Kauno jėzuitų gimnazija, 1649-2004

LTŠioje knygoje, vidiniam poreikiui skatinant, į vieną vietą sutelkti ir istorine chronologine tvarka pateikti jėzuitų (Jėzaus draugijos narių) dvasinės-pedagoginės sistemos pėdsakai Lietuvoje. Tai reikšmingas dalykas Bažnyčios ir Tautos istorijai. Be to, leidinio sandara, grįsta publikacijų įvairumu, - dvasininkų įžvalgomis, mokslininkų komentarais, pedagogų ir jų auklėtinių autentiškais atsiminimais ir liudijimas, - atskleidžia jėzuitų dvasiningumo šaknijimąsi Lietuvoje, jo veiksmingumą ir aktualumą. Penktas šimtmetis eina nuo tos dienos, kai jėzuitai Lietuvoje padėjo kertinius dvasinės-edukacinės veiklos akmenis. Leidinio publicistinė mozaika akivaizdžiai liudija - evangeline šviesa nutvieksta jėzuitų pedagoginė sistema, nežiūrint objektyvių istorijos sąlygų, laiko pasikeitimų, yra gyva ir nuolat atsinaujinanti. Vadinasi, amžinosios ir apreikštosios vertybės turi vienintelį matą - dabar ir visados. Mokytojo ir mokinio tarnystės Dievui ir Tėvynei tema, įgaudama naujų, laiko diktuojamų raiškos formų, niekada nepraranda aktualumo - vaikas, jaunas žmogus yra, buvo ir bus dieviškosios tikrovės skleidimasis žemėje... Todėl, vedami svarbiausios krikščioniškosios dorybės - duoti ir dalytis, šį leidinį dedikuojame Lietuvos mokytojams kaip bendro tikėjimo, dvasinio ir pedagoginio solidarumo ženklą [iš pratarmės].

ENThe celebration of the 350-th anniversary of the Jesuit gymnasium began when the school anthem composed by the musician V. Bartulis and by a preeminent poet B. Brazdzionis was sung. It was followed by the greetings from the alumnus Cardinal V. Sladkevičius, archbishop S. Tamkevičius, Jesuit provincial Antanas Sau- laitis SJ and the first headmaster of the newly reestablished school, Fr. A. Baniulis. The current chaplain, Fr. V. Sadauskas, made a review of Jesuit history, Jesuit schools, their mission, St. Ignatius' "helping souls", and the main characteristics of Jesuit education. A historian E. Ulčinaitė spoke of Jesuit education in Lithuania, which was based on the Collegium Romanum, about the textbooks and guidelines used, educational methods and their role in fostering Catholic faith. E. Ulčinaite stressed the importance of Jesuit Fr. M. K. Sarbievijus, who was a significant baroque poet in the early 17th century, Z. Liauksminas's Praxis oratoria which was reprinted all over Europe and M. Smiglecki's textbook of Logic, which was used for almost 300 years. A.V. Kojalavičius, the founder of a Lithuanian historiographic tradition (1650) was mentioned as well. The speaker emphasized that intercultural relations helped to foster writing and publishing in Lithuania as well as preaching in the native language. International culture and education helped to spread humanistic ideas in all the countries of Europe, Lithuania among them. A well known historian, Jesuit Paulius Rabikauskas, spoke about the foundation of Kaunas Jesuit school. V. Truskauskaitė's presentation on "Contemplating the mystery of God in the school theater" was followed by a discussion about mythological figures and the development of drama in Lithuania. She described the relationship of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius with the baroque theater.The present superior general of the Society of Jesus, Fr. P. H. Kolvenbach, visited Kaunas Jesuit school in 1993 and spoke of the role of teachers as the essential factor in Jesuit education. In his presentation the school headmaster Fr. G. Vitkus SJ dealt with social and public issues which are closely related to Jesuit education. When the Society of Jesus became legal in Lithuania in 1990 again, the Jesuits decided to reclaim their school building with an existing faculty and a student body. By 1997 the school was recognized as a "gimnasium" — a college preparatory school. Over 90 percent of its graduates go on to higher education. With the help of Renovabis and other benefactors the school building and the equipment were renovated. The students began to understand that learning is a lifelong process and responsibility. The teaching of religion in Lithuania undergoes periodic soulsearching and criticism. Faith and culture are closely related as school tries to form and inform the students about prayer, the Holy Scripture, liturgy, community, about different issues concerning human values, with a special attention given to each student. The transition period in Lithuania is not easy. It is like going from one epoch to another. It requires clear direction, stable values and conversion. In the confusion about values and the relativity of morality, the eleven principles of Catholic education are extremely important. From 1993 the school provides continuing education and instruction for teachers in the spirit of St. Ignatius. The school sees its primary role in helping parents, emphasizing the role of social responsibility and the service of others G. Kuckailienė described the architecture of the whole Jesuit complex in Kaunas. Perkūnas (Thunder, Thor) house dates to the 15th century. It is called so because reportedly a statue of Perkūnas was discovered in 1818 at this site.The red brick building is notable for its frontal composition. When three Kojelavaičius brothers entered the Society of Jesus, they donated their family property, including Perkūnas house, to the Jesuits. After the repressions in 1773 Perkūnas house was used as a warehouse and then a residence for Russian Orthodox clergy and later as a theater. After World War I it was returned to the Jesuits. In the Soviet times it was a museum. Now it is the library and the venue of small cultural events. The construction of the church was begun in 1666, but due to the plague and wars, the first Mass was celebrated only in 1720. The baroque church has three naves and two towers. The main altar in the imitation of marble dates to 1753. From 1821 it was an Orthodox church. After a fire during World War I the Germans used it as a hospital and a stable. The church of St. Francis Xavier was rededicated in 1924. The Soviets closed the church in 1948 — it became a warehouse and later a gym, rededicated once more in 1992. The two-storey college buildings were constructed in the 1760's. Two additonal floors were added in 1925-30 to accomodate boarding students. A musicologist V. P. Jurkštas reminded the audience that the Province of Lithuania had 21 schools in the 18th century. Theater and music were important components of education. Local professors and other public figures wrote plays that are part of national culture and heritage now. The first known performance in 1667 was in honor of a noble statesman. G. Šimkevičius wrote both dramas and church hymns. Plays composed in Kaunas were performed in the colleges of Vilnius and other places. V. Jurkštas described a typical Jesuit theatre and the plays performed there. Dance and ballet were also included. The school theater was the first theater in Kaunas. [...].