War interrupted studies at Lithuanian seminary

As part of that occupation, the Russians took over the Catholic seminary in Kaunas, displacing 220 men who were studying for the priesthood. Everything in their rooms was stolen or destroyed; books, notes and typewriters disappeared.

The seminarians, dispersed throughout the city, tried to find places to live and wondered about the future of their education. Private families took in the seminarians, among them nine deacons on the verge of ordination. Those nine continued their studies in the sacristies of different churches.

The archbishop of Kaunas contacted the Vatican to ask what he should do. Proceed with the ordinations, came the response; so, on Jan. 26, 1941, Rev. Matthew Cyvas became a priest with eight fellow Lithuanians.

Six months later, Germany invaded Lithuania, ejecting the Russians. Father Cyvas revisited his seminary and found it had been vandalized. That fall, he was appointed to Holy Cross parish in Kaunas, where he remained until he was named secretary to the Archbishop in 1944.

When the war ended, Father Cyvas was able to complete his studies in Rome. He then came to America and eventually to the Albany Diocese, where he served from 1951-88. He ministered at St. Joseph's, Scotia, and St. Michael's, Amsterdam, before being named pastor of St. George's Church in Albany, which had a large Lithuanian population.

Since 1988, Father Cyvas has been retired in Florida, where he works with a Lithuanian mission.

(Father Cyvas celebrated his 60th anniversary of ordination in January in Florida.)

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