NOV 3-4, 2023 LCRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS TOOK PLACE

 The Financial committee heard presentations from investors on the economic situation and possible trends. The budget for the year of 2024 was also discussed. Most of the time was devoted to examining the monetary aid applications received from various parishes and Catholic organizations in Lithuania and abroad. During second half of 2023, 137 requests were received for support for various pastoral, charitable, catechetical and other activities. Unfortunately, the financial possibilities of the LCRA only allow for partial support of these projects.

The Lithuanian Catholic Religious Aid has been operating for more than 60 years. In the beginning, the efforts were made to help Catholic activities in America, to publish and distribute the Chronicle of the Lithuanian Catholic Church abroad, and to translate it into English and other languages. Since the restoration of independence, the LCRA has focused on supporting Catholic activities in Lithuania. Thanks to this support, many youth camps, pastoral activities and aid projects for people of all ages have been possible over the past three decades. All of this has been possible thanks to generous donors like you. We invite you to remember in prayer the benefactors of the LCRA, living and dead. The bishops and priests on the Board of Directors are committed to making a monthly Mass offerings for benefactors of the LCRA. On 4 November, the Holy Mass was celebrated in the church. Archbishop Lionginas Virbalas remembered the priests and parishioners who worked at the Church of the Annunciation, as well as the benefactors of the LCRA. Prayers were said for the Msgr. Edmond J. Putrimas, who died a year ago. He was responsible for the pastoral care of Lithuanians abroad for a long time, and was the president of LCRA. Priests Jonas Puodžiūnas, OFM, Algis Malakauskis, OFM and Eugene Sawicki prayed together at the Holy Mass.

The Mass was followed by the greeting ceremony by representative Dr. Paul M Kazas of Knights of Lithuania “Vyčiai” to Archbishop L. Virbalas, SJ as new delegate to the Lithuanian Catholics abroad appointed by the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference, who received symbolic plaque with the Archbishop's name inscribed on it.