Blessed Jurgis Matulaitismatulewicz

Born to a poor farm family, the youngest of eight children at a time when Lithuania was under the control of Tsarist Russia. Orphaned at age ten. Developed tuberculosis of the bone in his leg, in his early teens; he suffered with it the rest of his life. Entered the seminary in Poland in 1891, studied in the major seminary in Warsaw, studied theology in Saint Petersburg, Russia, earned his doctorate of theology at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Spiritual student of Blessed Honorat Kozminski. Ordained on 20 November 1898 in the Congregation of Marian Fathers. Taught Latin and canon law in the seminary in the diocese of Kielce, Poland. Worked for the betterment of the working poor. Head of the Sociology section of Saint Petersburg Academy in 1907.

Taught dogmatic theology. Vice-rector of the Academy. Noted teacher, preacher, spiritual director, and confessor. Reformed the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in 1910, changing their constitution, habit, vows, and way of life, resigning his position at the Academy to work for the Marians revitalization; superior general of the Congregation on 14 July 1911. Founded the Congregation of Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in 1918. Founded the Sisters Servants of the Jesus in the Eucharist in Belarus. Reluctant bishop of Vilnius, Lithuania on 23 October 1918. The city was divided into warring camps loyal to the various forces of the First World War, and George fought constantly to defend the right of the Church and the freedom of the citizens. Founded the Handmaids of Jesus in the Eucharist in 1919. He retired from his see on 14 July 1925; on 1 September 1925 he was made titular archbishop and Apostolic Visitator to Lithuania. Dispatched by the Vatican to complete a concordant with the Lithuanian government to restore diplomatic relations; he succeded just before his death.