Let Not The Light Of Freedom Be Extinguished! American Home over 100 years of serving American- Slovenians Vol. 105. No. 1 American Home Ameriška Domovina1 SLOVENIAN MORNING NEWSPAPER USPS024100 ISSN Number 0164-68X AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANUARY 2, 2003 Phone:(216) 431-0628 e-mail: ah@buckeyeweb.com 70c Slovenia Holds Referendum on E. U. Membership LJUBLJANA - Slovenia will hold a referendum on membership in the European Union in the first half of 2003, Slovenian Minister for European Affairs, Janez Potočnik, said recently. Slovenia received an invitation to join the union at its summit in Copenhagen in December, and is expected to become a full member by May 4, 2004. Current polls show 61 percent of Slovenians in favor ofE.U. membership. “Pre-referendum campaign must not be just a propaganda, but also to inform people about all aspects regarding (Slovene) entrance,” Potočnik said. “E.U. expects Slovenia to play an active role in European policy towards the Balkans. This is not only a unique chance to prove ourselves, but also our duty to help those countries on their way towards E.U. membership,” Potočnik said. Successful Campaign The recent campaign which ended on December 10, to enroll 20 new American Home subscribers was a complete success. We surpassed our goal and welcome 28 new readers and hope you will enjoy the articles and news items and stories of interest found in these pages. Many thanks to our very generous anonymous donor who sent in a check covering $20 for EACH new subscriber. New Year Resolutions 1. - Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. 2. - Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. 3. - Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Just never let the brain die. 4. - Enjoy the simple things. When the children are young, that is all that you can afford. When they are in college, that is all that you can afford. When they are grown, and you are on retirement, that is all that you can afford. 5. - Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. Laugh so much that you can be tracked in the store by your distinctive laughter. 6. - The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is V. with us our entire life, is ourselves. 7. - Surround yourself with what you love, whether it is family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge. 8. - Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. 9. - Don’t take guilt trips, go to the mall, the next county, a foreign country, but not guilt. 10. - Tell the people you love, that you love them, at every opportunity. Remember, Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.____________________‘ Thanks to Emma Pogačar of Toronto for these thoughts. Debevec awarded CFA Designation Congratulations to James V. Debevec, II for being awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation by The Association for Investment Management and Research. He is the portfolio manager of Absolute Value Fund, LLLP, which is the best performing hedge fund in 2002 according to the latest rankings by hedge- fund.net, InvestorForce and Investment News. The fund finished 2002 up 185%. Debevec is a member of AMLA St. Anne Lodge No. 4 and KSKJ St. Joseph Lodge No. 169, and St. Mary’s Court, COF. He is the son of James and Madefine Debevec, publishers of American Home newspaper. Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland held its second annual Heritage and Cultural Celebration for faculty, staff, and students to celebrate the diversity represented within the campus community and foster an inclusive environment. Representatives shared information through various exhibits, performances, and demonstrations among which was a Slovenian exhibit by staff member Julia Petek, Ph.D., shown above. Breznikar a Veteran of 'Taps' Ernie Breznikar CLE ELUM, (Seattle) WA - At the Veterans Program at Walter Strom Middle School you’ll hear “Taps” played by Cle Elum resident Ernie Breznikar. He estimates that he’s been playing the haunting tune for veterans services in the upper county since 1946,shortly after returning from World War II. “I started playing when I was in fifth grade,” Breznikar recalled of his first experience playing the trumpet. The talent came in handy during World War II when the army sent him to Italy and up to what was known as French Algiers. “When Rommel (Germany’s ‘Desert Fox’ commander) was defeated, the Captain asked me to play,” Breznikar said. The Purple Heart recipient (for war wounds sustained in 1944) figures that he has played Taps at “hundreds and hundreds” of ceremonies and funeral services for veterans over the years. When Douglas Munro was returned from Guadalcanal for burial at Cle Elum’s Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Breznikar