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THE CHRONICLE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LITHUANIA, NO. 76 
In this issue:
1.A Look at the Past Year, 1987
3.From the Letters of the Late Father Juozas Zdebskis
8.New Underground Publications
Lithuania February 14,1988
CHRONICLE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LITHUANIA No. 76
A Translation of the Complete Lithuanian Original LIETUVOS KATALIKŲ BAŽNYČIOS KRONIKA Nr. 76 Documenting the Struggle for Human Rights In Soviet-Occupied Lithuania Today
Translated by: Rev. Casimir Pugevičius Translation Editor: Marian Skabeikis
Published by: Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid 351 Highland Blvd. Brooklyn NY 11207
© Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid, 1988 ISSN 0197-0348
COVER: Demonstrators gathered at the Adomas Mickevičius monument near the Church of St. Anne in Vilnius, commemorating the memory of the victims of Hitler and Stalin during World War II. The August 23,1987 demonstration called for the Soviet government to revoke the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact which made the Baltic States a Soviet sphere of influence at the start of WWII.
Printed at Franciscan Press, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
CHRONICLE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN LITHUANIA No. 76
Introduction
In 1940, when the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania by force, 85.5% of the country's more than 3 million inhabitants were Roman Catholic, 4.5% Protestant, 7.3% Jewish, 2.5% Orthodox and 0.2% of other persuasions.
In the two archdioceses and four dioceses were: 708 churches, 314 chapels, 37 monasteries, 85 convents, three archbishops, nine bishops, 1271 diocesan priests, 580 monks, of whom 168 were priests. Four seminaries had 470 students. There were 950 nuns.
Nuns cared for 35 kindergartens, 10 orphanages, 25 homes for the aged, two hospitals, a youth center, and an institute for the deaf-mute.
On June 15, 1940, the Red Army marched into Lithuania; the independent government was replaced by a puppet regime.
On July 14-15, rigged elections were staged. On July 21, with the Red Army surrounding the assembly house, the new People's Diet "unanimously" declared Lithuania a Soviet Socialist Republic.
On June 25,1940, the Church was declared separate from the state, and the representative of the Holy See was expelled.
Parish lands were confiscated, clergy salaries and pensions were cut off, and their savings confiscated. Churches were deprived of support. Catholic printing plants were confiscated, and religious books destroyed.
On June 28,1940, the teaching of religion and recitation of prayers in schools was forbidden. The University's Department of Theology and Philosophy was abolished, and all private schools were nationalized. The seminaries at Vilkaviškis and Telšiai were closed, and the seminary at Kaunas was permitted to operate on a very limited scale. The clergy were spied upon constantly.
On June 15,1941,34,260 Lithuanians were packed off in cattle-cars to undisclosed points in the Soviet Union. After World War II, the mass deportations resumed and continued until 1953.
Vincentas Borisevičius, Bishop of Telšiai, was arrested on February 3, 1946, and condemned to death after a secret trial. Before year's end, his auxiliary, Bishop Pranas Ramanauskas, was also arrested and deported to Siberia. Bishop Teofilius Matulionis of Kaišiadorys and Archbishop Mečislovas Reinys of Vilnius were deported to a Siberian labor camp. Archbishop Reinys perished in prison at Vladimir, November 8, 1953. By 1947,
Lithuania was left with a single bishop, Kazimieras Paltarokas, of Panevėžys. He died in 1958.
In 1947, the last convents and monasteries were closed, their communities dispersed, and all monastic institutions were outlawed.
After Stalin's death in 1953, there was a slight improvement in the religious situation. Bishops Matulionis and Ramanauskas were allowed to return to Lithuania, but not to minister to their dioceses or to communicate with the clergy or laity.
Bishop Ramanauskas died in 1959, and Archbishop Matulionis in 1963.
In 1955, two new bishops were appointed by Rome and consecrated: Julijonas Steponavičius and Petras Maželis. Steponavičius has never been permitted to administer his diocese.
Bishop Vincentas Sladkevičius, consecrated in 1957, was kept under severe government restrictions until 1982. In 1965, Monsignor Juozas Labukas-Matulaitis was consecrated in Rome to head the Archdiocese of Kaunas and the Diocese of Vilkaviškis. Two new bishops were consecrated in 1969: Bishop Romualdas Krikščiūnas was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Panevėžys, and Bishop Liudas Povilonis was appointed auxiliary to Bishop Labukas, and succeeded him after his death in 1979.
In 1982, Bishop Sladkevičius was permitted to return to his diocese as Apostolic Administrator of Kaišiadorys. Father Antanas Vaičius was named bishop and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Telšiai and the Prela-ture of Klaipėda.
