SLOVENSKA ŽUPNIJA SV. GREGORIJA VELIKEGA | ST. GREGORY THE GREAT SLOVENIAN CHURCH 31/60 Številka - Number / Leto - Year 4.8. 2024 18. NEDELJA MED LETOM 18TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Fr. Drago Gačnik, SDB ŽUPNIK - PASTOR NASLOV - ADDRESS 125 Centennial Pkwy N. Hamilton, ON L8E 1H8 PHONE: 905-561-5971 CELL: 905-520-2014 E-MAIL gregory_sdb@ stgregoryhamilton.ca HALL RENTALS 289-339-6900 E-MAIL hallrental@ stgregoryhamilton.ca Danes nam liturgija ponudi začetek Jezusovega govora o kruhu življenja. Ker govori o kruhu iz nebes, je kot prvo berilo ponujena pripoved o daru mane, ki jo je Bog dal svojemu ljudstvu v puščavi. Drugo berilo obravnava krščansko spreobrnjenje: treba je odložiti starega človeka in obleči novega, ki je ustvarjen po Bogu. Mana je velik dar, ki ga Bog daje svojemu ljudstvu v puščavi. Ljudstvo se pritožuje, ker nima jesti. V skušnjavi je, da bi se vrnilo v Egipt, da bi lahko do sitega jedlo. Bog pa poskrbi in mu zvečer da mesa in zjutraj kruha. Meso je dano kot oblak prepelic, ki pokrije taborišče. Zjutraj ljudstvo vidi sloj rose, ki na zemlji pusti nekaj drobnega kot slana in zrnatega. Izraelci, ki so presenečeni, govorijo drug drugemu: »Man hu: kaj je to?« Mojzes pojasni, da je to kruh, ki jim ga Gospod daje v hrano. Mana je čudovit božji dar, ki omogoči ljudstvu, da nadaljuje svojo pot skozi puščavo, ne da bi trpelo lakoto. Po pomnožitvi hlebov se Jezus umakne na goro, čisto sam. Potem hodi po vodi, da pride k svojim učencem, ki so v čolnu, in končno skupaj z njimi doseže obalo pri Kafarnaumu. Ljudstvo, ki je bilo deležno pomnožitve hlebov, opazi, da njega in učencev ni več tam, in jih gre iskat proti Kafarnaumu. V današnjem evangeljskem odlomku poslušamo pogovor med Jezusom in množico. Jezus dvakrat popravi poglede množice, njen način razumevanja stvari. Namesto da bi odgovoril na vprašanje množice, kritično pripomni: »Resnično, resnično, povem vam: Ne iščete me zato, ker ste videli znamenja, ampak ker ste jedli kruh in se nasitili.« Tako očita ljudem, da niso dojeli pomena čudeža, ampak so se z njim samo okoristili: jedli so hlebe, ki jih je pomnožil, se nasitili, in nič več. Nasprotno pa je ta čudež znamenje duhovnega daru, ki ga Jezus želi dati ljudem. Jezus, pravi kruh življenja, želi nasititi ne samo telesa, ampak tudi duše s tem, da jim daje duhovno hrano, ki lahko izpolni njihovo VESTNIK 2024 | najgloblje hrepenenje. Zato povabi ljudi, naj ne skrbijo za jed, ki mine, ampak za tisto, ki ostane za večno življenje. Ljudje vprašajo: »Kaj naj storimo, da bomo delali Božja dela?» Njegov odgovor je: »Božje delo je to, da verujete v tistega, ki ga je on poslal.« Judje skrbno izpolnjujejo postavo, delajo božja dela in mislijo, da je odnos med Bogom in ljudmi tak kot odnos med gospodarjem in njegovimi služabniki, zato želijo od Jezusa izvedeti, katera dejanja morajo opraviti, da bodo brezhibni pred Bogom. Jezus jih zopet poduči in pravi, da je božje delo verovati v tistega, ki ga je on poslal. Gre za spremembo pogleda, ker je vera po Jezusovih besedah božji dar. Ker je Jezus govoril o veri, ljudje sedaj zahtevajo znamenja. V evangelijih se pogosto zgodi, da ljudje zahtevajo znamenja, da bi lahko verovali: »Kakšno znamenje torej delaš, da bomo videli in ti verjeli?« Jezus pa spet popravi gledanje ljudi, ko pravi, da mana ni bila resnični kruh iz nebes, ampak snovni kruh. Kruh iz nebes pa je duhovni kruh, kruh, ki daje življenje duši. Jezus sam je ta kruh. Njega je poslal Bog, da bi bil hrana za naše duše. Zato reče ljudem: »Ni vam Mojzes dal kruha iz nebes, ampak moj Oče vam daje resnični kruh iz nebes. Božji kruh je tisti, ki prihaja iz nebes (Jezus) in daje svetu življenje.« Nekaj čudovitega je, da lahko dobimo ta kruh Iz nebes. Zato ljudje Jezusa takoj prosijo: »Gospod, vselej nam daj tega kruha!