SLOVENSKA ŽUPNIJA SV. GREGORIJA VELIKEGA | ST. GREGORY THE GREAT SLOVENIAN CHURCH 6/59 Številka - Number / Leto - Year 5.2. 2023 5. NEDELJA MED LETOM 5TH 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 905-561-5971, ext. 2 E-MAIL hallrental@ stgregoryhamilton.ca Sol zemlje in Luč sveta Tisti čas je rekel Jezus svojim učencem: »Vi ste sol zemlje; vi ste luč sveta.« Ko poslušamo Jezusove besede v nadaljevanju njegovega znamenitega Govora na gori, besede, ki so bile izrečene učencem in nam vsem, se kot kristjani verjetno ne počutimo najbolj lagodno. Po zapisu evangelista sv. Mateja namreč Jezus naravnost poisti učence s soljo in lučjo; s prvinama, ki dajeta hrani okus in prostoru svetlobo. Že nekateri prevajalci so prihajali na misel, da bi bilo bolj stvarno, če bi Jezusov indikativ »vi ste« spremenili v želelnik »vi naj bi postali« luč sveta in sol zemlje. Jezus pa je jasen: »Vi ste luč sveta!« Tako ga tudi velja razumeti, pa čeprav bi se v svoji neodločnosti in necelovitosti bivanja v Kristusu raje izmaknili za npr. drugačen rek evangeljskih služabnikov: »Mi smo le nekoristni služabniki.« Jezusova beseda nam ne dovoljuje olajševalnih variant, četudi kristjani nismo vedno bili dober zgled v javnem življenju. Kritično se moramo vprašati: Koliko vojn smo v tem času preprečili? Proti katerim javnim krivicam smo se odprto in odločno uprli? Kako smo se udeležili velikih gibanj: za demokracijo, za pravično družbeno ureditev, za pravice delavstva, za borbo proti kolonialnemu izkoriščanju? Mar nismo bili občasno celo nasprotniki idej, ki so bile popolnoma v skladu z evangeljskimi vrednotami? Kritičen pogled na preteklost nam ne daje dovolj razlogov, da bi si ob Jezusovih besedah čestitali. Prej nam morajo biti v opozorilo, da se zavemo, kako daleč smo še od ideala, in kot klic, da se osebno in v javnosti razživimo v svojem pravem bivanju. »Ali verujete, da Bog živi v Cerkvi?« Pred to vprašanje so leta 1985 postavili Nemce. In kaj so odgovorili? Le ena tretjina se je izrazila pozitivno. Za dvotretjinsko večino pa je Cerkev božji grob. Kako izzivalen in zahteven je za nas torej Kristusov govor! Kako obvezujoč je govor CerVESTNIK 2023 | kve, ki tudi danes hoče biti »luč narodom« s svojimi živimi člani, ki naj bi bili »v svetu to, kar je duša v telesu« (Pismo Diogenetu). Daleč od tega, da bi se kristjani, ko govorimo, da smo luč sveta, ošabno postavljali v neko višjo kasto ljudi. Po svojih človeških kvalitetah smo enaki drugim. Smo luč sveta le v kolikor postanemo odprti za sprejem Njega, ki je edini luč sveta (Jn 3,19), Kristusa, po katerem se nam je razodela Luč nevidnega Boga, v katerem ni nobene sence (1 Jn 1,5). In kdor hodi za Njim, ima luč življenja (Jn 8,12). Kristjani smo luč sveta, le v kolikor postanemo deležni iskre tistega neizčrpnega izvira ustvarjalnega žara, ki ga imenujemo Kristus. To je tista prva, imenujmo jo mistična razsežnost, ki osmišlja kristjana znotraj Cerkve, v kateri živi, po kateri je sprejel svojo vero. Kolikor bolj živa in globoka je kristjanova mistična vraščenost v Kristusa, toliko bolj pristno se razrašča v širino bratstva in ljubečega sožitja med ljudmi. Cerkev ne more dati svetu drugih dokazov o resničnosti same sebe kot podobo same sebe. To velja že od davnin, ko so pogani, opazujoč kristjane, govorili: »Glejte, kako se ljubijo!« In kako rad bi sodobni človek tesnobne osamljenosti našel svoje mesto v povezanem bratstvu in povezujoči življenjski skupnosti; v Cerkvi, ki naj bi bila po misli drugega vatikanskega cerkvenega zbora »kal edinosti, upanja in rešitve« ; ki naj bi bila kot občestvo življenja, ljubezni in resnice orodje odrešenja vseh ljudi, kot luč sveta in sol zemlje (L. G. 9). Kolikor bolj je Cerkev vraščena v Kristusa, toliko bolj mora biti, slednjič, politična. Kristjani niso samo sol ali samo luč, marveč so, po Kristusovi besedi: luč sveta in sol zemlje. Sredi sveta, ki je vedno bolj razdeljen med uboge in bogate, med