Jonas Kąstytis Matulionis

Jonas Kastytis Matulionis (1931–2015) was born in the village of Pelyšiai, Kupiškis District. In 1938, he began attending primary school in Šimonys, and in 1950, graduated from Kupiškis Secondary School. That same year, he enrolled in the Faculty of History and Philology at Vilnius Vincas Kapsukas State University, where he studied Lithuanian language and literature, while also studying singing at Juozas Tallat-Kelpša Music School in Vilnius, where he demonstrated exceptional talent. He successfully completed his university studies in 1955. From 1956 to 1958, he continued to develop his vocal skills at the Vilnius Conservatory but was expelled after being noticed singing in churches. Following this incident, Jonas Kastytis Matulionis was continuously persecuted and repeatedly dismissed from his jobs for political reasons. From 1960, he worked at Music Library No. 16 in Vilnius, and two years later at the Republican Library. In 1967, he took up a position at the Theatre and Music Museum, and in 1970 at the Picture Gallery housed in Vilnius Cathedral. In 1972, he became one of the first seminarians of the underground seminary. In 1974–1977, Jonas Kastytis Matulionis worked as a commercial artist at the United Clothing Store of the Vilnius Industrial Trade Organisation. In 1976–1977, he was put on trial for collaborating with the underground publication Lietuvos Katalikų Bažnyčios kronika (The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania), but was acquitted. 
In 1977, he applied for a position as an art restorer at the library of Vilnius Vincas Kapsukas State University and was accepted. However, on 1 December of the same year, an order was issued to dismiss him under Article 40 of the Labour Code of the Lithuanian SSR (termination of employment at the employee’s initiative). In reality, he was dismissed for political reasons.
In 1977, Matulionis secretly joined the Society of Jesus, and in 1980, after completing an underground seminary, he was ordained a priest. He carried out pastoral work in Kybartai. In 1984, he was arrested for organising an All Saints’ Day procession from the church to the cemetery in Kybartai and was imprisoned in the Smolensk and Novo-Orlovsk labour camps until 1987. 
In 1988, he was appointed altarista at Kaišiadorys Cathedral with the rights of a vicar, and in 1989, transferred to the Archdiocese of Vilnius for pastoral work. In 1990, he served as vicar at the restored Vilnius Cathedral; from 1991 to 1994, he was vicar at St Nicholas Church in Vilnius, and from 1992, also chaplain of the King Mindaugas Riflemen’s Unit in Vilnius. In 1992, he took his perpetual vows as a member of the Society of Jesus. From 1994 to 1996, he served as chaplain of Pažaislis Monastery. From 1997 to 2008, he was priest of the Church of St Casimir in Vilnius and from 2008, at the Church of St Francis Xavier in Kaunas.
In 1999, Jonas Kastytis Matulionis was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Gediminas.