LCRA NEWS

JOYFUL NEWS! LITHUANIA HAS A NEW ARCHBISHOP
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Gintaras Grušas Archbishop of Vilnius upon
Cardinal A. J. Bačkis’ retirement. Archbishop Grušas volunteers as LCRA
Board of Directors vicepresident. Archbishop Gintaras Grušas inaugurated
his ministry with an ingress, the first official entering into the cathedral. The
mass of Ingress was celebrated at Vilnius Archcathedral on Tuesday,
April 23, 2013 – feast day of St. George, the patron saint of the Vilnius
Archdiocese.
Archbishop Grušas was born in 1961 in Washington, D.C. into a
Lithuanian-American family deeply involved in Catholic and Lithuanian
diaspora activities. He was ordained a priest by Vilnius Archbishop A. J.
Bačkis in 1994. That same year he was elected Lithuanian Bishops'
Conference Secretary. In 2010 Pope Benedict XVI appointed then Monsignor
Gintaras Grušas Military Ordinary of Lithuania; that same year he was
consecrated bishop.
LCRA congratulates Archbishop Gintaras Grušas and we pray that God grant
him abundant grace for his labor in the Lord's vineyard. Archbishop Gintaras Grušas
Dear Friends, Patrons and Benefactors of Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid,
At the conclusion of this Year of Faith, I want to thank you for your concrete demonstrations of your love
of neighbor. You supported the work of Christ in Lithuania's dioceses and Lithuanian parishes
in the diaspora. How lovingly you shared your God-given gift of Faith with others!
Let the call to a new evangelization inspire us all to pray together, and work for all, so that everyone,
especially our youth, might know Jesus Christ and live according to the Gospel.
I sincerely wish you a most joyful Christmas season, I pray that our Merciful Mother watch over you and
your loved ones. May an active and loving Faith be our strength and light in the New Year!
I N MEMORI A M
+ Gintaras Grušas
Fr. Francis Giedgaudas, O.F.M., 93, died on Aug. 13, 2013,
at St. Andre Health Care in Biddeford, Maine. Fr. Francis
was a former member of the LCRA Board of Directors and
served for many years as its treasurer. He was born in
Paterson, N.J., on April 29, 1920. He grew up in Lithuania,
where he studied at the Franciscan Gimnazija, Kretinga. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1947 in
Teutopolis, IL.
From 1951-2006, he was Director of the Lithuanian
Franciscan Publishing Center and Printery, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Under his careful and creative leadership the printing house
published the bulk of all the LCRA affiliated Lithuanian
Information Center (1979-1990) publications. An urn with
the deceased 's remains were brought back to Lithuania and
Fr. Francis with LCRA treasurer M. Skabeikis
was buried in Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary's
review LCRA and LIC publications.
Church in Kretinga. Fr. Francis Giedgaudas was
posthumously awarded a Lithuanian Ministry of Culture Prize - for a lifetime of social and cultural service to
Lithuania and its people.
May the Lord give him the joy of eternal life!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014!
M AT E R I A L
A I D
Every year, for nearly 20 years, LCRA sends material aid to Lithuania. Many thanks go to you who bring
high-quality items to LCRA so that this generous tradition may continue.
In early October 56 boxes of aid were sent to Lithuania. The aid was split between an orphanage and home for
the elderly run by the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sisters of the Poor) in
Rumbonys (near Alytus), and the St . Clara Hospice in Utena.
"I sincerely thank LCRA for the aid, which is particularly welcome in this period of economic downturn. We are
very grateful to everyone for wheelchairs, walkers, crutches , bed linen , diapers, pajamas, nightgowns and
other gifts.“ - St . Clara Hospice director Zaneta Valiulienė.
Sr. Danute and Sr. Sonata of Sisters of the Poor say , "We will be able to bring much joy to many this
Christmas. Many items will go to our orphans and families at risk. We will keep the toys for Santa to
distribute at church to the children of the parish. Gifts bring joy! We thank you for the many gifts you have
given to us and so many others“.
Dear Lithuanian Catholic Religious
Aid donors and benefactors,
We wish you a merry and holy Christmas and Happy New Year!
May the newborn baby Jesus give you health,
abundant grace, and every joy in life!
LCRA Chairman Msgr. Edmund Putrimas,
the Board of Directors and the Administration
LCRA waiting for Your Donations!
