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Užluobė Lourdes Shrine

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In the village of Užluobė, near the Šarkė Manor, stands the Lourdes shrine, shrouded in legend. Its story begins with a farmer named Juozas Žadauskas, who, having lost his horses, prayed to God for their return. One night, an angel appeared to him in a dream, instructing him to build a Lourdes shrine on the cliff by the Luoba River as a sign of God’s mercy. Built between 1936 and 1938, the Lourdes shrine became a local place of worship, featuring a chapel, a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a well blessed with water from Lourdes, France. Every May, pilgrims gather here, with Holy Mass celebrated on the last Sunday of the month.

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Historical Heritage
Skuodas Information Center

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Near the renowned Šarkė Manor in Užluobė village, along the banks of the Luoba River, lies the sacred site of Užluobė Lourdes. The origin of this unique place is linked to farmer Juozas Žadauskas, whose lands bordered the river. After losing his valuable horses, he prayed and vowed to build a Lourdes shrine if his horses were returned. One night, an angel appeared to him in a dream, directing him to find the horses in Latvia and to build the shrine on the Luoba cliff. According to his daughter Ona, the Virgin Mary also appeared in a dream, revealing the location of the horses in Latvia and asking Juozas to build a place of worship in gratitude. Constructed between 1936 and 1938 near the river, this small Lourdes shrine, with its statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, became a spiritual haven. Firmly established on the cliff, the shrine was surrounded by linden trees, enclosed by a fence, and became a central

site of prayer for the local community. Before World War II, a well blessed with water from Lourdes, France, was dedicated here, and plans were made to build a chapel with steps connecting it to the shrine. Though construction was not completed, the site remained a cherished place of prayer. After the Žadauskas family’s deportation in 1948—where Juozas and his family perished—the Lourdes shrine preserved its sacred aura, remaining untouched through the war and Soviet era. This site serves as a reminder of past events and the builders who never returned from exile. During May, prayers are offered at the Lourdes shrine, with Holy Mass celebrated on the last Sunday of the month, drawing many worshippers from the Skuodas and Truikinai parishes. The shrine in Užluobė is a valuable landmark on the map of Lithuania’s religious monuments, preserving history, local traditions, and spiritual serenity.

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2025-11-17

Užluobė Lourdes Shrine

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