Atnaujinta
Sausio 11, 2010
Updated
January 11, 2010 Naują
informaciją ar pataisymus siūskite:
Send
new information and updates to:
Kastytis Giedraitis at
Parish Organizations
Divine Providence Parish is home to a
variety of Lithuanian cultural, educational and humanitarian organizations,
which use the Cultural
Center adjacent to the
church. These groups and their
activities serve our own parish’s members, as well as the Lithuanian community
at large.
A short synopsis of our organizations is
provided below. A more detailed
description of each, along with an extensive history of Divine Providence
Lithuanian Church
itself, can be found in the 90th anniversary commemorative magazine
published in 1998. A copy can be
obtained through members of the church’s Pastoral Council.
Organizations for youth
-
Ateitininkai—Lithuanian American Roman
Catholic Federation “Ateitis,” - was
established in Lithuania
in 1908. The goal of the organization is
to instill in young people values which stress the five principles upon which
the organization was founded: devotion to God, love of country, perseverance in
education, importance of family, taking an active role in society.
The Detroit area “Ateitininkai” are clustered
into four groups: college graduates (age
30 +), college students, high school students, elementary school students. Each group organizes activities appropriate
to the age level. Currently, however,
the college graduate group—the seniors, provide only the moral and financial
support for the other groups. The most
active are the youth groups which meet monthly for meaningful, creative
activities planned by competent group leaders.
Contacts: High
School group – Rita Giedraitis ritagied.yahoo.com
Elementary
School group - Vida Orentas vida@voyager.net
Skautai/Lithuanian Scouts Association
- was established in Lithuania
in 1918 by Petras Jurgėla, according to the by-laws instituted by the
founder of international scouting, Lord Baden Powell. Their motto is “for God, Country and
Mankind.” As a result of the
interruption and immigration caused by World War II, newly-settled Lithuanians
in the Detroit
area founded a Lithuanian girl scout chapter in 1950. A chapter for the Lithuanian boy scouts soon
followed. Yearly activities include
monthly meetings, the celebration of traditional holidays such as
“Kūčios” (the Christmas Eve dinner), a spring fund-raising bazaar,
and a week-long summer camp.
Contact: for
girls - Daiva
Lukasiewicz dlukasiewicz@sbcglobal.net
for boys - Darius Rudis drudis@dariusrudis.com
Sporto Klubas “Kovas”/Sports Club
“Kovas” - calls the Divine Providence parish
gymnasium “home”. Hundreds of Lithuanian
children have competed and played here.
“Kovas” frequently attracts individuals of Lithuanian descent who are
not involved in any other Lithuanian activities. Children’s basketball tournaments are
periodically organized attracting over 400 participants.
Contact:
Paul Butkūnas pab21@chrysler.com or Vitas Zubrickas vrzubrickas@aol.com
Tautinių Šokių Grupė
“Šaltinis”/Folk dance group “Šaltinis” - The entire
ensemble consists of four age groups: post college, college, high school, grade
school. The instructor teaches the art
of folk dancing and prepares the participants for local as well as national
performances. “Šaltinis” has
participated in folk dance festivals in Lithuania,
the United States, and Canada, where
hundreds of dancers of Lithuanian descent from all corners of the world perform
selected dances. Lithuanian dancing is
also taught each Saturday to the students of the “Žiburys” Lithuanian School.
Contact: Viktorija
Viskantas leleviskantas@gmail.com
“Žiburio” Lituanistinė Mokykla/”Ziburys”
Lithuanian Saturday School
- operates from September through mid-May.
It strives to teach our children to read and write the Lithuanian
language, and to help them become more familiar with Lithuanian literature,
history, geography, folk dances and songs.
Religious instruction is also provided, and students are prepared for
the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation. The first Detroit area Lithuanian school opened in 1949
at St. Anthony’s Parish. It relocated a
number of times over the years. In 1973,
the school moved to its present location at Divine Providence Parish in Southfield. The name “Žiburys”, meaning “spark of light”,
was chosen at that time.