To get a complete financial report for the 2013 fiscal year (2/1/2012- 1/31/2013), please contact the LCRA
office. Please remember LCRA in your will. In that way you will continue your meaningful and necessary
charitable work for the benefit of Lithuanian Catholics and the Catholic Church in Lithuania. Please send
us your e-mail address for more information about LCRA‘s work and funded projects. Donations are
exempt from federal income tax. LCRA’s Tax ID # is 11-2326652
To mark its 50th Anniversary, LCRA released a new book:
“Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid A MOSAIC OF WORKS 1961m.-2011m.”
In the book you will find: 50 years of LCRA history, people who worked for
and contributed to LCRA, projects LCRA supports, numerous full-color photographs.
To order this book please contact LCRA office:
64-25 Perry Ave. Maspeth, New York 11378
[email protected] • tel. 718-326-5202
For $25 you will receive a 234-page book in Lithuanian and English. (Plus $5 for mailing.)
LCRA NEWS
Spring – Winter 2013
Newsletter of Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid
64-25 Perry Ave. Maspeth, New York 11378 • tel. 718-326-5202 • www.LCRAid.org • www.LKRSalpa.org
Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid supports Catholic religious, educational and social outreach projects in Lithuania and its diaspora.
More than 1Million in grants to Lithuania
Thank you for your deep belief in, and selfless
support for Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid’s
work. Thank you for spreading the word about
LCRA’s many accomplishments, for your
donations, your bequests. Through LCRA you
give valuable assistance to Lithuanian Catholics. This year Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid
continues a 52 year tradition of good works to
pursue its mission to support Catholic
educational, religious, and social outreach
projects in Lithuania and its diaspora.
In 2013, LCRA received 251 grant requests from
Catholic organizations amounting to $2,466,419
LCRA`s NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ADMINISTRATION: Milda
dollars. 223 requests, 89 % of all requests, met Palubinskas, Archbishop Gintaras Grušas, Vida Jankauskienė, Ilona Laucienė, Rev.
LCRA’s grant criteria and received some John Puodžiūnas OFM, Vita Matusaitis, Bishop Paulius A. Baltakis OFM, Josephina
support. Thanks to your generous donations and Senken, Rev. Jonas Šileika OFM, Salvijus Kungys, Rev. Aurelijus Gricius OFM, Msgr.
several bequests LCRA was able to grant Edmundas Putrimas, Rev. Vytautas Volertas. (Missing Msgr. Algimantas Bartkus,
$1,035,900 this year to Catholic activities
Monika Sabalienė, Gintaras Čepas and Aldona Lingertaitienė).
in Lithuania and its diaspora!
LCRA supports Catholic organizations in Lithuania, and also Lithuanian Catholics in the United States, Brazil,
Italy, Austria, Belarus and Poland.
• This year, the newspaper "Draugas" - the only Lithuanian daily in the U.S. was granted $15,000. We are
pleased to support its new English-language monthly newspaper “Draugas News”. • LCRA supported Camp Neringa (VT ), in which children and families foster their Christian tradition, and
embrace their cultural heritage.
• Lithuanians in South America received a grant of $16,000 to organize the Lithuanian community’s attendance
of this summer's World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro. • St . Casimir Pontifical College in Rome was awarded $30,000. Newly appointed College rector Fr. Audrius
Arštikaitis is grateful for the assistance in fulfilling the College’s mission of educating Lithuanian priests.
• Investing in lay leaders, LCRA awarded 5 scholarships totaling $12,000 to Lithuanian students at the
International Theological Institute in Austria. Upon completing their studies, students return to Lithuania to
lead Catholic organizations in Lithuania.
• The only Lithuanian-language newspaper in Belarus was awarded $10,000 to continue its
mission to encourage and support the Catholic community in Belarus and Eastern Lithuania.
• The St . Casimir Society in Seiniai, Poland received $ 4,000 for a Lithuanian-language
summer camp, attended by 50 children.
The Lithuanian bishops conference has proclaimed this new ecclesiastical year
as the Year of the Family. I thank you for being part of Lithuanian Catholic
Religious Aid’s family, lovingly working together to advance our Faith.
Sincerely yours,
2013 grant distribution: Fulfilling LCRA’s mission
Salvijus Kungys
LCRA Administrator
2013 LCRA GRANT DISTRIBUTION
L C R A
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SUPPORT FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS
other educational projects for evangelization and faith formation. In 2013
LCRA was able to grant $348,100 to 86 reviewed projects. These
educational initiatives range from projects organised by diocesan
Cathecetical centers to projects run by religious orders and individual
parishes. LCRA is particularly happy to help fund new initiatives. This
year, thanks to your generosity, LCRA granted $7,000 to the Diaconate
Formation Program in Kaunas: the first training program for deacons in
Lithuania, preparing unordained men to work alongside the clergy in pas-
toral and cathechetical work. This is an important program that may help
manage the clergy‘s workload, given the slowing number of vocations to
the priesthood. The Spiritual Aid for Youth Center in the Lithuanian port
city of Klaipeda received a grant for $30,000, for an education initiative
aimed at halting the growing business of human trafficking of minors, as
at risk.
