OUR LADY OF VILNIUS - CULTURAL CENTER
ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE
Since the establishment of Our Lady of Vilnius Church, it has served as the center of the Lithuanian community, as well as for other people in the neighborhood, providing all with religious services and civil help. At a recent meeting to discuss the church's closure, a woman spoke up to stress the value of the church to herself as a long-time neighborhood resident, emphasizing how, for 40 years she personally as well as others in the Portuguese community have relied on its presence. All one need do is glance at the photographs on display in the parish hall to see the astounding variety of groups and persons who have benefited from the presence of this small church on Varick Street in New York City.
The parish hall has been used for events including religious discussions, parties for special occasions, meetings, dances, luncheons, etc. A list of organizations using the facility on a daily, weekly or monthly basis would include: The Lithuanian Art Academy, The Manhattan Chapter of the National Lithuanian-American Community, The Knights of Columbus Knickerbocker Chapter #221 and The Knights of Lithuania. A vibrant new group, serving to bridge the gap between earlier generations of Lithuanian-Americans and the most recently arrived immigrants is "New Yorkers By Our Side" (Niu Jorkieciai Salia Musu) which has brought a renewed energy to a part of the community often seen as difficult to reach. Inevitably, this group, although secular, is serving to raise interest in the church's activities and bringing new involvement and increased attendance at church services, as well.
UPCOMING EVENTS
"Niu Jorkieciai Salia Musu" is organizing a concert by Monika Heidemann with her band on Saturday, January 13th at 9:30 p.m. Read more about this talented young singer at http://www.monikah.com/ and hear samples of her music at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mhband.
LATEST EVENTS
12/31/06 7pm-
There
was a Christmas Eve Dinner after the 7pm Mass on December 24th, 2006. Over
60 guests gathered in the decorated parish hall for a wonderful meal of
traditional Lithuanian foods, and a festive celebration. To read the
event's flyer in Lithuanian,
please click
here.
12/1/06 7:30pm-New Yorkers With Us (Niu Jorkieciai Salia Musu) presented "Cartoon Satellite," an evening of jazz performed by Dalius Naujokaitis, On Davis and Nick Gianni. To read the event flyer, please click here.
11/19/06 11:15am-
Commemoration
of the Feast of Our Lady: at least 120 parishioners and friends gathered for
Mass and a community lunch, lingering well into the afternoon.
10/18/06 7:30pm-New Yorkers With Us (Niu Jorkieciai Salia Musu) hosted the premiere screening of a film by Saulius Siuksta about New York and New York's art galleries. To read the event flyer, please click here.
10/13/06 8pm-Students of renowned Lithuanian jazz master Vladimir Chekasin reunited for a very special live concert of original compositions entitled, appropriately, "Reunion." Suggested donation at the door is $10. Organizer: New Yorkers By Our Side.
10/20/06-
As a continuation of a
concert the previous day at Symphony Space in New York City, organized by the
Lithuanian Consulate and the World Music Institute,
Veronika Povilioniene brought
her folklore ensemble "Blezdinga" to Our Lady of Vilnius parish hall.
There was a program tailored to kids at 7pm, followed by music and
discussion aimed at grown-ups at 8. Organizer: New Yorkers By Our
Side.
Below is a partial calendar of some of the more recent events held at Our Lady of Vilnius parish hall:
FILM
10/23/05-Conversation with filmmaker Mindaugas Blaudziunas, viewing and discussing excerpts from his work.
11/8/05-Screening of the Nevada Art Film Festival's "Burning Man," written by young Lithuanians.
2/11/06-Screening and discussion with Arvydas Borysas of his film "In Love With Lithuania."
4/29/06-Screening and discussion with documentary filmmaker Maryte Kavaliauskaite of her film "The Colors of Music."
6/10/06-Screening and discussion with documentary filmmaker Arunas Matelis of his film "Before Flying Back to the Earth," which was also shown at the Brooklyn and Washington International Film Festivals.
LITERATURE
1/14/06-Poetry reading and conversation with renowned poet Tomas Venclova, who serves on the faculty of Yale University.
4/8/06-Evening of Lithuanian poetry, fiction and art. Discussion hosted by the Lithuanian Art Academy.
5/31/06-Slide presentation of works by students of the Lithuanian Art Academy.
MUSIC
2/16/06-Lithuanian Independence Day concert by Skaidra Jancaite.
6/24/06-Concert by a capella group from Lithuania, "Jazzland" (who went on to headline the opening day concert at the World Lithuanian Song Festival in Chicago the following weekend.)
GENERAL MEETINGS
Knights of Lithuania
Knights of Columbus, Knickerbocker Chapter #221
St. Patrick's Day luncheon
Columbus Day luncheon
Christmas luncheon
New Year's Day Luncheon
Portuguese Easter Festival gathering
...and many more!