FRACKVILLE - Preserving Lithuanian culture and traditions is part of the mission of the Knights of Lithuania, and members in its Amber District met Sunday in Frackville to discuss local, regional and national topics involving the almost 100-year-old organization.
Following morning Mass in Annunciation BVM Roman Catholic Church in Frackville, the group moved to the parish hall for some social time before a catered dinner, after which the meeting was held, chaired by district President Diane Drumstas, a member of Philadelphia Council No. 3.
The meeting was hosted by Anthracite Council No. 144, which is comprised of members of the Schuylkill County communities of Frackville, Shenandoah, Minersville, Pottsville, Tamaqua, Ashland, Girardville, Mahanoy City and Saint Clair, as well as neighboring communities of Mount Carmel in Northumberland County, Hazleton in Luzerne County, and Berwick area in Columbia County. It is one of 11 councils in the district, that include Shamokin/Coal Township Council No. 156, six others in Pennsylvania, two in New York state and one in Washington, D.C.
The Anthracite council sponsors the popular two-day Lithuanian Days celebration in August at the Schuylkill Mall. Lithuanian Days, which will celebrate its 97th annual event this year, is the longest-running consecutive ethnic festival in the United States.
"We have the biggest and best district," said Drumstas to the 46 people who attended the meeting, representing five councils. "It's great to be here. The Mass is always nice, the food is good and the people are wonderful."
The district officers in attendance were Drumstas and secretary Marge Petronis, both members of the Philadelphia council, and treasurer Larry Domalakes, who is president of the Anthracite council.
The Knights of Lithuania is a nationwide organization of Roman Catholic men and women of Lithuanian ancestry and their spouses. Adhering to the motto: "For God and Country," the Knights aim to keep alive among its members an appreciation of the Lithuanian language, customs and culture, while also stressing the importance of Roman Catholic beliefs. It was founded April 27, 1913, as a youth organization. St. Casimir is the organization's patron saint.
"Pennsylvania has one of the original groups of Lithuanian immigrants who came to the United States," said Drumstas after the meeting. "When they came to America, they arrived at Pier 55, only about one block away from where I live in South Philadelphia. They were put in train cars and brought upstate. At the same time the Molly Maguires were fighting, so were the Lithuanians for the same rights. Somehow, the Lithuanians stayed a lot longer and they created their own churches and cultural events that helped preserved their culture."
Drumstas said there are 800 members in the Amber District, which is one of five districts in the country.
"I have the nicest district of the five, and we get the best turnout at our meetings," said Drumstas. "Marge and I have been in the K of L since 1958. We were in the eighth grade and we joined the Junior Knights. At the time, we were all in the old New York-New Jersey district, but it got so big we broke away to form the Amber District."
Drumstas said the district holds two regional meetings per year. The next district meeting is Oct. 9 in Easton.
The meeting agenda included committee reports, including the national convention to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Knights in 2013, district donations to Lithuania-related charities, approval of district delegates to this year's national convention, nominations for officers for 2011-2012, the the Knights of Lithuania Foundation's essay contest.
With Lithuania's regained freedom in the 1990s, the Knights of Lithuania have worked to continually expand on its current goals and work toward new ones. Organizations being aided through the Knights include the Lithuanian Pontifical College in Rome through the St. Casimir Guild Inc., supplying Roman Catholic reading materials and additional needed aid through the Knights of Lithuanian Foundation Inc., and promoting a deeper understanding, reverence and knowledge of the Blessed Mother's appearance in Siluva, Lithuania, in 1608, through the Our Lady of Siluva Fund Inc.