Indulgence Feast of St. Mary Magdalene in Veiviržėnai
The Indulgence Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene are not very common in Lithuania. Four churches are named after this saint, but the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene are also celebrated in some other parishes without connecting them to the actual title of the church. This also happens in Veiviržėnai parish of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, where deep traditions of Catholic piety are cherished. The Indulgence Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene have been celebrated in Veiviržėnai according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church and local traditions since 1785.
The residents of the town observe the long-standing traditions of their families and relatives and hold a liturgical church celebration on the Sunday closest to July 22. Preparations for the Feast begin in advance - a week before the holiday: the church is thoroughly cleaned, the cemetery is tidied, the church altars are decorated with flower arrangements, and the presbytery of the church and the image of Saint Mary Magdalene are decorated with wreaths woven by the parish community.
On the Day of Indulgence Feast, the Holy Mass is led by a guest priest, and the canticle “Mary Magdalene, When Jesus Was Searching” (a folk religious chant) is traditionally sung at the beginning of the Mass. The culmination of the Holy Mass is a ritual procession through the streets of the town of Veiviržėnai that brings together believers of all
ages, from children to the elderly. After the church celebrations, the parishioners gather at the historic rectory building where a festive program takes place: a fair, a concert, and other cultural activities.
For most of the residents of Veiviržėnai, the Indulgence Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene are also a time for family reunion. As an element of local identity, this tradition embraces the religious, historical, and cultural heritage of the town community and enriches the identity of the local community.
Submitter and tradition bearer – community of Veiviržėnai Parish of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist