St. Casimir grew up in a world where his life was not his own. As a prince of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania, his life was meant to keep his father's authority and increase Poland’s power. However at an early age, he believed that his life belonged to someone else, to a much higher King than his father. Despite pressure, humiliation, and rejection, he stood by that loyalty through his whole life. The third of thirteen children of King Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Austria, he was committed to God from childhood. It may be hard for us to imagine of royal luxury as a pressure, but for Casimir, the riches around him were temptations to forget his true loyalties. Rebelling against riches, fashionable clothes, robes and a crown; he wore the plainest of clothes. Rejecting even ordinary comforts, he slept little, spending his nights in prayer. And when he did sleep, he would lay on the floor and not on a royal bed. Even though he was a prince, many of those around him must have laughed and joked at his choices. Yet, in the face of any pressure, he was always friendly and calm. Though his father must have wondered about him, he must have seen and admired Casimir's strength. The king misunderstood this strength when he sent him as head of an army to take over the throne of Hungary. Casimir felt the whole expedition was wrong but was convinced to go in obedience to his father. So when soldiers started deserting, he was only too glad to listen to the advice of his officers and turn back home. His feelings were confirmed when he discovered that Pope Sixtus IV had opposed the move. King Casimir IV was furious at being deterred from his plans and sent his son to a castle in Dobzki, hoping that imprisonment would change the son's mind. St. Casimir stood to what he believed was right and even grew stronger during exile. He persistently refused to cooperate with his father's plans no more despite the pressure to give in. He even rejected a marriage his father tried to fix, instead fervently participated in his true King's plans wholeheartedly praying, studying, and helping the poor. He died at the age of 23 in 1484 from lung disease. A devotee of the Blessed Mother, he was buried with his favorite hymn "Omni die dic Mariae" or "Daily, Daily Sing to Mary." His remains are buried at special chapel in the Vilnius Cathedral and many of those who visit believe to have received miracles. For many years, Poland and Lithuania faded into the gray prison on the other side of the Iron Curtain. Despite repression from Russia, the Poles and Lithuanians remained firm in faith. Their youthful patron Casimir reminds us: Peace is not won by war; sometimes a comfortable peace is not even won by virtue, but Christ’s peace can penetrate every government repression of religion.

Prague-Krakow-Vilnius: The tour of Prague begins with a visit to Discalced Carmelite Church of Our Lady of Victories where the 16th century wax coated statue of the Infant Jesus is enshrined. Half day tour of the Old Town Square – stroll the Charles Bridge, visit the Prague Castle, including the Cathedral of St. Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert, marvel at the baroque beauty of St. Nicholas Church. Krakow includes a visit to the Convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, where the relics of St. Faustina are located in Krakow-Lagiewniki and important places connected with St. John Paul II’s first home on Ulica Tyniecka Street in the Debniki District, Church of St. Stanislaw Kostka where he attended church and the houses on Kanoczka Street where he lived. There will be a Saturday Vigil Mass at the Wawel Cathedral where Pope Joh Paul II performed his first Mass. The tour of Vilnius begins with a morning Mass at the Chapel of Saint Casimir (in the Basilica of St. Stanislaus and Ladislaus) presided by Archbishop Gintaras Grusas. After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Shrine of Our Lady Gate of Dawn. Vilnius is often called the City of Mercy. Throughout history, “it is a place in need of mercy and in the last twenty years, a place where we need to show mercy.” In the 1600s, a painting of Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn was created and placed in a niche above one of the prominent city gates. When Vilnius was captured by the Swedish army, our Lady came to her people’s rescue. On the second day in Vilnius, we drive to Trakai and visit St. Mary’s Church where the icon of the Mother of God of Trakai is located. It is said to be the first and oldest known Marian icon in Lithuania. It was a gift from the Emperor of Constantinople on the occasion of the baptism of Grand Duke Vytautas. In 1409, Vytautas built a church in Trakai and donated the portrait to the local church. Lunch will be by the lake of Trakai Castle. Back to Vilnius and stroll at the Bernardine Gardens with a musical fountain in the center of a sprawling park full of green spaces. In the evening, we will attend Mass at the Shrine of Divine Mercy where the original image is displayed. The last day of the pilgrimage includes a visit to Hales Market on Pylimo Street, one of the oldest and largest markets in Vilnius. It has always been popular among the townspeople and guests for its locally grown and very fresh produce. Hales market offers exceptional service and is a good place for travelers to sample local foods as well as to learn about the local culture. There will be free time to shop at the Akropolis on Ozo Street, the largest shopping center in the Baltics. For more information and details of the itinerary, call Vytis Tours – Rimas (917)796 4535 or (718)423-6161. This is another ministry of St. Casimir’s Church Los Angeles to bring parishioners together with Christ.

Sponsor a voto tile for your family or in memory of your deceased loved one to be included on the Matulionis Mural. Fill up a form available at the church vestibule or call the parish office for details. Votos are heart shaped, usually made of silver or tin, offered and displayed next to religious icons in thanksgiving for favor granted, answered prayer or in honor of a loved one. This is a sacred and popular tradition in Lithuania, Mexico and other Latin countries. For details, please call the parish office.

Karpinia designs have been installed on the walls of the parish hall. It is an adaptation of Lithuanian paper cutting, a 16th century art used for weddings and special events. By the end of the 19th century this was widely used for decorations at home to cover windows, trim a shelf, a lamp or a mirror frame. "Gandrai" 1983 by Julija Daniliauskiene (1926-2009) features the stork (national bird), rue (national flower) and the country’s forests. Le Grande Studios intricately hand painted these designs in Lithuanian colors of yellow, green and red. We would like to thank the many sponsors, donors and parishioners who supported this project and may God's blessings be upon you.

Six Lithuanian holy men who walked the streets of Lithuania are featured in the new devotions room where the former baptistery was. We invite everyone to drop by for private prayers. Andrew Bobola popularly known the Apostle of Lithuania, Jesuit missionary, evangelized in cities and towns. Raphael Kalinowski of Vilnius, engineer, helped design the Odessa-Kyiv-Kursk railway, former military,became a Carmelite monk, founder of Catholic organizations in Poland and Ukraine. Jurgis Matulaitis of Marijampole,superior and founder of religious congregations, Bishop of Vilnius, negotiator of political and national conflicts on the demands of Christian charity. Faustina Kowalska, a religious assigned in Vilnius, received revelations of God’s loving message of Divine Mercy Michael Sopocko, theology professor of the University of Vilnius, pastor and confessor. Together with Faustina, collaborated on the painting of the image and promotion of Divine Mercy. Teofilius Matulionis of Moletai, prelate and martyr.As bishop of Kaisiadorys, encouraged priests to stay with the people in times of German and Soviet occupation.

The Mass in Lithuanian is available on live stream direct from the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Vilnius, daily. Go to You Tube and search for the Divine Mercy Sanctuary (Dievo Gailestinguno Sventone) or go to : https://www.youtube.com/@dievogailestingumosventove3457 and click live.