Juozas Preikšas was consecrated bishop in 1984 and named Auxiliary to Bishop Povilonis, whom he succeeded as Apostolic Administrator upon the latter's retirement in 1988. Bishop Vladas Michelevičius, consecrated in 1986, remains as auxiliary Apostolic Administrator. In 1983, Bishop Krikščiūnas resigned as Apostolic Administrator of Panevėžys, replaced by Msgr. Kazimieras Dulksnys as Vicar Capitular. In 1988, Bishop Sladkevičius was named Cardinal.
Relaxation of pressure on religious believers soon revealed that the Lithuanian people were still deeply religious. It was decided in the mid-fifties to resume the attack. The principal means of attack would be unlimited moral pressure, since physical terror seemed only to strengthen and unify the faithful.
In 1972, the Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania, clandestinely published in that country, began to reach the free world at irregular intervals. Primarily intended to keep Catholics in Lithuania informed of the situation of the Church there, these Lithuanian samizdat also serve as a constant appeal to the free world not to forget the plight of a people struggling against overwhelming odds to defend their religious beliefs and to regain their basic human rights.
Rev. Casimir Pugevičius Translator
INDEX OF PERSONS
(Gražulis), Antanas 15 (Šeškevičius), Kazys 36 (Žemaitis), Petras 16 Daiva 22 Renata 21 Saulius 22
Adomaitis, Father Pranas 7,11 Ališauskienė, Z. 23 Ališkevičienė, Mrs. 21 Anilionis, Petras 5,7,11,12, 13,35,36,37 39,44,45,46 Atkočiūnas, Father Edmundas 44 Aukštakalnis, V. 45 Austys, Albinas 43
Babonas, Father Jonas 9,37 Baciuška, Algis 19, 20, 23 Bačiuškienė, M. 23 Bakučionis, Jurgis 18,19,20, 21,22 Balcevičius, Miroslavas 46 Balčys, J. 18 Balkevičius, V. 44 Baranauskas, Father Jonas 7, 11 Bartulis, Father Eugenijus 9,37 Bernotas, A. 37 Bieliauskienė, Jadvyga 31,40 Bilius, Father Vladas 7,11 Bimbyris, Antanas 8 Bobinas, Father Vladas 7,11 Bogušienė, Virginija 8 Bogušis, Vytautas 8, 48 Borisevičius, Bishop Vincentas i Boruta, Father Jonas 7,11 Brazdžionis, Bernardas 29 Brikauskas 30 Briliūtė, Birutė 29,30 Brogys, Father Deimantas 7,11 Brusokas, Father Viktoras 9 Budas, Father Vytautas 11 Burba, Father Kazimieras 7,11 Buzaitė, S. 23
Čėsna, Father Vincas 7, U Čepėnas, Father Juozas 10 Chebrikov 17 Cidzikas, Petras 30, 31
Dabašinskienė, Mrs. 21 Daknevičius, Father Kęstutis 9 Dalbokaitė, Neringa 46,47 Danyla, Father Antanas 9 Dapkevičienė, Mrs. 36 Dapkūnas, V. 23 Dapkūnienė, Mrs. 20 Daunaravičius, V. 23 Deltuva, Father Albinas 7, U Diškevičius, Father Antanas 7, 11 Dovydaitis, Father Gvidonas 7, 11 Dulksnys, Msgr. Kazimieras ii Dumbliauskas, Father Petras 7, ii
