Father Casimir Wyszynski

statutes. Father Wyszyński took this opportunity to meet with the Butlers and after examining the location, he promised to send one priest there immediately and six more after the monastery would be built. During the annual General Council meeting at the Korabiew Forest, Father Casimir asked the conciliar fathers to consider the proposal of a new foundation in Lithuania. The council gave its consent in view of the greater opportunity to spread devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In fulfillment of the contract, Father Wojciech Strach, a Bo- hemian by birth, and a religious Brother, arrived at Staropole in April of 1750. On September 26, 1752, another priest, Father Hyacinth Wasilewski was dispatched there to assist them. In 1755, Father Francis Raabe, another Bohemian, and a religious Brother, Thomas Dering, also came. At first they all resided in a house next to the log church. Then Countess Butler ordered the construction of living quarters for themand bequeathed to them about 11 acres of land as well as the grounds between the Rivers Šešupe and Jeś, where theMarians would later begin to build the town of Marijampole. The construction of themonastery, capable of accommodating a large number of religious, was finished only in 1758. The solemn installation of the Marians in Marijampole by the Dean of Olita, Father Wnorowski, attended by Countess Butler and her son Michael, as well as pastors of the local parishes, took place on September 13, 1758. The monastery in Marijampole would play an important role in the history of the Marians. A novitiate was established there where new candidates were prepared for their life of service to God and Mary Immaculate. The official permission for opening the novitiate was granted by Father Clement Panormitano, the Apostolic Commissary of the Franciscans, who by the authority of the Holy See, drew up the erection document. This was the crown jewel of Father Wyszyński’s efforts, who attended to this matter while staying in Rome in 1752. There are grounds to be- lieve that the novitiatewas opened as early as December 5, 1754, andmost of the prospects were Lithuanian-born. Father Casimir 38 Z YGMUNT P ROCZEK , MIC, P H D