Pranciškonai iš Lietuvos Sovietų Sąjungoje: veiklos chronologija, geografija ir tipologija

LTStraipsnyje nagrinėjami Lietuvos vyrų pranciškonų buvimas ir veikla Sovietų Sąjungos teritorijoje 1941–1991 m. Analizuojant publikuotus šaltinius, atliekama vienuolių veiklos istorinė-geografinė rekonstrukcija bei nustatoma tos veiklos tipologija. Tyrimo rezultatai jungiami išvadose, pristatomi lentelėmis ir žemėlapiu. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Pranciškonai; Veikla; Sovietų Sąjunga (SSRS; Soviet Union; USSR); 1941–1991 m.; Represijos; Tremtis; Išeivija; Misijos; Franciscans; Activity; Lithuania; Soviet Union; 1941–1991; Repression; Exile; Mission.

ENDuring the Soviet occupation Lithuanian citizens experienced a severe repression during which the ones exiled to Siberia suffered the most. Catholic monks were especially persecuted. What was the situation of Franciscans? The first Lithuanian Franciscans were transferred to the Soviet camps in 1941. But they used their exile and years of imprisonment for pastoral care among their brothers and sisters of the same fate. In prisons, camps, places of exile they prayed, comforted other prisoners, priests also administered sacraments as much as they could. Particularly active was father Stanislovas Dobrovolskis: he chose the most difficult working places, shared food, meditated a lot, when possible, he secretly attended mass, read a lot, learned and taught others. In 1984–1991, three Franciscans from Lithuania voluntarily travelled to the Asian part of the Soviet Union. Father Sigitas Benedictas Jurčys in 1984 came to Dushanbe and until 1989 served Catholics in Tajikistan, as well as in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. To help him, father Mykolas Marija Letkauskas arrived in 1986 and resided in Qurghonteppa and from 1989 to 1993 in Almaty. In 1986 as well, father Saulius Paulius Bytautas was assigned to Novosibirsk. Until 1991 he served in Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Kemerovo areas and Altai Krai region. The topic analysis reveals such Franciscan activity fields during the 1984–1991 mission: pastoral care (for parishioners in towns and villages, lay Franciscans), care, spreading of Franciscan ideas, establishment of monasteries, Catholic unification, ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, publishing, education, culture, and ethnic culture.Our research allows us to confirm and extend this list by such activities as implementation of liturgical reform (new form of liturgy, local speeches, chants); dissemination of religious literature (the Bible, catechism, and others); evangelization among the wounded soldiers; establishment of parishes; social activities; active participation in the restoration of Catholic structures. All three missionaries were young, having just finished seminary studies, they did not reach every person in this vast region, but they definitely made a significant contribution to Soviet Asian Catholics and the society, paved the way for the rebirth of the Church in the areas of their apostolate. The Franciscan pastoral contribution in the Republics of the former Soviet Union is extremely important and abundant considering the conditions of that time. [From the publication]

• Survival strategies under a totalitarian regime (1940-1990): a case of Roman Catholic nuns in Lithuania / Rasa Račiūnaitė-Paužuolienė. Reliģiski-filosofiski raksti. 2021, 31, p. 179-202.
• Католики из Литвы в Сибири: источники, историография и перспективы исследований / Viktor Bilotas, Kęstutis Žemaitis. Soter. 2022, 82 (110), p. 61-73.