"Pray More Novenas" Plans Gift of Prayer for Pope Benedict's Birthday

Our Papa, catlover and owner of the celebrated orange tabby and biographer, Chico, Benedict XVI, will be celebrating his 84th birthday on April 16, 2011.

The people at "Pray More Novenas" are planning a gift of 84,000 Novenas for the Pope's 84th Birthday.

Join up with praymorenovenas.com to get 84,000 people to pray a novena for the Pope's 84th birthday. The Pope prays for us everyday so it's time to return the gift to him on the anniversary of his birth.

Sign up to pray here: http://bit.ly/h0052O

Today in History: Triangle Shirtwaist Fire March 25, 1911

"The Triangle Waist Company was located one block east of Washington Square Park. There were over 500 employees – most were young women, most were recent immigrants. March 25, 1911 a fire broke out on the 8th floor. The workers ran to the fire escape. It collapsed, dropping them to their death. On the 9th floor a critical exit was locked. People on the street watched as the workers began to jump out the windows. Fire trucks arrived but their ladders only reached the 6th floor. The elevators ran as long as they could, workers pressed into the cars; some tumbled down the elevator shaft."

In the end 146 people died. There was a trial but the owners, long known for their anti-union activities, got off. The fire became a rallying cry for the international labor movement. Many of our fire safety laws were created in response to this tragic event.

We remember because we are still fighting for social justice for all."

from the Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition

My Lithuanian grandmother, who attended Our Lady of Vilnius, was the same age as many of the women who perished in the fire. Today we pray for their souls and, in their memory,work to obtain respect, safety and fair treatment for all workers.

Learn more at WNYC Archive: Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

RIP Margaret Ruta

A message from Josephine of Mary Help of Christians let us know that Margaret Ruta had passed on. Margaret and Josephine Ruta were featured in a New York Times article, The Church Ladies, in 2007 when the Salesian parish was closed by the Archdiocese of New York.

As we pray for Margaret, let us thank God for her example of faith and for the parishes that gave us the privilege of knowing women like her.

In celebration of St. Patrick

As members of the Archdiocese of New York, today we celebrate the feast of our patron saint, St. Patrick. Today I learned that St. Patrick was not Irish and, initially, not Catholic! He was kidnapped and taken to Ireland. After escaping and returning to his parents, he underwent a conversion, was ordained to the priesthood and returned to Ireland. The banished snakes of legend were gone before he arrrived there, but he set about the expulsion of evil and the propagation of our faith, stalwartly facing many trials.

Maybe he had some Lithuanian ancestry...

An evening out with the Rupintojelis

He might look too preoccupied for you, but He's my dream date! Friday, March 18, the Fordham University Center for Culture and Religion will present a program titled "Dead or Alive?: The mystery of the man of sorrows". My Rupintojelis and I will set out on one more journey in an education in faith started by Our Lady of Vilnius.

Meanwhile, west of Hudson Square...

The most recent edition of The Villager covers local resistance to a Business Improvement District (BID) east of "Hudson Square" in Soho in an article by Aline Reynolds titled "Soho residents wrangle over BID, artist in residence." Our Lady of Vilnius Church and Rectory are empty spaces on the map of Hudson Square BID.

St. Stanislaus Kostka: The Metamorphosis

St. Stanislaus is now owned by The Purple Crayon Center for Learning and Social Innovation.

Previously Spotted on Broome Street

After commemorating the 4th anniversary of the locking of Our Lady of Vilnius, some of the faithful trooped East to the Broome Street Bar. As we paused in front of this establishment, the person pictured above swept past us. Same silhouette, different color. On Saturday, the kilt was black and the jacket was black leather. We stared in awe.

Yesterday, as I had my wispy gray hair trimmed, I spoke to my stylist, Joe, wishing for a more dangerous look. He suggested a Mohawk and I went on to describe last week's vision on Broome Street, wondering whether I should go for the single spike.

Lo and behold! Here he is again in the "Sunday Styles" section of the today's Times! Does anyone in the neighborhood know this guy?

"The Villager" editorial endorses rezoning of Hudson Square

Our Lady of Vilnius resides at the southern margin of Hudson Square, where everyone thinks more creatively, even us!

The Villager's editorial, "A new Hudson Square," briefly explains the proposal and then expresses support. Basically the plan calls for increased residential development and a cap on building height.

New residents could mean new life for Our Lady of Vilnius. Traffic is so bad on Varick that a parish on the Western side of the street would be indispensable.

Convergence

This is a place where my grandparents trod before my father came into being; a place where my father and aunts prayed as children. It is a place where I was a young child before words organized emotion, where a sense of sacredness was imprinted upon me through my senses.

I fix each image in the crosshairs of my lens, preserving it for memory like the child taking temporary leave of the comb, the brush and the bowl full of mush in “Good Night Moon.”

The Cartesian crosshairs of my lens as I shoot, not to kill but to preserve, align themselves with the cross of Christ. This church represents the convergence of all my loves.

May the Holy Spirit help all to envision each of us and this house through the lens of mercy.

No excuses! Two opportunities to honor Our Lady of Vilnius

This year we are blessed to have the anniversary of the locking of Our Lady of Vilnius fall on a Saturday. This gives you two opportunities to gather with your fellows and pray for the future of Our Lady of Vilnius!

Friday, February 25th - 7:00 PM, Candlelight Vigil
Saturday, February 26th - 12:00 Noon, Gathering for Remembrance, Renewal and Hope

LAC will Commemorate Locking of Our Lady of Vilnius with candlelight vigil

The Lithuanian American Community, Inc. (LAC) which has always been an active champion of the cause of Our Lady of Vilnius, will commemorate the 4th anniversary of the lockout with a candlelight vigil.

