Lithuanian church province was established in 1926 of Pope Pius the IX. Large Samogitian diocese was divided into three new dioceses: Kaunas archbishopric, Panevezys and Telsiai dioceses, Klaipeda prelature, including Klaipeda land Catholic parishes, earlier belonging to Varmija diocese, was joined to Telsiai diocese. Justinas Staugaitis, signatory of the Act of Independence, famous Lithuanian politician and cultural worker, was appointed the first bishop of Telsiai. Telsiai, capital of Samogitia, became the center of diocese and bishop’s residence. Beginning of the activity in the diocese was very difficult. There were no priests in the new diocese. It was difficult to form even the curia’s staff. „We learned, that only 26 students…
