SLOVENSKA ŽUPNIJA SV. GREGORIJA VELIKEGA | ST. GREGORY THE GREAT SLOVENIAN CHURCH 53/59 Številka - Number / Leto - Year 31.12. 2023 SVETA DRUŽINA THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH 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 905-561-5971, ext. 2 E-MAIL hallrental@ stgregoryhamilton.ca Na prvo nedeljo po božiču nas Cerkev vabi k obhajanju svete nazareške družine. Prvi dve berili govorita o Abrahamu, da bi nam predvsem dali razumeti, da so otroci čudovit božji dar. Družina je z vzajemno ljubeznijo med možem in ženo in potem z rodovitnostjo take ljubezni božji dar, deležnost pri Stvarnikovem dostojanstvu. Bog je človeku dal izredno dostojanstvo, da je skupaj z njim rojeva otroke. V prvi Mojzesovi knjigi beremo, da je Eva, ko se je našim prastaršem rodil prvi otrok, rekla: »Dobila sem moža od Gospoda« (1 Mz 4,1). S to trditvijo je hotela sporočiti, da je bila pridružena Gospodu za rojstvo sina. Prvo berilo nam kaže Abrahama, ki je žalosten, ker nima otrok. Tako on kot Sara, njegova žena, sta že v letih. Zato sta izgubila upanje, da bi imela otroke. Ko se Bog obrne k Abrahamu in mu reče: »Ne boj se, Abram! Jaz sem tvoj ščit, tvoje plačilo bo zelo veliko,« se mu Abram potoži: »Gospod Bog, kaj mi boš vendar dal, ko pa ostajam brez otrok in bo dedič moje hiše Damaščan Eliezer?« Velika žalost, ki jo čuti Abraham, je posledica dejstva, da bo moral oditi, ne da bi zapustil otroke. Vsi božji darovi se mu zdijo prazni. Vsak človek si namreč močno želi, da bi dobljene darove prenesel na otroke, in Abraham te možnosti nima. Na tem mestu pa mu Gospod da obljubo, ki izpolni njegovo najglobljo željo: »Ne bo ta dedoval za teboj, temveč tisti, ki bo izšel iz tebe, bo tvoj dedič.« V tej obljubi Bog razodeva neizmerno velikodušnost. Nato mu reče: »Poglej proti nebu in preštej zvezde, če jih moreš prešteti. Tako bo s tvojim potomstvom.« Abraham verjame Gospodu, ki mu to šteje v pravičnost. Tukaj se Abrahamova vera kaže v sprejetju obljube sina, še več, neštetega potomstva. Drugo berilo nam da razumeti, da dar otroka vsebuje tudi odgovornost s strani staršev. Otroci so čisto poseben dar. V resnici ne pripadajo VESTNIK 2023 | staršem, kot da bi bili stvari. Otroci so osebe, veliko bolj pripadajo Bogu kot pa staršem. Otroci so božji dar, ki bo še naprej pripadal Bogu in ki ga je treba spoštovati prav zaradi tega. Abraham je moral doživeti zelo boleče izkustvo, da se je zavedel te resničnosti. Pismo Hebrejcem poroča, da je bil postavljen na preizkušnjo: Bog od njega zahteva, naj mu daruje svojega sina Izaka, ki ga je dobil v moči božje obljube. Abraham pokaže pripravljenost vrniti Bogu ta čudoviti božji dar - sina Izaka. Abrahamova preizkušnja ima za vse očete in za vse matere globok pomen: starši v otrocih ne smejo iskati lastnega zadovoljstva, ampak njihovo dobro, ker so osebe, ki jih Bog ljubi in ki morajo postopoma doseči samostojnost ter živeti svojo poklicanost. Tega ni lahko uresničiti. V evangeliju vidimo, kako se Marija in Jožef zavedata, da Jezus zanju ni posest, ampak odgovornost, božji dar, ki še naprej veliko bolj pripada Bogu kot njima. Kmalu po rojstvu sta otroka nesla v Jeruzalem, da bi ga darovala Gospodu. Mojzesova postava namreč predpisuje: »Vsak moški prvorojenec naj bo posvečen Gospodu.« V tej okoliščini Bog razodeva, na kakšen način mora biti Jezus njegov Služabnik. Stari Simeon po navdihnjenju Svetega Duha o tem otroku pravi: »Glej, ta je postavljen v padec in vstajenje mnogih v Izraelu in v znamenje, kateremu bodo nasprotovali, da se razodenejo misli mnogih src.« Jezus ima odločilno nalogo, da razodene misli src in sam bo postal predmet preganjanja, krivične obsodbe. Poleg tega SimeonMariji napove, da bo njeno »dušo bo presunil meč.