Gajauskas, Balys 49 Gražulis, Father Kazimieras 44 Gaurilčikienė, J. 34,35 Gelčienė39 Girdevičius, Father J. 37 Gorbachev, Mikhail 4,8,9,11, 14,17,31,37 Gorochovenko 48 Grauslys, Msgr. 13 Gražulienė, M. 18,19,20,21, 23 Gražulis 17,18,19,20,21,22 Gražulis, A. 23Gražulis, Father Antanas 7,11 Gražulis, Father Kazimieras 34,35 Gražulis, K. 23 Gražulis, P. 23 Gražulis, Petras 15,22, 23 Gražulis, Povilas 21 Gražulytė, A. 23 Gražulytė, Janina 23 Gražulytė, R. 23 Gražulytė, Regina 22 Gražulytė, V. 23 Griganavičius, Father Vytautas 9 Grigaravičius 22 Grigas 14 Grigas, Robertas 8,9 Grudzinskas, Father Jonas 7, ii Gudaitis, Aldonas 42 Gudaitis, Algis 42 Gudaitis, S. 23 Gudaitytė, Marytė 14,23 Gudanavičius, Father Gustavas 9 Gunda, Father G. 37 Gustaitis, Father Vytautas 7,11
Hitler 8,44
Iešmantas, Gintautas 33, 48, 49 Insoda, Father Vytautas 7,11
Jakaitis, Msgr. Kleopas 34 Jakubauskas, Father Antanas 9 Jakubauskas, Father Eugenijus 9 Jakulevičienė, Valė 47 Jalinskas, Father V. 13 Jalinskas, Father Vincas 7,11 Jalinskas, Father Vincentas 34 Janušauskas 23 Janušauskas, Arūnas 45 Jaudegis, Father Albinas 7,11 Jazov 16 Jocas 14 Jozėnas 36 Jurevičiūtė, M. 36
Kačergis, V. 23 Kalinauskas, Father Leonas 9 Kaminskas, Father Juozas 44 Kaškonaitė, M. 23 Kaušas, Rolandas 35 Kavaliauskaitė, Ona 30 Kavaliūnas, Father Leonardas 7,11 Kazakevičius 41 Kazalupskas, Juozas 41 Kazlauskas, Father Jonas 9 Kekmonaitė, G. 23 Kirkilaitė, Vita 31 Klimavičius, Father Juozas 7, 11 Kreizas 47 Krikščiūnas, Bishop Romualdas ii Krikštaponytė, Ingrida 47 Krisiūnaitė, Br. 23 Kudirka, Vincas 12 Kunevičius, Father Lionginas 7,11
Labukas-Matulaitis, Bishop Juozas ii Lauka, J. 31 Laurinavičius, Father Bronislovas 9 Lenin 46 Liesis, Father Antanas 7,11 Lukas, Z. 36 Lukošaitis, Father Albinas 7 Lukošaitis, Father Antanas 11
Maironis 39,40 Makrickaitė, R. 23 Makrickaitė, V. 23 Makštutis, A. 11, 37 Malinauskas, Jonas 47,48 Marcinkaitė, J. 23 Markauskaitė, Irena 31 Matoniene, Mrs. 18,19 Matonis, J. 42 Matukas, P. 22,23 Matulaitis, Blessed Jurgis 29 Matulaitis, Father Jonas 7,11 Matulaitis, Father Pranciškus 9 Matulevičius, Father Juozapas 11 Matulionis, Bishop Teofilius i, ii Matulionis, Father Jonas- Kąstytis 11,16, 37, 41,42 Maželis, Bishop Petras ii Mažylis, Pranas 14 Meilius, Father Petras 13 Michelevičius, Bishop Vladas ii Mickevičius, Adomas 44 Mikailionytė, J. 23 Mikalajūnas, Father Stasys 7, 11 Mikalauskaitė, R. 23 Mikoliškiai 40 Milašius, Father Antanas 9,34 Miliauskienė, J. 36 Molotov 15, 48 Montvila, Father Vytautas 7 Morkūnas, P. 34
Oželis 34
Paltarokas, Bishop Kazimieras i Pasilauskas, Father Algirdas 7, 11 Pečeliūnas, Povilas 31,33,48 Pečeliūnienė, Danutė 33 Pečiukonis, Father Juozas 7, U Perlaitis, Father Pranas 7,11 Pesliakas, Father Kazimieras 9,37 Petkevičius, Father VI. 37 Petkus, Viktoras 32,33,49 Petraitytė, D. 23 Poleikienė, Mrs. 36 Pope John Paul II 2 Povilonis, Archbishop Liudas ii, 37 Prajara, Father Vincas 11 Prajara, Father Vytautas 7,35, 39,40 Preikšas, Bishop Juozas ii Preikšas, K. 35 Puzonas, Father Rokas 8,9, 44
Ramanauskas, Bishop Pranas i, ii Ramanauskas, Father Vaclovas 9, 37 Razmantas, Father Juozapas 9 Reinys, Archbishop Mečislovas i Ribbentrop 15,48 Rubliauskas 18 Rugienis, Juozas 5 Rumšas, Father Robertas 37 Rusinas, Father Jonas 7, ii
