The 6th World Apostolic Congress on Mercy offered participants an opportunity not only to gather in Vilnius but also to encounter a city whose history, faith, and people continue to leave a lasting impression. For the Assumption sisters and young adults, the week was enriched by the warm welcome received in our Assumption community, whose recently renovated house became a temporary home after long days of prayer, conferences, and pilgrimage. As Sr Cathy reflected, returning each evening to the convent was itself a memorable part of the experience.
Vilnius holds a special place in the life of the Assumption. For decades, the sisters have shared in the mission of the local Church through education, parish ministry, and outreach, including accompanying vulnerable persons in prisons. A significant expression of this mission is Palaimintojo Teofiliaus Matulionio Gimnazija, a school run by the Assumption serving more than 700 learners and continuing the congregation’s commitment to education in Lithuania. Following the renovation of the convent, the Samaritans Community will once again welcome young women from the coming academic year, offering them a place of community and support while pursuing their studies and professional aspirations.
Among the places that captured the attention of pilgrims was the Shrine of Divine Mercy, home to the original image of the Merciful Jesus painted according to the vision of St. Faustina. Sr Bakhita noted the unique presence of the original image, preserved through decades of war, occupation, and political upheaval. Displayed alongside the exposed Blessed Sacrament in a chapel open twenty-four hours a day, it remains one of the most significant landmarks of the Divine Mercy devotion and continues to attract pilgrims from around the world. Amy reflected on the enduring significance of the words, “Jesus, I trust in You,” while also noting the remarkable silence and prayerful atmosphere of the shrine.
Another treasured place is the Gate of Dawn, where the revered icon of Our Lady has been venerated for centuries. For Sr Cathy, this sixteenth-century chapel was among the most memorable sites visited during the week. Despite the many upheavals that shaped the history of Vilnius, devotion before this image has continued across generations, making it one of the city’s most enduring spiritual landmarks.
The Church of the Sacred Heart offered another striking encounter with the city’s history. Once transformed into a prison during the Soviet era, the church complex still bears visible traces of that past. Parts of the buildings remain closed to the public, marked by age, cracks, and the absence of the religious symbols that once defined the space. Renato was particularly struck by the contrast of a church turned into a prison, standing only a short distance from the prison that replaced it, while opposite stand a hospice and a convent. During the Congress, many local people came simply to see the building. One woman spoke with deep emotion of returning to the place where her father had spent years as a prisoner.
The Church of the Holy Trinity is another significant landmark, a seventeenth-century church whose history reflects French Benedictine monastic life, Polish-Lithuanian Catholic heritage, Austrian Baroque influence, Soviet-era persecution, and today’s revival as a Ukrainian Greek Catholic parish. After serving as a gymnasium and club during the Soviet period, it was returned to the community and reconsecrated in the 1990s following the restoration of religious freedom. Sr Cecile, while reflecting on the experience of pilgrimage and praying in communion with the Ukrainian people, remarked: “One of the places that touched me most during the pilgrimage was the Church of the Holy Trinity. Praying in communion with Ukrainian people, in such close geographical proximity to the suffering caused by the war, touched me deeply. The church is very beautiful inside, though it is in need of renovation. It seemed to me an image of these people themselves: deeply tried by war, yet strong, persevering, and steadfast in faith. Lord, give us peace.”
Together, these places reveal a city where history remains visible and memory is carefully preserved. For those who gathered in Vilnius for the Congress, the city offered not only the setting for an international event but also an encounter with landmarks that bear witness to centuries of religious, cultural, and social history.