« . Marija vse te besede shrani v svoje srce in se tako ipravlja, da bo »dekla Gospodova« tudi v načinu, kako bo vzgajala sina in ga potem pustila, da bo odšel na svoje poslanstvo, ki je tako pomembno za rešitev sveta. Evangelij nam poroča, da so se, »ko so izpolnili vse po Gospodovi postavi«, starši in otrok vrnili v Galilejo, v svoje mesto Nazaret. Otrok je rastel, se krepil, bil je poln modrosti in božja milost je bila z njim. Veselje družine izhaja prav iz rasti njenih otrok. Otrokom je namenjeno, da rastejo, se krepijo, da pridobijo modrost in sprejmejo božjo milost. Naloga družine je, da podpira rast otrok, da jo spoštuje in vodi saj ima vsak človek ima svojo poklicanost; Bog vsakomur zaupa poslanstvo, ki ga mora izpolniti v svetu, odgovornosti, ki jih mora sprejeti. (prim. Oznanjevalec 2009, št. 1) 578 | VESTNIK 2023 THE HOLY FAMILY R: The Lord is our God, mindful of his covenant forever. First Reading Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3 The Lord promises Abraham and Sarah a son. Second Reading Heb. 11:18. 11-12. 17-19 It is through faith that Abraham receives the gift of his family. Gospel Luke 2:22-40 The child Jesus is presented to the Lord in the Temple and blessed by Simeon and Anna. “The child’s mother and father stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him.” Illustration There is a programme on various national TV channels called, Who do you think you are?, which aims to help well-known personalities delve into their family backgrounds, highlighting the most interesting discoveries. In the British version of the programme, it has proved possible to trace more than one family back to medieval monarchs. More unusual episodes are when expectations are turned upside down. A black woman returning to the Caribbean was surprised to find a black ancestor who owned slaves rather than being a slave himself. Moreover, most of the local population were still named after him. An actress knew that her family was of Irish stock, and her anti-Catholic mother was of the firm belief that they were members of the AngloIrish gentry whose name they bore. However, the research team discovered that they were in fact descendants of Irish Catholic Travellers who had taken the name of their local gentry on emigrating to England, as they thought it would help more in their acceptance and settling down in their new home. The actress could not wait to inform her mother, whose reaction to the news was not recorded. Gospel Teaching What would be the response if we asked the same question of Jesus and his family? St Mark and St Luke offer us family genealogies of Joseph, heredity deemed to come through the father even if he was not the biological parent. The genealogies are not the same. The evangelists have different intentions. St Mark wants to show how Jesus is descended from Abraham and David, thus continuing the line of the covenant God makes with God’s chosen people. St Luke goes back to Adam because he is more interested in showing Jesus as the one who calls all humanity to salvation. In their infancy narratives Matthew continues to give Joseph a more central role. He is the one who guides and protects Mary and her child, relying, like his forebear of the same name, on instructions given by angels in his dreams. Luke, perhaps because of his personal acquaintance, has Mary as his dominant person, recording the visit to her of the angel Gabriel, her visit to Elizabeth and the birth of her son in the stable. Both parents bring Jesus to the Temple and marvel at Simeon’s prophetic words, but it is to Mary that Simeon speaks personally, warning that a sword will pierce her soul. When both parents find the boy Jesus sitting in the Temple among the teachers, it is his mother who addresses him with their anxieties. Joseph is absent from the public life of Jesus, leading commentators to presume his death. All the synoptic evangelists depict Mary as visiting Jesus with relatives – and he