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Vilnius Dominican Youth Center
This evangelical youth ministry began as the youth group in our priory church of Saints
Philip and James, located in the very heart of the city. Following the model of the
Dominican Laity they are now a recognized part of our Dominican family, along with the
brothers, sisters, cloistered nuns and the Dominican Laity. They are young people,
working or studying and living in the city, and trying to follow our four principles
in their lives: community, prayer, studies and evangelization. This ministry is
especially important in post-Soviet Europe, where young people are looking for something
faith-based and spiritual after several generations of enforced and aggressive atheism,
religious persecution and, perhaps worst, the public ridicule and humiliation for anything
spiritual or religious.
We as a Community
We are together in joy and in sorrow, we live in service and assistance to each other,
we share what we have with one another. And as a community we dream and pray together
in order to become stronger and more confident for preaching the kingdom of God.
Our charismatic youth community, the "Moons of God", - a name drawn from ancient
Lithuanian traditions - began with sixteen young people. The made promises of daily
Bible studies and prayer, commitment to the community and attendance at its gatherings,
and preaching the Gospel. This group provides not only an outlet for ministry but also
a source for friendship and healthy relationships. Twice a year the brothers have a
retreat for the community and there is also a camp in the country every summer.
Prayer
Personal and common prayer, taking part in the liturgies, and an attitude of thanksgiving
are the roots of the members' personal witness.
For more than eight years the young people have been gathering together here in prayer.
The Sunday Mass is the main event of the community, and people also gather for charismatic
prayer and the recitation of the rosary at other times. One night a week there is a prayer
service in the church open to all interested people.
Once a month a variety of prayer groups from come together to our church from throughout
Vilnius for Mass, time for personal prayer, and teaching on important issues of church
life and faith. These events are open to all believers in the city. There are over
20,000 university students in Vilnius. So these evenings are advertised widely in
the campuses of the two universities, which are spread throughout the city, in the
student dormitories, and in the local parish churches. We call these gatherings
"Evenings for Renewal in the Spirit."
We have also started meetings for the young working people in the city, where
they gather for prayer, friendship and mutual support. There is also the
beginning of a ministry to the hearing impaired, where the Mass is signed,
and they learn to pray together in their language. They also attend retreats
with hearing people.
Studies
Studies, of course, are important in our traditon. So our prayer meetings are
also times for teaching and learning. Every prayer meeting of the community has
a theme and very often a guest speaker. And members of our Dominican Youth take
part in meetings of Christian youth throughout Europe. Very often we have a theme
and guest speaker after the youth Mass on Sundays.
Evangelization
Preaching is the very heart of the Dominican youth community. We do 2-3
evangelization trips to different places in Lithuania every month. We go
to schools, prisons, hospitals, army camps and everywhere we are invited.
We had a mission camp this year where we worked with children and young people
in a little village for the whole week. Also we spread Christian culture with
music concerts, exhibitions of art and culture, and theatrical performances.
One of the biggest projects was festival of Christian music "I Seek the Fire
in You." These are especially oriented to the young people in our very secularized
society. Our enthusiastic, committed, creative young people are the very heart of
our ministry. Many of them have great musical gifts, teaching skills, and the
leadership abilities that are so necessary for good ministry. We use new ideas,
new technologies when possible, along with music and drama including mime for
our preaching.
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