Konfliktas dėl Vidugirių parapijos

LTNelinksmos nuotaikos pribloškė 1992 metų Kristaus gimimo šventę. Vidugirių bažnyčia užrakinta, jos statyba sustabdyta, vyskupo dekreto, atšaukiančio Vidugirių parapijos steigimą, kaip nebuvo, taip nėra. Punsko parapijos taryba yra priversta imtis dar vieno drastiško žingsnio – sustabdyti kalėdojimą! Greitai bėga laikas. Sunku patikėti, kad nuo tų įvykių prabėgo jau 30 metų. Per tą laiką išaugo nauja karta, nebeprisimenanti tų painių įvykių ir pamokančios istorijos. Konfliktas, kuris kilo Vidugiriuose, šiandien ne vienam gali būti nesuprantamas. Nagi, kaip Dievo šventovė gali tapti nesutarimų ir neapykantos namais? O vis dėlto [p. 284].

ENThis article describes the conflict over the Vidugiriai chapel. The chapel was built in Vidugiriai on the idea and initiative of the parish priest of Punskas, Ignas Dzermeika. In 1992, the news broke that a new parish was to be established on the site. According to the Bishop of Ełk, the establishment of the Vidugiriai parish was supposed to improve the Lithuanian pastoral care. The faithful saw the deceit in the plan. They understood that the intention was to divide the Lithuanians, to reduce the size of the parish in Punskas so that the Polish element would be stronger there, and to make it possible to eliminate the Lithuanian services in the Seinai Basilica. It became clear that the parish priest of Punskas, playing on two fronts, was hypocritical. The parishioners were angry with him. In the summer of 1992, the construction of the Vidugiriai chapel stopped. Lack of communication was the reason for the mistrust. The parish priest felt attacked by the people and the faithful were deceived because they donated money and worked themselves. The people welded the doors of the chapel with iron beams, and decided not to accept the priest who was visiting the faithful. The protest of Lithuanians was successful. The Church hierarchs refused to establish a parish there.