400th Anniversary of the Apparition of Our Lady in Šiluva
Events & Resources

In 2008, numerous events of significance take place for the global Catholic Church. These included the International Eucharistic Congress, held in Quebec City as well as World Youth Day, held recently in Sydney, Australia. A lesser known yet important anniversary also takes place in 2008: the 400th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady in Šiluva (pronounced Shi-lu-va), Lithuania.

Šiluva has been recognized by the Church as the first apparition of Our Lady in Europe, preceding the apparitions at Lourdes, France and Fatima, Portugal. The fact that Šiluva is not widely known can be attributed to the suppression of the Catholic Church in Lithuania over past centuries.

After the first World War, when Lithuania regained its independence, a plan was designed to create at Šiluva a spiritual and religious pilgrimage centre. The current Archbishop of Kaunas, Sigitas Tamkevičius SJ, in whose Archdiocese Šiluva lies, believes that if this plan had been carried out, today Šiluva would be as famous a Marian apparition site as Lourdes and Fatima.

However, only the Shrine itself was built and the rest of the plan was never carried out because of the occupation of Lithuania by the USSR for the better part of the 20th century. Only since regaining independence again in 1991 has there been any progress made in enhancing the shrine and creating a worthy spiritual centre.

In preparation for the 400th Anniversary Jubilee, there have been many religious events held in Lithuania over the past two years that will culminate with the main celebration on September 8, 2008.

Local Events Commemorating the 400th Anniversary of Šiluva

April 5, 2008 – a Mass at Lithuanian Martyrs’ Church in Mississauga at which Most. Rev. Jonas Ivanauskas, Auxiliary of Kaunas, blessed a copy of the miraculous Mother and Child icon of Šiluva. This picture has visited all the Lithuanian parishes, missions and communities in Canada and has held its individual celebrations as well as participating in the main celebrations.

August 24, 2008 – the icon will accompany the annual Lithuanian pilgrimage to the Canadian Martyrs’ Shrine in Midland, Ontario. Most Rev. Paul Baltakis OFM, Bishop Emeritus for Lithuanians Living Outside of Lithuania, will be the main celebrant at the Mass.

November 1, 2008 – Most Rev. Sigitas Tamkevičius SJ, Archbishop of Kaunas, will speak at the Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Toronto about the persecutions of the Catholic Church during the occupation years.

November 2, 2008 – Archbishop Tamkevičius will celebrate a Mass in Mississauga to close out the Canadian Jubilee.

For more information on the Shrine of Šiluva, visit www.siluva.lt – click on the English flag for english resources, background, history and pilgrimage information.

For information on the local events in the Archdiocese of Toronto, contact Lithuanian Martyrs’ Parish at:
(905) 277-4320.