Sunday Voice, Catholic newspaper

Šventadieno Balsas (Sunday Voice)

Soon after arrival in Australia it became evident to Lithuanians that a newspaper in their own language was needed, as many did not speak English at the time.

When Father Jatulis arrived in Adelaide there was no Lithuanian church and he would conduct mass in Lithuanian in several Australian churches.  A newspaper would serve to keep parishioners informed.  On 29 March 1953, Father Jatulis began to print a bulletin on a copying machine, the Sunday Voice (Šventadieno Balsas) was born. 

Father Jatulis produced the bulletin until he was recalled to Rome, when the following priest, Father Kungys took up the role.   The editors was always the priest, following Kungys was Kazlauskas, Dauknys, Spurgis.  If they were will or away the task was passed on to Pranas Pušdešris.

Each edition would feature a religious article, thankyous, coming events and notifications.  Some advertisements were used to offset the cost of production.

The bulletin was funded by Lithuanian Caritas Inc which comes from the parishioner’s donations.  For many years two couples Valerija and Bronius Masionis and Petronelė and Antanas Dancevičius would fold and post each paper.

Father Spurgis

Budriene and Father Spurgis

The second Catholic priest to minister to the Adelaide Lithuanians was Father Albinas Spurgis.  He was born September 6^th in 1907 in Panevežys.  He attended the Ukmergė school and later the Seminary in Kaunas.  He was ordained a priest on June 23^rd 1932.  From 1932 he spent two years at St Peters and Paul’s church in Panevežys and three years in Panevežys cathedral. From July 1938 he was at the Gelažių parish and Simonys. From December 12^th 1943 he held the office of the Dean of Kupiškas.

He left Lithuania in 1944 and made his way to Germany, Oberfalce in Bavaria in the town of Weiden, where he assisted the church.  He established a Lithuania camp where he was the chaplain and Weiden Lithuanian school director.

He emigrated to the USA in 1949 and lived in Cleveland in the St Joseph’s church.  He was here for four years.  In 1953 he left for Rome and entered the Marian congregation, where he remained for  two years.  He returned to Chicago and entered pastoral work and travelled to Lithuanian congregations.  In 1958 he was appointed to the Marian newspaper “Friends’.

In 1969 he arrived in Adelaide and became the second Catholic priest for St Casmir’s.  He arrived on 27 November to a community meal with 60 parish members present.   During the evening Father Spurgis told those present that he had heard alot about the Adelaide community in Chicago, mainly from J. Bačunas and Bishop V. Brizgys

Father Spurgis died on 7^th October 1985 10 07 in Adelaide.

Mothers day at the Lithuanian Catholic centre 1970.

Motinos diena 1970

Following mass by father Spurgis, the community gathered in the hall.  All mothers received a flower to pin to their tops, then were seated at the tables and offered refreshment by the students.

A program followed.  The school principal, K Pažėra, The Parish council member B. Dičiūnas, Lithuanian Catholic women’s president T. Gasiunienė and Ateitininkas (Catholic Youth)  member A. Kubilius spoke.  A picture of the Aušros Vartų Marija[i] (Gates of Dawn Mary) and fresh flowers decorated the stage where the children performed. 

Poems were recited by Vincas Bagušauskas, Viktoras Dunda, Kristina Stankevičiutė, Andrius Vitkūnas, Brigita Paul, Edis Jučius and Aidas Kubilius.  Further poems were read by Regina Pranskūnaitė, Sietynas Kubilius, Petras Urnevičius and Saulius Kubilius. 

R. Kubiliutė, one of the teachers lead the children in singing.  Regina Pranskunaitė and Ramunė Varnaitė played the piano. 

Older student, Linas Kubilius read an extract from Vaizgantis[ii] and Gintaras Kubilius  read Father Krasauskas thoughts on mothers.

The same day the Women’s committee organised a concert at Lithuanian House, performed by the Adelaide Lithuanian school. 

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[i]  The Chapel in the Gate of Dawn contains an icon of The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Mercy, said to have miraculous powers.  For centuries the picture has been one of the symbols of the city and an object of veneration for both Roman Catholic and Orthodox inhabitants. Thousands of votive offerings adorn the walls and many pilgrims from neighbouring countries come to pray in front of the beloved painting.

