About the Church
The Mažeikiai Church of St Francis of Assisi is a modern Catholic church, built barely two decades ago, but already an important part of the local community. The church's history began in 1992, when a group of enthusiasts decided that the town needed a second Catholic church. They sought to re-establish a parish in the rapidly growing new part of the town.
On 16 January 1993 a commission was formed, tasked with choosing a suitable site for the new church. A year later, in June 1994, a cross was blessed at the site of the future church, symbolising the beginning of this noble mission.
From the very start, the building process attracted a great deal of attention and support. On 12 May 1996, over the foundations of the future central altar, the Bishop of Telšiai, Antanas Vaičius, celebrated the first Mass here – this was not only a religious but also a symbolic moment, marking the project with what was, as it were, a spiritual blessing. On the same day the church's cornerstone was blessed, symbolising foundation and strength.
In 2004 the construction of the church was significantly supported by AB „Mažeikių nafta“, which allocated as much as 650,000 litai. This financial support made it possible to carry out the project more quickly and to ensure the quality of the construction work.
The architecture of the church was led by Henrikas Štaudė – a talented Lithuanian architect whose creative style is marked by modernity and functionality. Thanks to him, the Mažeikiai Church of St Francis of Assisi became not only a place of prayer but also an architectural adornment of the town.
Today the church is an inseparable part of life in Mažeikiai, where not only religious rites but also various community events take place. The parish priest, Fr Gintaras Lengvinas, sincerely cares for the community and strives to make this place a symbol of spiritual refuge and unity.
The Mažeikiai Church of St Francis of Assisi is a living testimony to the perseverance, faith and sense of community of the local people, which will remain an important legacy for future generations.
On 16 January 1993 a commission was formed, tasked with choosing a suitable site for the new church. A year later, in June 1994, a cross was blessed at the site of the future church, symbolising the beginning of this noble mission.
From the very start, the building process attracted a great deal of attention and support. On 12 May 1996, over the foundations of the future central altar, the Bishop of Telšiai, Antanas Vaičius, celebrated the first Mass here – this was not only a religious but also a symbolic moment, marking the project with what was, as it were, a spiritual blessing. On the same day the church's cornerstone was blessed, symbolising foundation and strength.
In 2004 the construction of the church was significantly supported by AB „Mažeikių nafta“, which allocated as much as 650,000 litai. This financial support made it possible to carry out the project more quickly and to ensure the quality of the construction work.
The architecture of the church was led by Henrikas Štaudė – a talented Lithuanian architect whose creative style is marked by modernity and functionality. Thanks to him, the Mažeikiai Church of St Francis of Assisi became not only a place of prayer but also an architectural adornment of the town.
Today the church is an inseparable part of life in Mažeikiai, where not only religious rites but also various community events take place. The parish priest, Fr Gintaras Lengvinas, sincerely cares for the community and strives to make this place a symbol of spiritual refuge and unity.
The Mažeikiai Church of St Francis of Assisi is a living testimony to the perseverance, faith and sense of community of the local people, which will remain an important legacy for future generations.
Gallery and Resources
Archive captions are shown in Lithuanian.
Architektūrinė kompozicija. Viešpaties ir Šv. Pranciškaus Asyžiečio bažnyčia Mažeikiuose – gyvenamojo namo išvaizdos. Katalikai, norėdami apgauti caro valdžią, 1902–1904 m. pastatė kaip didelius namus, kuriuos pavertė koplyčia – Viekšnių parapijos filija. Po 1905 m. revoliucijos parapija gavo nuolatinį kunigą, pastatui buvo pristatyti bokšteliai su kryžiais.
Aprašė Aldona Rudzevičienė