| Concert marks feast of Our Lady of Siluva |
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| Written by administrator | |||
| Tuesday, 09 December 2008 08:20 | |||
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WATERBURY St. Josephs Lithuanian Parish Community celebrated the feast of Our Lady of iluva recently with a concert featuring Thirzah Bendokas, cellist, as the guest artist. The concert program followed the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Performers included the parishs English and Lithuanian choirs;[semi, unless June is part of the choir] June Nixon on piano; Joseph Faryniarz, organist-cantor; soloist Betty Ann Liudzius, from St. Andrew Lithuanian Parish in New Britain; organist Max Drischner; guitarist Marian Pelletier; and organist Zita Rossi. Jerry Covino was master of ceremonies. After completing her studies at the Juilliard School, Ms. Bendokas made her professional debut with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She has performed in concerts throughout the United States, Austria, Portugal, Italy, Canada, Switzerland and Spain, as well as at Tanglewood in Massachusetts. At the reception that followed in the parish center, attendees sang birthday greetings in English, Lithuanian and Polish to Ms. Bendokass mother, Irene, 102. Bob Orientas coordinated the event. The concert celebrated the 400th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady of iluva, which occurred in 1608 in the small town in central Lithuania. Although attempts were made to stifle Catholicism and this feast in Lithuania, the people remained faithful in their dedication to Our Lady of iluva. A small wooden church, built in 1624, quickly became a popular shrine. A large, baroque-style basilica was dedicated there on Sept. 7, 1786.
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