CHRISTMAS 2020

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Mary’s, Christmas this year, as most of 2020, will be remembered for the challenges and hardship of separation, isolation, fear, and personal restrictions brought on by the Covid pandemic. But the message of Christmas this year, as it is every year, is a message of hope and courage. To Joseph, the angel said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary into your home.” To the shepherds in the hills of Bethlehem, the angels said, “Do not be afraid, for today in David’s city is born the Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Our circumstances may be different, but the message of that first Christmas day in Bethlehem is just as powerful and comforting today as then. Just think how difficult it must have been for Mary and Joseph to find themselves as strangers in a city that had no room for them, except a stable. Just think how many people of past generations found themselves spending Christmas alone in a prison cell because of their beliefs, or enduring the bitter cold on the frontlines of a battlefield, or families separated from each other by war. Like them, we will get through this if we take to heart the message of Christmas, “Do not be afraid, for to us has been born a Savior who is our hope, our light, our peace, a Savior who will always be Emmanuel-God with us.” May the joyful hope of Christmas remain with us in the New Year 2021.Christ is Born! Glorify Him!Fr. John KumseDeacon David Kushner

Dragi župljani in prijatelji Marije vnebovzete, Božič to leto, kakor tudi večina leta 2020 ne bo pozabljen za izzive in stiske ločitve, strah in osebne omejitve prinešene nam od Covid pandemije. Toda sporočila Božiča, toleto, kakor tudi vsako leto, je sporočilo upanja in poguma. Jožefu je angel rekel, “Ne boj se vzeti Marijo v tvoj dom.” Pastirjem v okolici Bethlehema so angeli rekli, “Ne bojte se, ker je danes v Davidovem mestu rojen Zveličar, ki je Kristus, Gospod. Naš položaj je mogoče drugačen, toda sporočilo prvega božičnega dne v Bethlehemu je prav tako močno in tolažljivo danes kot takrat. Samo pomislite kako težko je moralo biti za Marijo in Jožefa, sama kot tujca v mestu, ki ni bilo prostora za njih, razen hlev. Samo pomislite koliko ljudi preteklih generacij, so se znašli sami na Božič, sami v zaporu zaradi njihovega prepričanja vere ali vztranjane ostrega mraza na bojni črti, ali družine ločene zaradi vojne. Kakor oni, mi bomo preživeli to, če mi vzamemo k srcusporočilo Božiča, “Ne bojte se, ker nam je bil rojen Zveličar, ki je naše upanje, naša luč, naše življene, naš mir, naš Zveličar, ki vedno bo Emanuel-Bog z nami.” Naj radostno upanje Božiča ostane z nami v Novem Letu 2021. Kritus je rojen! Slavimo ga!G. Janez KumšeDiakon David Kushne

CHRISTMAS EVE – SVETI VEČER

Thursday, December 24
5:00 p.m. Children’s Mass – Otroška maša
11:30 p.m. Christmas Prelude Music – božične pesmi
12:00 a.m. Midnight Mass – Polnočnica

CHRISTMAS DAY – SVETI DAN
Friday, December 25 9:30 a.m. English/Slovenian Mass – angleška /slovenska maša
11:30 a.m. English Mass – angleška maša

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY – PRAZNIK SV. DRUŽINE
Sunday, December 27
Ordinary Sunday Mass Schedule-Običajen nedeljski urnik
5:00 p.m. Saturday Vigil – 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon
Sunday 11:00 a.m. Pete Litanije Matere BožjeSung Litany of the Blessed Virgin MaryNEW YEAR’S EVE – SILVESTROV VEČER Thursday,
December 31, 2020
5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass – angleška maša

NEW YEAR’S DAY –2021 – NOVO LETO-2021
Friday, January 1, 2021
9:30 a.m. Slovenian Mass – slovenska maša
11:30 a.m. English Mass – angleška maša

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATIONZAKRAMENT SV. SPOVEDI

Thursdays of Advent during Adoration 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, December 19, 2020
Sobota, 19. decembra 4:00 p.m. – 4:40 p.m.

MONDAY,

December 21, 2020 Pondeljek, 21. decembra 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Beekeeping at St. Mary’s Parish
Phil Hrvatin
December 10, 2020

For the past decade Father John Kumse has practiced urban agriculture in several of the parish owned properties near St. Mary’s Church in Collinwood. Today I had the opportunity to get a lesson in beekeeping as Father Kumse winterized his beehives. The process includes leaving an adequate amount of feed syrup, leaving enough honey in the hive, ventilating the hive and reducing the size of the entrance to keep the cold weather out. Father gave me one bit of departing advice. If you see me running, try to keep up.

https://www.pekarnanyc.com/

PEKARNA NYC SLOVENIAN AMERICAN RESTAURANT

Full story at https://ny.eater.com/2020/12/7/22154318/pekarna-slovenian-restaurant-opening-upper-west-side

The Upper West Side is getting a taste of Slovenia in the form of Pekarna, an ambitious bi-level restaurant opening this week for indoor dining. Owner Dean O’Neill aims to showcase a blend of Slovenian-American foods in a sprawling space that unfolds across two buildings at 592 and 594 Amsterdam Avenue, at the corner of West 89th Street.