was on hand to play Taps during the service. Even now he plays taps at veteran funeral services as well as Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies like the program at the middle school. Taps is more than a melody, however. The song originated from the Civil War. Its tune and words continue to move Americans more than a century later. Words and message within the music: “Taps” Day is done. Gone the sun, From the lakes. From the hills, From the sky, All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh. Fading Light, Dims the sight, And a star, Gems the sky. Gleaming bright, From afar, Drawing nigh, Falls the night. Thanks and praise, For our days. Neath the sun, Neath the stars. Neath the sky. As we go. This we know, ______God is nigh._____ This article was submitted by Felix Breznikar of Kirtland, Ohio. Ernie is a cousin of Felix and John Breznikar of Ohio. Baraga's Corner Please remember Bishop Frederic Baraga who died 135 years ago, on January 19, 1868. His tourney toward canonization has been slow and discouraging. Emperor Francis Joseph had Baraga attend his wedding. The king of Bavaria wanted to see Baraga, the most talked about man in Europe. The royalty are gone. Only you and I remain to pursue this great missionary’s struggle to attain an honored place in the Catholic Church and North America. AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANUARY 2, 2003 Mlakar’s Walk Down Memory Lane AMERICAN HOME AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA 6117 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103-1692 Telephone: 216/431-0628 - Fax: 216/361-4088 AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA (USPS 024100) James V. Debevec - Publisher, English Editor Dr. Rudolph M. Susel - Slovenian Editor Ameriška Domovina Permanent Scroll of Distinguished Persons: Rt. Rev. Msgr. Louis B. Baznik, Michael and Irma Telich, Frank J. Lausche, Paul Kosir NAROČNINA: Združene države Amerike in Kanada: $35 letno za ZDA; $40 za Kanado (v ZD valuti) Dežele izven ZDA in Kanade: $45 letno (v ZD valuti) Za Slovenijo, z letalsko pošto, $165 letno SUBSCRIPTION RATES United States and Canada: U.S.A.. $35 per year; Canada: $40 in U.S. currency Foreign: $45 per year U.S. or equivalent currency Slovenia: $165 per year (air) AMERICAN HOME (ISSN 0164-680X) is published weekly for $35 per year by American Home Pub. Co., 6117 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44103-1692! Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, Ohio! POSTMASTER: Send address changes to AMERICAN HOME, 6117 St. Clair Cleveland, OH 44103-1692. January 2, 2003 Mmscrmm šVMmr Meeting a Slovenian Hero by RUDY FLIS I I don’t know how many years it has been since my cousin Lucy Romih signed me up with our beloved Slovenian newspaper “American Home.” It has affected me in a positive way, toward my heritage. And because of this newspaper I have met many, many fine people, as recently as this past week, on Saturday between Christmas and New Year’s. On Thursday night, I received a phone call from a fine young gentleman you all know. But before I mention his name, I must tell you again about one of the first papers I received from American Home many years past. I was reading an interesting article and all of a sudden - bam, a name I had not seen in a generation -USS Gen. Greely the troop ship which transported me to Germany in January 1953. In December, 1949, this very same ship had transported the Žakelj family from Europe to America. I feel the Gen. Greely is a tie, ever so loose, but still a tie or connection between the Žakelj family and myself. Each week I read the weekly article in American Home, “Life in the Refugee Camp.” It is from the diary of Anton Žakelj, translated and edited by his son, John Žakelj. The caller on Thursday night was John Žakelj. We talked awhile and set up a time to meet. On Saturday, Mr. and Mrs. Žakelj invited me into their home through their son, John. As John, Anton’s proud son, walked ,to the house, he pointed out plum trees his dad had grafted and their grape vines. I sat down with the Žakelj family, enjoying potica, a drink and their pleasant company. I could not help noticing how healthy these people looked; how well they have handled the years, through adversity in Europe. They now enjoy life in their adopted country. The Žakelj’s, whom I just met, and Milan and Marie Dular of St. Mary’s parish, Holmes Ave., whom I have know for a few years, represent to me all the Slovenian immigrants who have struggled to come to the United States. All have my admiratiori. John Žakelj loves and respects his parents. That seemed evident to me on my visit. “Life in the Refugee Camps,” is a work of love by a son who wants the