GOLDEN JUBILEE
ŠILUVA CHAPEL
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THECHAPEL
The Chapel of Our Lady of Šiluva in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC is a landmark of Lithuanian culture in the United States. It celebrates not only the deep religious traditions of Lithuanian-Americans, but also the sustained support that this community provided to the cause of religious, cultural, and political freedom in Lithuania during its unlawful occupation by the Soviet Union during and, again, following the Second World War.
The Chapel was dedicated in 1966, at a time of seemingly triumphant Soviet repression. It is remarkable, therefore, that the Chapel’s Silver Jubilee celebration in 1991 coincided with the celebration of the restoration of the independent Lithuanian state.
The year 2016 will mark the Golden Jubilee of the dedication of the Chapel of Our Lady of Siluva, as well as the Silver Jubilee of the restoration of independence, including religious freedom, in Lithuania. (Note: Image at right is the cover of the program for the 1966 dedication of the Šiluva Chapel.)
Letter of Paul VI to H.E. Msgr Vincentas Brizgys Titular Bishop of Bosana Sunday, 4 September 1966
Bishop Vincentas Brizgys † Audio Appeals for the support of the construction of the Chapel.
1963/64 1965 1966
OUR COMMITTEE
The committee is based in the Washington, D.C., area. Most of its members are long-time residents of the area who have long been active in Lithuanian American organizations.
The members of the committee are as follows:
Angele Bailey, Kestutis Ciziunas (treasurer), Paulius Klimas, Izabele Lauckaite Howes, Dr. Juozas Laukaitis, Dr. Jurate Maciunaite Landwehr, Msgr. Rolandas Makrickas, Victor Nakas (chairman), Sigita Naujokaitis, Leonard Linas Orentas, Msgr. Edmundas Putrimas, Evaldas Stankevicius, Danele Vidutis, and Viktorija Zabariene.
Msgr. Putrimas initiated the formation of the committee. He is the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference Delegate for the Apostolate of Lithuanian Catholics Abroad and also chairman of the Board of Directors of Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid, under whose auspices the committee operates.
Should you wish to become part of this important event, please do contact us by visiting our Contact page and sending us a note.