News from Catholic Extension


October 2008

  • Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius of Lithuania Visits Catholic Extension
    Posted: 10/28/2008
    Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius of Lithuania paid a visit to the Catholic Extension offices on October 28, spending some time visiting with Catholic Extension President Fr. Jack Wall before going to visit with Chicago Archbishop and Catholic Extension Chancellor Francis Cardinal George, OMI at the Cardinal?s residence. In 1972, Fr. Tamkevičius initiated the underground publication, The Chronicle of the Catholic Church of Lithuania, which made public in the West the facts of religious discrimination in Soviet Lithuania. The underground publication was severely persecuted by Soviet repressive authorities, mainly the KGB. Fr. Tamkevičius, editor of The Chronicle for 11 years, was arrested in 1983, being accused for alleged anti-Soviet propaganda and agitation. He was sentenced with a ten-year prison term, and exiled. Fr. Tamkevičius spent his prison term in the labor camps of Perm and Mordovia, and in 1988 he was exiled to Siberia. Thanks to liberalization of Soviet politics caused by perestrojka, Fr. Sigitas Tamkevičius was set free. In 1989 the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference appointed Fr. Tamkevičius to the position of spiritual director in the Interdiocesan Seminary of Kaunas. In 1990 he was appointed rector of the seminary. On May 19, 1991, Fr. Sigitas Tamkevičius, SJ was consecrated bishop and appointed auxiliary of the archbishop of Kaunas. On May 4, 1996, Msgr. Tamkevičius was appointed archbishop of Kaunas. On November 3, 1999, Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius, SJ was elected president of the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference. On September 20, 2002 he was elected for the post of Vice-President of the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference.
    Read More »
  • Seminarian Helped by Catholic Extension Gives Back
    Posted: 10/22/2008
    RETURNING THE FAVOR: Newly ordained priest Rev. Daniel Dreher from the Diocese of Amarillo (left) presents a check to Catholic Extension President Father Jack Wall in a recent visit to the offices of Catholic Extension. For the past several years, Fr. Daniel had received grants from Catholic Extension to help defray the cost of his education at Mundelein Seminary. ?I just want to give something back to Extension for all their help with my formation,? Dreher said. ?I?m thinking of all the anonymous donors to Catholic Extension that helped me with my tuition expenses, and I will continue to send checks to help other seminarians from mission dioceses realize their dream of becoming a priest ? just as I have realized mine. I am so grateful.?
    Read More »

Archive