whole world to know about his dad and mom. Nice job, John. Be proud. And to the Žakelj’s, Dular’s, and all American Home subscribers, may you have a Happy and Blessed New Year. by RAY MLAKAR Okay, a joke for the road. A new Mercedes owner was out on the interstate for a nice evening ride. The breeze was blowing through what was left of his hair and he decided to “Open her up.” As the needle jumped to 80 mph, he suddenly saw a flashing red, white and blue light in his rear view mirror. “There ain’t no way they can catch a Mercedes,” he thought to himself and opened it up further. The needle hit 90, 100, and then 120 mph with the flashing lights still behind him. “What in the world am I doing”, he thought and pulled over. The cop came up to him, took his driving license without a word and examined the car. “I’ve got a tough shift and this is my last “pull over”. I .don’t feel like more paperwork, so if you can give me an excuse for driving so fast that I have not heard before, I’ll let you go.” The man thought about it for a while and said, “Last week my wife ran off with a cop, and I was afraid you were trying to give her back.” - “On your way,” said the officer. Well, back to the Army and now in the next stage of fulfillirtg my extra year of military service due to the extension by the President. (I owe him one). Anyway, the train from Cleveland pulled into the station, Trenton, New Jersey. Odd dam, now that is what I call service, but unfortunately they had no porters to take the duffle bags aboard the bus. It was approximately an hour’s ride or so to Fort Dix and the driver dropped us off at our respective new assignment quarters. The place looked familiar, just like Camp Breckenridge. Before I left for home, they had already assigned me to the particular barrack that I would be housed in and had previously drawn the bunk, bed, linen, etc. Like I said earlier, when it rains, it pours. I no sooner got my duffle bag emptied and marched down to the orderly room to report my presence. “The one and only Corporal Ray Mlakar reporting in.” The Sergeant said, “Weren’t you one of the men that came from Camp Kilmer a few weeks ago and you came from Germany?” Yep, that is me. “Got some bad news for you,” the sergeant said. “Holy smoke, now what did I do?” I thought. He said, “Weren’t you a buddy of Sgt. Frank Serratore, the lad from New York?” Yep, he and I were throughout Germany together and then some. “Well,” he said, “You know Frank took leave to go to New York and was to be in his sister’s wedding, and on Friday night before the wedding, he went into town to pick up his rental tuxedo for the wedding the next day.” “Yeah,” I said, “I know because he wanted me to go to New York with him for the wedding and meet his folks.” - “Well,” he said, “Frank won’t be coming back. We had to send a six man squad to New York to give him a military funeral.” What, I said, it can’t be Frank. “Yes, as he crossed the street, a car came speeding by and killed him.” Why... why did it happen to Frank? I sent a sympathy card to his family telling them how close Frank and I were in friendship and we took a lot of leaves together. I had hoped that when I got to Fort Dix that he and I would get assigned to the same type of job assignments, working in the clothing warehouse, and now all that was just a faded dream. Frank, why? Why you? I can well imagine how bad his sister felt, a long-awaited wedding, waiting for Frank to return stateside to be in her wedding party. It goes without saying that I was down in the dumps for days mulling over the many good times we had, especially when he was ordering spaghetti in Paris and we ended up with liver and onions. But, like I said, when it rains, it pours and I mean it pours. A week later I started to get letters from home and there was a letter I picked up at the mailroom from “Betty,” my girl. Maybe reading her letter would take my mind off the sad loss I had just experienced. I rather looked at the envelope strangely, for usually she had kisses marked over the back, marked “S.W.A.K” (Sealed With a Kiss) and this letter had zilch. Maybe she forgot... maybe her head is still in the clouds after my having spent a week home. Well, nothing was further from the truth. Every once in a while in the service, some wise guy would say, “Hm, a letter from the sweetheart, maybe it’s a Dear John letter.” No Lord, no such letter for me, not from Betty. But as I opened it, within two lines the tears flowed saying, “Sorry Ray, hate to hurt you, but it is over, done, finished. Don’t write or call me anymore.” No reason, just finished, done, kaput. Few days later I got letters from home saying Betty had stopped by our house with a box and dropped it off, all the things that I had sent