At a farewell luncheon held today at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish Hall, 6820 S. Washtenaw Avenue here in Chicago…Sister Regina Dubickas, SSC, the General Superior of the Sisters of Saint Casimir gave the sad news of their departure from the motherhouse in the Marquette Park community for the Franciscan Convent in Lemont. The future was not painted bright for the Saint Casimir Motherhouse. The facility is large and there seems to be no takers for the property. The 200 seat renovated chapel with the entombed remains of the congregation’s foundress Servant of God…the Venerable Mother Maria Kaupas, SSC remains a big question mark for the Sisters. The campus also includes a chaplain’s residence at 68th and Rockwell together with a Lourdes Grotto; and numerous Lithuanian statues and Crosses throughout the property. The final contingent of Sisters is to leave at the end of the year. Sister Regina Marie said it is the Cardinal’s intention that if no Catholic organization assumes the property…everything must be dismantled…including the stain glass windows. The Ad Hoc Committee on Lithuanian Concerns, chaired by Juozas Polikaitis have had a few meetings with the nuns and discussed the establishment of the Lithuanian archives…museum and Lithuanian cultural schools for the older part of the motherhouse building. With the appointment this Fall of a new Archbishop for the Chicago Archdiocese more options might become available.

The Sisters of Saint Casimir will say goodbye to the Marquette Park community that was their home since the their arrival in 1911. The St. Casimir Motherhouse was purchased by Rev. Anthony Staniukynas (whose statue stands in the front of the motherhouse). The future of the Motherhouse complex and campus is still unclear… as is the fate of the Venerable Mother Maria Kaupas, who is interred in a wall crypt in the 200 seat convent chapel. The Sisters will be relocating to the Franciscan Sisters Motherhouse in suburban Lemont. The Farewell Mass will be at on Sunday, June 22nd at 11 am at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish with a dinner following in the parish’s social hall…