Reverend Roman Nir was born on January 22, 1940 in Praszka, Poland near Czestochowa. He is the son of Stanislaus and Wladyslawa nee Jedryszek. He attended elementary school in Praszka. He completed the school of general education (with studies more particularly devoted to humanities) in the near Silesian Gorzów, where a love for history was instilled in this young student by a teacher of history, Francis Hawranek, who later became a professor of the history of Silesia (Slask) at the University of Wroclaw and in the High School of Pedagogy in Opole. Father Nir kept a scholarly contact with this educator until his tragic death in 1981. It is here that you find the beginning of Fr. Nir's passion for archival work. His philosophical-theological studies were completed in the major Clerical Seminary in the Diocese of Czestochowa in Cracow. During his years of study he attended a seminary where he pursued studies in Church History conducted by the famous medievalist, Jerzy Wolny. In Cracow he learned of organization and collections, particularly of Church Archives such as the Capitular Archives in Wawel, Metropolitan, and convents and monasteries of men and women. During his years of study, a close collaboration was begun with Rev. Prof. Dr. Alfons Schletz, director of the Institute Nasza Przeszlosc (Our Past), which blossomed in later publications of the biannual Nasza Przeszlosc (Our Past) Rev. Nir received Holy Orders from the hands of Bishop Stefan Barela on May 17, 1964 on the Solemnity of Pentecost in the Basilica of Czestochowa, the diocesan cathedral. He offered his first Mass the following day in his native city of Praszka. After ordination, he was assigned for a short stay to a parish in Mstów, a place dating back to the 12th century with remains of the Middle Age Monastery of Canons Regular from the 13th century. Next he was assigned for two years to pastoral work at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Kalej (6 km. from Jasna Góra).

Continue to page two, Rev. Dr. Roman Nir