her while in the Service from Camp Breckenridge, Germany, Holland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg. What can I do? What can I say? The words came uttering back from NCO’s in Germany, “Ray, extend your enlistment; you will never get out.” They were right in more ways than one, for it had been heartache from the day the ship anchored at the dock. Well, like they say, no use crying over spilled milk and feeling bad was not gonna help my moral. I really got in a slump for I did not care to write to anyone period, for who knows, maybe in writing I would get more bad news. Well, time to close, I got a job, full time at the clothing warehouse and each day would bring me that much closer to home, but really no plan once I got there. So let’s cheer up, it can’t rain all the time and that is what I keep saying to this very day for it seems that each day there is a new rain storm on the horizon. But hey, I am not about to continue with this editorial as a tear jerker, so let’s go back to the joke at the top of this article. In closing, may the Good Lord bless and watch over all of you, and here is hoping and praying that there are not many storm clouds in your neck of the woods, and Lord, please show me just a glimmer of sun from your side, soon. -Ray Slovenians R Us We owe our children a set of good habits. -Bob Mills Force has no place where there is need of skill. —Bob Debevec PERKIN’S RESTAURANT 22780 Shore Center Dr. Euclid, Ohio 44123 216 - 732-8077 Operated by Joe Foster Life in the Refugee Camps by ANTON ŽAKELJ translated and edited by JOHN ŽAKELJ (Continued from last issue) Tuesday, June 11,1946 The craft display continued all day today. The UN-RRA officials came and the wife of the city commandant. I gave her a lace collar. Now the director wants me to organize a craft show in the city in 14 days. He has visited this show 4 times and has become very friendly. This evening, my sister Mici returned from a trip to Feldkirchen with hundreds of bobbin lace patterns which were designed by my brother Joze. Felix left the camp yesterday morning and returned at 10 p.m. During the night, he had fantasies about death. Today he spent two hours writing “My Deposition,” in which he accuses me of planning to have him returned home by force, to have him executed, and similar things. He says almost everyone in our room is planning something bad for him. He took his 6-page “declaration” to Rev. Klemenčič, but the father is against him, too. This evening, Felix did not return to our room. Wednesday, June 12,1946 Last night the rain leaked through our roof, right onto my bed. I slept poorly. We were asked to extend the craft show for a day, so the city commander could also come see it. Commander Tracy arrived at 9 a.m. with a photographer from UN-RRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration). The photographer took many pictures. People continued to come all morning, but at noon we decided to end the show. We returned everything, undamaged, to the individual refugees who had made each item. In the afternoon, we cleaned the barracks where we had the craft show. I worked on this show fulltime for a week - all without pay, but I don’t mind. It was a complete success. After two months of short rations, we are again getting almost a loaf of bread per person per day, but still only 4 ozs. of milk. By nightfall, Felix still had not returned to our room. We notified the police. Thursday, June 13,1946 Today is my 39,h birthday. Cilka was the first to congratulate me. We went to Mass at 6:30 a.m. It rained all morning, with water leaking through our roof. We couldn’t figure out how to stop the leak, so I set up pots to catch the water, but it wasn’t always leaking in the same spot. (Later we learned that the leak was actually over on the other side of the barracks, and the water was somehow finding its way unden the sheet metal covering.) For my birthday lunch, we had štruklje (a type of dumpling). For dinner, we had salami. Special treats! I received only one birthday postcard, and that was from my brother Stanko. I was pleased to hear from him. He writes that he is out of prison and healthy. He advises me not to return home. He never received the letters I wrote to him during the war. Apparently, the communists got them. Was it because of my letters that he was imprisoned and suffered so much? Friday, June 14,1946 It’s cold. Snow fell up on the mountains. I asked the UNRRA staff for raw materials (wood, thread, wool, aluminum) for the craft display which we have been requested to do in the city next month. They were all very polite but said they don’t have any materials to give. (To Be Continued) He conquers who endures. —Persius Right to Life Bus St. Mary’s Collinwood Holy Name Society Right to Life bus is leaving St. Mary’s church on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 9 p.m. for the march in Washington, D.C. If interested in going, call Tony Miklich at (440) 428-6951. Books of Slovenia Now Available on-line at: http://www.BooksofSlovenia.com National Atlas of Slovenia, Handicrafts of Slovenia, Architectural Guide to Ljubljana, Treasures of Jose Plečnik, and more . . . Major credit cards accepted. 