Friends of St. Peter Lithuanian Parish – Update #9, September 9, 2004

Dear Friends of St. Peter Lithuanian Parish,

I write to you after a successful mass with Archbishop O’Malley. According to many of those present, who took the time to comment on the evening’s activities, the liturgy was beautiful, meaningful and punctuated with traditional Lithuanian hymns and pointed Prayers of the Faithful. There were approximately 300-350 parishioners present. It was very gratifying to see young families with babies in their arms, praying alongside our most senior citizens,
After mass, the Archbishop received parishioners in the vestibule. Each person greeting the archbishop seemed to repeat the same message in his own personal fashion – Please do not close our church.
For fuller accounts of the evening, please check out the links that are listed on the website. Several persons were interviewed by the media – Channels 4 and 5, the Boston Globe and Herald – we received better than adequate coverage of the event. However, the meaning of the evening was a bit clouded in the media because they focused so much on a so-called “confrontation”. Please read the articles for details. I spent most of Thursday speaking with members of the press telling them that there was no confrontation, that the press looked for something to sensationalize…and they focused on the 300th or so person who spoke to O’Malley. This exchange was emotional and the archbishop’s secretary, without much cause, whisked O’Malley away abruptly after this meeting. The media seized that moment and embellished. Read the newspaper accounts for details.
Many thanks to the PR committee for a great job in attracting media attention. Thanks to each and every one of you who made the effort to attend. The archbishop had to notice the 300+ faces in front of him adorned with the red, yellow and green buttons proclaiming Save St. Peter Lithuanian Parish, So. Boston.
On to the Jubilee! The jubilee mass is this Sunday, September 12th at 10:00 a.m. A group picture of all mass participants will be taken at 9:15 a.m. on the church steps. If you want a place in history, BE THERE for the photo op. After mass, the jubilee luncheon takes place at Anthony’s Pier 4 restaurant. We will celebrate with 500 parishioners and friends. Among us will be the Ambassador to the United States from Lithuanian/Washington, DC, the Consul General to the United States from Lithuania/NYC and the Honorary Consul to the United States from Lithuania/NE. A last minute addition to our guest list is Bishop Boles representing the archdiocese. So, come one, come all! Wear your buttons! Show our unity and our determination! Let’s fill the church again and give them something to talk about.

Until next time –

Gloria Adomkaitis for the Friends

SATURDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 11, 2004 – BULLETIN!!!! BISHOP BOLES HAS RESCINDED HIS ACCEPTANCE TO REPRESENT THE ARCHDIOCESE AT OUR 100TH JUBILEE CELEBRATION TOMORROW BECAUSE OF THE SO-CALLED “SITUATION” WHICH DEVELOPED ON WEDNESDAY. IT APPEARS THAT BISHOP BOLES BELIEVES WHAT HE READS IN THE MEDIA AND FORGETS THE CALIBER AND CLASS OF THE GOOD PARISHIONERS OF ST. PETER LITHUANIAN PARISH.