100th Birth Anniv. of Monsignor K. Vasiliauskas

Monsignor Kazimieras Vasiliauskas is one of the most famous priests in the history of Lithuania. He was born on April 9, 1922, in the village of Kateliškės. From an early age, the church, especially the Vabalninkas church was an oasis of peace and joy for the boy. In 1941, K. Vasiliauskas entered to study to the Kaunas Seminary of Priests. On August 15, four years later, he held the first Mass in the church of Vabalninkas. Unfortunately, after the first three years of the priesthood, K. Vasiliauskas was arrested and deported to Siberia. He spent almost ten years in Inta and Vorkuta. Books and poetry helped him not to lose hope and the joy of life in exile. K. Vasiliauskas was released from exile in 1959, but without the right to live in Lithuania. While staying in Latvia, he worked as a loader, later as an electrician and accountant. It was only a decade later that he returned to Lithuania and continued his priesthood after a break of twenty years.