5« 53< £ O O 2 O < >—i z > G > 50 to o o CO This is an example of the embroidered heart-shaped sewing boxes which were made by Slovenian women from Dobrovo, in the refugee camp near Judenburg, Austria. This particular box is still used by Cilka Žakelj 50 years later for sewing, and for memories.__________'__________________ White Powder is Popular on Slovenia’s Sunny Side Slovenian ski centers may not be able to compare to the more sizable slopes of Austria, northern Italy, Switzerland and France, but there is a fair number to choose from. One should not forget that the slopes of Krvavec, Kranjska Gora and Pohorje are recognized for producing successful competitors. Not to mention that the Slovenian slopes are on the sunny side of the Alps. Resort operators In Slovenia have also ‘been busy improving their areas, especially in the wake of the recent green winters. Many have thus expanded their artificial snow capabilities, while also promoting family holiday packages and various other activities, such as ski schools. Slovenians have become accustomed to hosting the world’s best skiers - and this season will be no different. The World Cup tour will stop in Slovenia twice. Kranjska Gora is to play host to the first events of 2003, as the men battle it out for the Vitranc Cup in the giant slalom and slalom on January 4 and 5. Moreover, the slopes of Pohorje near Maribor will once again be the site of the women’s giant slalom and slalom events for the Golden Fox on January 25 and 26. Slovenians also have a globally recognized ski manufacturer that takes care of surprises at the beginning of each season. This year Elan took its previous innovations, improvements and progress - including a large contribution to the development of carving skis - one step further. The ski-maker came out with a product called “fusion”: a ski with an integrated binding. No other ski manufacturer has offered anything like it before. The one-piece ski/binding combination is said to offer better control of the skis. For now the company has decided to offer the product to recreational skiers only, with testing underway for an eventual product that could be used in competition. The company’s executives recently also decided to establish a foundation that will take care of research and development. It should ensure that Elan continues to succeed in producing new and quality products. While recreational skiers in Slovenia are enjoying the new season, the country’s competitors are already doing quite well. In fact, 19-year-old Tina Maze provided the best possible start to the season, as she won her first ever World Cup event. Maze’s giant slalom win in Austria’s Soelden will also be remembered for another reason: it was the first time that there were three winners in an event, as Maze shared the same time with two other competitors. Her maiden victory was a good signal for other Slovenian competitors, especially with the World Championships scheduled to take place in February 2003. The archives of Slovenian ski successes are rich. Following the renaissance of Slovenian alpine skiing in the 1970s, Slovenian skiers, have managed to win one gold, three silver and seven bronze medals at World Champions between 1982 and 2002. What is more, Slovenian skiers have also bagged two silver and three bronze Olympic medals during the same period. World Cup results show 45 first place finishes; 21 in the men’s competition and 24 in the women’s. Many consider the golden era for Slovenian competitive skiing to have been in the 1980s. This is when the sport reached mythical proportions and Slovenian skiers enjoyed rock-star status. Then followed a new generation with the likes of Bojan Krzaj, Jure Franko, Rok Petrovič and Mateja Svet handing their skis to Jure Košir, Mitja Kunc, Spela Pretnar and Urška Hrovat. Even though many of the latter group are expected to say goodbye to the white slopes in the coming years, skiing is sure to stay in Slovenia. The likes of Tina - Maze should ensure that the rich archives of ski successes are not just a thing of the past. I am younger each year at the first snow. When I see it, suddenly, in the air, all little and white and moving; then I am in love again and very young and 1 believe everything. -Anne Sexton SKA DUMU VINA, JATNUAKY L, ZUUJ Christmas