The venue is situated across 6,500 square feet covering two floors that O’Neill eventually envisions as an entertainment complex unlike any other restaurants on the Upper West Side. It’ll have four private and public event spaces on the lower level for private parties, screenings, weddings, book launches, and more. The upper level evokes more of an “old New York world,” O’Neill says, with cozy, intimate seating surrounded by exposed brick and two separate bars.

Discover Slovenia in Cleveland/Odkrijmo Slovenijo v Clevelandu
Register today

The contest will be a “photo hunt” throughout Cleveland and surrounding areas. It will take place under the patronage of the Center for Slovenian Studies, and the office of the Slovenian Consulate General in Cleveland. The purpose of the contest is to “discover” many of the Slovenian connections, landmarks, and organizations, along with their influence on the Slovenian Community here in our beautiful Cleveland area. This event is completely virtual, free, open to groups of all ages and all nationalities, will be educational, competitive, and most of all FUN!
There is no cost to participate… It’s Free! Form a team. Teams can consist of 2-6 members. Register your team: https://forms.gle/m26Ha8YKP5EaFtmW9 by June 16.  Once your team is registered and the contest begins, you will be provided with clues to a location, or a task to complete in different areas around Cleveland that have a Slovenian connection. More details at https://www.facebook.com/events/s/discover-slovenia-in-cleveland/912653872539834/

Click here 9 Fascinating Facts about the Slovenian Language

Click here for the US Embassy Link  Opening of the Exhibit “Slovenians in the United States Today” Video

Slovenia National Day

Press Statement
Michael R. Pompeo
Secretary of State
Washington, DC

June 25, 2018
On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I offer congratulations to the people of Slovenia as you celebrate your 27th Statehood Day.

Our strategic partnership with Slovenia, as a NATO Ally and member of the European Union, is founded on shared values and history, and a common pursuit of collective security. In Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, our security forces stand shoulder to shoulder to advance global counterterrorism initiatives and affirm our common commitment through NATO’s presence in front-line states.

The United States values Slovenia’s contributions and friendship, and looks forward to deepening our bilateral relationship over the coming year as we work to expand bilateral trade and investment and ensure that Europe remains strong and free.

I extend my best wishes to the Slovenian people and congratulate you on your Statehood Day.

President Donald J. Trump today announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key positions in his Administration:

Lynda Blanchard of Alabama, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Slovenia.

Ms. Blanchard co-founded 100X Development Foundation in 2004, an organization dedicated to fostering creative solutions to eradicate poverty and improve the lives of children around the world. Concurrently, she co-founded and is currently senior advisor at B & M Management Company, a real estate investment management company. Ms. Blanchard has worked in Africa, Asia, and South America, engaging with local partners to further 100X Development Foundation’s mission. As an advocate for people with special needs for more than 20 years, Ms. Blanchard has voluntarily served on boards of non-profit organizations and supported numerous education programs in Alabama, as well as helped families who are interested in adoption. She is the mother of seven children, four of which were adopted internationally. Ms. Blanchard earned a B.S. in mathematics and a minor in computer science from Auburn University.

SNPJ RECREATION CENTER HOSTS SLOVENEFEST JULY 13-15, 2018

• Featured in Pittsburgh Magazine as one of the “Top 10 Things to Do in July” •

Borough of SNPJ, Pa. — The weekend of July 13-15, 2018, the 37^th annual Slovenefest will be held at the SNPJ Recreation Center in Lawrence County, Pa. Slovenefest, a weekend-long celebration of the music, tastes and traditions of Slovenia that is attended by as many as 5,000 people each year, is the largest Slovenian cultural festival of its kind. Featuring more than 20 Slovenian polka bands and button box accordion clubs at five indoor and outdoor venues, the non-stop entertainment starts at noon each day.

Slovenefest attendees will be able to sample the great foods and beverages of Slovenia while enjoying the music. Slovenian sausage, and barbecued lamb, chicken and pork will be available for purchase, along with other favorite festival foods and a variety of beverages, including Slovenian beer and wines.

Festival guests will be able to explore the culture of Slovenia through an extensive display of folk attire, crafts and presentations in the SNPJ Slovenian Heritage Center museum. Families and children alike will appreciate swimming in the Olympic-size pool, fishing in the SNPJ Recreation Center lake, playing miniature golf, riding the trackless train, playing on the playground equipment, and participating in organized activities. These family activities, as well as admission to the swimming pool and the Slovenian Heritage Center, are included with Slovenefest admission.

Returning for 2018, the Slovenefest “Make It, Bake It, Grow It” Crafters Bazaar will present several of the area’s finest crafters, all of whom will have items available for purchase. Hours of operation for the crafters bazaar are noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 14, and Sunday, July 15. Admission to the crafters bazaar is also included with festival admission.

The SNPJ Recreation Center (address: 270 Martin Rd., Enon Valley, PA 16120) is located on PA Route 108, one mile east of the Ohio-Pennsylvania border and seven miles west of the Mt. Jackson Exit (#17) of Interstate 376. Admission is $10 on Friday and Sunday, $15 on Saturday. A three-day pass is offered for $30. Children and teens age 16 and under are admitted free of charge. Ample free parking is available, and shuttle service is also offered free of charge. Contact the SNPJ Recreation Center at 724-336-5180 (toll-free at 1-877-767-5732) or visit www.snpjrec.com for directions. Visit the Slovenefest website, www.slovenefest.com, for additional information, including a complete weekend entertainment schedule.

For more information about Slovenefest, please call 1-877-767-5732 or e-mail snpj@snpjrec.com.