tlačitelje in tlačene, med zmagovalce in premagane..., so kristjani luč ali sol takrat, ko se svobodno in zavestno odločajo za držo darežljivosti, deleženja, solidarnosti in pozornosti, posebej do tako ali drugače ubogih. Ob Jezusovih besedah o kristjanih, luči sveta in soli zemlje, ne majajmo nejevoljni z glavo, marveč preprosto obstrmimo v molitvi, da bi cinične kritike na račun cerkvenih skupnosti mogli zamenjati z dokazi pozitivnega prizadevanja, da bi se v prizadevanju za dobro ne utrudili, da bi tam, kjer imamo tisoč dokazov za obup, zaupali — zaradi Kristusove besede. - (Prim. Kruh besede, Lojze Bratina, pp.28-29) 50 | VESTNIK 2023 5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Response: Light rises in the darkness for the upright. First Reading Isaiah 58:7-10 If we are prepared to share even life’s essentials with others and to act with justice, then we will be very close to God. Second Reading 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Our faith should not be placed in human wisdom, but in God’s power. Gospel Matthew 5:13-16 If we are truly the salt of the earth and the light of the world, people should be able to see Jesus alive and active in us. “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” Illustration Just imagine, as a child, being captured, sold as a slave and treated with such brutality that you forgot your own name. This happened to a girl whom her captors called “Bakhita”. We will celebrate the feast day of St Josephine Bakhita on Wednesday, but it’s worth thinking of her a few days early because today’s readings might have been composed with her in mind. St Josephine Bakhita, the patron saint of her native Sudan and of the survivors of human trafficking, was abducted as a child. Her captors mistreated her and forced her conversion to Islam. Yet even as an abused child, she experienced God without ever knowing God’s identity. She said, “Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself: Who could be the Master of these beautiful things? And I felt a great desire to see him, to know him and to pay him homage.” rights activists are arrested and become the victims of injustice, like Jesus? Jesus asked us to allow our inner light to shine before the world so that people could see it and give glory to God. If we have eyes to see, growing into that flavourful salt or the lamp on a lampstand also means recognising the people who are considered worthless. Becoming the light of the world means being, like Jesus, prepared to suffer the consequences of speaking the truth to the powerful and unscrupulous people of the world. Eventually, Bakhita found freedom, was baptised as Josephine and became a Canossian Sister. Instead of living in anger and bitterness for all she had suffered, she wrote, “If I was to meet those slave raiders that abducted me and those who tortured me, I’d kneel down to them to kiss their hands, because, if it had not been for them, I would not have become a Christian and religious woman.” Before her death she declared, “The whole of my life has been God’s gift.” Gospel Teaching In today’s Gospel, Jesus declares that salt which has lost its flavour has also lost its value and is good only for being crushed underfoot. Unfortunately, some people are also regarded as worthless and are figuratively trampled upon by others. We’re all used to the idea of bullying and may have been its victims. But few of us have experienced slavery, a very common phenomenon in Jesus’ day. Sadly, the practice of slavery has never died out. Today, when someone is trafficked and sold into slavery, they are still considered to be disposable property, without their individual rights or freedoms. They are put on a par with the tasteless salt of which Jesus spoke. Jesus described us as “the light of the world”, using the image of a hill-top town that cannot be hidden. Yet the person who is so visible to the surrounding world