Contact:
School principal Vida
Pekorius vpeck3@yahoo.com
Organizations for adults
-
Ateitininkai/Lithuanian American Roman
Catholic Federation “Ateitis” - The Detroit
Chapter serves as a support system for the youth groups. The national executive committees organize
activities including religious and cultural events, camps, and seminars. Many take place at Camp
Dainava, a Lithuanian property near Manchester, Michigan.
Contact: Janina
Udrys udrys@sbcglobal.net
Lietuvių Bendruomenė/Lithuanian
American Community - was established in 1951 for
the purpose of fostering and supporting educational and cultural activities in
Lithuanian communities in the U.S. Chapters now exist in 68 US communities
and 27 countries, with membership open to all of Lithuanian descent. LB representatives in Detroit
were instrumental in the planning and construction of Divine Providence
Church and its
facilities. Over the years they have
sponsored a multitude of concerts, art exhibitions, political conferences,
meetings with the press, and lectures.
Since 1989, the LB has sponsored cultural exchanges with Lithuania, by inviting operatic singers, concert
musicians, “pop” artists and theatrical groups to perform in North
America. It is a strong supporter
of the Lithuanian
Saturday School. The central committee publishes textbooks and
course outlines, provides financial assistance to existing schools and
organizes professional development activities for teachers.
Lietuviu Jaunimo Sajunga, the Lithuanian
American Youth Association, a part of the LB, targets young adults between 18
and 35 years. It organizes meetings,
lectures, and international conferences.
Contact: LB
Detroit Chapter – Algis Rugienius rugienius@comcast.net
LJS
Detroit Chapter
– Paulius Juška paulj@umich.edu
Lietuvos Dukterų Draugija/Daughters
of Lithuania
- was organized in Chicago
in December, 1960. This organization
helped many young children and elderly of Lithuanian descent, who required
assistance, but did not qualify for aid from public social service
agencies. The Detroit chapter was formed in 1975. The organization helps the infirm, the aged,
and the lonely, who long for familiar, Lithuanian-speaking contact. Since 1990, when Lithuania
regained its independence, the work of the organization expanded to encompass
needy people in Lithuania
as well. In conjunction with various
medical organizations in both Lithuania
and the U.S., and with the
assistance of their many volunteers and generous donors, “Lietuvos Dukterys”
now sponsor children who travel to the U.S. for intensive medical
care. In addition, the organization
maintains a soup kitchen, a children’s nursery and a medical unit, and supports
medical associations, schools and indigent families in Lithuania. The members of the organization live by the
words of their motto, “A helpful hand to the needy.”
Contact: Vida
Juška mamajuska@gmail.com
Lietuvos Šaulių Sajunga
- was founded in 1919 by Vladas Putvinskas-Putvis. Its initial purpose was to assist in the
maintenance of public safety in Lithuania
during a period of political occupation by the Germans and Bolsheviks. This group later participated in the struggle
for independence. Since 1997, the
organization has become part of Lithuania’s
official security system. Older members,
especially those residing outside of Lithuania, participate more in
cultural and social activities.
Contact: Linas
Orentas linas@voyager.net
Lietuvos Vyčiai/Knights of
Lithuania
- were organized early in the 1900’s by the first wave of Lithuanian immigrants
to the U.S. They adhere to a Catholic philosophy,
furthering a deeper understanding and more zealous practice of the Catholic
faith and its morals. They urge their
members to actively participate in cultural advancement within the parish, and
to offer moral and financial support to Lithuanian institutions.
Contact:
Sporto klubas “Kovas”/Sports Club
“Kovas” - sponsors competitions for adults as
well. They include men’s and women’s
basketball, men’s and women’s volleyball, and men’s and women’s golf.
Contact: Paul Butkūnas pab21@chrysler.com or Vitas Zubrickas vrzubrickas@aol.com
Tautinių Šokių
Grupė “Šaltinis”/Folk dance group “Šaltinis”
- also prepares adult ensembles for performances at Lithuanian folk dance
festivals. The next festival will take
place July 4-6, 2008.
Contact:
Viktorija Viskantas leleviskantas@gmail.com