On June 6, 1982, the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Kaunas and the Diocese of Vilkaviškis, Bishop Liudvikas Povilonis, ordained the following deacons to the priesthood at the Kaunas Cathedral:
Albinas Arnašius Vytautas Brilius Zenonas Degutis Stasys Čiupala Anton Filipčik Juozas Gražulis
Kazimir Gvazdovič Edmundas Kulvietis
Kazys Meilius Leonid Nestiuk Juozas Norkūnas Aloyzas Orantas
Alfonsas Petraitis Rokas Puzonas Žygintas Vaselka Kęstutis Vilutis
That same day, the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Panevėžys, Bishop Romualdas Krikščiūnas, administered Holy Orders to Deacons Albinas Paltanavičius and Raimundas Saprigonis.
Not since 1963 has the Kaunas Theological Seminary graduated this many priests in one year.
Following their ordination, the new priests were greeted at the seminary by a large crowd of believers who had come to the ordination from various Lithuanian localities. Responding to the best wishes of young people, Fathers Kazys Meilius and Rokas Puzonas spoke very meaningfully. Everyone rejoiced that despite difficult conditions, the new priests are setting off to work with an unbroken spirit.
This large group of new priests will considerably replenish the thinning ranks of Lithuanian priests able to work. The Chronicle extends its wishes that the new priests find their way in current
Seminarians and faculty of the Kaunas Theological Seminary, assembled on the occasion of the visit of Cardinal Lekai on a papal mission to Lithuania in 1979.
circumstances and with courage and dedication, witness Christ their entire lives to the persecuted nation's Catholics and their errant brothers.
