About the Church
The Church of St John Paul II in Slengiai is one of the newest and most interesting Catholic churches in Klaipėda district. Located in Sendvaris eldership, in the village of Slengiai, this church has become an important religious and cultural centre for the local community.
The story of the church's creation began in 2008, when the idea arose of building a new house of prayer. After six years of preparation and planning, on 4 December 2014 a cross was erected on the plot where the church was to be built, symbolising the shared goal – the construction of the church. This cross, created by Joakimas Gilvonauskas, became the first step towards a great goal.
In 2015 Bishop Jonas Boruta of Telšiai officially established the parish of Slengiai, which initially operated temporarily in Vėžaičiai. Viktoras Daujotis, appointed parish priest, energetically took up organising the construction work. On 21 September 2016, during the feast of St Matthew, the foundations of the future church were blessed, marking the official start of construction.
One of the most significant events in the church's history took place on 25 May 2019, when the new church bell was blessed. This was an important moment that strengthened the community's faith and resolve to finish construction. In the same year, on 21 September, Bishop Kęstutis Kėvalas, during a thanksgiving Mass, solemnly announced that the new church had been given the title of St John Paul II.
The church's architecture is also worthy of special attention. The architect Audrius Klioštoraitis designed a wooden frame church with a bell tower 14 metres high. The building stands on a plot of 31 ares and has room for up to 100 seats. Beside the church there are plans to establish a community house for the faithful of the eldership, which will further strengthen the local community's ties.
Although this church is still quite new, it has already become an important part of spiritual life for the local communities – the residents of Mazūriškiai, Ginduliai, Radailiai, Trušeliai, Aukštkiemiai and Baukštininkai. Previously they used to travel to services in Klaipėda or use temporary houses of prayer, but now they have their own church, where they can gather and cultivate their faith and traditions.
This church has not only given Slengiai a new spiritual centre, but has also become a symbol of the community's unity and strength of faith.
The story of the church's creation began in 2008, when the idea arose of building a new house of prayer. After six years of preparation and planning, on 4 December 2014 a cross was erected on the plot where the church was to be built, symbolising the shared goal – the construction of the church. This cross, created by Joakimas Gilvonauskas, became the first step towards a great goal.
In 2015 Bishop Jonas Boruta of Telšiai officially established the parish of Slengiai, which initially operated temporarily in Vėžaičiai. Viktoras Daujotis, appointed parish priest, energetically took up organising the construction work. On 21 September 2016, during the feast of St Matthew, the foundations of the future church were blessed, marking the official start of construction.
One of the most significant events in the church's history took place on 25 May 2019, when the new church bell was blessed. This was an important moment that strengthened the community's faith and resolve to finish construction. In the same year, on 21 September, Bishop Kęstutis Kėvalas, during a thanksgiving Mass, solemnly announced that the new church had been given the title of St John Paul II.
The church's architecture is also worthy of special attention. The architect Audrius Klioštoraitis designed a wooden frame church with a bell tower 14 metres high. The building stands on a plot of 31 ares and has room for up to 100 seats. Beside the church there are plans to establish a community house for the faithful of the eldership, which will further strengthen the local community's ties.
Although this church is still quite new, it has already become an important part of spiritual life for the local communities – the residents of Mazūriškiai, Ginduliai, Radailiai, Trušeliai, Aukštkiemiai and Baukštininkai. Previously they used to travel to services in Klaipėda or use temporary houses of prayer, but now they have their own church, where they can gather and cultivate their faith and traditions.
This church has not only given Slengiai a new spiritual centre, but has also become a symbol of the community's unity and strength of faith.