Organizations

BLESSED J. MATULAITIS MISSION

PRIESTS
Rev. Antanas Saulaitis, Pastor
T. 630.257.5613

Monsignor Ignatius Urbonas, Pastor Emeritus St. Casimir, Gary, IN
T. 630.243.0691

SERVICES

Sunday Mass:             9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 6:00 p.m.

Coffee and rolls after Sunday Masses

Daily Mass:                  8:00 a.m.

All services are held in the Lithuanian language. A special "Children's Mass" is held at 9:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month.

OFFICE HOURS

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9:00am-12:00pm

Daina Cyviene  E. matulaitismission@sbcglobal.net

CONFESSIONS

Saturday:   5:00 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.

Sunday:     5:00 p.m. - 5:50 p.m.

PREPARATION FOR SACRAMENTS

Children and adults are prepared for all sacraments by sisters working at the Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis Lithuanian Catholic Mission.

T. 630.243.1070

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE: www.matulaitismission.com

MONTESSORI SCHOOL "ZIBURELIS"

The Suburban Lithuanian Montessori school, "Žiburėlis", opened its doors in 1983 to welcome all children of Lithuanian descent.  Currently located within the Lithuanian World Center in Lemont, "Žiburėlis" enjoys the support of a very close American-Lithuanian community deep in strong ethnic traditions. It is also a member of the American Montessori Society.

"Žiburėlis" is a unique school that offers a full immersion school in Lithuanian Monday through Friday.  Its mission is to foster a child's development using the Montessori Method, as well as teach the Lithuanian culture, language and traditions.

"Žiburėlis" Montessori school teaches children how to learn.  We inspire children to look at the world as full of possibilities.  Our role is to discover each child's individual capabilites and support him as he begins to explore this exciting, new world.  Our children are learners, doers and thinkers.  They are able to set goals and work toward achieving them.  They are willing to take risks, to work hard and to make mistakes.

For more information or registration please contact Zibute Maciuliene, Director  T. 630.257.8891 or visit www.ziburelis.org.

PIPIRŲ RATELIS

"Pipiru Ratelis" operates in the Lithuanian language for the youngest preschoolers. Children from 18 months to kindergarten age participate in this "playgroup" setting, along with a parent or grandparent. They sing, dance, and do crafts. Parents select a single day each week to attend. The group meets Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30am to 11:30am. Depending on enrollment, an afternoon class operates Wednesdays from 12pm to 2pm.

For more information or registration please contact:
Elyte Reklaitis, Director T.708.403.7858
Egidija Nefiodoviene, Teacher  T. 708.423.5489

MAIRONIS LITHUANIAN SCHOOL

Maironis Lithuanian School has a full course of study in the Lithuanian language, literature, and Lithuanian history, as well as folk singing and folk dancing. Classes are taught on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Lithuanian language, as well as in English. The school year starts the Saturday after Labor Day and ends the Saturday before Memorial Day. We have an enrollment of 500 students. Our school is currently full. If interested in registration for the next school year, you will need to fill out a form to be placed on a waiting list.

For more information or registration please contact:
Svajone Kerelis, Director T.630.257.0888 or visit www.maironis.org.

REFORMATION CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Reformation School was founded in 2008 upon a distinctive vision:

Christian...recognizing the Lordship of Christ Jesus in every area of life.

Confessional...adhering to the Word of God as expressed in the historic creeds of the Reformation (i.e. Westminster Confession of Faith, Three Forms of Unity).

Classical...using traditional instruction methods (i.e. the Trivium) adapted to the normal learning stages of children.

We are a group of concerned, Christian parents who are interested in giving our children a Christ-centered education that teaches the preeminence of Christ in all of life.  Reformation Christian School is operating as a full-time day school.  We currently have four full-time and two part-time teachers on staff and offer grades kindergarten through eighth grade.  RCS's current teacher-student ratio is approximately 1:5.  RCS is affiliated with the Association of Christian & Classical Schools (ACCS) and Christian Schools International (CSI).  We are looking for Christian families who want a Christ-centered education for their children, as well as Christian leaders whose vision and skills will help us build RCS into an institution of excellence.

For more information about Reformation Christian School, visit www.reformationchristianschool.com or call (708) 743-3830.

LITHUANIAN MUSEUM

The Lithuanian Museum of Art opened its doors at its present location within the Lithuanian World Center on November 18, 1989. The Museum is an educational and cultural institution whose goals are to acquire, research and exhibit works by native and emigre Lithuanian artists. The Museum is committed to the preservation of Lithuanian culture via the arts and regularly sponsors lectures, concerts, poetry readings, as well as exhibits by contemporary artists.

The Museum was the recipient of an outstanding collection of wood carvings by contemporary Lithuanian wood sculptors. Lithuanian wood sculpture is justly regarded as having no parallel in Europe by virtue of its wide popularity, originality, and expressive imagery. The collection of 128 pieces by 14 wood carvers was assembled in Lithuania by an avid collector of folk art, donated to the Museum and is on permanent display in the Wood Carvers Gallery.

Thanks to a grant from Lithuanian Foundation and support from the Lithuanian World Center, the Museum currently has over 10,000 square feet of exhibit space, an experienced and dedicated staff, and above all, an art collection that represents the determined, freedom-loving spirit of the Lithuanian people.

The Lithuanian Museum of Art is proud to be a part of a great artistic tradition and to share it with those unacquainted with its artistic treasures. Guests are always welcome.

MUSEUM HOURS Saturday & Sunday 11am to 2pm or by appointment.

