Bronislovas Burneikis (January 9, 1923 – September 10, 1991) was a Lithuanian Catholic priest, monsignor, and prelate known for his pivotal role in constructing several churches in Klaipėda and Kretinga. A political prisoner during the Soviet era, Burneikis also contributed significantly to the revival of bell casting in Lithuania.
Early life and education
editBronislovas Burneikis was born in the village of Sungailai in the Tverai area, now part of the Rietavas municipality in Telšiai District, where his family owned 10 hectares of land. He completed his secondary education independently and later enrolled in the Roman Catholic seminary in Telšiai, which is now the Telšiai Bishop Vincentas Borisevičius Priest Seminary. In 1947, he continued his theological studies at the Kaunas Priest Seminary and was ordained as a priest on September 24, 1950.[1]
Ministry and early career
editBurneikis began his ministry as a vicar in Veiviržėnai, where he also secretly performed pastoral work in the Kaliningrad region. In 1957, he was appointed as a vicar at the Queen of Peace Church in Klaipėda, collaborating with priests Liudvikas Povilionis and Bernardas Talaišis to oversee the church's construction.
Persecution and imprisonment
editThe Queen of Peace Church in Klaipėda was a significant project as it was the only church constructed during the Soviet era in Lithuania and the Baltic states.[2] Shortly after its completion in 1960, Soviet authorities confiscated the church and began persecuting those involved.[3] In 1961, Burneikis and Pavilionis were arrested; in 1962, Burneikis was sentenced to four years of forced labor.[4][5][6] During his sentence, he was imprisoned in Marijampolė, the Pravieniškės labor camp, and later in Orsha, Byelorussian SSR. After serving his sentence, Burneikis returned to Telšiai but was barred by Soviet authorities from continuing his pastoral work there.[7][8]
Later ministry and contributions
editFollowing his release, Burneikis served in various parishes, including Žasliai, Tirkšliai, and Žemalė, where he undertook significant construction projects. In 1980, he was appointed parish priest of Kretinga, where he supervised the reconstruction of the church tower, the casting of bells, and the building of a stone wall around the churchyard. By 1982, he was dean of the Palanga Deanery and later took Dean (Christianity) care of St. Andrew's Church in Tūbausiai.[9]
Reviving bell casting in Lithuania
editBurneikis played a central role in reviving bell casting in Lithuania after studying the craft in Germany. In 1984, he established a bell foundry in Kadagynai village, Kretinga District, producing around 20 bells for churches across Lithuania.[10]
Return to Klaipėda and further work
editIn 1988, Burneikis became the parish priest and dean of the Queen of Peace Church in Klaipėda.[11] Under his leadership, the church’s tower was rebuilt, the interior restored, and a new organ was acquired. He also took pastoral responsibility for additional parishes, including Plikiai, Nida, and Juodkrantė.
In 1990, Burneikis became the parish priest of St. Joseph the Worker Church in Klaipėda, securing land for the church's construction and establishing a Jesuit monastery in the city.
Recognition and honors
editDespite facing severe persecution, Burneikis’s dedication to his faith and community remained steadfast. In recognition of his contributions to the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II granted him the honorary title of Chaplain of His Holiness.
Legacy
editIn 2024, a park in the center of Kretinga was named in honor of Burneikis, commemorating his lifelong commitment to the Lithuanian Catholic Church and his resilience under Soviet oppression.[12][13]
Death and burial
editBronislovas Burneikis passed away on September 10, 1991, in Klaipėda and was interred on the grounds of the Queen of Peace Church, where he had spent much of his life in service to the faithful.[14]
References
edit- ^ Bacevičius, Romas (24 September 2010). "Šešiasdešimt kunigystės metų" [Sixty Years of Priesthood]. Lithuanian Academy of Catholic Sciences XXI Century. 70 (1855).
- ^ Vainorius, Martynas (25 November 2018). "Marijos Taikos Karalienės bažnyčia: unikalaus įvykio 30-metis" [Queen of Peace Church: 30th Anniversary of a Unique Event]. AtviraKlaipeda.lt. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Lietuvos komunistų partijos (LKP) centro komiteto (CK) biuro nutarimas dėl Klaipėdos Marijos Taikos Karalienės bažnyčios statybos organizatorių baudžiamojo persekiojimo, 1960 m. gruodžio 12 d." [Resolution of the Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania (LKP) on the Criminal Prosecution of the Organizers of the Construction of the Queen of Peace Church in Klaipėda from 12 December 1960]. Lithuanian Special Archives. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Priests sentenced in Red Lithuania" (PDF). The Criterion, Indianapolis, Indiana. 2 February 1962. p. 5. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Library of Congress, Law Library (1964). The Church and State Under Communism: Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 6.
- ^ Babris, Peter J. (1978). Silent Churches: Persecution of Religions in the Soviet-dominated Areas. Switzerland, Research Publishers. p. 199. ISBN 978-0911252026.
- ^ Juodytė, Gražina (29 January 2009). "Klaipėdos dvasininkas Bronislovas Burneikis ir bažnyčios bokšte skambantys varpai" [Klaipėda's Clergyman Bronislovas Burneikis and the Bells Ringing in the Church Tower]. Vakarų ekspresas. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ "Bronislavas Burneikis". M. Valančius Public Library of Kretinga District Municipality. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Kanarskas, Julius (6 May 2017). "Kaip keitėsi Pranciškonų bažnyčios išorė" [How the Exterior of the Franciscan Church Has Changed] (PDF). Švyturys. p. 6. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Petronytė, Jurga (8 January 2023). "Kunigas Bronislovas Burneikis - didis žmogus, kuriam skamba varpai" [Father Bronislovas Burneikis – A Great Man to Whom the Bells Toll]. Vakarų ekspresas. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ Bourdeaux, Michael (1990). Gorbachev, glasnost & the Gospel (1. publ ed.). London: Hodder & Stoughton. pp. 143–144. ISBN 978-0-340-54193-7.
- ^ "Kretingos centre esančiam parkui suteiktas monsinjoro B. Burneikio vardas". Bernardinai.lt. 3 August 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Bourdeaux, Michael (1991). The gospel's triumph over communism. Minneapolis, Minn: Bethany House Publishers. p. 144. ISBN 978-1-55661-228-2.
- ^ "Burneikis Bronislavas (1923-1921)". Klaipėda County Ieva Simonaityte public library. Retrieved 4 November 2024.