Upytės g. 3
LT-35248 Panevėžys

Tel.: (370-45) 43 51 56, (370-45) 43 29 30
Fax: (370-45) 50 04 07

E-mail: pkurija@takas.lt
 

Born 6 June, 1938
Ordained priest 22 May, 1977
Consecrated bishop 5 Aug., 2000
 

Jonas Kauneckas was born on June 6, 1938, in the village Trajoniškis, district of Pasvalys. He attended school in Suntautai, Krinčinas and graduated the secondary school in Pasvalys in 1954. He studied in the college of land-reclamation in Panevėžys in 1954–1958. 1958–1959 J. Kauneckas worked technician in the Center of machines of land-reclamation in Tauragė. 1959–1963, he was manager in the office of construction and land-reclamation in Alytus. He was senior engineer in the office of land-draining office 1963–1972. While working in mentioned enterprises, 1964–1968, J. Kauneckas simultaneously studied German language in the distance language learning institute based in Moscow. After having graduated the distance learning course he studied Lithuanian language and literature in Vilnius University.

Jonas Kauneckas repeatedly tried to enter the Kaunas Interdiocesan Seminary beginning from 1959. Each year he renewed his application for studies in the seminary, but was refused the possibility because of intervention of Soviet authorities. Finally he was admitted to the seminary. Jonas Kauneckas was ordained priest on May 22, 1977. 1977–1983 he was vicar in Telšiai and pastor in the parishes of Skaudvilė and Adakavas. 1978–1984 Rev. Kauneckas was member of The Catholic Committee of Defense of Believers’ Rights, the brave initiative of five Catholic priests who protested against the lack of religious freedom in Soviet Lithuania.

In 1990 Rev. Kauneckas was appointed vice-rector of the newly reestablished Seminary of Telšiai. In 1993 he was appointed spiritual director of the Seminary. He was member of the presbyteral council of Tešiai diocese since 1990, and member of the college of consultors of Telšiai diocese since 1994. In 1993 Rev. Jonas Kauneckas was given the rank of a prelate. He also was spiritual director of Catholic youth organization “Ateitis” since 1994. Msgr. Jonas Kauneckas was nominated bishop on May 13, 2000. He was appointed auxiliary of the bishop of Telšiai. Msgr. Jonas Kauneckas was consecrated bishop on August 5, 2000 in Telšiai. On January 2002 Bishop Jonas Kauneckas was appointed ordinary bishop of Panevėžys diocese.

On October 26, 2011 he was elected president of the Committee "Iustitia et Pax" of Lithuanian Bishops' Conference.