Construct a New Church in Lithuania
Monday, November 23, 2009

Project Code: Code: 436-01-19

Lithuania is the only majority Catholic country of the former Soviet Union. Over 80% of its 3.5 million inhabitants are Catholics, but during the communist era countless numbers of priests, religious and laity suffered for their faith in prisons and labor camps; many paid with their lives for their fidelity to Christ.

Thankfully, since the political changes in Eastern Europe, the Catholic Church in Lithuania has once more been free to proclaim the Gospel and profess her Faith, although she still faces major challenges. As the Lithuanian bishops have frequently pointed out, there are still forces in society that are attempting to manipulate the Church in order to achieve their own national, political and personal goals. Likewise, as in most countries of the so-called "free world," the icy wind of materialism blows fiercely in the faces of those who seek to proclaim Christian values and a Christian worldview.

A recent pastoral letter of the Lithuanian bishops commented on the programs of the political parties: "They say nothing of the rights of the Church and her faithful, nothing about the education of man and nothing about his responsibility to uphold decency and morality, nothing about protecting human life, nothing about the care and support of families, nothing about the nurturing of Christian values. In the programs of some political parties it is exclusively material welfare that is emphasized. Yet no genuine material welfare is possible without the respecting of spiritual and ethical values."

The Church still has a great deal of work to do in Lithuania, and it is not easy. After so many decades of atheist rule, much has been destroyed that must now be painstakingly rebuilt, and the faithful there still need our help. One old, temporary wooden church built in 1920 in the rural Parish of Patilciai in the south of Lithuania, for example, was never repaired. Eventually the timber became so completely damaged and decayed that there was no other solution than to demolish it. The people gave what they could, contributed their own hard work and have managed to begin on the construction of a modest new church.

Sadly, their funds have run out, and so their parish priest, Father Jouzas Peciukonis has turned to ACN, seeking our help. This is a lively parish, with 530 regular worshippers and 140 children and young people attending religious instruction. Their priest runs two parishes and works tirelessly in both, celebrating Holy Mass, administering the Sacraments, visiting the sick and burying the dead. He wrote to us, "We are thankful that we have got so far, thanks to the good work of the builders and the financial support of good people." He added, "We are waiting prayerfully and full of hope for a positive answer." We have promised them $9,100, so that they can complete their new church. Our heartfelt thanks in advance to all of you who are willing to help this hard-working priest and his lively parish in Lithuania!

Progress: 100% Raised: $ 9100     Goal: $ 9100

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