Concert at St. Vitus was Wonderful Way to End Holidays by STANE KUHAR On Sunday, December 29, several hundred people attended the annual “Concert of Sacred Christmas Music” at 3 p.m. in St. Vitus Church. Father Joseph Boznar, pastor, greeted all in attendance to start the performance. Under the direction of 3 John Srsen, director and ^ choirmaster, 50 assembled singers, organist Bill Patrick and four wind musicians performed another excellent concert to the pleasure and enjoyment of all in attendance. The concert began with “Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming,” and continued with the Latin rendition of “Ave Maria,” followed by “What Child is This?” Father Boznar, along with John Srsen, then greeted the recently installed bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, the Most Reverend John M. Kudrick, DD., as a guest at this year’s concert. Bishop Kudrick was bom on December 23, 1947. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy as well as Master’s Degrees in Divinity, Mathematics, and Computer Science and Information Technology. Bishop Kudrick’s family is of Slovenian descent. The choir continued with six traditional Slovenian songs relating to the birth of Jesus Christ: Na Polnoči grede, Glej zvezdice božje, Dete rajsko, Prišla je noc, Eno je dete rojeno, and Raduj človek moj. The choir then sang, “Were You There On That Christmas Night?,” followed by “Christmas Lullaby.” Tine choir continued and turned to three Handel compositions: And the Glory, For Unto us a Child is Bom, and the famous Hallelujah Cho-rus.” A brief interlude was performed by the musicians. The second portion of the concert included “See Amid the Winter’s Snow,” followed by the English traditional carol of “The First Noel.” The closing portion of the concert then included Men-delssohm’s “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,” Handel’s “Joy to the World,” and world famous Franz Gruber composition of “Silent Night” that was sung in both Slovenian and English. The St. Vitus 2002 Christmas Choir consists of the following singers: (Soprano) Lauren Calivech, Richie Strauss, Sonia Domanko, Rachel Gaser, Christina Jakomin, Martina Jakomin, Verena Krištof, Christy Mihelich, Lisa Ovsenik, Mary Petelin, Mimi Režonja, Terry Rihtar, Andrea Srsen, Louise Strauss, Victoria Yuko, Monika Zalar, and Ann Zalelj. Alto singers were: Joanne Celestina, Marta Futey, Anna Gaser, Nicole Kusold, Margie Lavrisha, Nadi Lavrisha, Pam Ovsenik, Blažena Rihtar, Suzi Rihtar, Toni Srsen, Mary Ann Vogel, Elizabeth Yuko, Viktorija Zalar, and Ani Žakelj. Tenor singers were: Karl Klesin, Michael Kusold, Tony Mihelich, Nick Perčič, Milan Rihtar, John Srsen, Johnny Srsen, and Martin Tominc. The Bass singers included: Mark Celestina, Joseph Cerer, Joseph Futey, Joseph Gaser, Paul Lavrisha, Frank Rihtar, Bart Slak, and Tony Srsen. String musicians were Elizabeth Rothenbusch (I Violin), Joseph Štepec (II Violin), MaryBeth Ions (Viola), and Robert Rist (Cello). Debt is the worst poverty. —Thomas Fuller Did you know... that on January 7, 2003, Stanley Frank enters a new decade? HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY! TO. DAD / GRANDPA FROM: Greg & Marge / Lauren & Robert Tony’s... Old World Plaza Barber Shop Haircuts: $6.00 664 E. 185th St. ~ at Abbey Ave. Cleveland HOURS: 7:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. M-F 7:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Sat. We love the Slovenian people. We want more of them as our customers! Winterize Yourself! Rent a Condo or Villa Now! . Jc 'V-- 4 Your only local resource for worldwide vacation rentals. 22078 Lakeshore Blvd. Euclid, Ohio 44123 1-216-261-1050 travel@euclidtravel.com _____ J ■ “T"; ■FT* CondoCcntre .■ PmsMi. ul I I I I II* INW I I Joze Plecnik’s House On his birthday anniversary, January 23, Slovenians remember the important architect Joze Plečnik (1872-1957) who left his mark on the architecture of three European cities, Vienna, Prague and Ljubljana. In his birth town of Ljubljana there is a house in the Trnovo quarter where he lived and worked from the 20s of the last century up until his death. In the 70’s, his home was turned into a museum whose greatest feature is the authenticity of the premises and objects found inside. In a specially conceived museum exhibition, one can literally enter his world. Plečnik moved into the small suburban house on Karimova street in Ljubljana after returning from Prague. At the beginning of the 1920’s he added an oval extension to the house. Later he also attached two winter gardens to the fiorthem and southern sides of the house. In the interior, one can visit the entrance hall, staircase, bedroom and bathroom, small reception room, design studio and