You are warmly invited to the presentation of poet Justas Jasėnas’ fourth poetry book “Sakų lietus“, which will take place on September 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Angel Museum – Sacred Art Center (Vilniaus St. 11, Anykščiai).
This poetry collection weaves together landscapes of nature with signs of towns and cities. The lyrical subject’s sensitive perception of reality naturally reveals the inner depths of the human being.
The author is able to reconcile contradictions and reflect on painful and significant events in Lithuanian history. In his poetry, figures of Lithuanian literary classics and saints appear (and sometimes pass one another by), while gentle lyricism and a melancholy atmosphere are unexpectedly brightened by notes of irony and personal experience.
Participants of the event:
Author Justas Jasėnas,
Journalist Tautvydas Kontrimavičius,
Poet and publicist Vytautas Kaziela,
Director Vytautas Kubilius,
Photographer Algimantas Černiauskas,
Folklore ensemble “Valaukis” (led by Regina Stumburienė).
Justas Jasėnas was born on June 16, 1982, in Katinių village, Panevėžys district. He graduated from Panevėžys Vytautas Žemkalnis Humanitarian Gymnasium, studied at Vilnius St. Joseph Seminary of Priests from 2001 to 2007, and in the same year was ordained a priest. He holds a Master’s degree in Religious Studies, a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, and in 2014 completed the program in Pastoral Theology at Vytautas Magnus University’s Faculty of Catholic Theology in Kaunas, where he received a Licentiate in Theology. Since 2017 he has been serving at the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul the Apostles in Panevėžys.
A talented young man, he began writing early. His first publication appeared in the student poetry collection “Atviros eilės” in 2000, the same year he became the winner of the national student poetry competition. Just one year later, he was recognized as the young laureate of the International Poetry Festival “Poezijos pavasaris”.
Jasėnas’ poems have been and continue to be published in various cultural journals, anthologies, and collections. He has published three previous poetry books: “Užmigdykite mus Ežeruos” (2009), “Artumų Erčios” (2012), and “Surink iš pakraščių” (2018).
The priest’s creative field and themes are very broad – a sensitive word dedicated to cultural figures, intellectuals, clergy, and all those with whom he has interacted and who have influenced his spiritual life. His poems are filled with existential anxiety, nostalgia, and delicate self-reflection, with considerable attention given to questions of faith, religion, and the search for God.
Constantly engaged in patronage and charitable activities, the priest has donated books to the libraries of Vilnius St. Joseph Seminary of Priests, Zarasai, and Kupiškis. Over 600 publications have been given to the autograph collection of Rokiškis “Romuva,” and more than 40 exhibits have been donated to the Anykščiai Angel Museum – Sacred Art Center.