About the Church
The church of St Raphael Kalinowski in Nemėžis is one of the newer and more interesting Catholic houses of prayer in Vilnius district, in the small town of Nemėžis. The church was consecrated on 6 November 2011, in a ceremony attended by Archbishop Audrys Bačkis. Services here are held in Lithuanian and Polish, reflecting the multicultural character of the local community.
The story of the church's construction begins in 2002, when Father Dariusz Stańczyk raised the idea of the need for a new church in Nemėžis. Design and other construction matters were handled by Vlodzimiež Sipovič, then head of the Nemėžis eldership, who was also chairman of the Nemėžis community. In designing the church, it was decided to take as a model the church of the parish of St Padre Pio near Gdańsk (Poland).
Construction lasted from 2004 to 2011. Interestingly, Mass began to be celebrated in this church before all the work was finished – services had already been held for three years by the time all stages of construction were completed. This shows the great activity of the local community and its wish to have its own house of prayer as soon as possible.
As with many such projects, funding was gathered from various sources. The design work was funded by the Nemėžis eldership and the local community. The Curia of the Archdiocese of Vilnius contributed funds for the construction of the walls and the roofing, while the interior finishing work was funded by the Vilnius parish of St Teresa. A considerable part of the funding also came from donations by local residents, which once again shows the community's solidarity and unity.
The church was given the name of St Raphael Kalinowski. Raphael Kalinowski (1835–1907) was a renowned Carmelite friar who, through his life and work, left a deep mark on the religious life of Lithuania and Poland. His devotion to the faith, great personal asceticism and self-sacrifice for others became an example worth following for many people.
The church of St Raphael Kalinowski in Nemėžis is not only a house of prayer but also a symbol of the local community coming together. It is a reminder of how important it is to have a place where everyone can find peace and strength, regardless of whether they are Lithuanian or Polish.
The story of the church's construction begins in 2002, when Father Dariusz Stańczyk raised the idea of the need for a new church in Nemėžis. Design and other construction matters were handled by Vlodzimiež Sipovič, then head of the Nemėžis eldership, who was also chairman of the Nemėžis community. In designing the church, it was decided to take as a model the church of the parish of St Padre Pio near Gdańsk (Poland).
Construction lasted from 2004 to 2011. Interestingly, Mass began to be celebrated in this church before all the work was finished – services had already been held for three years by the time all stages of construction were completed. This shows the great activity of the local community and its wish to have its own house of prayer as soon as possible.
As with many such projects, funding was gathered from various sources. The design work was funded by the Nemėžis eldership and the local community. The Curia of the Archdiocese of Vilnius contributed funds for the construction of the walls and the roofing, while the interior finishing work was funded by the Vilnius parish of St Teresa. A considerable part of the funding also came from donations by local residents, which once again shows the community's solidarity and unity.
The church was given the name of St Raphael Kalinowski. Raphael Kalinowski (1835–1907) was a renowned Carmelite friar who, through his life and work, left a deep mark on the religious life of Lithuania and Poland. His devotion to the faith, great personal asceticism and self-sacrifice for others became an example worth following for many people.
The church of St Raphael Kalinowski in Nemėžis is not only a house of prayer but also a symbol of the local community coming together. It is a reminder of how important it is to have a place where everyone can find peace and strength, regardless of whether they are Lithuanian or Polish.