The first Vatican recognized European appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lithuania will be commemorated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels May 4.

The 3:30 p.m. Mass will be celebrated by Lithuanian Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius and other concelebrating priests. Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis will welcome the congregation on behalf of Cardinal Roger Mahony.

Since the 16th century pilgrims have made their way to Siluva, Lithuania, to see the venerable image of Our Lady holding the child Jesus in her arms. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the appearance of Mary. The Lithuanian community worldwide is inviting Catholics of all cultures to celebrate with them.

"Everybody is welcomed," said Maryte Sepikas, president of the Knights of Lithuania. "We're overjoyed that there will be many ethnic groups represented."

The history of Mary's appearance in Lithuania begins in 1608 when, as young shepherds were playing, a beautiful lady holding a child in her arms suddenly appeared on a large rock. Tears flowed from her eyes. Some 38 years earlier, the local Catholic Church had been torn down with the influence of the Lutheran faith and Calvinism. The painting inside the church of the Madonna and Child has been secretly buried in a metal chest in the ground.

The news of the crying Blessed Virgin spread quickly and many people saw this as a sign from God. After the apparition, the Catholic faith revived and veneration of the Mother of God increased.

A church was rebuilt in Siluva and the image of the Madonna and Child was once again given a revered place. Thousands of pilgrims gather at the shrine annually, and many have experienced healing through the intercession of Our Lady of Siluva. Pope Pius VI approved the devotion in 1775.

Mary was particularly important to the Lithuanian people during Soviet communist rule when practicing Catholics were persecuted and the church had to go underground.

"We survived 50 years of communism because our people believed in Our Lady of Siluva and in Jesus," said Sepikas. "Our Catholic faith got us through difficult communist times."

In 1993 Pope John Paul II made a visit to the shrine and prayed for Lithuanian families.

Locally, St. Casimir Church in Los Angeles is home to the West Coast Lithuanian diaspora. Father Tomas Karanauskas serves as parish administrator and is co-chairing the Cathedral celebration with Marija Newsom; Jurate Venckus is organizing the liturgy.

Editor's note: For more information, call Maryte Sepikas at (818) 321-1811 or e-mail msepikas@yahoo.com.