VESTNIK 2021 | 2. POSTNA NEDELJA 2ND SUNDAY OF LENT SLOVENSKA ŽUPNIJA SV. GREGORIJA VELIKEGA | ST. GREGORY THE GREAT SLOVENIAN CHURCH 9/57 Številka - Number / Leto - Year 28. 2. 2021 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 WEB PAGE www.carantha.com HALL RENTALS CELL: 905-518-6159 E-MAIL hallrental@ stgregoryhamilton.ca Jezus razodene svoje veličastvo Dve izjemni podobi prevladujeta v bogo- služju današnje postne nedelje. Za ozadje je obema gora in obe nam prinašata razodetje. V prvi pripovedi je gora napolnjena z veli- častnim božjim razodetjem Abrahamu. Pri- poved povzema zgodovino verujočega, ki na brezpotjih božjega molka odkriva obljubo polnega odrešenja. V resnici je to tridnevno potovanje očaka vzorec slehernega verskega popotovanja. Je temotna in razdvojena hoja, ki jo spremlja samo neizprosna zapoved: »Vzemi sina, svo- jega edinca, ki ga ljubiš, Izaka, in pojdi v deželo Morijo. Tam ga daruj v žgalno daritev na gori, ki ti jo bom pokazal!« Nato molk. Božji molk (»Moj Bog, moj Bog, zakaj si me zapustil?«), Abrahamov molk, molk sina Izaka, ki se je v duhu očetovsko sinovskega zaupanja le enkrat samkrat boleče odkrito skušal pogovoriti z očetom: »Izak je rekel očetu Abrahamu: 'Oče!' Odvrnil je: 'Tukaj sem, moj sin'. Pa je rekel: 'Glej, tu so ogenj in drva, kje pa je jagnje za žgalno daritev?' Abraham je rekel: 'Bog si bo preskrbel jagnje za žgalno daritev, moj sin.'« Tu se vera pokaže v najbolj čisti in razkriti obliki. V podobi Izaka, ki mo- ra umreti, da bi se Abraham odpovedal svojemu očetovstvu in se v veri za- nesel le na božjo besedo. Zato se mu je božja beseda v mislih kazala kot izni- čenje očetovstva. Tako Abraham po preizkušnji svojega sina ni več sprejel nazaj kot svojega telesnega sina, marveč kot »sina božje obljube«. Na tej ravni mu torej angel razkriva skrivnostni pomen te preizkušnje in tega ne- navadnega božjega početja. Ko je danski filozof S. Kierkegaard v svojem delu »Strah in trepet« razlagal ta odlomek, je zapisal: »Ko je treba otroka odstaviti, si mati pobarva prsi črno. Bilo bi kruto, če bi prsi še naprej vabile, ko se jih otrok ne more več pritakniti. Tako otrok verjame, da so se spreme- nile. Mati pa je v resnici še vedno ista, njen pogled je še posebej v tem tre- nutku, ko otroka odstavlja, poln nežnosti in ljubezni, saj mu želi pomagati pri odraščanju.« 74 | VESTNIK 2021 Illustration Even in an age when much formality from the past has been discarded, some things don’t change. A good example is the list of social conventions that still operate. For example, when we meet people we have not seen before, a polite handshake has long been the norm – at least, until the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic required us to socially dis- tance – whereas we are much less formal with fami- ly and friends. Convention is determined by many factors – age is one. Conventions dictated by formal practice are nowadays probably more regularly seen 2ND SUNDAY OF LENT Response: Psalm I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living. First Reading Genesis 22:1-2. 9-13. 15-18 Abraham is the great Old Testament fig- ure of faith. At the age of seventy-five he answered the call of God and set off for an unknown land. Second Reading Romans 8:31-34 Paul poses questions: “With God on our side who can be against us?” “When God acquits, could anyone condemn?” The answer is “No!” Gospel Mark 9:2-10 For the second time in the Gospels, at Je- sus’ transfiguration, the voice of the Fa- ther informs the disciples that Jesus is the Father’s beloved Son and adds, “Listen to him.” “‘Take your son’ God said… ‘offer him as a burnt offering.’” Druga gora velikega razodetja je gora Jezusove spremenitve. Tako ji pravijo evangeliji, čeprav jo je krščansko izročilo poistovetilo z goro Tabor, 582 metrov visokim hribom nad rodovitno izraelsko dolino v Galileji. Zanesljivo je, da tvorijo po si- noptičnih evangelistih - Mateju, Marku in Luku - krst na začetku Jezusovega življenja, spremenitev na sredini in velika noč na koncu tri slavne in odlo- čilne dele razodetja, ki razkrivajo skrivnostno Je- zusovo osebo. Gora nas duhovno vrača k Sinajski gori, ki jo pokriva oblak, iz katerega se sliši božji glas in na katero se vzpenja Mojzes v spremstvu treh učencev: »Stopite h Gospodu ti in Aron, Nadab in Abihu. Gospodovo veličastvo se je spustilo na Sinajsko goro in oblak jo je prikrival« (2 Mz 24,1-16). Jezus pa je večji kot Mojzes, saj je prejel od Bo- ga najvišjo potrditev: »Ta je moj ljubljeni sin!