The Parish of Divine Mercy in Wetlina

The Parish of Divine Mercy in Wetlina, belonging to the Archdiocese of Przemyśl, was established on June 4, 1980, on a territory separated from the parish of Cisna. The history of the parish dates back to 1580, but significant changes occurred after World War II, when the village experienced displacement and destruction as a result of Operation "Vistula." In the 1970s, on the initiative of Father Czesław Korczykowski, regular masses began to be held, which met with repression from the authorities. In 1973, thanks to the determination of the local community, a small chapel was successfully protected from demolition. Between 1978 and 1980, a wooden church was built according to the design of architect Jan Rządca, and its consecration took place in 1980. After the parish was handed over to the Bernardine Fathers, their first parish priest was Father Stefan Żwirek. In the following years, the parish underwent spiritual and architectural expansion; between 1984 and 1985, a Monastery House was built, and between 2012 and 2017, a project for a brick church dedicated to St. John Paul II was realized, which was consecrated in 2020. The parish currently has about 550 faithful, with its main location in Wetlina and smaller communities in Kalnica, Smerek, and Strzebowiska. Additionally, between 1999 and 2003, a brick filial church was built in Kalnica, modeled after a no longer existing Orthodox church, and dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi. The Parish of Divine Mercy in Wetlina, with its rich history and architecture, is an important cultural and religious site in the Bieszczady region, and its history, full of struggles to preserve cultural values, is a significant element of local identity.