it,sly n; Slovenska župnija sv. Gregorija Velikega | St. Gregory the Great Slovenian Church 2/56 Številka - Number / Leto - Year 12. 1. 2020 Jezusov krst Baptism of the Lord 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 Kristus postaja kristjanu merilo življenja Danes se končuje božični čas. Še vedno smo prevzeti od sporočila, da je Bog obiskal svoje ljudstvo in seje razodela božja milost, ki prinaša odrešenje vsem ljudem. Sprašujemo se, ali je človeštvo razumelo in sprejelo to veličastno sporočilo. Na današnji praznik Jezusovega krsta se to spo-ročilo dopolnjuje. Potrjuje ga glas nebeškega Očeta, ki pravi: »Ta je moj ljubljeni Sin, nad katerim imam svoje veselje, njega poslušajte.» Potrditev je torej prišla od najvišje avtoritete - od Boga samega. Nebeški Oče nam razodeva, kdo je Božji Sin, kakšno je njegovo poslanstvo. Kristus, Bog in človek, je bil in bo vedno »znamenje, ki se mu bo nasprotovalo«; a hkrati je tudi točka, okoli katere se vse vrti. On spreminja celotnega človeka in vsakega posameznika. Veren človek stoji pred Kristusom - Bogom in človekom kot tistim, ki spreminja smisel in tek vse zgodovine, ki je središče vesolja, hkrati pa zaobjema srce vsakega človeka. Pred Kristusom noben človek ne more ostati ravnodušen. Kristus ni samo človek, Kristus je Bog in Odre-šenik, edino merilo človekovega življenja in delovanja. Kristus prinaša življenje, in to božje življenje. Pravzaprav je on sam življenjsko počelo v duši vsakega človeka. Človeštvo je v njegovi osebi sprejelo veličastno razodetje Ljubezni. Ljubezen je bila postavljena za temeljno postavo in merilo vsega. Čim večja je stiska in življenjska praznina, tem bolj mnogi čutijo željo in potrebo po njem, izviru miru in gotovosti. Ljudje se vračajo in se bodo vedno bolj vračali k temeljnemu sporočilu evangelija: »Ljubite drug drugega, bodite eno, odpuščajte drug drugemu.« Ljudje bodo začutili, kaj pomeni biti človek, živeti kot božji otrok, kar smo prejeli z zakramentom svetega krsta. Prvo sporočilo današnjega praznika Jezusovega krsta je pričevanje, da je Bog sprejel človeka za svojega sina in otroka, ga naredil deležnega svojega VESTNIK 2020 | božjega življenja. V Jezusu Kristusu je človek dvignjen v božje območje. V Jezusu je prišlo do združitve vidnega in nevidnega, naravnega in nadnaravnega, človeka z Bogom, Boga s človekom. Bog nas sprejema za svoje otroke in sinove, če pa smo sinovi, smo Kristusovi bratje. Kristus je naš brat in prijatelj. Temu dostojanstvu mora ustrezati tudi naše življenje. To je prvo sporočilo, ki ga kristjani sprejemamo na praznik Jezusovega krsta: veselo oznanilo odrešenja. Drugo sporočilo pa je: »Današnji svet zahteva odrasle in zrele ljudi, zahteva kristjane z zrelo vero, krščanska skupnost pa pričakuje dejavne kristjane in člane. Prizadevati si moramo, da bomo postali novi ljudje, pripravljeni za delo v svetu in v božjem kraljestvu. Zavestno moramo živeti nedoumljivi dar božjega otroštva in sinovstva, bratstva in prijateljstva z Jezusom Kristusom. Če bomo tako živeli, bomo kot ljudje in kristjani obstali, še več, prenesli bomo baklo vere in vrednot naslednjim rodovom.« Če bi sonce nehalo svetiti in ogrevati zemljo, bi življenje na zemlji zamrlo. Če Bog izginja iz naše zavesti in življenja, iz naših domov in družbe, tedaj srca postajajo mrzla, brez sreče in življenjskega upanja. Če kristjan odpove, tedaj je nehal pričevati za pristno podobo človeka, ustvarjenega po božji podobi in odrešenega v Jezusu Kristusu. Prositi bi morali za odpuščanje ne samo Boga, marveč tudi vse tiste ljudi, ki jim nismo razodevali božje dobrote in ljubezni ali smo jih morda s svojim življenjem pohujšali in odvrnili od Boga. Praznik Jezusovega krsta ni samo zgodovinski spomin na začetek Jezusovega javnega delovanja. Sveti Janez Pavel II. vidi v tem dogodku pomembno sporočilo, ki ga je vključil kot prvo skrivnost svetlega dela rožnega venca: »Jezus, ki je bil krščen v reki Jordanu«. Ni le postal človek, podoben nam v vsem razen v grehu, marveč je hotel s prejemom krsta iz rok Janeza Krstnika pokazati pomen zunanjih znamenj vere, kar zakrament krsta tudi označuje. To znamenje je tudi klic k spreobrnjenju, pokori in novemu življenju. Baptism of the Lord Response: The Lord will bless his people with peace. First Reading Isaiah 42:1-4. 