« To je slovesno ustoličenje Kristusa, katerega oseba je odeta v svetlobo božje slave. Pomemben za simbo- lično govorico Svetega pisma je stavek »Njegova oblačila so postala bleščeča, nadvse bela«, takšna »da jih tako ne more pobeliti noben belivec na sve- tu«. Belina je tako resnična, da tudi Razodetje predstavlja izvoljene v belih oblačilih, ker so v ob- čestvu z Bogom. Nadalje sta tu še Mojzes in Elija, se pravi postava in preroštvo, pozvana k »ljublje- nemu sinu«, tako rekoč k cilju njunega upanja. Obe razodetji, napeto Abrahamovo in s slavo venčano Kristusovo, imata skupno nit, ki ju pove- zuje. Najdemo jo lahko v duhoviti Petrovi ugotovi- tvi: »Rabi, dobro je, da smo tukaj. Postavimo tri šotore: tebi enega, Mojzesu enega in Eliju enega.« Apostol bi rad takoj užival velikonočni mir in sla- vo; odpravil bi post življenja z njegovo temačno in trpljenja polno potjo, z božjim molkom, s trplje- njem in smrtjo. Peter je podoba vseh nas, ko si želi- mo, da za nas ne bi bilo križevega pota, ko sanja- mo o lahki bližnjici, ki bi nas hitro privedla na goro spremenitve, se pravi do trenutkov luči in miru na nebeški gori Sinaj - do končne velike noči. Vendar moramo kakor Abraham hoditi po temni dolini preizkušenj; kakor Kristus moramo sestopiti na vsakdanjo galilejsko ravnino in biti pripravljeni, da se vzpnemo na najvišji vrh preizkušenj, na Morijo in Kalvarijo, kjer se nam bo odprla tudi luč obljube in velike noči. Najčistejša lepota se pogosto rojeva v najgloblji bolečini. (Prim. Oznanjevalec 2005-2006, št. 3) VESTNIK 2021 | 75 among those of an older age range, whereas young people may be much less formal within their social settings. Convention, of course, differs from culture to culture and also from one age group to another, and the setting is also important. It’s interesting to observe how people’s behaviour varies according to how at ease they are – or not – with others. When we know people well, it is easy to relate to them in a relaxed manner, but when we don’t have that famil- iarity, or if we’re unsure of the possible reaction of the person we have just met, then we might be more wary. It’s in the latter situation that we find Abraham when, slowly but surely, he is getting to know the God he had not known until he was seventy-five years old. Abraham made himself a backup plan. He left most of his family behind, but brought along his wealthy nephew, Lot; Abraham left much of his wealth, but not by any means all of it. Later on in the story, Abraham will seek clarification from God to see if the deal is still on. And then, as we heard in today’s first reading, Abraham is really put to the test. In his old age, at long last he has a son who will be his heir: Isaac, whose name means “he will laugh”. Abraham’s dream has come true, his prayers are answered. He can rely on God – or can he? Gospel Teaching One day, Abraham is told by God to take his son Isaac to a place where he is to sacrifice the boy as a burnt offering. Abraham is distraught, but pre- pares to obey God. The journey is long and its ac- count is painful to read. Isaac starts to ask why there is no animal for the sacrifice. Abraham evades the issue by saying that God will provide the sacrifice. The tension builds up until the point that Abraham is prepared to kill his son on the stone altar. Eventually Isaac must know what his father intends to do. Then God acts. An angel stays Abraham’s hand and the boy is freed. A ram caught in a thicket is sacrificed instead. What are we to make of the story? Did God really want Abraham to kill his son? Had Abraham misunderstood God’s instructions? The Hebrew word for a burnt offering sacrifice is also the word for “ascending” – a sacrifice where the victim went