Archbishop Kurtz to be Main Celebrant, Homilist at Šiluva Chapel Jubilee Mass

The Šiluva Chapel in Washington 50 Year Jubilee Committee announces that Most Rev. Joseph E. Kurtz, Archbishop of Louisville and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has accepted its invitation to be the principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass of Thanksgiving in early October to mark the golden anniversary of the dedication of the Chapel of Our Lady of Šiluva.

“I am deeply honored to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Chapel of Our Lady of Šiluva at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.,“ said Archbishop Kurtz. “Recalling the miraculous visitation of Our Blessed Virgin Mary to the ruins of a confiscated and closed Catholic church in Šiluva, Lithuania, in 1608, this chapel is a beautiful tribute to Lithuanian Catholics who have been so strong in their faith, despite many hardships and suffering. May Our Lady of Šiluva protect us,“ he said.

The Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, in the Basilica‘s Great Upper Church. Archbishop Kurtz will be joined at the Mass by Most Rev. Lionginas Virbalas, S.J., Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Kaunas, where the town of Šiluva is located. Both Archbishop Kurtz and Archbishop Virbalas are members of the honorary committee for the jubilee.

“We are delighted that Archbishop Kurtz, one of the preeminent leaders of the Catholic Church in the United States, has agreed to celebrate this Mass of Thanksgiving for the chapel dedicated to our Lady of Šiluva that is precious to so many Americans and Canadians of Lithuanian descent,“ said Msgr. Edmund J. Putrimas, who is the Lithuanian Bishops Conference Delegate for the Apostolate of Lithuanian Catholics Abroad and a member of the jubilee committee. “When I discussed the invitation with Archbishop Kurtz, I was pleased to hear him say that the Šiluva chapel is one of his favorite shrines and also to learn that his mother’s parents, who were of Polish descent, came to the United States from the Vilnius region in 1907,” said Msgr. Putrimas.

“Plans for the golden anniversary are moving forward nicely,” said committee chair Victor Nakas. “We look forward to the June 30 opening of the exhibit, ‘The Chapel of Šiluva 50 years later.’ It will remain open through mid-October so those coming to Washington on Columbus Day weekend for the jubilee will be able to see it. In addition to our distinguished celebrant and concelebrant, the October 9 Mass will feature four well known Lithuanian choirs from Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Toronto. We hope for a moving and joyful Mass of Thanksgiving and anticipate welcoming many Lithuanians coming from near and far for the occasion,” said Nakas.

The work of the Jubilee Committee is supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania; Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid; the Lithuanian Catholic Mission of Washington, D.C.; and the Lithuanian Foundation, The committee is very much in need of additional financing and is accepting contributions from individuals. Tax-free donations can be sent to Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid, 64-25 Perry Ave., Maspeth, NY 11378-2441. Please make the check out to Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid and on the check memo line write “Siluva Chapel Jubilee.”

For more information about the jubilee, see www.siluva50usa.org and Facebook: siluva50USA.