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.