up in smoke, towards God. So is it possible that God wanted Abraham to give up his son, in other words to let him go free? Was Abraham, who waited so long for this son, so protective that, instead of Isaac being the means for God’s promise to be fulfilled, he was hampered by his father’s protective action? We can imagine that Isaac needed to be freed from his father’s overpowering attention if he was to carry out his part in God’s plan. Application We do know that in the Gospel story of the transfiguration God the Father addresses Peter, James and John, telling them that Jesus is the Fa- ther’s beloved Son, in whom God is well pleased, and that they must “Listen to him.” To listen to Jesus is to develop trust in him. To listen to him and to reflect on the Gospel stories of his mission is to learn about God and to trust in God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells Nicodemus, who comes to him from the darkness, that “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son… not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.” Through lack of knowledge of God, Abraham made under- standable but wrong decisions. Lent is an excellent opportunity for us to develop a listening habit: of listening to the one who is God’s Word made flesh. 76 | VESTNIK 2021 Cilj naše kampanje je v treh letih zbrati vsoto $200,000.00 za našo župnijo. Nekateri še vedno ne razumejo, da vse, kar boste darovali preko te kampanje, bo prejela naša župnija in še 10% iz skupnega sklada. Škofijski uradi pa bodo vodili vse računovodske zadeve, tako, da nam ne bo potrebno tega dela urejati. V Vestniku vsak teden objavimo koliko ste »obljubili« da boste darovali za kampa- njo za našo župnijo preko škofijskega računa in koliko je že dejansko »vplačanega«. Iz škofije nam tedensko poš- ljejo tekoče stanje na našem računu. Na računu »Eno Srce, Ena Duša« za na- šo slovensko župnijo sv. Gregorija Velike- ga sta številki: $95,609 - Pledged - obljubili $51,299 - Paid - ste že vplačali Od prejšnjega tedna ni bilo novih pri- spevkov za sklad Eno Srce, Ena Duša. Hvala vsem, ki ste že prispevali. Smo že skoraj na polovici zastavljenega cilja. Savor the Moment, Enjoy Each Day, Cherish Family Members By Fr. Steve Ryan, SDB Try this different kind of Lenten practice Here’s a joke taken by Fr. Henry Reid, the Hibernians’ chaplain: Did you hear the one about the old Irish- man on his deathbed? As he’s lying there, he catches a faint but familiar smell, and he thinks to himself, “It couldn’t be.” As he strug- gles to sit up, he pulls himself to his feet and comes out of the bedroom door. The familiar scent greets his old nose and sends strength to his feet. Making his way down the stairs, he crosses the parlor and opens the kitchen door. Upon the stove rests a giant pot of his wife’s stew, a dish she hasn’t made in ages. As he gets to the stove, he picks up a spoon, and raises a glorious bit to his lips. At which point his wife smacks his hand away and says, “IT’S FOR THE WAKE!” The truth is, we ought to enjoy the things and people around us while we still have them! With this pandemic our minds and hearts are often distracted with things far off, while we forget to enjoy the present mo- ment. Many of us have heard stories about loss these months. Many hopes and expecta- tions have been sidelined. There are some pretty sad tales of those who have lost a child or a spouse who with the COVID proto- cols didn’t get the chance to say a proper goodbye. So… stare at that sunset. Make that phone call. Go take that walk with your father while you still got him. Light that campfire and call over the neighbors to share a beer or glass VESTNIK 2021 | 77 PRAYER DURING PANDEMIC They cried to the Lord in their trouble, And he saved them from their distress; He sent out his word and healed them, And delivered them from destruction. Let them thank the Lord for his stead- fast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. Psalm 107:19-21 Lord God, I pray for all who have become sick or died by the coronavirus that has been spreading throughout the world. In your mercy and compassion, deliver