seems to give them the cold shoulder, pointing out that his true family are his followers. St John, however, portrays Mary in a very different role. She is the one who propels Jesus into his public life at the marriage feast of Cana. She stands at the foot of the cross at the end of her Son’s life. Jesus gives Mary into the care of the beloved disciple, with whom, according to tradition, she will spend the rest of her days. Application The Holy Family has commonly been used as an ideal example of the nuclear family. As we can see from the above examples from Scripture, this idea may mislead us. The Holy Family went through the same trials and misunderstandings that affect any family then and now. What is helpful for us is to see how they reacted in such demanding circumstances. Throughout their lives, their guiding star was a strong belief in, and dependence on, God, the reference point to whom they all turned. Secondly, particularly in Mary and Joseph, we are given clear examples of parents who care. This care is shown in the way they fulfil the religious traditions on behalf of their son, keeping him out of harm’s way and bringing him up in love and kindness. He in turn accepts their authority and guidance, only differing when it comes to the question of his ultimate calling. At that point we have a sense of Jesus educating his parents in the demands of the role that God has given him. In modern terms, they negotiate, both sides honestly expressing their concerns, and then continue in harmony. For the contemporary reader there is inevitably a desire to know more. Later, legends grew up about Jesus displaying magical powers, but such instances say more about later generations’ fascination with magic than about the intentions of the evangelists. The latter wish to show how all elements of the life of Jesus reveal him fulfilling the promises made to his people and extending those promises to the whole world. His family relations reveal that same truth, and we, in our turn, are called to try to express that truth in all aspects of our lives. VESTNIK 2023 | 579 Children’s Liturgy of St. Gregory the Great Slovenian Church Happy New Year! We are excited to see you for Children’s Liturgy of the Word tomorrow at 11:00 am Mass. We will be celebrating the Feast of the Holy Family. It is a special Sunday where we celebrate our families! Next Children Liturgy of the Word: * Sunday, December 31, 2023 *Sunday, January 14, 2024 580 | VESTNIK 2023 Društvo sv. Jožefa vsako leto pripravi in povabi člane na »Božičnico«. Tako so se letos zbrali v torek, 19. decembra. Nancy je pripravila nekaj dobrega za pod zob, Odbor sv. Jožefa pa je organiziral večer in poskrbel vse potrebno za dobro razpoloženje članov. In kot lahko vidite iz slik, so bili vsi dobro razpoloženi, še posebej pri obloženih mizah. VESTNIK 2023 | 581 582 | VESTNIK 2023 VESTNIK 2023 | 583 Letošnji adventni čas je bil res samo štiri tedne, saj smo imeli na četrto adventno nedeljo zvečer že sveti božični večer. Dopoldne je bila samo slovenska maša ob 9:30. Popoldne smo se zbrali ob 6h zvečer pri angleški maši. Pri tej maši smo vključili poleg angleškega zbora tudi otroke - večinoma iz slovenske šole. Na za- 584 | VESTNIK 2023 četku maše so zapeli pesem »The Little Drummer Boy«, potem so nas upeljali v večerno bogoslužje tije bralci: Jenny, Lauren in Brayder. Lily Tran je prižgala sveče na adventnem venčku in potem je zbor zapel pesem Sveta noč, brez katere si ne moremo zamisliti Božiča. Tokrat tudi s križem (Alojz Sarjaš), z mladima ministrantoma (Anthony in Triston), in Alyssa z Jezuščkom smo pristopili k oltarju. Berila je prebrala Mary Ann Demšar. Prošnje pa so prebrali otroci Slovenske šole pod vodstvom Sandy Ferletič. Med mašo so Laure, Lily, Leo in Brayden prinesli darove, med njimi tudi kruh, ki ga je sprekla Olga Glavač. Med mašo