also becomes vulnerable to persecution. How many human Application Cruelty and violence are things that many of us fail to comprehend. We might recognise causes and effects, but surely it wouldn’t occur to us to deliberately cause unjustified pain to another person? That’s why, for example, when Russian military forces attacked Ukraine, millions came together to support the invaded country’s suffering people, often performing extraordinary acts of kindness and heroism. But amid the international concern and generosity, a few individuals saw the refugee crisis as an opportunity to line their pockets through people trafficking and modern slavery. We are, rightly, appalled at such behaviour. Yet such abuse also happens on our own doorstep. As a police officer remarked, London’s Oxford Street, an iconic and very busy tourist destination, is targeted by people traffickers. Most pedestrians wouldn’t know that they had just witnessed someone being bought, sold and handed over to horrors beyond the imagination of the crowds of passing shoppers – and so traffickers repeatedly escape justice. Did St Josephine Bakhita’s abduction happen in broad daylight in the public gaze? We have no way of knowing. Despite the cruelty she encountered, Josephine became a saint. Perhaps today there are many other saints among the victims of human trafficking, modern slavery and abuse. We don’t know – but God knows, and that is crucial. Men, women and children are not the tasteless salt to be trampled underfoot. Those who campaign for human rights and values to be respected are shining lights in our society – not targets for shooting practice. We all deserve dignity and respect and we are all called to give dignity and respect to others. VESTNIK 2023 | 51 52 | VESTNIK 2023 VESTNIK 2023 | 53 O BVESTILA - A NNOUNCEMENTS KOLEDAR DOGODKOV - Feb. 5, 2023 - Bled - Koline - Hunter’s Banquet - Feb. 18, 2023 - St. Gregory the Great Hall PUSTOVANJE - Feb 19, 2023 - London - Maša pri St. John the Divine ob 3:00 p.m. - March 5, 2023 - CWL-KŽZ - Bazaar - March 19, 2023 - Društvo sv. Jožefa - Banquet READERS - BRALCI BERIL February 5th, 2023 Slovenian Mass - Sue Augustin English Mass - Archer Family GIFT BEARERS - SLOVENIAN MASS Feb 5th - Milena Volčanšek & Majda Lukežič Feb 12th - Jožica Vegelj & Štefka Eržen CLEANING OF THE CHURCH - ČIŠČENJE CERKVE Feb. 11th - Jožica Vegelj & team Feb. 18th - Lojzka Novak team PUSTOVANJE Mark your calendars and get your costumes together for Pustovanje! Saturday, February 18th, 2023, “Slo - Beat” will be playing, there will be food, 50/50 and Prizes for best costume. The night is sure to be a good time for all. Continue watching for more details in the weeks to come. HALL MANAGER Our Hall is back up and running! As we continue scheduling hall rentals, we will be in 54 | VESTNIK 2023 need of a Hall Manager. If you are interested in the part-time position as the Hall Manager for our parish, please give me a call and we can discuss the details. I will be accepting calls and emails from interested individuals until February 28th. Heidy Novak 905-317-6002 email: novakhsn@gmail.com DAROVI - DONATIONS Za gradbeni sklad so darovali V spomin na pok. Cecilijo Sobočan: - $100 - Kathy Simončič - $100 - Elizabeth in Marjan Hozjan - $200 - Frank Mramor z družino V spomin na pok. Julijano Sagadin: - $125 - Družina Kisner (Slovenija) - $300 - Milan Ferletič z družino V spomin na pok. Jožeta Gačnik: -$100 Štefan in Francka Antolin V spomin na pok. Marico Majzelj: - $200 - Frank Mramor z družino V spomin na pok. Jožo Šušteršič: - $200 - Frank Mramor z družino Za misijone je darovala $40 Jožica Vegelj. Hvala vsem za vaš velikodušni dar. CWL - KŽZ: BAZAAR The Bazaar is quickly approaching - make your table reservations and join our parish tradition of getting together for lunch, raffles, penny sale and of course pecivo and NOODLES! Quick update: we have decided to update details for