us from this disease, In your holy wisdom, guide all who are working to contain the outbreak, In your steadfast love, bring healing to all your children who have fallen sick, Welcome into your arms the ones that died, Comfort the ones they left behind. In faith, I place my trust in you. In hope, I turn to you in my time of need. In love, I give glory to your name. In gratitude, I will praise you with my life. In your Son’s name I pray. Amen. of wine. Tell your wives and kids that you love them. And MOST OF ALL – spend time with Jesus and Mary in prayer. Savor their company with the sure and certain hope that through God’s mercy we will be enjoying their company in eternity one day. Every year since 1967, Catholics have generously donated to Share Lent to support the work of the Canadian Catholic Organi- zation for Development and Peace. Share Lent is our main source of funding for our sisters and brothers in the Global South. In Hamilton diocese in 2020 Development and Peace received approximately 60% of our average Share Lent collection. As a result we cut in- Canada programming, laid off some staff and those remain- ing had their hours reduced to part-time. I know that many people are suffering economic loss due to this pandemic. But when we compare our lives in Canada to those of peo- ple living in many other countries, we realize that we are indeed blessed. This year the Share Lent collection is on weekend March 20-21. JOŽE SLOBODNIK - BIOGRAFIJA Te dni smo dobili več izvo- dov knjige, življenjepis- biografija Jožeta Slobodnika, ki jo je pripravila Marija Ahačič Pollak. Knjiga je v Slovenščini in Angleščini - dvojezična. V njej si lahko preberete življenj- sko zgodbo Jožeta Slobodnika. Cena knjige je $5.- in jo lahko dobite v župnišču. Ves izkupi- ček od knjige bo namenjen podpori za Radio Glas Kanad- skih Slovencev v Torontu. 78 | VESTNIK 2021 O BVESTI LA - A NNOUN CEMENTS ČIŠČENJE CERKVE - CLEANING OF THE CHURCH February 27th - Gosgnach, Janiak team March 6th - Vegelj team March 13th - Groznik, Erzar, Rev, Lukežič March 20th - Novak team March 27th - Lukežič, Volčanšek team April 1st - Gosgnach, Janiak team After April 3rd, we will go to every two weeks. Thanks, Pamela DAROVI - DONATIONS Theresa Uduč je darovala $50 za gradbeni sklad. - Hvala za dar. ANNOUNCEMENT Church services resumed in person on Ash Wednesday. Although we will still be at 30% capacity, it is good news that we can come together to share our faith. Although last Sunday was our final live- streaming of our service on Facebook, we have decided to continue the live streaming of Mass for those who may still not be able to make their way to church in person. Also, please continue to send in your "Sveti Angel" prayers to sgtgparish@gmail.com so that we can work to incorporate them into our regular Masses. We would also like to remind everyone that we are trying to put together a network- ing system for businesses, talents and skills to connect them with our community members. Your business cards, contact information and brief description of what you have to offer should be emailed to: VESTNIK 2021 | 79 SVETE MAŠE - MASS TIMES: Monday to Friday: 7:00 P.M., Saturday: 5:30 P.M. (Slovenian-Sunday Mass); Sunday: 10:00 A.M. (Slovenian-English - For the time of Covid-19 it is only one Mass on Sundays) - KRSTI / BAPTISMS: For an appointment, call one month before. POROKE / MARRIAGE: For an appointment, call one year before the wedding date. SPOVED / CONFES- SIONS: First Friday of the month 6 -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. DON BOSCO sgtgparish@gmail.com On behalf of the Parish Council, we wish you all a wonderful Sunday. POGREB - FUNERAL V ponedeljek, 22. februarja 2021, je Bog poklical k sebi na- šo faranko Milko Skale (Celestina), v 92. letu starosti. Zadnje štiri leta je preživela v Albright Manor Long-Term Care v Beamvillu. Od pokojne ste se lahko poslovili v četrtek popoldne v Morse & Son Funeral Home na Niagara Falls. V peterk ob enih popoldne smo imeli v krogu družine - zaradi omejitev Coro- navirusa - kratko pogrebno bogoslužje, po- tem pa smo