The Renewal of the Order redone 2018

The Renewal of the Marian Order in 1909-1910 24 On January 9, 1910, Father General Sekowski accepted as members of the Congregation, with the consent of the Bishop Ordinary, three priests of the Sejny diocese: Pius Andziulis, who taught religion in the Teachers Seminary in Wejwery, Antanas Civinskas, a doctor of theol- ogy, and Jonas Totoraitis, a doctor of philosophy and historian. 67 Prelate Antonowicz, who managed the affairs of the Sejny diocese, even took care to provide appropriate housing for the future monks. In a letter to Fr. Sekowski, while expressing his satisfaction and joy at the Renewal of the Order, the prelate advised him to add another floor to the building so that the Marians didn’t have to live in damp and stinking cells. 68 In a memorandum to the Holy See about the Order dated April 10, 1910, Rev. Matulewicz mentioned six additional aspirants. 69 Almost all of them were college schoolmates or students of the two profes- sors. Rev. Matulewicz complained to Undersecretary Rodolfo Caroli that because of the need for secrecy they could only provide infor- mation about their Congregation discreetly and very selectively. 70 On January 26, 1910, Prelate Giuseppe Antonucci informed Rev. Matulewicz on behalf of the Congregation of the Religious that the letter from the Sejny Bishop Ordinary arrived and he reminded him about the other missing documents. 71 Half a year had already gone by since the initial decree which stated that the Congregation should be approached again “after at least three months.” Rev. Matulewicz responded to the Congregation of the Religious in a letter on February 7, 1910, addressed to both Prelate Antonucci and 67 LVA, set 1674, inv. 1, vol. 142, p. 5, Protocol of Enrollment, January 1, 1910. 68 LVA, set 1674, inv. 2, vol. 97, letter of W. Sekowski to J. Matulewicz, February17, 1910. 69 See Document 28, Appendix 3. 70 See Document 27. 71 ACIVCSVA, Protocollum 1909, part 1, vol. 6900, No. 3455/09, a note in the diary, and Document 27. The letter is not extant. G. Antonucci from the Congregation for Studies was assigned the task of sending the letter because his office was the one that stayed in touch with the Academy in which Rev. Matulewicz and Rev. Buczys were teaching.