The Rev. Gary Ziuraitis, a priest assigned to the Vatican, said he felt something very familiar when he visited the Dutch Hill section of Tamaqua on Sunday.

"Like so many other long-standing Lithuanian settlements, it's like coming home," said the Michigan native.Ziuraitis was in the Schuylkill County community to see four Tamaqua friends Diane Derr, Bill Savage, Donna Soley and Elaine Millet.The four first met Ziuraitis in 2002 while on a trip to Lithuania sponsored by the Knights of Lithuania, and again last year.Things changed over the past decade, and the Rev. Ziuraitis, affiliated with The Redemptorists, Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, is assigned to the Vatican.When the Tamaqua group visited Rome in 2012, Ziuraitis welcomed them and served as tour guide.This past weekend, the tables were turned.Derr, Savage, Soley and Millet joined with other friends in giving a coal-region welcome to Ziuraitis.In addition, Ziuraitis was welcomed at SS. Peter and Paul Church, Tamaqua, by the Rev. William Linkchorst. In fact, Ziuraitis took the lectern and celebrated the 10:30 a.m. Mass as guest pastor, where he recognized a familiar feel of kinship among parishioners and those in the town."It's the feeling of community where people care for each other," he said.In honor of the occasion, the church choir sang two Lithuanian songs.In some ways, the friendship between the Tamaqua foursome and Ziuraitis has been one of enlightenment.For instance, while in Rome last year, the Tamaqua group made a startling discovery.Ziuraitis was escorting the visitors to a chapel when Savage, paying attention to detail, realized that large bas-relief sculptures lining the walls inside the chapel of St. Peter's Basilica are identical to ones inside his hometown Tamaqua church. Turns out, they were crafted by the same artist.In fact, the sculptures and stained glass windows of Tamaqua's SS. Peter and Paul Church might be the ultimate showcase for the renowned artwork of Lithuanian-born sculptor Professor Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas.Jonynas' notoriety and the discovery of the Tamaqua church's bond to St. Peter's Basilica was a pleasant surprise for Savage, Derr, Millet and Soley and an equal surprise for the folks at the Vatican.Sunday's visit allowed Ziuraitis to see for himself the additional religious artwork accomplished by Jonynas."I didn't know about the artist's connection," said Ziuraitis.The discovery was a highlight of the September 25 October 5 trip, which also included an audience with Pope Benedict XVI and tours of Old Rome.In Tamaqua, Ziuraitis was a guest of Derr, the former Diane Kenesky, and husband Mike. He left Monday to continue to Grand Rapids on a visit home.