pospremili pokojno Milko na kraj njenega večnega počitka, poleg svojega moža na Niagara Lakeshore Cemetery, Niagara-on- the-Lake. Pogrebno mašo smo za pokoj njene duše darovali v naši župnijski cerkvi v soboto, 27. februarja 2021, ob enih popoldne. Tako po- greb kot tudi mašo ste lahko spremljali v živo na Facebook programu. Iskreno sožalje otrokom in njihovim druži- nam pa tudi sorodnikom. Pokojna Milka pa naj uživa večni mir in pokoj. PRVI PETEK Ta teden je tudi prvi petek v mesecu mar- cu. Ob pol šestih - 5:30 p.m. - bo priložnost za sveto spoved, molitev pred Najsvetejšim, ob 6:30 p.m. bomo molili pobožnost Križevega pota in nato darovali sveto mašo. Vabljeni! V tem tednu so naslednje obletnice smrti faranov, ki so zapisani v naših knjigah: Tompa Eufemija March 5, 1993 Virant Sophia March 5, 2014 Gonza Štefan March 5, 2015 Tompa Joyce Helen March 5, 2020 Hočevar Anton March 6, 2004 Jelovčan Alojz - Louis March 7, 1995 VEČNA LUČ V mesecu marcu bo večna luč gorela po namenu Olge Hanc in družine za pokojnega moža Jožeta Hanca. POLEG PETKA STA POSTNA DNEVA TUDI SOBOTA IN SREDA. ZAKAJ? Post ob sredah in sobotah je pogosto naročala Marija ob svojih prikazovanjih. Sreda in petek kot postna dneva pa izvirata iz samih začetkov krščanstva, dotikata se Jezusovega trpljenja. Petek je bil kot dan Jezusove smrti že od vsega začetka deležen posebne pozornosti v duhovnem življenju kristjanov. Na sredo pa naj bi Juda sklenil pogodbo s starešinami, da jim bo izdal Jezusa. Sredin post je tako vezan tudi na to, da se spomnimo, da z grehom, slabimi dejanji, besedami, mislimi izdajamo Kristusa vsak dan. Hkrati nas to varu- je, da ne bi v tem procesu nadaljevali. Že prvi kristjani so post povezovali tudi s premago- vanjem poganskih drž, ki so bile takrat žive v njihovi okolici. Sreda je bila v poganskem svetu posvečena bogu Merkurju, bogu trgovine, kraje, laži, krivic. Petek pa je bil posvečen boginji Veneri, boginji telesne lju- bezni, razvrata. Kristjani so se zato želeli na ta dva dne- va postiti, da bi zadoščevali za zlo in žalitve Boga, ki so se v teh dneh še bolj dogajale. (dr. Marjan Turnšek, upokojeni mariborski nadškof) 80 | VESTNIK 2021 SVETE MAŠE - MASSES od 28. 2. 2021 do 7. 3. 2021 https://www.facebook.com/stgregorythegreathamilton/ 2. POSTNA NEDELJA 2ND SUNDAY OF LENT 28. FEBRUAR Ožbolt, škof † † † † †† Za žive in rajne župljane Joe Lackovič Maks Pavlič, obl. Vinko Kovič, obl. Cveto Kovič Ludvik in Milka Kastelic 10:00 A.M. IN CHURCH AND ON FACEBOOK - - - - - - - - - Žena Vera z družino Žena Milka Stojanka Kovič Stojanka Kovič Magda Udovč z družino PONEDELJEK - MONDAY 1. MARC Albin, škof †† †† Pok. Iz družine Vegelj in Zorčič Jure in Marica Fabina 7:00 P.M. Jožica Vegelj Hči Dragica TOREK - TUESDAY 2. MARC Angela od Križa, red. ust. †† † † † Ignac in Marija Žalik Marija Zelko, obl. Marija Kociper Štefan Prša 7:00 P.M. Cecilija sobočan Hči Bernarda Milosavljevič Štefan Godina Stankol Petek z družino SREDA - WEDNESDAY 3. MARC Kunigunda, cesarica † Martin Simončič Za zdravje 7:00 P.M. Žena Kathy CWL - KŽZ ČETRTEK - THURSDAY 4. MARC Kazimir, kralj † † Gizella Ray Viktor Glavač 7:00 P.M. Ivan in Rozina Doma Žena Olga z družino PRVI PETEK FIRST FRIDAY 5. MARC Olivija, mučenka † † †† †† †† † Križev pot Ed Kodarin Štefan Gonza, obl. Pokojni iz družine Gonza Gizella in Štefan Ray Za pokojne župljane Milka Skale, 7. dan po pogrebu 6:30 P.M. 7:00 P.M. - - - - - Družina Kodarin Družina Gonza Vera Gonza z družino Family Ray Jožica Novak z družino Hči Elizabeth z družino SOBOTA - SATURDAY 6. MARC Julijan, škof †† † † † †† †† † Ida in Joseph Ftičar Irma Dorenčec Joyce Tompa, obl. Jakob Muhič Jr. Mary in Ludvik Hočevar Francka in Janez Drobnič Dino Kodarin 5:30 P.M. Družina Gergyek Ivan in Rozina Doma Vera Gonza Družina Muhič Družina Dim Družina Dim Družina Kodarin 3. POSTNA NEDELJA 3RD SUNDAY OF LENT 7. MARC Perpetua in Felicita, muč. † † † †† Za žive in rajne župljane Slavka Mramor Joe Hanc Fr. Stane Okorn Marija in Jože Petek 10:00 A.M. IN CHURCH AND ON FACEBOOK - - - - - - - - - Fani Adamič z družino Irene in Family Družina Groznik Sin Stanko Petek z družino