"GRANDIS" DANCERS

The Lithuanian Folk dance ensemble "Grandis" with its youthful enthusiasm and love of dance brings joy to those watching.

"Grandis" started out with a group of twelve dancers. Today the ensemble has grown to over fifty dancers from ages four to seventy-four. Dancing is one form by which many Lithuanians preserve and promote their rich history and ethnic heritage.

Dance is a celebration of the human spirit, an art that transcends the boundaries of language, age and culture. Folk dancing is a form of social dancing that has become part of the customs and traditions of a people. Most folk dances were originally created among people in villages and were passed on from generation to generation in a particular region.

Ensemble Director: Violeta Fabianovich

For more information please visit  www.voras.com/grandis.

KNIGHTS OF LITHUANIA DANCERS

Our goal is to learn and perform Lithuanian folk dances, games, and traditions, and to appreciate the richness of the Lithuanian culture.

Instructor: Lidija Ringiene                    Founder: Frank Zapolis

For more information please e-mail: l.ringus@comcast.net

"SPINDULYS" DANCERS

In 1976, a group of Lithuanian folk dancing enthusiasts joined together to form the group known as "Spindulys."  Many of these dancers were friends who had spent years together performing for the "Sukurys" dance group.  When "Sukurys" disbanded, there was a desire to continue their dancing careers, and "Spindulys" was born!  The name "Spindulys," meaning 'a ray of sunshine,' was suggested by one of the original dancers, Lucijus Aleksa.

The founder of this group, Rasa Šoliūnaitė-Poskočimienė, was the original director and accordionist.  Although the original group was made up of only eleven girls and seven boys of high school and college age, "Spindulys" currently boasts a membership of over 100 dancers, separated into four age groups.

In the spring of 2009, after a long battle against cancer, the founder, director, and heart of "Spindulys," Rasa Šoliūnaitė-Poskočimienė, passed away.  The group is now led by her youngest brother, Kastytis Šoliūnas.

Spindulys has participated in the 6th through 12th Lithuanian Folk Dance Festivals, and the Lithuanian World Song Festivals in 1994, 1998, 2003, and 2009.  Since 1981, Spindulys has participated annually in the Milwuakee Holiday Folk Fair; in 1987, the group  performed alongside "Klumpe" from Woodstock, IL and "Gintaras" from Toronto, ON.  Every year, Spindulys celebrates Lithuania's independence by performing during Lithuanian Day at the Daley Center in downtown Chicago, IL.

Spindulys has also performed with the "Dainava" ensemble, presenting Danute Bindokiene's plays "A Lithuanian Wedding" and "When The Fern Blooms" in Chicago, Toronto, and Cleveland.  Every year, Spindulys hosts a fund-raising dinner and dance concert, and has performed concerts in Toronto, Chicago, Lemont, and Grand Rapids.  In 2002, Spindulys participated in the Los Angeles Lithuanian Days.  The group also participated in the 2009 Lithuanian Song Festival, commemorating the 1000-year celebration of Lithuania's name.

For more information please visit www.spindulyslemont.com.

"LITUANICA" BASKETBALL CLUB

Lituanica Basketball Academy (LBA) is a non-for-profit organization which teaches the fundamentals of basketball, competition and stresses good sportsmanship. The staff consists of full-time coaches dedicated to teaching basketball skills to athletes of all ages.

Lituanica Basketball Academy formed out of what was mainly a Lithuanian basketball club named, Lituanica. Lituanica's President, Don Siliunas, began playing with the Lituanica basketball club in 1977 as a high school sophomore and remained part of the club for over 30 years. In 1995 he and several other Lituanica alums began the Lituanica Juniors program, which at its peak had over 300 junior basketball players. Recently, he was chairman of the gym addition project at the Lithanian World Center, which resulted in construction of a 10,000 square foot basketball facility that opened in April of 2006. Presently he is serving as President of Lituanica Basketball Academy as well as Athletic Director at the World Center.

Over the past several years Don and his staff saw an opportunity to expand their program to athletes of all ages who were serious about becoming better basketball players; hence the Lituanica Basketball Academy was born. LBA employs full-time coaches, all of whom have either coached professionally or played at the college level. These coaches have their respective teams compete in leagues and tournaments year round, including AAU from 13U through 17U, 12U through 17U.

For more information please visit  www.lituanica.org.

LITHUANIAN FOUNDATION

The Lithuanian Foundation, Inc. is a registered Illinois not-for-profit foundation dedicated to preserving and fostering Lithuanian culture and traditions in the United States, Lithuania and Lithuanian communities worldwide.

Over $16,000,000 for Lithuanian endeavors

In the 50 years since its inception, the Lithuanian Foundation has advanced its goals by awarding $15,000,000 in grants and scholarships, along with a special, one-time capital fund disbursement of $1,354,462 to aid Lithuania's educational and cultural institutions after the country declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.

Careful investment and diligent leadership

The donations and bequests of members form the Foundation's capital fund. The Foundation invests in financial institutions, government issues, stocks, corporate bonds, real estate and other investments. The income from these investments finances the Foundation's grant making and operations.

The gift that keeps giving

Through careful management, investment, and planning, the fund has grown to a current market value of over $14,000,000. The Foundation's leadership is working diligently to double the capital in the invested fund, in order to meet ever-increasing appeals for funding.

You are warmly invited to join the Lithuanian Foundation an support its important work.

For more information please contact: LIETUVIŲ FONDAS
LITHUANIAN FOUNDATION, INC.
14911 127th Street * Lemont, IL 60439
630-257-1616 * admin@lithfund.org
www.lithuanianfoundation.org