Saint St. Casimir, patron of our parish, we turn to you. We ask you to awaken in us a deep love and respect for Jesus Christ, present in the Holy Eucharist. Grant us the wisdom to turn to the Mother of God in time of need. Give us compassion for those who suffer and make our hearts peaceful that we might never cause suffering to another. Help us to be faithful to our calling in life and guide those who are searching to find the calling God has chosen for them. Pray for us, St. Casimir, that we may live well here on Earth and one day live gloriously in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

A Mass was celebrated to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the signing of the Act of Independence that re-established Lithuania’s sovereignty. It is also known as Restoration of the State Day. In the 18th century, Lithuania was under the Russian empire. During WWI, German troops occupied and controlled the region while marching to Russia. In the Russian revolution of 1917, Germany gave Lithuanians the choice to be aligned either with Germany or Russia, which they ignored and instead sign the Act of Independence on February 16, 1918. Independence was only temporary for Lithuania to be occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940 during WWII. The peaceful demonstration known as the Baltic Way that took place on August 23, 1989 restored freedom to Lithuania. On May 1, 2004, Lithuania became a member of the European Union.