About the Church
St Joseph's Church in Kaunas, often called the Vilijampolė church, is located in one of the districts of Kaunas – Vilijampolė, near Sąjungos Square. The church became an important community centre and spiritual refuge for the residents of Vilijampolė.
The church's history goes back to the First World War, when Prelate Povilas Januševičius cared for orphans and founded the Society of the Child Jesus. Through this society a shelter was set up in former stables, along with primary and trade schools and workshops, and at Fort VIII a school-isolation ward for children with mental disabilities. This work showed a sense of social responsibility and concern for the weakest members of society that was unusual for its time.
In 1932 a masonry church was built, its construction overseen mainly by parish priest Juozapas Dagilis. Although the original plan had been to build a larger and more ornate church, the Second World War put a stop to these ambitious plans. The church became an active parish centre, housing a children's shelter and a secondary trade school, and the faithful could attend as many as two kindergartens.
After the Second World War the church moved into a two-storey masonry building. However, in 1974 part of the churchyard was seized and the "Vilnis" cinema was built in its place. Despite these difficulties, the church managed to remain alive and important to the community of the faithful.
The reconstruction carried out in 1983 was a key step in the church's development. The flats on the second floor were removed, the ceiling was raised, and balconies were installed on new reinforced-concrete columns. This reconstruction helped meet the parish's ever-growing needs. Later, in 2004, the church was reconstructed once again, to a design by architect Valentinas Baršauskas: it was extended in length and a bell tower was added. This allowed the number of seats in the main Mass hall to be increased and created new premises for parish activities.
Beside the church also stands the Chapel of Lithuania's Freedom, recalling the nation's struggle for freedom and independence.
St Joseph's Church in Kaunas is not just a religious building; it is a place where the community meets, shares its joys and worries, and finds spiritual comfort and strength.
The church's history goes back to the First World War, when Prelate Povilas Januševičius cared for orphans and founded the Society of the Child Jesus. Through this society a shelter was set up in former stables, along with primary and trade schools and workshops, and at Fort VIII a school-isolation ward for children with mental disabilities. This work showed a sense of social responsibility and concern for the weakest members of society that was unusual for its time.
In 1932 a masonry church was built, its construction overseen mainly by parish priest Juozapas Dagilis. Although the original plan had been to build a larger and more ornate church, the Second World War put a stop to these ambitious plans. The church became an active parish centre, housing a children's shelter and a secondary trade school, and the faithful could attend as many as two kindergartens.
After the Second World War the church moved into a two-storey masonry building. However, in 1974 part of the churchyard was seized and the "Vilnis" cinema was built in its place. Despite these difficulties, the church managed to remain alive and important to the community of the faithful.
The reconstruction carried out in 1983 was a key step in the church's development. The flats on the second floor were removed, the ceiling was raised, and balconies were installed on new reinforced-concrete columns. This reconstruction helped meet the parish's ever-growing needs. Later, in 2004, the church was reconstructed once again, to a design by architect Valentinas Baršauskas: it was extended in length and a bell tower was added. This allowed the number of seats in the main Mass hall to be increased and created new premises for parish activities.
Beside the church also stands the Chapel of Lithuania's Freedom, recalling the nation's struggle for freedom and independence.
St Joseph's Church in Kaunas is not just a religious building; it is a place where the community meets, shares its joys and worries, and finds spiritual comfort and strength.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Bažnyčia, medinė, dvibokštė, dengta skiedrų stogu, užfiksuota trijų ketvirčių rakursu. Bažnyčia nufotografuota artimu planu kartu su šventoriaus medžiais ir viršutine tvoros dalimi.
Bažnyčia, medinė, dvibokštė, dengta skiedrų stogu, užfiksuota trijų ketvirčių rakursu. Bažnyčia užfiksuota kartu su ją supančia aplinka: šventoriaus medžiais, tvora ir varpinės dalimi. Fotografinio vaizdo apačioje užrašyta ranka: „Stary Kosciolek w Kiejdanach“.