SANCTUARY OF ST. RITA IN GŁĘBINÓW

In the picturesque town of Głębinów, on the shores of Lake Nyskie, stands the beautiful brick neo-Gothic church of St. Urban. It was built in 1884–1886 on the site of an earlier chapel. The construction of the church was funded by Jadwiga and Urban Kunze. In 1923 a parish was established there. After World War II, or more precisely in the years 1965-1971, most of the residents of the village were displaced due to the construction of a water reservoir, now called Lake Nyskie. The parish community was significantly reduced – to as few as 30 families. Originally, the authorities planned to demolish the church, but thanks to the efforts and administrative battle fought by the then local parish priest, Adam Igielski, the temple was saved.

The cult of St. Rita, patron saint of difficult and hopeless causes, began with the arrival of the relics of the Italian saint on 22 May 2015. It is on this day that celebrations in honour of the saint are held there every year. In late 2018, the parish received a new main altar as a gift, and it was then decided that an image of St. Rita would be placed in its centre. The painting, located in the central part of the altar, was created by painter Adam Grochalski from Brzeg. The scene in the painting depicts St. Rita standing in the snow, with flowering rose bushes growing around her, which alludes to the story of the saint's life and the miraculous event she experienced. In 2021, by decision of the Ordinary Bishop of the Diocese of Opole, the Diocesan Sanctuary of St. Rita was established in Głębinów. Not only is it conducive to prayer, but thanks to its location and natural beauty, it has also become a popular recreational destination for

tourists visiting the Opolskie Voivodeship.