Congregation Transfers Lithuanian Mission
As our history demonstrates, the congregation was first missioned to teach the children of Lithuanian immigrants here in the Pittsburgh region. So, it’s not surprising that our early Sisters would want to maintain ties to the country from which they or, in most instances, their parents had emigrated.
It was the late 1930’s, with tensions rising throughout Europe, that a small group of our Sisters first journeyed to Lithuania. Here, they spent most of their time learning the language, taking university courses and administering a boarding school of young girls, most of whom were orphans. However, before they could firmly establish themselves, our Sisters were forced to return to the Motherhouse when war eventually broke out. Only with the fall of communism in the early 1990’s did we, as a congregation, once again venture to this largest of the Baltic nations.
The Return to Lithuania
It was October 4, 1992, appropriately the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. That’s when Sisters Dolorita Butkus and Michele Garas were missioned to be the first of our Sisters to return to Lithuania to serve its people. Their call was to share their faith, be instruments of peace and provide a sense of hope while ministering in various ways to the poor and the needy in the city of Utena. They were to remain here for nearly 20 years, with occasional visits to the Motherhouse. 
Through the years, others also served in this mission, including Sisters Marianne Walters, Miriam Racas and Ruth Maria Ratkevičius. They taught school and visited orphans, the elderly, and poor, and provided food, clothing and medicine when available. They also spent time in Kretinga offering pastoral services at a re-opened college run by the Franciscan Friars.
St. Clare Hospice (www.subsventaklara.w3.lt)
Sister Dolorita ministered to the Lithuania people in many ways, including the initiation of a feeding program wherein each month on a designated Sunday she, with Sister Michele and faithful volunteers distributed several hundred bags of food staples to the needy. But she derives a special pleasure from helping the pastor, Fr. Adamonis, to found St. Clare Hospice. The hospice began in a building that had been vacant for three years. Five truckloads of debris were cleared and hauled away to make room for the new ministry. Sister began the ministry with nothing, obtaining donations of beds, mattresses, sheets and linens. Aid to Lithuania, Inc., the Knights of Lithuania, Lithuanian Religious Aid to Lithuania, plus various other organizations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and elsewhere were also instrumental in obtaining the needed supplies. It is estimated that over $1 million dollars in donations and supplies were raised through the Sisters of St. Francis in the 16 years the hospice has been open. Care has been provided for hundreds of patients, plus offering respite care to the families of those suffering from terminal illness. Sister Dolorita continued to serve as a consultant, pastoral care minister and fund-raiser until her return to the Motherhouse last November.
A New Congregation Takes Over
After nearly 20 years, this mission will be permanently transferred to the Lithuania-based Sisters of Divine Providence*, this coming May. The diocesan congregation, based in Panevežys, Lithuania, hopes to continue the ministries of our congregation including pastoral and catechetical service in the Ascension of Our Lord Parish, religious and pastoral services at St. Clare Hospice, as well as seek new ways to serve the people of Utena. While Sister Dolorita has since returned to the Motherhouse, Sister Michele will remain until this coming May and is being rejoined by Sister Ruth Maria Ratkevičius to assist with arrangements for the transfer of the convent and ministries. Sister Michele has been teaching religion classes from grades 1-4 as well as working with children from dysfunctional families, preparing them for Baptism and Communion. The local parish also has a Parish Care Home, where care is provided for 32 elderly sick persons.
The Sisters of St. Francis are proud to have served the people of Lithuania through these many years and are happy that their mission will be continued by the Sisters of Divine Providence. The Sisters are particularly grateful to all the generous benefactors who have sustained the mission for almost 20 years. Thousands of people have been touched because of the many benefactors. The Church is truly been rebuilt and parishioners lives mended by each gift received.