{"id":5969,"date":"2019-04-25T12:18:08","date_gmt":"2019-04-25T18:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/?p=5969"},"modified":"2019-04-26T12:27:37","modified_gmt":"2019-04-26T18:27:37","slug":"the-reconsecration-of-the-church-of-the-annunciation-the-brooklyn-church-has-served-the-lithuanian-community-continuously-since-1914","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/the-reconsecration-of-the-church-of-the-annunciation-the-brooklyn-church-has-served-the-lithuanian-community-continuously-since-1914\/","title":{"rendered":"The Reconsecration of the Church of the Annunciation. The Brooklyn church has served the Lithuanian community continuously since 1914"},"content":{"rendered":"

Raimundas \u0160li\u017eys.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Lithuanian
Lithuanian cross at the church door.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For New York area Lithuanians and the entire American Lithuanian community as well, March 24th was a special day. On that date after a yearlong restoration, the historic Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn, NY, was solemnly reconsecrated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since 1914, when the Lithuanian community acquired the church, it has served successive generations of Lithuanian-Americans. The church has been the center of Brooklyn\u2019s Lithuanian religious and cultural activities. In 2017, a major church renovation was undertaken, which took more than a year to complete. This was the most extensive restoration of the church since its construction in 1870.<\/span><\/p>\n

LITHUANIAN ATTRIBUTES PRESERVED<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In the course of the restoration, the entire roof was replaced, the old organ was repaired, the interior of the church was renovated, the pews were refinished, and modern heating and cooling plants were installed. Thus the church was made ready for the 21st century. The Lithuanian community was gratified that in the course of the extensive repair work the external and internal beauty of the church was preserved, especially its Lithuanian attributes \u2013 wooden crosses and wayside shrines and frescoes of Our Lady of the Gates of Dawn and that of Saint Casimir.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mass began with a solemn procession, which included representatives of the parish\u2019s three communities \u2013 Lithuanian, Hispanic and Italian. Among Lithuanian organizations participating were the representatives of the New York Scouts, young members of Catholic Federation \u201cAteitis,\u201d the Athletics Club, the Maironis Lithuanian School, and other parish organizations. They carried their organization flags and banners in solemn procession.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three ethnic communities gathered in large numbers for the celebration and welcomed His Excellency Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, the principal celebrant. Six priests, including Rev. Vytautas Volertas and Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello assisted. The latter was officially appointed as pastor that day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Monika
Monika Kungien\u0117 (left) with other parishioners cover the altar in a solemn ceremony. (Photo: Raimundas \u0160li\u017eys)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TRI-LINGUAL CELEBRATION<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The new altar was blessed with sacred oil used during the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. The Readings were read in Italian and Spanish, the Gospel in English, and the Psalm was sung in Lithuanian. A joint Lithuanian, Spanish and Italian choir sang in their respective languages. Noted Lithuanian singer Simona Minns sang in Lithuanian accompanied by the traditional Lithuanian folk instrument, the kankl\u0117s.<\/span><\/p>\n

This church has not seen such a large number of worshipers in recent memory. Among those in attendance were the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the United States Rolandas Kri\u0161\u010di\u016bnas, the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the United Nations Audra Plepyt\u0117, the Acting Head of the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in New York Gitana Skripkait\u0117, and the President of the Lithuanian Community organization Arvydas Urbonavi\u010dius. Representatives of the Lithuanian communities of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut were also in attendance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Rasa
Rasa Sprindys, Chairman of the Lithuanian Community of New York. (Photo: Raimundas \u0160li\u017eys)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

AMBASSADOR: CHURCH\u2019S ROLE<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ambassador Kri\u0161\u010di\u016bnas in his prepared remarks thanked all those who helped restore this shrine. He acknowledged the critical role that the Catholic Church played in Lithuania\u2019s history, especially in its struggle for freedom and the preservation of Lithuanian identity in the United States. <\/span><\/p>\n

MARIAN DEVOTIONS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

At the conclusion of the Mass, parish children placed flowers before the image of the Virgin Mary. The children then shared traditional Marian devotions adopted by their respective communities. The Lithuanian community, represented by candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation, made a presentation regarding Lithuania\u2019s noted Marian shrines, the Gates of Dawn in Vilnius and the Marian apparition in \u0160iluva. The students of the Maironis School sang the hymns, \u201cMarija, Marija\u201d and \u201cPalaimink Dieve Mus,\u201d (Bless us, oh Lord).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lithuanian
Lithuanian singer Simona Minns sang in Lithuanian accompanied by the traditional Lithuanian folk instrument, the kankl\u0117s.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

WILL THERE BE FRUIT?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bishop DiMarzio in his sermon compared the Church with the fig tree which was the subject of that morning\u2019s gospel. The master intended to cut it down for lack of fruit. The gardener urged him to wait: to water and fertilize it with the hope that it will bear fruit next season. Now it is true that a number of Lithuanian churches in the United States have been shut down and some demolished. They were not given a second chance. On the other hand, New York\u2019s Annunciation Church is now repaired, bright, and inviting. It is a sacred space where religious celebrations can be celebrated, where Christian faith and love can be nurtured and grow. It is a sanctuary for the entire Lithuanian community to pray and worship.<\/span><\/p>\n

The renewed, refurbished Church of Annunciation awaits the faithful, and time will tell whether we, as the fig tree, will grow and give fruit. This will depend on us; our participation in the Lithuanian Mass will confirm that the church is important to the Lithuanian community.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lithuanians
Lithuanians present a gift (Chapel of the Gates of Dawn) to Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn. From left to right: Gitana Skripkait\u0117, Acting Chairman of the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in New York; Rasa Sprindys, Chairman of the Lithuanian Community of New York; Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello, Pastor of Annunciation parish; Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn; Raimundas \u0160li\u017eys;, Rolandas Kri\u0161\u010di\u016bnas, the Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the US; and Ambassador Audra Plepyt\u0117, Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the UN. (Photo: Linas Vebeli\u016bnas)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Raimundas \u0160li\u017eys. For New York area Lithuanians and the entire American Lithuanian community as well, March 24th was a special day. On that date after a yearlong restoration, the historic Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn, NY, was solemnly reconsecrated. Since 1914, when the Lithuanian community acquired the church, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":5963,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[204,122,68,70,72],"tags":[230],"class_list":["post-5969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-culture","category-diaspora","category-events","category-history-1900","category-religion","tag-slizys-r"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5969"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5975,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5969\/revisions\/5975"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5963"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.draugas.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}