[ii] Juozas Tumas, also known by the pen name Vaižgantas (September 20, 1869 - April 29, 1933), was a prominent Lithuanian writer, Roman Catholic priest, social activist, literary historian, and one of the founders of the Party of National Progress. He wrote novels, short fictional pieces, and non-fiction. His most notable works include the novel Pragiedruliai (Rays of Hope) and the narrative Dėdės ir dėdiėnes (Uncles and Aunts). Tumas is considered one of the most important Lithuanian writers of his era.

Summer youth camp, 1970

The Catholic organised a summer youth camp from 2 to 14^th of January at ‘Kurša’ the Latvian camp grounds at Aldinga beach.  It wasn't the best place for a camp site as it was a bit far from the beach and the breezes cool. 

The camp was lead by Nemira Masiūlytė, assisted by R. Kubiliutė. Camp commandant was D. Karpys, camp cook was Visockiene, Janilionienė and Marcinkevičiutė.  Every evening father Kazlauskas and Father Spurgis would hold readings and discussions.  Guests spoke on various topics, L. Pakalnis spoke about Lithuanian poetry, A Kubilius spoke about practical Catholicism, M. Gavienienė about catholic ideology, V. Straukas and Father Spurgis led a discussion of youth issues, G. Kaminskas spoke on the Lithuanian language.  V. Vosylius gave a slide show featuring Lithuanian scenes.  P. Pusdešris spoke on and led a traditional partisan evening with a crown of flowers being let out to sea.

There were 25 children at the camp, with five of them had travelled from Melbourne.

The final day of camp, Father Kazlauskas said mass, followed by the youth showing what they had learned throughout the camp, singing national dancing, recitals. 

Stained Glass windows of St Casmir’s church

The Lithuanian Catholic church of St Casmir in St Peters has numerous statues, and detailed coloured stained glass windows, that tell many stories of Lithuanian history.  The windows have been created in memory of individuals who contributed greatly to the Lithuanian Catholic centre or in memory of Lithuania.

In 1969 Father Spurgis came from Chicago to lighten the duties of the ailing priest at that time Father Kazlauskas.  Father Spurgis initiated a comprehensive works program.  Under his guidance a national shrine was erected, a baptistery and five stained glass windows commemorating the five diocese of Lithuanian were added to the chapel.   Father Spurgis had envisaged a church decorated in stained glass depicting Lithuania.   In total the windows cost over $10,000, produced in the early 1970’s.  The windows were built by artist Stasys Kerulis.

The largest of the stained glass windows depicts St Casmir, patron saint of Lithuania.  The window is located behind the alter.  To the far right you can see Gediminas tower. 

Gediminas' Tower s the only remaining part of the Upper Castle in Vilnius.  It is an important state and historic symbol of the city of Vilnius and of Lithuania itself.  It is depicted on the national currency, the litas, and is mentioned in numerous Lithuanian patriotic poems and folk songs.

To the left of St Casmir is the Three Crosses (Lithuanian: Trys kryžiai) based on a monument in Vilnius. Designed by Polish–Lithuanian architect and sculptor Antoni Wiwulski in 1916, it was torn down in 1950 by order of the Soviet Union authorities.  A new monument designed by Henrikas Šilgalis was erected in its place in 1989.  The crosses stand on Kalnai Park, overlooking the old town of Vilnius, very close to Gediminas’ tower.

Saint Casimir Jagiellon (Lithuanian: Kazimieras; October 3, 1458 – March 4, 1484) was a crown prince of the Kingdom of Poland and of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania who became a patron saint of Lithuania, Poland, and the young. His feast day, the Saint Casimir's Day, is marked annually with Kaziuko mugė (a trade fair) held on the Sunday nearest to March 4, the anniversary of his death, in Vilnius.  Surviving contemporary accounts described Prince Casimir as a young man of exceptional intellect and education, humility and politeness, striving for justice and fairness.  

He is usually depicted as a young man in long red robe lined with sloat fur. Sometimes he wears a red cap of the Grand Duke of Lithuania, but other times, to emphasize his devotion to spiritual life, the cap is placed near Casimir. Usually he holds a lily, a symbol of virginity, innocence, and purity. He might also hold a cross, a rosary, or a book with words from Omni die dic Mariae (Daily, Daily Sing to Mary). He was canonized by Pope Adrian VI in 1522 and is the patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.