6-7 Isaiah offers a beautiful description of the Messiah, who comes to serve the cause of right and bring healing to humanity. Second Reading Acts 10:34-38 St Peter tells a Roman soldier, whom he baptised, how Jesus had gone about doing good and healing. Gospel Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus, at his baptism, receives the Holy Spirit and is proclaimed to be God's beloved Son. "Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil." C J xSssQJ" CXiio) Illustration The Catholic Church and most other Christian traditions recognise the authenticity of the location at the River Jordan where Jesus was baptised. Pope Francis has been there, and it was a pilgrimage centre from the days of John the Baptist. After John died, many of his followers stayed in the area. Later, churches were built near the site and monks lived in caves. At this holy site you see people being baptised today, immersed in the river like Jesus. In some Catholic churches around the world there are large fonts where new Christians are fully immersed in the water of the sacrament, cleansing their bodies and washing away all the sins of their past lives. Jesus, who had no sins to be forgiven, was baptised for our sake and as an example to us. His baptism also marked the moment when he burst onto 14 | VESTNI K 2020 the world's stage; leapt into history. From a quiet life in Nazareth Jesus was catapulted into public life and his ministry began. The demands on his love and his time became huge. Gospel Teaching St Peter wrote that, after being anointed by the Spirit, Jesus "went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil". After forty days in the desert, where the devil tempted him to abandon his mission, Jesus began to create the Church (not so much in those days an institution as a movement), "the way" they used to call it; his followers, like him, were committed to "[going] about and doing good". Over the centuries since, religious communities were formed in the Church to go about doing good in extraordinarily selfless ways. All over the world, in the poorest and most desperate places, the followers of Jesus are still to be found, caring, teaching and loving. Nearer home there are, for example, street pastors, and Christians running food banks, hostels and soup kitchens for those who are homeless, caring for people who are sick or elderly, and for children with emotional and physical difficulties. Yet our baptism is not so much a sign of our commitment to God and to "doing good", but of God's commitment to us. The Father's voice told Jesus, "This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him." At our baptism God says the same to us. We become God's beloved sons and daughters, and God's favour rests on us. When Peter baptised the Roman centurion, Cornelius, he explained that "anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him". And our Catholic churches are full of people of many nationalities. Application Mother Teresa - now St Teresa of Calcutta -remarked that it is often through caring for others that people discover the real meaning of life, and that faith itself can be discovered or strengthened. It is not necessarily an easy life, but one that involves hard choices sometimes and a commitment to keep going, however hard it gets: a commitment sustained by God's grace-filled promise, "This is my... Beloved." This is sensed by all