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Complete text of remarks |
Friends
of Saint Peter Lithuanian Parish – Update # 20
October 25, 2005
Greetings to all Friends of St. Peter Lithuanian Parish.
Last Sunday, October 23rd, 2005, our parish celebrated a
Mass of Thanksgiving to give thanks to God and Mary that our
beleaguered parish is still open.
The Mass of Thanksgiving and Celebration was well attended
despite the rainy weather. It was concelebrated by Monsignor
Contons and Fr. Zukas. Fr. Janiunas was in attendance.
The church was adorned with purple and gold mums and banners
declaring CELEBRATE and DZIAUKIMES. The bi-lingual liturgy
was beautiful and the hymns uplifting and joyous. Members
of parish organizations such as the sodality, Eucharistic
ministers, lectors, ushers, Parish Council, youth mass organizers,
Knights of Lithuania, choir and scouts, were represented in
the offertory procession. It was wonderful to hear a full
church of parishioners singing and praying in Lithuanian and
English.
In attendance at the mass were invited guests Mr. Andrius
Krivas, Counselor to the Lithuanian Embassy, who flew in from
Washington, DC, to represent Ambassador Vygaudas Usackas and
Mr. Peter Gelzinis, columnist for the Boston Herald.
After mass, a brief program continued in the Church. I was
privileged to welcome the assembled parishioners and guests
on behalf of the Friends. Letters of congratulations had been
received from Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius of Lithuania,
Bishop Paulius Baltakis and Monsignor Edmundas Putrimas and
their greetings were read to the congregation. In addition,
greetings were received from the Franciscan priests and parishioners
of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in South Boston expressing
their joy that our parish remains open. A greeting from the
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Lithuania, Dr. Thorsteinn
Gislason was read and his efforts on our behalf were remembered.
I reviewed our accomplishments during the past year and then
thanked Ambassador Usackas, Peter Gelzinis, Monsignor Contons
and Fr. Zukas for their support during our resistance efforts.
Mr. Krivas read greetings from the Ambassador and Mr. Gelzinis
remembered his grandfather, one of the founders and builders
of the church, during his remarks. Monsignor Contons was gracious
in his remarks. Fr. Zukas thanked everyone who had a part
in the resistance and urged all to come together to strengthen
our Parish.
Please
click here for the complete text of my remarks.
After this brief program, everyone proceeded to the Church
Hall for a luncheon. Many thanks to each parishioner who graciously
and generously brought food for the celebration. The church
hall was decorated with wonderfully colorful fall flowers
and banners proclaiming CELEBRATE ST. PETER LITHUANIAN PARISH
and DZIAUKIMES SV. PETRO LIETUVIU PARAPIJA. Participants enjoyed
the opportunity to visit with friends and to savor the current
moment of success.
As I said in my comments earlier, we now have the chance
to make St. Peter Parish bigger and better than before. We
must make it so vibrant that the archdiocese would never consider
closing us again!
To do this,
EACH
ONE OF YOU MUST DO YOUR PART! YOU MUST COME TO MASS! YOU MUST
SUPPORT THE PARISH FINANCIALLY. YOU MUST JOIN IN EFFORTS TO
RECRUIT NEW FAMILIES TO THE PARISH.
If we can do this, we will be secure in the future. Please
do your part.
Sincerely,
Gloria R. Adomkaitis
For the Friends
The following individuals assisted
me in preparations for the Mass of Thanksgiving celebration:
Rima Knasas, Algis Adomkaitis, Daiva Kiliulis, Kazys Adomkaitis,
Vytautas Dilba, Danute Dilba, Daiva Navickas, Aldona Lingertat,
William Olevitz, Alice Olevitz, Peter Raskauskas, Wanda Kiely,
Norma Snipas, Valentina Cepas, Gintaras Cepas, Danute Kazakaitis,
Rima Girnius, Ieva Matulionyte , Aldona Turauskyte Abidaoud,
Mirga Girnius, Florence Zaleskas, Joanne Shalna, Adele Povilavicius,
Elena Kuncaitiene, Vytautas Suziedelis, Gintas Adomkaitis
and Simas Phillips.
A sincere thanks to all the parishioners and friends who
so graciously and generously provided food for the luncheon
and to those who assisted with food service and cleanup on
the great day.
Thanks to the Friends of St. Peter Lithuanian Parish for
their contributions to make this Celebration successful.
Gloria Adomkaitis
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