Mgr. Petras Baltuška, the son of Barbora Vebrinytė (1908–1999) and Rapolas Baltuška (1888–1933), was born on 20th November 1930 in the village of Užkalniai in the parish of Ramygala. In 1950 – 1954 he studied at the Interdiocesan theological seminary in Kaunas. After graduation on 12th September 1954 he was ordained a priest by bishop Kazimieras Paltarokas.
Mgr. Petras Baltuška for sixteen years worked as a vicar in three parishes: St. Dominic, Palevene (1954–1956), St. Apostle Evangelist Matthew, Anykščiai (1956–1964), and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Zarasai (1964–1970).
Mgr. Petras Baltuška has been a pastor of the St. Antonio of Padova church in Daugailiai for forty years since his appointment to these responsibilities in 1970. Apart from these four main parishes, he has been doing pastoral ministry to other neighbouring parishes. For thirty-six years out of his fifty-six years of the priesthood he worked in the hard times of Soviet occupation.
The current year is jubiliant for Mgr. Petras Baltuška. He is celebrating his 80th birth anniversary. Forty years, or half of his life-time, have been in service to the land of Daugailiai and its people.
Petras Baltuška is an ingenious constructor of the Living Church. His activities involve: Mass celebration, homilies, visits to parishers, preparing children for the Sacraments (First Confession, First Holy Communion, Marriage), administering the Sacraments (Baptism, Marriage, Extreme Unction). He has accomplished considerable work of repairing, decorating churches and carrying out various household duties.
During the Soviet time the Monsignor had joined in the fight for the rights and liberties of the Church, and when the Independence was restored, he was among the first priests in the diocese of Panevėžys to go to schools to teach religion. Mgr. Petras Baltuška is a vigorous generator and producer of ideas for bringing back from oblivion the memory of the fellow countrymen and other distinguished persons and its preservation. He joined with others in establishing a branch of the Lithuanian Catholic Academy of Science in Utena and takes an active part in its activities (reports, papers, discourses, contributions to the local and national press publications).
Rev. Petras Baltuška has attracted attention of the Church authorities for his efficient involvement in nurturing spirituality.
On 15th October 2001 the Church authorities conferred a title of Canon on him for his distinguished merits. On 14th July 2006 the Holy Father Benedictus XVI designated Can. Petras Baltuška as his Holiness’ Chaplain – monsignor.
On 6th July 2004 Petras Baltuška was awarded a Cross of the Knight of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas. He is the first parson of a small Lithuanian village, Daugailiai, on whom an Order of Gediminas has been conferred.

Article in Lithuanian