« In Jezus pribije: 'Jaz sem kruh življenja. Kdor pride k meni, gotovo ne bo lačen, in kdor vame veruje, gotovo nikoli ne bo žejen.' Jezus je tisti, ki lahko v resnici poteši naše najgloblje želje. Kdor pa v polnosti sprejme Jezusa v svoje življenje, ni več lačen ne žejen, ker so njegove najgloblje želje potešene. V drugem berilu nas Pavel vabi, naj odložimo starega človeka z njegovim obnašanjem, človeka, ki ga spridijo varljive strasti, in se prenovimo v duhu našega uma, da oblečemo novega človeka, Kristusa, ustvarjenega po Bogu v resnični pravičnosti in svetosti. On je kruh življenja, ki zadovolji naše najgloblje želje, naše najbolj bistvene potrebe, in nam bo v nebesih dal popolno veselje. - (prim. Oznanjevalec 2003, št. 3) 334 | VESTNIK 2024 18TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Response: The Lord gave them bread from heaven. First Reading Exodus 16:2-4. 12-15 In the desert, the Israelites forgot the blessings of escaping from slavery, and instead grumbled that they were hungry. Second Reading Ephesians 4:17. 20-24 We are called to a new life in Christ. Gospel John 6:24-35 The people whom Jesus fed followed him in the search for more bread, not realising that they should have been looking for bread which would last forever. “Do not work for food that goes bad but work for food that endures for eternal life.” Illustration Ancient Egyptian grave robbers knew that great riches were buried with important people and became increasingly ingenious in gaining access to tombs to steal valuable items which could be sold or melted down. They were so good at hiding their tracks that today, when archaeologists begin their excavations, they often unexpectedly discover that the thieves had been there before them. However, in their search for riches, the robbers didn’t know that some of the seemingly trivial things they left behind would be priceless archaeological evidence 3000 years later. Yuya and Thuya were buried in Egypt's Valley of the Kings in about 1390 BC, roughly 70 years before their great-grandson, the Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Their tomb, although sealed against raiders, was known to be very richly supplied with goods to accompany the couple into the afterlife. The thieves removed the gold and jewellery but ignored the food storage pots and boxes which had been left for Yuya and Thuya’s journey through the underworld. Centuries later, archaeologists discovered that the seventeen carved boxes, carved into the shape of their contents, had contained a leg of veal, a shoulder of antelope, three geese, two ducks, and several small birds. The clay pots contained grain and other staples – and all this happened before refrigeration and our “sell by” and “use by” dates! History and archaeology show us that people have always thought of everlasting life and food that would last into eternity. It was Jesus who turned these human longings into reality. Gospel teaching Jesus knew that when he fed five thousand people on five loaves and two fish, they wouldn't be satisfied. They were interested, not in listening to Jesus, but in eating another free meal. We all like freebies and it's easy to imagine that Jesus didn’t supply stale bread and rancid fish when he distributed the boy’s food. Whatever the crowd said to him, Jesus was not afraid to be blunt and to tell the people that they had only followed him because they wanted another hillside picnic. Jesus reminded the crowd that when the Israelites were travelling to the Promised Land with Moses, they remembered their time in Egypt and the good food which was not available in the desert. They nagged Moses to supply food and water. He took their complaints to God, who supplied