those who, in Isaiah's words, "serve the cause of right". Living only for oneself or for pleasure alone is shallow by comparison. Our baptism asks us not to run away from our Christian calling to do good, however hard its demands, and however wearing it may be. Having said that, rest, respite and a willingness to accept help are vital, and are a sign of humility. Sometimes, for example, an elderly dependant needs care that only a care home can give, and this is not to abandon them. But if anyone really does run away from their God-given responsibilities they can find that life suddenly loses its meaning; it becomes empty and without purpose. During the third century, Cyprian of Carthage wrote to his friend Donatus: "It's a bad world, Donatus, in which we live. But right in the middle of it I have discovered a quiet and holy group of people. They are people who have found a happiness that is a thousand times more joyful than all the pleasures of our sinful lives. These people are despised and persecuted, but it doesn't matter to them. They are Christians, Donatus, and I am one of them." As we remember Jesus' baptism in the Jordan, let us remember also Cyprian's words, and that through our Christian baptism we too are part of that "holy group of people". VESTNI K 2020 | 15 COME CELEBRATE A WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS With His Excellency Bishop Douglas Crosby OMI For couples celebrating an anniversary between January and December, 2020 for 25, 40, 50, 60 or more years. Celebrate your anniversary at Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King Hamilton Sunday, June 14, 2020, 1:30 p.m. Presented by the Family Ministry Office, Diocese of Hamilton Register on-line at www.hamiltondiocese.com 16 | VESTNI K 2020 Interesting Facts About Poinsettias_ No flower says Christmas like the beautiful poin-settia. Learn a few facts about this Christmas plant. Montezuma, the last of the Aztec kings, would have poinsettias brought into what now is Mexico City by caravans because poinsettias could not be grown in the high altitude. The botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, was assigned to the poinsettia by the German botanist, Wilenow. The plant grew through a crack in his greenhouse. Dazzled by its color, he gave it the botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima meaning "very beautiful." Poinsettias have also been called the lobster flower and the flame-leaf flower, due to the red color. In Chile and Peru, the Poinsettia is called the "Crown of the Andes". In Spain the Poinsettia has a different holiday attribution. It is known there as "Flor de Pascua", meaning "Easter flower". Joel Roberts Poinsett introduced the poinsettia plant to the United States from Mexico. Poinsett was a botanist, physician and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico. In Mexico the poinsettia is a perennial shrub that will grow 10-15 feet tall. In nature, Poinsettias are perennial flowering shrubs that were once considered weeds. There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available today. Poinsettias come in colors like the traditional red, white, pink, burgundy, marbled and speckled. Poinsettias are not frost-tolerant. They will grow outdoors in temperate coastal climates, such as Southern California beach communities. In the ground, they can reach 10 feet tall. The colors of the bracts are created through "photoperiodism", meaning that they require darkness (12 hours at a time for at least five days in a row) to change color. On the other hand, once Poinsettias finish that process, the plants require abundant light during the day for the brightest color. December 12th is Poinsettia Day, which marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett in 1851. Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Ottawa Dear Slovenians in the Toronto Area, The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia kindly informs that the Consulate General for Toronto has moved locations. The new address is: The Consulate General of the Republic of Slovenia in Toronto-Burlington 5096 South Service Road, Suite 102 Burlington, Ontario, L7L 5H4 Monthly consular hours will now take place at the above mentioned address. - Tuesday, January 14, 2020, from 03:30 p.m. till 06:30 p.m. - Tuesday, February 18, 2020, from 03:30 p.m. till 06:30 p.m Kindly note that at this new location, appointments will be mandatory so please email: sloembassy.ottawa@gov.si or call 613-565-5781 to make an appointment. More information about this change, can be found on our website at http://www.ottawa.veleposlanistvo.si/index.php?id=1558&L=1 VESTNI K 2020 | 17 Obvestila - Announcements dogodki v bližnji prihodnosti_ ♦ 12. jan.: Sava - Mass 12:00 noon ♦ 12. jan.: London - Mass 4:00 p.m. ♦ 19. jan.: Bled - Koline ♦ 20. jan.: Niagara Coordination meeting at St. Gregory the Great Hall, 7:00 p.m. ♦ 26. jan.: Bled - AGM ♦ 26. jan.: Lipa Park - Koline - Kulturni dan ♦ 26. jan.: Sava - AGM & Elections, 1:00 p.m. Lunch gift bearers - DAROVE PRINAŠAJO_ ♦ 12. jan. 9:30 a.m.: Družina Dundek ♦ 19. jan. 9:30 a.m.: Družina Čule ♦ 26. jan. 9:30 a.m.: Jožica Vegelj & Eva Erzetič letne kuverte_ V veži so letne kuverte. Vzemite si jih in če je kakšna napaka v naslovu, prosim, da mi to sporočite, da popravimo. Če morda kdo ni našel svojega zavoja kuvert naj mi tudi sporoči in ga mu bomo pripravili. Koledar Niagarske Koordinacije pa je še v pripravi. Pride kmalu! pevske vaje_ S pevskimi vajami za župnijski mešani pevski zbor bomo zopet začeli v četrtek, 30. januarja, ker se moramo pripraviti za petje v nedeljo, 2. februarja, ko je Gospodovega darovanja -Svečnica. pokojni_ V Sloveniji, v Zgornjih Pirničah na Gorenjskem, je v nedeljo, 5. januarja, po krajši bolezni, v 86 letu starosti, Bog poklical k sebi Darin- ko Babnik. Pogreb pokojne je bil v četrtek, 9. januarja 2020 v Zgornjih Pirničah. V naši cerkvi smo v četrtek zvečer darovali sveto mašo za pokoj njene duše. Iskreno sožalje sestri Slavi Gomboša, naši faranki, nečakinji Sandy Simončič in domačim v Sloveniji. Pokojna Darinka pa naj uživa večni mir in pokoj. obletnice porok v letu 2020_ Hamiltonski škof vsako leto povabi pare, ki obhajajo različne obletnice porok, da se zberejo k skupni sveti maši, ki bo letos v nedeljo, 14. junija, popoldne ob 1:30 v katedrali baziliki Kristusa kralja v Hamiltonu. Vse informacije glede prijave si preberite na prejšnjih straneh Vestnika, kjer je objavljen original vabila iz škofije. Full Day Conference: Healing is Possible We are all in need of healing from wounds caused by past experiences, relationships or wounds caused by our own sinfulness. Join us for a day filled with hope as we look at a holistic approach to healing. Save the date: February 1, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Holy Rosary Parish in Milton. The conference includes Mass, Lunch, and speakers such as: Tima Borges, Author of "Leaving Bitterness Behind: A Catholic Approach to Healing Past Hurts; Dr. Wendy H. Hofman, PhD, Director of Veritas Counselling Centre Inc., Clinical Counsellor and Coordinator for the Hamilton Diocese Family Ministry Office; William Stanus, Psychotherapist with a focus on EMDR and Fr. Louis de Vaugelas, LC. To register visit: http://regnumchristiontario.org/ event/healing-is-possible/or contact Ester at 416990-3136. Diocesan Newsletter For information about Activities and Events of interest in the Diocese of Hamilton, subscribe to the online Diocesan Newsletter at www.hamiltondiocese.com. 18 | VESTNI K 2020 cwl - kzz CWL Membership Renewal If you have not already done so please place your remittance in the envelope you have been given ($22) and put it in the collection basket at Sunday Masses or give it to Pamela Gosgnach or Milena Krusic. New members are also most welcome to join us. Know that you, we, can make a difference as CWL sisters! CWL Bazaar Save the date: Sunday, March 1st, 2020. Preparations for our time honoured tradition, our annual Bazaar have begun. We will begin selling blue lottery tickets in the church foyer on Sunday, January 12th. A book of 10 tickets for $5. Updates and more details regarding our bazaar will follow. We thank you for your ongoing generosity and support. Prav lepa hvala Prayer for Christian unity_ The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is celebrated around the world from January 18 to 25, and this year has been prepared by the Christian churches of Malta and Gozo. The 2020 theme, "They showed us unusual kindness" (Acts 28:2), remembers the historic shipwreck of Paul on the island of Malta and calls us to a greater generosity to those in need. As an island nation, boats are an important part of Maltese life. The Scripture reading in this service describes a perilous sea voyage by the Apostle Paul. A boat is also symbolic of the sometimes tempestuous journey Christians make together towards unity. which are also the dates recommended by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. This encourages Christians of all denominations to pray together that all may be one, as Christ desires. BLED SLOVENIAN CULTURAL CLUB CORDIALLY INVITES YOU ALL TO OUR KOLIHE JANUARY 19TH, 2020 LUNCH SERVED AT 12:30 RM. SHARP BLOOD SAUSAGE / KRVAVICE $6.00 /lb band: Brando Pouh TICKETS: ADULTS $25.00 • STUDENTS: $15.00 CUT OFF DATE FOR ORDERS JANUARY 15TH, 2020 PRE ORDERS PLEASE CALL IVAN KRUSIC (905)393-6594 # i # SVETE MAŠE - MASS TIMES: Monday: 8:00 a.m., Tuesday to Friday: 7:00 p.m., Saturday: 5:30 p.m. (Slovenian); Sunday: 9:30 a.m. (Slovenian), 11:00 a.m. (English); From Long weekend in July to the Long weekend of the September Sunday Mass is 111 only at 10:00 a.m. (Slovenian-English) - KRSTI / BAPTISMS: For an appointment, call one month before. POROKE / MARRIAGE: For an appointment, call one year before the wedding date. SPOVED / CONFESSIONS: 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 don bosco for a personal conversation with your priest - please call for an appointment. Tel: 905-561-5971, VESTNI K 2020 | 19 od 12. 01. 2020 do 19. 01. 2020 svete maše - masses Jezusov krst 12. Januar Tatjana, mučenka Za žive in rajne župljane f Ed Kodarin ff Pokojni iz družine Žižek f Štefan Dundek, obl. ff Paula in Franc Pelcar 9:30 a.m.----- Ned Sejranič Kazimir Žižek z družino Žena Aranka z družino 11:00 a.m. Stan Pelcar, Josie Dube in druž. Alfred, opat ff Za pokojne člane društva Sava ff Za pokojne člane društva Triglav 12:00 noon Sava - Breslau 4:00 p.m. St. John the Divine Church Ponedeljek - Monday 13. Januar Veronika, devica ff Alojz in Drago Kornhauser 8:00 a.m. Gizela Hauzar Torek - Tuesday 14. Januar Oton, redovnik f John Kobe, obl. f Slavka Cimermančič 7:00 p.m. Sestra Marija Bajuk Jožica Novak Sreda - Wednesday 15. Januar Pavel, puščavnik f Metod Kuzma f Janko Demšar 7:00 p.m. Sestra Jožica in družina Demšar-Scarcelli Četrtek - Thursday 16. Januar Marcel, papež f Sofija Vinčec, obl. f Za pok. iz družin Pozderec in Pivar 7:00 p.m. John Hlačar z družino Julija Sagadin z družino Petek - Friday 17. Januar Anton (Zvonko), pušč. f Marič Franc 7:00 p.m. Josip in Marica Ivanac Sobota Saturday 18. Januar Marjeta ogrska, red. Jakob Hilarij, mučenec f August Žalik f Sofija in Mihael Ferenčak 5:30 p.m. Lojze in Dragica Ferenčak z druž. Lojze in Dragica Ferenčak z druž. 2. Nedelja med letom 19. Januar Suzana, mučenka Za žive in rajne župljane f Ante Čule f Matilda Berkovič f Ed Kodarin 9:30 a.m...... Družina Miklavčič Sin Zlatko 11:00 a.m. Ned Sejranič 20 | VESTNI K 2020