je prepeval angleški zbor, letos z dvema novima članicama. Slovenska božičnica je bila letos ob 9h zvečer. Kljub temu, da je bilo mnogo starejših že ob 6h, se je tudi ob 9h nabralo kar precej. Ker nimamo več mešanega pevskega zbora smo peli kar ljudsko in letos so vsi zelo dobro sodelovali, na orglah je pesmi spremljala Manica Perše (Špringer). Na začetku maše je Joe Gosgnach prižgal sveče na adventnem venčku, Ivan Antolin je bil pri računalniku za pesmi na platnu, Frank Novak pa je poskrbel, da so tudi tisti, ki nas spremljajo na Facebooku lahko videli in slišali sveto mašo. Berila je tokrat prebrala kar Manica. Darove sta prinesli Majda Lukežič in Milena Volčanšek. Hvala Olgi Glavač in sinu Marjanu, ki sta v nedeljo popoldne iz adventne okrasitve spremenila v lepo, domiselno božično okrasitev. Hvala tudi vsem, ki ste mi v teh dneh na različne načine voščili praznike in hvala tudi za vse priložene darove. Naj vam Bog bogata poplača. Prav tako hvala za vse darove, ki jih namenite med letom za našo cerkev. SUPPORT FOR YOUR MARRIAGE Does your marriage feel like it is more trouble than joy, does it feel stagnant or disconnected? Is it causing you constant stress? The solution is Retrouvaille – whose one purpose is to help couples restore their marriage and rebuild a loving relationship. This is a practical program, where sharing is not required except between the couple themselves. It is designed to improve communication, build stronger marriages, and help couples reconnect. For struggling couples, including those who may be considering separation or divorce. The next Retrouvaille weekend is March 8-10, 2024. For more information call 905-664-5212 or email teamrecine@gmail.com. VESTNIK 2023 | 585 O BVESTILA - A NNOUNCEMENTS KOLEDAR DOGODKOV niji. Ali pa pokličite cell: 905-520-2014. - Dec. 31st - St. Gregory - New Year’s Eve - Jan. 1st - St. Gregory - Mass 11:00 a.m. - Jan. 1st - Lipa Park - New Year’s Day Luncheon - Jan. 2nd to Jan. 5th - No mass in the parish - Jan. 6th - Mass at 5.30 p.m. - Jan. 7th - Mass only at 10:00 a.m. - Jan. 8th to Jan. 12th - No mass in the parish - Jan. 14th - London - Mass at 3:00 p.m. Od sobote, 13. januarja naprej, bodo vse maše ob običajnih urah. CLEANING OF THE CHURCH - Jan. 13th - Gosgnach team BRALCI - READERS THE DIOCESAN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS Are you celebrating your 25th, 40th, 50th, or 60+ Wedding Anniversary in the year 2024? If you are, you are cordially invited to join couples from across the Diocese of Hamilton for a Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, May 26, 2024 at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King in Hamilton at 1:30 pm. (Space allows room for 60th, Anniversary couples only - those married 60 years or more may bring one guest if you require assistance). Registration is now availa- December 31st: Slovenian - 9:30 a.m. - Rosemary Šušteršič English - 11:00 a.m. - Sidonia Poppa ble online at hamiltondiocese.com. January 1st -11:00 a.m.: Slovenian - Terezija Sarjaš English - Sidonia Poppa Our CWL wishes our parish community a blessed and happy new year. Srečno novo leto! Our first general CWL meeting will go ahead as we decided on Wednesday, January 10th with a focus on discussing our bazaar. Since there will not be a Mass that evening we will meet an bit earlier than usual, at 6:30PM in the rectory. GIFT BEARERS AT MASSES - Dec. 31st 9:30 a.m. - Mary Miketič & Pamela Gosganch MAŠE OD 2. DO 12. JANUARJA Ker bom od 2. do 12. januarja odsoten sem na obisku pri domačih v Sloveniji - v tem času med tednom ne bo svete maše. Sveta maša bo v soboto 6. januarja ob 5:30 p.m. in pa v nedeljo, 7. januarja samo ob 10:00 a.m. Obe sveti maši bo imel salezijanski duhovnik iz Toronta, Fr. John Puntino. Če bi bilo karkoli nujnega pokličite običajno številko: 905-561-5971 ext 1, in pustite sporočilo. Sporočila lahko poslušam tudi v Slove586 | VESTNIK 2023 CWL - KŽZ DRUŠTVO SV. JOŽEFA - ČLANARINA Villa Slovenia - Tuesday’s night social gatherings will restart on Jan. 2nd. V Villa Slovenia se 2. januarja nadaljujejo »torkovi večeri«. Vabljeni, da pridete skupaj in preživite nekaj uric v dobri družbi prijateljev. Na mizi v cerkveni veži so kuverte za članarino. V kuverti je članska izkaznica za leto 2024. Dajte denar za članarino ($15) v kuverto in kuverto oddajte v nabiralnik za nedeljsko nabirko. DAROVI - DONATIONS Za gradbeni sklad so darovali: - $300.