Monsignor says Lithuanians' Katrina donation shows gratitude to U.S.

Published: 2006-03-03

VILNIUS, Lithuania (CNS) -- Although the amount of money Lithuanian Catholics collected for Hurricane Katrina victims pales in comparison to the generosity of the U.S. Catholic Church toward their country, Lithuanians wanted to give something back, said a church official. Just before Christmas, about $29,000 was transferred to Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes of New Orleans. The money was collected for two weeks in the churches of Lithuania right after Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. coast six months ago, said Msgr. Gintaras Grusas, secretary-general of the Lithuanian bishops' conference. "In respect to how much assistance the church in Lithuania has received from the faithful of the USA through the American bishops' conference -- and (retired) Archbishop Francis Schulte of New Orleans ... being a visitor here in Lithuania several times -- an idea came up to take up a collection for whatever meager sum that we could raise," Msgr. Grusas told Catholic News Service in late February.

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