In Los Angeles, this most ancient tradition, "Siluva", will be celebrated on May 4th, 2008, 3:30 p.m., at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA. Everyone is invited to join in this celebration! For more information, please contact St. Casimir's Parish at (323)664-4660.

The year 2008 marks the 400th anniversary from the first apparition of Our Lady. The Lithuanian community WORLDWIDE will be celebrating this event!

Since the beginning of the 16th century Siluva has been famous for the indulgential feast of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary traditionally celebrated on the 8th of September. However, in the middle of the 16th century the region of Siluva was dominated by the widespread Calvinism. Consequently, the Catholic church was destroyed and the veneration of the Blessed Virgin diminished. In 1608 the apparition of Our Lady took place in Siluva.
It is supposed to be the first apparition of the Virgin Mary in Europe. Besides, it was the unique case in the history of Christianity, when She appeared and talked to the person of non-Catholic confession, i.e. a Calvinist. After the apparition of the Blessed Virgin the Catholic faith revived in that area, and the veneration of the Mother of God considerably increased.

Since the beginning of the 17 th century the miraculous image of the Mother of God with the Child has been venerated in the Shrine of Siluva. In 1786 the Pope Pius —VI granted the coronation of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Siluva. During the period of the Soviet regime the authorities used to impede the participation of the faithful in the indulgential feasts. In spite of persecutions, the multitude of the pilgrims visited Siluva. On September 8, 1991, in Siluva Cardinal ' Vincentas Sladkevidus dedicated Lithuania to the Mother of God. On September 7, 1993, the Pope John Paul II visited the Marian Shrine of Siluva and prayed for Lithuanian families. In the beginning of September, the indulgential feast in Siluva traditionally lasts for more than a week; it is one of the most important events in the religious life of Lithuanian believers.