Where: in front of Our Lady of Vilnius Church
When: Friday, February 25th @ 7:00 PM

Honoring Our Legacy of Faith

In the years that I have attended Our Lady of Vilnius as an adult some very special people have passed on: Dalia Bulgaris, Danute Strout, Frankie Pretzels,and Julia Martinho. Though they are not present in my daily life, I remember them and their devotion to Our Lady of Vilnius parish often.

They are part of the spiritual legacy of the parish and are a part of me. They join my grandparents, father and aunts who attended the parish through the '20's and '30's. They join our founding Pastor, Father Sestokas, Blessed George Matulaitis, who said Mass at Our Lady of Vilnius in 1926 and all of our deceased friends and relatives who found grace, solace and friendship in Our Lady of Vilnius Parish.

On Saturday, February 26 we will read the names of our departed, and acknowledge that they are present: present in our hearts and present in our community. We will pray for them and ask them to pray for us and for our intention to continue their legacy into the future.

CLICK HERE to add the name of a beloved departed Our Lady of Vilnius parishioner to the list.

Please Join Us on the 4th Anniversary of the Locking of Our Lady of Vilnius

Saturday, February 26, 2011

12 Noon

Our Lady of Vilnius Church

570 Broome Street, west of Varick

On Monday, February 26, 2007, the faithful arrived at Our Lady of Vilnius for noon Mass and found the door locked. Joy McAleer, Parish Trustee, stood in front of the church, greeting, consoling and trying to explain. Our Pastor, Father Sawicki, had gone uptown to meet with Cardinal Egan. While he was there, archdiocesan officials came and locked the church.

On Saturday, February 26, 2011 we will gather at 12 Noon outside the church to:

• Celebrate the life and history of the parish
• Call the roll of those who have gone before us: Father Joseph Sestokas, Blessed George Matulaitis, Father Palubinskas, Dalia Bulgaris, Dalia Bulvicius, Aldona Kepelaite, Linda Pakri, Frankie Pretzels, Danute Straut, and Julia Martinho, to name a few. We will say “Present” on their behalf as their names are read.
• Pray for the future of Our Lady of Vilnius Parish: a source and symbol of goodness, peace and strength in a vast city that grows taller, faster and harsher every day.

Please join us.

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A Mystery in The Villager's article: Whodunnit? Got a clue?

Albert Amateu's recent article on the Our Lady of Vilnius (Vilna), "Lady of Vilna appeal goes to the state's highest court" contained one curious statement:

"Instead, Blaudzinas said the congregation is looking into “the possibility of starting a new dialogue.” Leaders of the congregation met with New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan and hope that he finds favor with their cause,Blaudzinas said."

I view a "congregation" as a religious entity with a clerical leader. I do not view our movement to restore the parish of Our Lady of Vilnius as a "congregation" and no one that I recognize as my leader has met with the Archbishop regarding the parish. Could they be referring to this meeting? Who are my mystery leaders and what is their cause?

"The Villager" reports on Our Lady of Vilnius Lawsuit

The latest issue of The Villager features and article by Albert Amateau titled "Our Lady of Vilna goes to state's highest court" The article goes on to explain the legal issues at stake. We thank The Villager, the local paper literally around the corner, that has been documenting our plight since we first heard that Our Lady of Vilnius was destined for closure (Lady of Vilnius and 'Pretzels' and 'Provolone' may lose home)

Please read the article, and add your comments to the forum.

To Grow Up and Old around Our Lady of Vilnius

Today Manny Fernandez profiles John "Moe" Maloney of Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, in his piece To Grow Up and Old in the Same Little Neighborhood.

Joe Maloney doesn't seem much different from Francis Healey, who was Grand Knight of the Knickerbocker Council, Knights of Columbus, at the time that Our Lady of Vilnius was locked. Last year I saw Mr. Healy standing at the corner of Broome and Varick. I walked up to him and asked "How are things in the neighborhood?" He replied "What neighborhood? The neighborhood is shot," waving his hand in the direction of an empty space on the corner diagonally across Varick where an interesting brick building had once stood.

Mr. Fernandez mentions Mr. Maloney's parish, 132 year old Holy Name of Jesus. Let us hope that this parish survives the cuts planned for the Archdiocese of Brooklyn. These parishes are the habitats of now-rare birds like John Maloney and Francis Healey. Mr. Fernandez describes greater diversity arriving in Windsor Terrace along with gentrification. Will greater diversity accompany residential development around Our Lady of Vilnius, which now bears the real-estate moniker "Hudson Square?" Or will we have a racially and geographically diverse population of seekers of new apartments, top of the line appliances, a short commute and ready access to their preferred consumer goods and night life? It is my hope that the inner light of a restored Our Lady of Vilnius parish will attract them and transform them into the rare birds that they were meant to be.

Room for Our Lady of Vilnius in the inn?

If we were Mexican, we might take our posada to Archbishop Dolan's residence or the Chancery. We would knock on the door and chant and ask for a place for Jesus to be born.

Our presence across the street from St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday is our posada. When we sing "Marija, Marija" we are asking for entry, a place among the "in," if not in the "inn."

Our canonical appeal and our civil lawsuit are our knocking. Can't the Archdiocese let us in instead of installing a stronger door and bigger locks?

Pray for us this Christmas. When you remember your loved ones who have gone before, ask them for their help in finding room in the inn. In any case, the love of Jesus is alive and burning in our hearts.

linksmų šventų Kalėdų, buon Natale, feliz Natal and a blessed Christmas to all!

Hot Damn! It's Christmas!

This is the box that we've used to store our Christmas decorations for years.

A Man with a Dream

He's not Lithuanian, he's not Jewish, but he's opening a Jewish library in Vilnius. He's following his dream and he is an inspiration.