L C R A
L C R A
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2013 LCRA GRANT DISTRIBUTION
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR EVENT PLANNING
The bulk of this year‘s grant requests were for retreats, seminars, and
well as their established programs working with children from families
2013 LCRA GRANT DISTRIBUTION
A I D
SUPPORT FOR SUMMER CAMPS
In 2013 LCRA granted $188,200 to 55 Catholic
summer camps that gave rest and renewal to 3,917.
The summer camps ranged in size from 25 to 300
participants, and were organized by parishes,
religious orders and national youth groups Scouts
and Ateitininkai. A $10,000 grant helped fund the
family evangelization summer camp at Pakutuvenai
(300 participants) organized by the Kretinga
Franciscan youth ministry. Financial support was
also given to summer camps in the Lithuanian diaspora: Camp Neringa (Vermont) and a children‘s camp in
Seiniai, Poland, organized by the St. Casimir Society, with 50 participants. These camps depend on your
financial support. Your generosity is a blessing to many. Thank you!
There were many religious events in Lithuania
and its diaspora. LCRA is happy to have
contributed $65,000 in grants to help fund 10
important events like Lithuanian World Youth
Days and the Lithuanian participation in World
Youth Day, as well as 5 pilgrimages.
Lithuanian Youth Days in Kaunas (June 23-28)
attracted over 8,000 youth from all over Lithuania. The
city was filled with religious concerts and shows, films,
exhibits, conferences, Masses and prayer sessions
inviting participants to celebrate Christ’s words “I call
IN 2013 LCRA GAve $1,035,900 IN GRANTS
you my friends”. The organizers received a $28,800
grant from LCRA. World Youth day in Rio de Janeiro allowed over 3 million participants to pray with Pope Francis
and meditate on Christ’s exhortation to “Go and make disciples of all nations!”. 80 pilgrims from Lithuania joined
participants from South American Lithuanian parishes. LCRA supported this coming together of Lithuanian youth
with $16,000 to pay for the registration fee for all Lithuanian participants. What a wonderful experience
for our South American Lithuanian youth!
2013 was also the 600th anniversary of the Christianization of Zemaitija. LCRA awarded a grant of $5,000 to
help organize this event, which included Mass, an academic conference, religious art shows, Youth Day in Varniai,
the unveiling of a jubiliee monument, camps, and pilgrimages.
LCR A
SCHOLARSHIPS
L C R A
L C R A
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S U P P O R T F O R M E D I A I N I T I AT I V E S
In 2013 LCRA awarded $176,000 in grants to 13 news service and 10 Catholic publishing projects.
LCRA believes this is an effective and valuable evangelization tool to reach a large audience. In the chart are
highlighted those media initatives that received the largest grants
“Bernardinai.lt” - An internet newsportal with over 170,00 monthly visitors - 70K
“Bitute magazine” - A Catholic monthly for schoolchildren - 10K
“XXI century” - A Catholic intellectual newspaper - 10K
“Draugas news” - English-language Catholic newspaper - 10K
“Lietuviu Godos” - Catholic newspaper for the Lithuanian community in Belarus and Eastern Lithuania - 10K
“Artuma” - A monthly Caritas publication for families - 5K
A ID
A I D
In 2013 LCRA granted $92,300 for 108
scholarships to Catholic university students. 80
merit scholarships of $500 were awarded to
Catholic students. 12 scholarships were awarded
to students studying outside of Lithuania for
graduate degrees leading to public ministry in
Lithuania’s Catholic organizations, including
$12,000 for 5 at the International Theological
Institute in Austria.
GRANTS FOR PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT
LCRA dedicated $96,300 for 28 grants from parishes, convents and monasteries, lay organizations, and
seminaries for purchase of equipment. The Pontifical Lithuanian College of St. Casimir in Rome received a
$5,000 grant for technology purchases. St. Joseph’s Eldercare Center in Panevezys received $4,000 for a
wireless emergency system for patients to get assistance from personnel. The Sisters of the Immaculate
Conception received a grant to purchase 4 computers for their Senior program at their HolyCross Center in
Vilnius, and received a $2,500 grant for their Blessed Archbishop Matulaitis Home in Kaunas to start a laundry
service for the poor. A sincere thanks to our donors for supporting such important and necessary work!