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The Museum of Priest Jonas Katelė

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The Museum of Priest Jonas Katelė, located in the town of Panemunėlis and opened in 2016, invites visitors to explore the life and legacy of this remarkable figure. Housed in the renovated old rectory, the museum presents the history of the late 19th-century national revival, a time when Priest Jonas Katelė actively supported book smugglers, published Lithuanian textbooks, and organized secret schools. The exhibition includes household items, documents, historical publications, and local materials that highlight the struggle to preserve Lithuanian identity. Panemunėlis, once referred to as the cultural capital of Eastern Aukštaitija, remains a unique site commemorating this bastion of Lithuanian culture during the tsarist era.

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Museums

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+370 612 02328

alekniene.violeta@gmail.com

https://www.rokiskiotic.lt/

J. Katelės g. 1, Panemunėlio mstl.

Established through the initiative of the Jonas Katelė Education and Charity Fund, the museum sheds light on the priest’s contributions and the broader history of the national movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite lacking formal pedagogical training, Priest Katelė established Lithuanian "schools of hardship," supported book smugglers, published educational materials, and organized secret gatherings and plays. His efforts transformed the small town of Panemunėlis into a key center for Lithuanian cultural resilience. The museum's exhibition showcases items from that era, including household tools, documents, photographs, old publications, and local historical artifacts. In 2022, with financial support from

the Rokiškis District Municipality, the museum updated its displays, including a new oak showcase featuring rare manuscripts and publications, further enriching the collection. Panemunėlis Parish, often referred to as the cultural capital of Eastern Aukštaitija, serves as a powerful example of how even small communities can become strongholds for the preservation and promotion of Lithuanian identity. The site was highly praised by Swedish-born cultural researcher Mykolas Breikšteinas. The Museum of Priest Jonas Katelė offers visitors a chance to delve into the priest’s unwavering efforts to preserve the Lithuanian language and culture, providing a closer look at the historical events that shaped the nation’s identity.

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