HOT SPRINGS — Father Jonas “John” Burkus’ story of the obstacles he faced to become a priest recently inspired other priests in the Diocese of Little Rock.
Nearing his 94th birthday, Father Burkus delivered the homily during Mass at the priests’ summer retreat at Subiaco Abbey.
A priest for 67 years, Father Burkus’ story might not be as familiar to most Arkansans.
Father Burkus was born Dec. 3, 1913, near Linkuva, Lithuania.
“We lived on a farm, far away from anything and anyone,” said Father Burkus, who has lived in retirement in Hot Springs since 1975.
From the time he was young, he was influenced by a monthly magazine that his mother subscribed to about foreign missions. Young Jonas decided he wanted to be a missionary priest, even though the only language he knew was Lithuanian.
His ordination day with seven other seminarians was overshadowed by world events. On June 15, 1940, the day before the ordination, Russian tanks crossed the eastern boundaries of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. As a result, only eight people attended the Mass in the cathedral. There was no choir or organist.
The next day, Sunday, June 16, no cars or people were in the streets.
“Just as we (new priests) pledged our lives in service to God and the Church, Satan demonstrated his power outside the cathedral,” said Father Burkus, recalling how the Russian army marched through the streets of Panevezys.
The noise of the tanks as they passed on streets during the ordination Mass is a vivid memory, even today.
Father Burkus remained in Lithuania for four years, first under Russian occupation, then under Nazi Germany. In 1944, because of health problems, he took a leave of absence and went to Palanga, a town on the Baltic Sea near Germany. While he was there, his bishop ordered him out of the country.
“He feared that the Russians could murder all priests. I went from Palanga to Germany by train,” he said.
In Dilgen, Germany, Father Burkus worked in Lithuanian refugee camps, where he taught catechism to children and wrote several Catholic booklets in his native language. It was the beginning of his writing career. To date, he has written or translated more than 20 books.
“My real missionary work of spreading Christ’s doctrine has been through writing, publishing and distributing religious books … God led me miraculously to be a missionary, although it was not the work that I expected,” Father Burkus wrote.
When it became obvious that Lithuania would not exist as a free country, Father Burkus immigrated to the United States in 1949. He worked in parishes with Lithuanian populations in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and finally moved to the Diocese of El Paso, Texas, which was considered a mission diocese. His childhood dream of being in a mission was fulfilled as he ministered in Spanish and English in three different churches.
In 1975, at the age of 62, he retired from active ministry. Father Burkus moved to Hot Springs where there was a Lithuanian community.
“In 2003, before I became almost completely blind, I translated into Lithuanian a two-volume book, ’Through the Eyes of Jesus.’ One volume has been published and the other awaits funding for publication. With God’s help, I will continue my missionary work in feeding the people of Lithuania who are hungry for spiritual food.”
He uses a typewriter, but said he must type with “his nose touching the keys” in order to see the letters. He continues to celebrate Mass in his home every day.
“Mass intention money, the diocesan pension and any donation I send to the publisher of my books on religion in Lithuanian,” he said.
