In a letter to the Lithuanian Catholics abroad, the Archbishop of Vilnius, Gintaras Grusas, President of the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference, talks about the centenary of the country’s independence as a “propitious time” to “turn to our heavenly Father and give Him thanks for the freedom of motherland”, and to ask Him that “the Kingdom of God may come to Lithuania and the world”. 2018, the Archbishop explains, also marks the 300^th anniversary of the coronation of the painting of the Mother of God of Trakai, patron saint of Lithuania. That is why a celebration was held on 11 February 2018 in the Basilica to consecrate Lithuania to the Virgin Mary. “For many years, those Lithuanians around the world who could not return to their homeland because of the occupation have found their home in Mary”, Mgr. Grusas wrote, and vice versa, as they could not take their homeland with them, they “took the most precious thing: the Mother of Lithuania and all Lithuanians, Mary”. Mgr. Grusas invites all Lithuanians across the world, particularly families, to turn to Mary with the prayer that was prayed on 11 February. Indeed, while Lithuania “was built with the large contribution of emigration”, this work, “as that of building a family, is the result of constant daily efforts, and never happens once and for all”.