Sabaliauskas, V. 45 Sabutienė, Mrs. 43 Sadauskas, Father Alfonsas 7 Sadauskas, Father Vytautas 44 Sadūnaitė, Nijolė 8,9,10 Sakavičius, Gintas 20 Šarakauskaitė, Ona 30 Sasnauskas, Julius 44 Savickas, R. 31 Šeškevičius, Father Antanas 35,36 Šimkūnaitė, Miss 22 Šimkūnas, V. 23 Sinkevičiūtė, V. 23 Sitka, Father Petras 7,11 Skučas, Father Kazimieras 7 Sladkevičius, Cardinal Vincentas ii, 44 Šnipas 14 Spritsin 41 Stakėnas, Father Vaclovas 7,9, 10,11 Stalin ii, 8,13,44 Stanevičiūtė, Stanislova 46,47 Stankevičius, Father J. 5 Stenbra 43 Steponavičius, Bishop Julijonas ii, 2,4,5,6,7,9,41 Stepučinskas 29, 30 Stonys 14 Šulskis, Father Pranas 7,11 Surplienė, J. 35,36 Survila, Father Jonas 9 Svarinskas, Father Alfonsas 2, 9,11,14,16,37,41,49 Svirbutavičiūtė, Aldona 21,22
Tamašauskienė 14 Tamkevičius, Father Sigitas 2, 5,9,11,14,16,37,41,49 Tamonis, Father Jonas 9 Tamulevičius, Juozas 47 Tamulevičiūtė, D. 48 Tavoraitis, Father P. 37 Terleckas, Antanas 8 Topolev, J. 31
Urbonas, Father Vitas U Urbonienė, Mrs. 47 Urnikis, Vincas 43 Užkuraitis, Father Vytautas 7, 11 Užupis, Father Juozapas 7,11 Užusienis, Father J. 37
Vaičeliūnas, Father Juozapas 9 Vaičiūnas, Vytautas 31 Vaičius, Bishop Antanas ii, 40 Vainoras, Alvydas 34, 47 Vairą, Father D. 37 Vaišnorienė, M. 36 Valainas, Father Tadeušas 7 Valianis, Father Tadeušas 11 Vanagas 33, 34 Vanagas, Leonas 47 Varkala, Father Jonas 11 Vaškelis, Father V. 37 Venecevičiūtė, R. 23 Verenius 20 Verkala, Father Jonas 7 Viksvas 29 Vilgotskaitė, Snieguolė 48 Vitkus, Father Antanas 7, U Voveris, Father J. 37 Vozgirda 41,42
Yazov 15 Yla, Father Stasys 29
Zabulis, Henrikas 43,44 Žalenskas, K. 34 Zdebskis, Father Juozas 1,9, 24, 34 Žemaitis, Romas 41,42 Žemaitis, Romas 16 Žukauskas, Father Raimundas 7,11
INDEX OF PLACES
Adutiškis 4 Afghanistan 16 Akmenė 47 Alytus 11,17,18,19,20,22,37
Bagdarin 32, 33 Byelorussia 8,9
Chernikovsk 31 Chernobyl 16
Deltuva 37
Eržvilkas 13
Gadunavas 43 Gargždai 35,36, 40 Garliava 39,40 Germany 15 Gruzdžiai 10
Joniškis 8, 9
Kaišiadorys ii, 6 Kaliningrad 31 Kapsukas 15 Kaunas i, ii, 5,14,31, 35,37 39,40,41,42,43,44 Kiaukliai 8,9 Klaipėda ii, 2,35,36,41 Kretinga 40 Krokialaukis 9,10 Kybartai 2,16,29,30,41
Lazdijai 13,33, 34,40,47
Makniūniai 17 Mikoliškiai 40 Miroslavl 21 Moscow 41
Panevėžys i, ii, 4,46 Prienai 14,19, 42
Radviliškis 36 Raseiniai 13, 37 Rokiškis 34 Rome ii Rudamina 34
Sasnava 15 Šiauliai 15, 34, 35 Siberia i, 42 Šiluva 11,13, 35,37, 39 Širvintai 8 Skersbalis 14 Šlavantai 40 Svyriai 9
Telšiai i, ii, 43
Ukmergė 37 Ulan-Udė32,33 Utena 14
Veisiejai 33 Viekšniai 47 Vilkaviškis i, ii, 9,16, 29, 30, 37,41 Vilnius i, 2,4,5,6, 7, 8,9,10, 29,30, 31,33, 34 39,41,46,47,48 Vladimir i
Žagarė 2,5,6,7,41 Žemaičių Kalvarija 34,35
Nijole Sadunaite A RADIANCE IN THE GULAG
This is the heroic story of one woman's witness to the Catholic Faith in the face of an atheistic state. Harassed by the KGB, imprisoned, exiled to Siberia, released, and harassed again: Nijole Sadunaite continues to defend the Church in Lithuania. This is her own story, smuggled out in January 1987. Photos, 148pp (cloth $9.95; paper $5.95).
Sale price: cloth $7.95; paper $4.75
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