Our Lady of Vilnius Lithuanian R.C. Church
32 Dominick St.
New York, NY 10013
Tel. (212) 255-2648   Fax (212) 924-6210

Your action and intervention is being requested so that the Church of Our Lady of Vilnius, located at 570 Broome Street, New York, NY, 10013 can be saved from closure by the Archdiocese of New York.

On July 31st, 2006, Father Eugene Sawicki was notified to come to his Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan's office at the Archdiocese of New York, located at 1011 First Avenue, for a meeting.  He was informed that the Church of Our Lady of Vilnius will be closed, but not imminently.

This is the only active Lithuanian church in the Archdiocese of New York, and was founded in 1905.  For many years, this parish church was the center of Lithuanian life.  In the late 1920's the Lithuanian community was dispersed because of the construction of the Holland Tunnel.  Our roster now consists of about 300 people, comprised of area businesspersons, neighbors and Lithuanians from throughout Manhattan who attend Mass at this house of worship.  In addition, a growing group of Lithuanians gathers several times a month for cultural events.  A partial list of past events is available here.  This group is affiliated with the Lithuanian American Community, whose New York chairperson is one of our parishioners.

The parish is debt free.  The sole problem is the church roof.  In early 2003, it was determined that the roof required some repair as some of the supporting trusses had cracked.  The Archdiocese was notified and an insurance claim filed.  Since then, all that has been done by the Archdiocese is to install a de-icer, and position a three-story scaffold in the center aisle of the church.  The insurance payment was approved by the insuring company, but the money is being held by the Archdiocese; no money has been sent to the parish for making the necessary repairs.

Thus the church had to be closed and Mass is held in the basement parish hall.  Father Sawicki hears confession in the hall, staircase, closets or out in the street.

We are most grateful for your assistance by writing to Cardinal Egan protesting this decision to close the church.  A copy of your letter will be appreciated, and added to the church log.  Please take a moment to sign our online petition at www.petitiononline.com/OLV2006, and forward the link to your family and friends.  And of course, you are most welcome to attend religious services and pray with us.  Bilingual Mass at Our Lady of Vilnius Parish is held at 11:15 am every Sunday.  Recently, we have begun gathering every week after Mass to work together as a faith community in seeking solutions for this sad dilemma.