manna and quail, but they would soon grumble that they were bored with their limited diet. Some people are never satisfied! It was a familiar story to everyone present – but they were unprepared for the sequel. Jesus took the story one step further, telling his listeners of the bread that would last for eternity if they only took the time and made the effort to find it. He would soon tell them that he was the bread that would last forever. However, they would take his words at face value, not seeing the deeper meaning and not bothering to ask Jesus to explain what he had just said – and so they left him. Application Oscar Wilde said that the only way to get rid of a temptation is to give in to it. He had a point. How often have you taken a second chocolatecovered biscuit and then, after eating it, wished that you hadn't been so greedy? It's a very simple example but it also explains why so many people whom Jesus had fed with the loaves and fishes wanted more. They were not happy with a single helping: they wanted seconds. In a few days’ time, we will see the end of the Olympic Games. How many times might athletes have shown willpower and determination in resisting foods which could diminish their performance and reduce the possibilities of winning a medal? Do they set us an example?The crowds who followed Jesus were prepared to walk some distance in the hopes of a second free meal. In one way, they made a theological statement although they didn't realise it. They had found that one meal doesn't last a lifetime and that they needed to continue eating throughout life. They were looking for something extra. However, they were unprepared for the food that Jesus would offer them. We believe in the importance of the Eucharist, but as we travel through life, do we ever lose sight of the fact that the Eucharist is the food for our journey? Do we allow Jesus to turn our human longings into reality? VESTNIK 2024 | 335 2024 SLOVENIAN CANADIAN SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION 2024 Slovenian Canadian Scholarship Foundation Awards Application Now Available. The Slovenian Canadian Scholarship Foundation was created to provide students of Slovenian-Canadian descent, residing within the Halton, HamiltonWentworth, and Niagara regions, the opportunity to be recognized for their academic achievements, community involvement, and appreciation of their Slovenian heritage. Select applicants will be granted a monetary award in the form of a scholarship or bursary from the foundation. The presentation of awards will be held on September 22, 2024 at St. Gregory’s Fall Banquet. Application forms are available via email request to Teresa Zupančič at teresa.zupancic@gmail.com. Completed application packages must be submitted via email to teresa.zupancic@gmail.com by 9:00 p.m. on Friday August 23, 2024 for award consideration. Please forward any questions to Teresa at 905-930-7545 or Irene Glavač Petrič at glavacpetric@gmail.com. Day Camp 2023 336 | VESTNIK 2024 SUMMER DAY CAMP 2024 Reminder that this year’s SUMMER DAY CAMP is being held AUGUST 13-16. Registration forms will be available Sunday. If you have children who want to come, play, sing, do crafts and make new friends call and register. Little ones are welcome with the supervision of a parent or grandparent! It well be a week filled with fun and an end of week BBQ and our annual Campers vs. family Soccer game! Also looking for Highschool students and older to help out! If you need volunteer hours or if you’re just happy to help out, call and get ready for a fun filled week. Looking forward to a week of fun and laughter - August 13-16 - Heidy Novak 905317-6002 Day Camp 2023 VESTNIK 2024 | 337 O BVESTILA - A NNOUNCEMENTS KOLEDAR DOGODKOV - Aug. 