About the Church
The Chapel of St Casimir in Baubliai is a unique and important religious site in Kretinga district, in the village of Baubliai. It is not merely a simple chapel – its history reflects the efforts and devotion of the local community.
The chapel was established in 1995, when a house of prayer first opened in the local culture centre. To mark the opening, after a solemn procession through the whole village, it moved to the premises of a former kindergarten, which were adapted to the needs of the faithful. This was largely the achievement of local resident Stasė Liubertytė–Gideikienė. Although she initially met with resistance because of her earlier activities during the Soviet period, her efforts were eventually recognised and appreciated.
The chapel received the name of St Casimir in 2008, marking the 550th anniversary of the birth of Lithuania's patron saint. To mark the naming, Bishop Jonas Boruta of Telšiai donated a painting of St Casimir and blessed a cross and a name-plate made specially for the Baubliai chapel, donated by relatives of the local sculptor Rimantas Dauginis. A cross created by the artist Rytis Zenkevičius adorns the chapel both inside and outside.
In 2011 the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Vatican granted the Baubliai chapel a plenary indulgence. The document, issued in Latin and Lithuanian, hangs in the chapel's sacristy.
Over the years the chapel has become a centre not only of religious but also of cultural events. For instance, the chapel's 20th anniversary was celebrated on the Feast of the Assumption weekend in 2015. Mass was celebrated during the festivities, after which everyone could enjoy flute and accordion music.
One of the chapel's distinctive features is the Passion cross dedicated to unborn children, blessed in 2019. The creation of this cross symbolises a long-held dream, unexpectedly fulfilled when the artist R. Zenkevičius made the cross from a branched piece of wood.
The Chapel of St Casimir in Baubliai is a fine example of how the determination and joint effort of a small community can create an important religious and cultural space. It is a place where tradition, faith and community life meet.
The chapel was established in 1995, when a house of prayer first opened in the local culture centre. To mark the opening, after a solemn procession through the whole village, it moved to the premises of a former kindergarten, which were adapted to the needs of the faithful. This was largely the achievement of local resident Stasė Liubertytė–Gideikienė. Although she initially met with resistance because of her earlier activities during the Soviet period, her efforts were eventually recognised and appreciated.
The chapel received the name of St Casimir in 2008, marking the 550th anniversary of the birth of Lithuania's patron saint. To mark the naming, Bishop Jonas Boruta of Telšiai donated a painting of St Casimir and blessed a cross and a name-plate made specially for the Baubliai chapel, donated by relatives of the local sculptor Rimantas Dauginis. A cross created by the artist Rytis Zenkevičius adorns the chapel both inside and outside.
In 2011 the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Vatican granted the Baubliai chapel a plenary indulgence. The document, issued in Latin and Lithuanian, hangs in the chapel's sacristy.
Over the years the chapel has become a centre not only of religious but also of cultural events. For instance, the chapel's 20th anniversary was celebrated on the Feast of the Assumption weekend in 2015. Mass was celebrated during the festivities, after which everyone could enjoy flute and accordion music.
One of the chapel's distinctive features is the Passion cross dedicated to unborn children, blessed in 2019. The creation of this cross symbolises a long-held dream, unexpectedly fulfilled when the artist R. Zenkevičius made the cross from a branched piece of wood.
The Chapel of St Casimir in Baubliai is a fine example of how the determination and joint effort of a small community can create an important religious and cultural space. It is a place where tradition, faith and community life meet.