The Activities of the Lithuanian Marians’ Pastoral Care during the Beginning of Soviet Reoccupation

Abstract

The article discusses the activities of the Marians’ pastoral care in Lithuania and in exile during the early Soviet re­occupation 1944/45–1953. The activities of the monasteries were influenced by Soviet reoccupation which started in 1944. During this period, the rights of the congregation and the activities of the clergy were restricted. Active priests were sent to prison and exiled, the monasteries were abolished and the property of religious orders was confiscated. The Marians were having a tough time trying to remain faithful to their vocation, even when it was officially forbidden. Most of the Marian priests were acting as diocesan priests, some brother monks were helping with churches. The priests, who had been convicted because of political motives, were bearing testimony when suffering in prison. The ones who were in exile were serving the congregation as much as possible, even at risk.