4th - Slovenski Park - 60th Anniversary of Park & 50th Anniversary o the Chapel - Avg. 11th - Sava-Breslau - Picnic, Mass 1p.m. - Avg. 13-16th - St. Gregory the Great - Day Camp - Avg. 24th - Lipa Park - Music in the Park Picnic - Slovenian Band: Raubarji & Peški Oktet - Avg 25th - Bled - End of Summer Picnic - Sept 1st - Slovenski Pak - Labour Day Weekend - Baseball Tour. - Mass at 1:00 p.m. - Sept 14th - Bled - Golf Tournament - Sept 15st - London - Mass at 3:00 p.m. - at St. John the Divine Church - Sept 22nd - St. Gregory the Great - Fall Banquet - 60 years of the Parish - Mass: 10 a.m. BRALCI - READERS: August 4 - Mirko Zorko August 11 - Rita Bartula V tem tednu so naslednje obletnice smrti faranov, ki so zapisani v naših knjigah: Marusich Gabriela August 4, 1986 Šegula Marija August 4, 2002 Čagran Marija-Majda August 5, 2022 Vučko Paulina August 6, 1992 Martin Michael C. August 6, 2011 Šušteršič Janez August 7, 2003 Babič Jožefa August 8, 2002 Krampač Annie August 9, 2016 Verdinšek Franc August 9, 2020 Žagar Anne August 10, 1982 Kremesec Terezija August 10, 1988 Tompa Ivan John August 11, 2015 338 | VESTNIK 2024 Svete maše - Masses 18. NEDELJA MED LETOM 4. AVGUST 18TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Janez Vianej, duh. DON BOSCO † †† †† †† †† † Za žive in rajne župljane 10:00 A.M. Martin Tompa Pok iz družine Ramuš Pok. Iz družine Peternel Pok. Prijatelji Pokojni člani Slovenskega parka 1:00 P.M. Monika Gašpar ------Žena z družino Sonja Peternel Sonja Peternel Jožica Novak z družino Slovenski Park - 60 in 50 letnica Družina Gašpar SV. MAŠE - MASSES: Mon. to Fri.: 7:00 P.M.; Saturday: 5:30 P.M. (Slo); Sunday: 9:30 A.M. (Slo); 11:00 A.M (Eng) - From July to Fall Banquet only 10:00 A.M. - KRSTI / BAPTISMS: For an appointment, call one month before. POROKE / MARRIAGE: By appointment, call one year before the wedding date. SPOVED / CONFESSIONS: First Friday of the month 6 to 7:00 P.M. (or by appointment) BOLNIKI - Sporočite, če je kdo bolan ali v bolnišnici, da ga obiščemo. You are welcome to call for a personal conversation with your priest – please call for an appointment. Tel: 905-561-5971 or Cell: 905-520-2014 VESTNIK 2024 | 339 SVETE MAŠE - MASSES PONEDELJEK - MONDAY 5. AVGUST Po namenu Marija Snežna (Nives) TOREK - TUESDAY 6. AVGUST 7:00 P.M. Ivka Pašalić †† Pavel in Paul Richard Novak 7:00 P.M. Jožica Novak z družino SREDA - WEDNESDAY 7. AVGUST †† Martin in Marija Glavač 7:00 P.M. Olga glavač z družino ČETRTEK - THURSDAY 8. AVGUST † Jože Gačnik 7:00 P.M. Družina † Vinko Ferenčak 7:00 P.M. Štefan in Francka Antolin †† † †† † Ana in Matija Vlašič Jožefa Mes, obl. Ignac in Marija Horvat Martin Tompa 5:30 P.M. Jožica Vlašič z družino Družina Mes Marija Hočevar Terezija Prša †† † † † †† †† †† Za žive in rajne župljane Paula in Franc Pelcar Marija Horvat (Cayuga) Stanko Vegelj Irma Dorenčec, obl. Pokojni člani Društva Sava Pok. iz družine Kraner Pok. iz družine Vinter 10:00 A.M. - - - - - - Stanko Pelcar & Josie Dubé z druž. Olga Glavač z družino Lojze Baznik Mož Ignac z družino 1:00 P.M. Dvorana - Breslau Družina Kraner Družina Kraner Jezusova spremenitev na g. Kajetan, duhovnik Dominik, ustanovitelj Dominikancev PETEK - FRIDAY 9. AVGUST Terezija (Edith Stein), redovnica-mučenka SOBOTA - SATURDAY 10. AVGUST Lovrenc (Lovro) Diakon-mučenec 19. NEDELJA MED LETOM 11. AVGUST 19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Klara, devica The Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton is in urgent need of foster families in the Hamilton Region. Can you open your heart and your home to a child in need? Learn more about becoming a foster parent at hccas.ca/foster-care or contact Steve at 905-525-2012 ext. 3158 or Steve.Wiegand@hamiltonccas.on.ca. 340 | VESTNIK 2024