- Tom and Marya Miklavčič V spomin na pok. Tony Ferko so darovali: - $50.- Liz and Mike Storoschuk - $40.- Kim and Ed McPherson - $50.- Carolina and Aldo Gelder - Hvala vsem za vaše darove in podporo Na račun »Eno Srce, Ena Duša« - »One Heart, One Soul« ste za našo slovensko župnijo sv. Gregorija Velikega do 22. decembra 2023 pripevali: $194,897.Hvala vsem, ki ste že prispevali. Naš cilj je, da dosežemo vsoto 200.000,- naše župnije. Še posebej hvala za vse darove, ki smo jih prejeli za Božične praznike. Na oglasni deski si lahko pogledate koliko ste darovali v teh dneh. POKOJNI - DECEASED 24. decembra 2023 je v Montrealu umrla Katarina Tkalec, rojena Gabor, samo nekaj tednov pred svojim stotim rojstnim dnevom. Pogreb pokojne je bil v soboto, 30. decembra, s pogrebno mašo pri slovenski župniji sv. Vladimirja. Pokojna je teta naše faranke Angele Antolin. Iskreno sožalje Angeli in družini, pokojni Katarini pa večni mir in pokoj. Svete maše - Masses Za žive in rajne župljane Starši, bratje in sestre (Slo) Frank Gimpelj Jr. Milka Ferko Frank Gimpelj Jr. Matija Škerl † Antonia Petrella † Frank Raduha †† Pavel in Paul Richard Novak †† SVETA DRUŽINA HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, † † MARY & JOSEPH † 31. DECEMBER † Silvester I., papež 2. Sveti večer DON BOSCO V tem tednu so naslednje obletnice smrti faranov, ki so zapisani v naših knjigah: Pučko Kobetich Simčič Zabukovec Koller Mavec Eddy Mary Ljudmila Mary Helen August Ivan January 1, 2009 January 2, 2005 January 3, 2004 January 6, 2019 January 7, 1986 January 7, 2010 9:30 A.M. - - - - - - Aranka z družino Joe Gimpelj Rosemary z družino Karol Ferko Karol Ferko Hči Rina Petrella in Milan Ferletič Žena Elizabeta z družino 11:00 A.M. Jožica Novak z družino 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 2023 | 587 SVETE MAŠE - MASSES † PONEDELJEK - MONDAY † † 1. JANUAR 2024 † † Marija, Sveta Božja Mati † Novo leto Mary, the Holy Mother of God Eddy in Alex Pučko Slavko Slobodnik Ludvik Reiner Rozalija Kolenko Rozalija Kolenko Thomas Grebenc, obl. CWL - intention † Jože Gačnik † Tone Lukežič † Eddy Pučko 11:00 A.M. Family Družina Klampfar Anna Plosinjak Anna Plosinjak Toni in Marija Franc Mary Grebenc CWL - KŽZ Majda Lukežič Majda Lukežič Majda Lukežič TOREK - TUESDAY 2. JANUAR Ni maše v župniji - No Mass in the Church SREDA - WEDNESDAY 3. JANUAR Ni maše v župniji - No Mass in the Church ČETRTEK - THURSDAY 4. JANUAR Ni maše v župniji - No Mass in the Church Bazilij in Gregor, šk. uč. Presveto Jezusovo ime Angela, redovnica PETEK - FRIDAY Ni maše v župniji - No Mass in the Church 5. JANUAR Simeon, puščavnik SOBOTA - SATURDAY 6. JANUAR Gašper, Miha, Boltežar † † † † † † † Marija Bukvič Angela in Ema Joe Tompa Frank Gimpelj Jr. Frank Gimpelj Jr. Frank Gimpelj Jr. Ivan Žakoc Za žive in rajne župljane Za zdravje †† Pok. starši Radovičevič †† Pok. iz družine Tompa 7. JANUAR Gospodovo razglašenje † Marija Joželj, obl. V zahvalo Bogu in M. Božji Rajmund, duhovnik EPIPHANY OF THE LORD 588 | VESTNIK 2023 5:30 P.M. Anton Bukvič z družino Marija Košir Martin in Regina Nedelko Elizabeth Gimpelj Štefan Petek z družino Marija Hočevar Štefan in Anma Petek 10:00 A.M. - - - - - - N.N. Hči Angela Kobe z družino Marija Horvat z družino Hči Sonja Langenfus Ivka Pašalić