George Matulaitis Journal

279 the sisters of Nazareth, to whom I gave a conference. I visited some of the other priests. The children and the people were preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. November 23 This was a very full day for me. At 9:30 in the morning, I gave Confirmation to more than 500 children. I preached a brief sermon. Afterwards, I celebrated a solemn Mass during which I delivered anoth- er sermon to the people. In the afternoon I dedicated a girls’ high school conducted by the Sisters of Nazareth and gave an appropriate talk. Then I went to the meeting of the Christian Democrats, and here I had to give a speech as well. From there I went back to the church to give Confirmation to the adult women and again preached a short sermon. After that I called on a religious community of sisters dedicated to serving rural folk. I gave them a conference. In the evening we were all invited to dinner with Father Kury == owicz. The rest of the time I stayed with the Dean, Father ÷ ebrowski. November 24 At eight in the morning I celebrated Mass for the secondary school students and afterwards confirmed them and gave a brief sermon. In the afternoon I gave Confirmation to the adult men and preached a sermon. Father Hrynkiewicz, a Belorussian priest who teaches religion at the boys high school, told me that there was a group of nationally conscious Catholic Belorussian boys who wanted to work for their own people. In the evening I left for Vilnius. I barely managed to squeeze into the soldiers’ car, which was already overcrowded. The journey was tiring, and it was hot and stuffy in the railway car. We arrived in Vilnius at midnight.