Encounters in Lithuania
Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Nuncio of the Baltic States, visited the training centre for deacons in Kaunas, where he also met candidates and their wives as well as representatives of the IDC.
The Formation Centre for Permanent Deacons in Kaunas / Lithuania invited the Vice President of the IDC, Deacon Erik Thouet and the Managing Director of the IDC, Kilian Schadt, to visit Kaunas. The reason for the visit was a meeting between the candidates for the diaconate, their wives and children and the Lithuanian deacons with the Nuncio of the Baltic States, Archbishop Georg Gänswein.
At the same time as the IDC representatives arrived in Vilnius on 4 February, 1200 soldiers from the German Armed Forces landed in Kaunas to reinforce the brigade stationed there. The political situation was a recurring theme during the visit. For the Lithuanians, the threat posed by Russia has not only been tangible since its war of aggression in Ukraine, but has intensified significantly since it began. Lithuania is therefore very grateful for Germany’s solidarity and the deployment of the NATO brigade, which is to be increased to 4,800 soldiers by the end of 2027.
Lithuania is twice the size of Belgium in terms of area, but has fewer inhabitants than Berlin. A third of the area is covered by forests. Just 46 people live per square kilometre, compared to more than five times as many in Germany.
The borders with Russia, Latvia, Poland and Belarus have been redrawn time and again. For centuries, the region had belonged to either Prussia, Poland or Russia. The Lithuanian identity is hard-won – a story of resistance, escape and new beginnings. The Red Army invaded in 1940, followed by the Nazis in 1941 and the Soviets again in 1944.
Until the Holocaust, Vilnius was regarded as the “Jerusalem of the East”, one of the most important cultural centres of Judaism. Today, Vilnius is also known as the “Rome of the North”, as there is said to be no corner of the Old Town from which at least three churches cannot be seen.
The visit to two churches was particularly impressive. The “Gate of Dawn” with the “Icon of Mercy”, one of the most important shrines in Lithuania. And the original of the “Merciful Jesus”, painted in 1934 after the visions of St Maria Faustyna Kowalska, who lived in Vilnius for some time.
In Kaunas, the IDC representatives met with 11 candidates from various dioceses, who are currently preparing for ordination as deacons at the formation centre there, led by P. Liutauras Vileniskis and Virginija Malinauskiene. In the exchange with the candidates and their wives, the vitality of the Catholic Church in Lithuania and the diversity of future fields of work for deacons became clear. The challenges for deacons include, for example, reservations on the part of priests, some of whom are still sceptical about the permanent diaconate due to a lack of experience. The first permanent deacons were only ordained in Lithuania in 2017. However, the number of candidates who, unlike in German-speaking countries, will work exclusively as deacons with a civil profession, gives cause for hope: their commitment to the needy and in proclaiming the Gospel will bear witness to the fact that only a diaconal church can fulfil its true mission.
The highlight of the trip was the meeting with the Nuncio of the Baltic States, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, who visited the formation centre for deacons in Kaunas. The meeting began with a very lively discussion in which the deacons and candidates, as well as their wives, were able to put their questions to the nuncio, which he answered in detail and competently. Archbishop Gänswein also put questions to the candidates, whereby his benevolent interest in the diaconate in Lithuania became clear.
He then celebrated Holy Mass in Latin with the assembled group in the church of the seminary. In his sermon, which he preached in English, he called on the deacons and future deacons to be alert to the plight of people and to show genuine compassion. A festive lunch with Lithuanian specialities rounded off the meeting.
The feedback from the candidates and their wives testified to their great gratitude for the encouragement provided by the visit of the Nuncio as ambassador of Pope Leo XIV. Supplemented by the participation of IDC representatives, the participants were able to experience the universal Church.
Other items on the programme for Erik Thouet and Kilian Schadt were an interview with Radio Maria and a visit to a CARITAS day centre for homeless and lonely women and men. IDC delegate Deacon Arūnas Kučikas is the President of the CARITAS Council in Lithuania.