocent's House, a focal point of Polish life was established in Jerusalem.

Officials of the Consulate resided there. After the departure for Poland of Msgr Trotsky, Dr Gronkowski from Poznan came here to study. Finally, pilgrims are hosted in this House, finding in it an atmosphere and healthy Polish cuisine, books and newspapers, and even company in sightseeing in the Holy Land. The "Polish House" in its present state, although still a modest institution, has managed to make a good name for itself among the highest Jerusalem circles. It is even visited by the Apostolic Delegate and the Patriarch of the Latin Rite himself, not to mention the best relations it enjoys with the General Polish Consulate, which holds all services and national celebrations in its chapel. The needs of the house, however, increase every day.

The occasional help of people of good will, and above all of the Primate, is not enough. The Polish House, which has now become a place of Polish propaganda in an area as important as Jerusalem, will probably find protection from our government and, above all, from the whole of Catholic society in Poland.