St. Anthony's is located in the southern part of Omaha, Nebraska, where there are many ethnic parishes that are very close to one another. Years ago, each parish flourished but now the cultures and nationalities have intermingled with one another and each parish is not so exclusively ethnic. However, St. Anthony's continues to survive and it is predominantly Lithuanian. Eventhough many parishioners do not live in the immediate area of St. Anthony's, the Lithuanians come from all over Omaha to keep the parish alive. And in many ways because of Mount Michael's help, we Benedictines have helped to keep St. Anthony's alive. Futhermore, in this past year, I have experienced incredible vibrancy among the Lithuanians and a desire to help our community with new members.

This all happened in February when one of our monks, Fr. Charles Zach was assigned to St. Anthony's. He came back from that February weekend explaining to me that there was a young man there that weekend who was acolyte and reader (in Lithuanian) at mass. And furthermore this young man noticed that Fr. Charles was a priest of some religious order and he wanted to visit his community. This young man is Tomas Butvilas of Siauliai, Lithuania, who was polishing his English at the University of Omaha. (Siauliai University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha have an on-going exchange program, in which Tomas was participating). So... Tomas eventually got to Mount Michael for a visit and one thing lead to another. Tomas liked what he experienced at our community. After a type of retreat at Mount Michael, a monastic experience, Tomas decided that monastic life, more active than contemplative, in a type of rural setting, was what he preferred. Therefore Tomas returned to Lithuania after the completion of his program at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, intending to return to the US to become a monk of Mount Michael Abbey.

In the month of May, Tomas invited me to come to visit him in Lithuania to get to know his family, his country, and also to attend the Dedication of the new Benedictine Abbey there in Lithuania, a foundation of one of the French Congregrations of the Benedictines–Solesmes. So... with the permission and blessing of my abbot, I journeyed to Lithuania the first week of June.

What I found there was an incredible welcome and I felt quite at home with Tomas and his family. Lithuania, a country now experiencing independence of communism for about 13 years, is coming into its own.

I was most struck by how almost all families grow their own food. There are gardens every where and of course, since I have always loved to garden, this was an incredible experience for me. Tomas had told me about the garden of his own family, but I had no idea that this was a common practice for almost all who live in Lithuania.
Since Lithuania was under Russian Communism, many speak Russian. So it is with Tomas. He knows three languages and seems to be able to pick up on any language rather easily. His family owns a Russian made car – a Moskvich – 1980. It is sturdily built– no plastic in this car.

Indeed, from the very first moment that I arrived in Lithuania, Tomas was most gracious in hospitality and wanted me to experience the true flavor of Lithuania as much as was possible in one week's time. I cannot relate here all that happened, but one of the most wonderful experiences was going to the Hill of Crosses.

Near Tomas' home there is a place called the Hill of Crosses, where literally there are millions and millions of crosses from all over the world of many different families. Tomas had told me about this place when he was with us here at Mount Michael. It is one of the first places that I wanted to see and experience. Indeed, I was so moved by what I saw and felt that we went back several times to this place. The pictures will give you some idea of what it is like, but one needs to be there to experience the solid faith and hope that these crosses all represent. I had asked Tomas to go there and pray for some special intentions of mine. One was the success of brain surgery of my sister in late May. Not only was my sister's surgery a success but she was back to work in less than a month after the surgery. I felt I needed to pray in thanksgiving when I was there. I can't explain the awesome feeling of deep faith that is present in this place. It was truly great. I would go to Lithuania again just to go to this one place– the Hill of Crosses!

One day Tomas took me to the Baltic Sea and we went for a swim, eventhough the water was quite cold. I visited many Cathedrals and Medieval castles and even rowed on a lake around one of these castles. I met many of Tomas' friends both at the University of Siauliai and of his childhood. I ate like a king the entire time that I was there in Lithuania and even tasted Lithuanian beer which has won rewards as the best beer in the world. It was, indeed, a week packed with new experiences and a whole new world was opened to me. I kept thinking about how strange I thought the Lithuanian language was when I saw it at St. Anthony's in Omaha and now how much I felt at home and akin to these people. Indeed, the whole week was an incredible experience for me, one which I shall never forget.

We are awaiting Tomas' return to Mount Michael and look forward to the energy and enthusiasm that this young man will bring to our community. We want to be as welcoming to him as he has been to us and especially to me. Already, we feel that he knows much about Benedictine monasticism, welcoming and hospitable–both Benedictine traits. God's blessings to you, Tomas and your family. May our connections with you and Lithuania make the world smaller and love and friendship stronger.