Simonas Morkunas
Encyclopedia
Monsignor
Simon Morkunas (Lithuanian Simonas Morkūnas) (1902-1997) was a priest
in the Roman Catholic Church
. He was born in Valtūnai
, Lithuania
on February 16, 1902, received his education at the Vytautas Magnus University
in Kaunas
, Lithuania, and was ordained
to the priesthood in 1933.
Msgr. Morkunas is noted for his humanitarian and charity work in Lithuania, and for his contributions to easing the plights of displaced and oppressed people, both in Europe and in the United States. The people he aided during his early career included the poor, sick, and aged in Lithuania, where he was president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. During his tenure there, he established a nursing home
and hospital
, and provided education and care for hundreds of poor children in Kaunas. During the Nazi holocaust he sheltered Lithuanian Jews
. After escaping the NKVD
during the Soviet occupation in 1944, he ministered to the displaced Lithuanian community in Austria
and Germany
before emigrating to the United States in 1949. Morkunas remained a vocal anti-communist his entire adult life. He served as pastor and administrator of St. Casimir’s Church
in Sioux City, Iowa
for 39 years, retiring in 1990. At St. Casimir’s, he sponsored many Lithuanian immigrant families, while extensively adding to the spiritual, artistic, educational, and material well-being of the parish and greater community. He also maintained cordial relations with the Jewish community in Sioux City, many of whom had roots in Lithuania. It was at Fr. Morkunas’ invitation that the noted artist Adolfas Valeška
decorated the sanctuary of St. Casimir's with original paintings, woodwork, and stained glass. In 1988, Pope John Paul II
named Morkunas an Honorary Prelate of His Holiness, with the title of Monsignor. In 1991, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity
by Morningside College
in Sioux City, which recognized his “monumental services to Christianity and humanity as a Roman Catholic clergyman. His steady commitment to education, in his home country, Lithuania, and his adopted country, the United States of America, adds special luster to his career.”
He died on July 5, 1997, at the age of 95.
References
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
Simon Morkunas (Lithuanian Simonas Morkūnas) (1902-1997) was a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He was born in Valtūnai
Valtunai
Valtūnai is a village in Lithuania, Ukmergė district municipality, on the right bank of the Siesartis River. It is located in a region of lakes, forests, and rolling hills. According to the census of 2001, it had 31 residents....
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
on February 16, 1902, received his education at the Vytautas Magnus University
Vytautas Magnus University
Vytautas Magnus University ) is a public university in Kaunas, Lithuania. The university was founded in 1922 during the interwar period as an alternate national university...
in Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
, Lithuania, and was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood in 1933.
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
and hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
, and provided education and care for hundreds of poor children in Kaunas. During the Nazi holocaust he sheltered Lithuanian Jews
Lithuanian Jews
Lithuanian Jews or Litvaks are Jews with roots in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania:...
. After escaping the NKVD
NKVD
The People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs was the public and secret police organization of the Soviet Union that directly executed the rule of power of the Soviets, including political repression, during the era of Joseph Stalin....
during the Soviet occupation in 1944, he ministered to the displaced Lithuanian community in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
before emigrating to the United States in 1949. Morkunas remained a vocal anti-communist his entire adult life. He served as pastor and administrator of St. Casimir’s Church
St. Casimir Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church
St. Casimir Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church was a church in Sioux City, Iowa. It was built by the Lithuanian immigrant community of Sioux City in 1915, and served as a neighborhood parish until 1998. Although it was founded as an ethnic parish, members have included Roman Catholics of diverse...
in Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 82,684 in the 2010 census, a decline from 85,013 in the 2000 census, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state....
for 39 years, retiring in 1990. At St. Casimir’s, he sponsored many Lithuanian immigrant families, while extensively adding to the spiritual, artistic, educational, and material well-being of the parish and greater community. He also maintained cordial relations with the Jewish community in Sioux City, many of whom had roots in Lithuania. It was at Fr. Morkunas’ invitation that the noted artist Adolfas Valeška
Adolfas Valeška
Adolfas Valeška was a Lithuanian stained glass artist, painter, stage designer, and museum director who worked in Lithuania and in Chicago, Illinois....
decorated the sanctuary of St. Casimir's with original paintings, woodwork, and stained glass. In 1988, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
named Morkunas an Honorary Prelate of His Holiness, with the title of Monsignor. In 1991, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
by Morningside College
Morningside College
Morningside College is a private, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Sioux City, Iowa. Founded in 1894 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, Morningside College is a private, four-year, co-educational liberal arts institution. Morningside has 21 buildings on a ...
in Sioux City, which recognized his “monumental services to Christianity and humanity as a Roman Catholic clergyman. His steady commitment to education, in his home country, Lithuania, and his adopted country, the United States of America, adds special luster to his career.”
He died on July 5, 1997, at the age of 95.
References
- Rescuers who helped Jews in Lithuania
- Some details of his helping Jews to escape Nazi persecution
- Obituary with biographical sketch (in Lithuanian)
- Biographical sketch from programme on conferring of Honorary Doctorate, Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa in 1991
- Historical detail of humanitarian activities in Kaunas, Lithuania
- Golden Jubilee of Saint Casimir Lithuanian Roman Catholic Parish, DraugasDraugasDraugas is the only Lithuanian daily newspaper published abroad. It is read not only in the United States, but in Canada, South America, Australia, and Europe as well.-History:...
Press, Chicago, Illinois, USA, 1965, pp.52-55.
