Bethlehem’s first sisters were invited to Lithuania in 1994 by Archbishop Audrys Juozas Bačkis. The Archbishop invited the sisters to settle in Trakai, but this land did not suit them, so when they received an official invitation from the then Bishop of Kaišiadorys Juozas Matulaitis, they arrived in Paparčiai. In Paparčiai they were helped by the priest Bernardas Sajeta, who suggested that the nuns settle here. They lived in Paparčiai for about 2-3 years and took care of the construction of the monastery. The Monastery of Aušrinė Marija consists of 16 huts, also known as a hermitage or simply cells. One is for laypeople who want to be alone for a while. There are stone brick walls between the hermitage so even nuns meet face to face very rarely.