noodle purchases - orders can still be reserved, however, there will be - 1 bag DRUŠTVO SV. JOŽEFA - ČLANARINA limit unless there are noodles still available on the day of the bazaar! Noodles are $20 per bag and made with the TLC of our ladies! Please call Pamela or Theresa Sarjaš for your order and reservations! Remember, any gifts, prizes or toys would be appreciated and accepted on Saturday morning (March 4th) - the day before the bazaar. Pecivo will also be accepted and appreciated on Sunday morning - March 5th before mass. We look forward to seeing you at the bazaar!! Villa Slovenia - Tuesday’s night social gatherings from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. V Villa Slovenia se 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 2023. Dajte denar za članarino ($15) v kuverto in kuverto oddajte v nabiralnik za nedeljsko nabirko. St. Joseph Society Meeting - Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday March 5th after the 10 AM Mass at the Villa. VSKO - PREŠERNOV VEČER Prešernov večer Koncert in Kulturni večer, v petek, 10. februarja 2023 ob 19h v cerkveni dvorani župnije Brezmadežne v Torontu. Vstopnica $20. Nastopata Tina Debevec Dragoš, Sopran in Katarina Tominec, Klavir. Svete maše - Masses 5. NEDELJA MED LETOM 5TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 5. FEBRUAR AGATA, DEV-MUČENKA DON BOSCO † † † †† † † † † † † V tem tednu so naslednje obletnice smrti faranov, ki so zapisani v naših knjigah: Kerec Mihelčič Sampl Kastelic Marušich Recek Za žive in rajne župljane Ivan Doma Marica Majzelj Marica Majzelj Stane in Mihajela Simrajh Marica Majzelj Cecilia Sobočan Marica Majzelj Jože Gačnik Cecilia Sobočan Vida Sajder Anton Mon., Feb. 8, 1999 Neža Thur., Feb. 8, 2001 Alojz Fri., Feb. 8, 2019 Vid Tue., Feb. 9, 2016 Thea Giorgia Sat., Feb. 9, 2019 John Mon., Feb. 10, 1992 9:30 A.M. - - - - - - - Mato in Agnes Sutlič Družina Malevič Frank Pleško z družino Magda in Joe Razpotnik Family Stayduhar Matilda Prša 11:00 A.M. Vera Lackovič z družino Vera Lackovič z družino Vera Lackovič z družino Family 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 | 55 SVETE MAŠE - MASSES 6. 2. 2023 - 12. 2. 2023 PONEDELJEK - MONDAY 6. FEB., Doroteja, muč. Danes ne bo maše v župniji - Today is no Mass in the Church † Frank Pinter † Ivan Doma † Elizabeth Farkaš 7:00 P.M. Društvo sv. Jožefa (4) Društvo sv. Jožefa (1) Društvo sv. Jožefa (1) SREDA - WEDNESDAY 8. FEBRUAR Na čast Kristusove krvi † Alojz Žižek Za zdravje 7:00 P.M. Ana Tadić Sonja Langenfus N.N. ČETRTEK - THURSDAY 9. FEBRUAR † Manja Erzetič † Viktor Glavač † Stane Novak 7:00 P.M. Eva in hčerki Žena Olga z družino Jožica Novak z družino † Cvetka Bedernjak Bogu v zahvalo in priprošnjo † Julijana Sagadin 7:00 P.M. Marija Korošec z družino K.H. Emilia Mertuk z družino † † † † † † † Janez Recek, obl. Rozina Vučko Alojz Sampl, obl. Jože Gačnik Cenka Košir Cecilia Sobočan, 30. dan Cecilia Sobočan, 30. dan Za zdravje 5:30 P.M. Žena z družino Marija Korošec z družino Družina Sampl Elizabeth Gimpelj Tomaž in Alenka Košir z družino Family Sobočan Kathy Simončič Družina Dim Za žive in rajne župljane Starši Burda Ivan Doma Majda Čagran Cecilia Sobočan Louie Kopač Cecilia Sobočan Cecilia Sobočan Cecilia Sobočan Marica Majzelj Ivan Žižek 9:30 A.M. - - - - - - - Stanko in Elizabeth Petek Olga Hanc z družino Zinka in Martin Mirt z družino Irena in Mirko Kolmanič z druž. Slavko Miklavčič z družino 11:00 A.M. Mary Hanc z družino Ivan in Emilia Mertuk, Kathy Prša Jože in Marija Magdič Jožica Novak z družino Žena z družino TOREK - TUESDAY 7. FEBRUAR Nika, redovnica Hieronim, redovnik Apolonija, mučenka PETEK - FRIDAY 10. FEBRUAR Sholastika, redovnica Alojzij Stepinac, škof SOBOTA - SATURDAY 11. FEBRUAR Lurška M. Božja Benedikt, menih Svetovni dan bolnikov 6. NEDELJA MED LETOM 6TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 12. FEBRUAR Evlalija, mučenka 56 | VESTNIK 2023 † † † †† † † † † † †