kitchen. The custom-built furniture in warm fir timber, many personal items and architect’s accessories all bring us closer to both the spirit of the times and Plecnik’s personality. Alongside the house, in an extensive garden, he arranged a lapidary, vegetable and fruit gardens, a rock garden and a park with some exotic trees, where he lived to take his daily stroll. When seen through today’s eyes, and especially when reminding ourselves how important Plecnik’s architectural creations are for the development of Ljubl-janafand Slovenian culture as a whole, one is surprised and overwhelmed by the modesty with which Plečnik lived his private life. —Slovenia Weekly with love Our best wishes for health and happiness! Slovenians: A Class Fact Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. —William Shakespeare 5 Growing Up Slovenian in Collinwood A Full-Time Job - The Real World by JOE GLINŠEK A major milestone in life, my first full-time job - who could have guessed it would be my last. Many years later, 34-and-a-half, to be exact, I retired from what was essentially the same company that first hired me. I graduated from Cathedral Latin high school on a Wednesday night, the 4,h of June in 1947. School had never been a thing of pleasure to me. I had been looking forward to a languid summer followed by a lazy look through the classifieds, and then the reluctant but inevitable acceptance of a job offer. The graduation ceremony at Severance Hall was a grand affair and a foolish formality. I told Mom that they could have mailed the diplomas and saved all the pomp and posturing as well as the expense of renting the ridiculous cap and gown. It was not the first time my mother suggested that I was ‘anti-social.’ What with all the men returning from military service, jobs were hard to find. Dad saw an ad in The Scoop, a free local paper that was delivered every Wednesday: Euclid Road Machinery Co. was advertising for office help. He urged me to apply at once, before all the other graduates who were mostly from the Willoughby area. We were given tests and filled out forms, and since I was not yet 18, I needed a work permit with my parent’s signatures. I was given this form and an appointment to interview on the next day, Friday, June 6th. I was thinking about the coincidence of this date with the recent D-Day, just three years earlier. A man named Phil Neppel talked to me for a good while, and at the end of the interview he asked if I could start on Monday. I managed to keep my jaw from dropping as my heart sank. I almost asked, “Can’t I have a few weeks of fun before I start?” Instead, I tried to look happy when I said “yes,” but it wasn’t convincing. My so-called ‘career’ started with a job as clerk-typist at $125 a month. It was weeks later when I did the math. It worked out to about 72 cents an hour, two cents more than my part-time woodworking job, and 13 cents less than my Christmas mailman job. Who knows? If they had offered me 72 cents an hour instead of a salary of $125 a month, I might have walked out and applied at the Post Office. Of course my family was delighted and very proud that I had landed a nice soft office job in these difficult times. I was neither delighted nor proud. A disappointed kid was saying goodbye to his much anticipated summer of carefree living and fun. It was tacitly understood that as a full-time wage earner, I would make my contribution to household expenses. Being on salary I would be paid twice a month, and each payday my ‘room and board’ was $20, about a third of my gross pay. This was not unusual, nor did I feel deprived, except of my summer vacation. To the contrary, it gave me a sense of pride to know I was finally a legitimate ‘grownup’ at the tender age of 17. Pride notwithstanding, there was no joy or spring in my step on Monday, June 9lh, 1947, as I set off to my first ‘real-world’ job with a brown-bag lunch and streetcar fare in my hand. My lack of excitement was a self-fulfilling prophecy: I would never be one of the favored few who enjoyed their work. There were exceptions during the 34 years, but on balance, the ‘big stick’ that moved me was discipline and responsibility, never joy. The ‘carrot’ was my future retirement, not a healthy thing to dream about from day one. Retirement was my ambition, a position profoundly desired, its anticipation my greatest incentive. Its realization is a dream fulfilled, and its execution a sport at which I excel... A pity I was not ‘to the manor bom.’ St. Vitus Altar Society gives $10,000 for kitchen St. Vitus Altar and Rosary Society held their meeting and Christmas Party on Sunday, Dec.8. Officers elected to serve the year 2003 are: President: Mrs. Ivanka Matic; Vice President and Recording Secretary: Mrs. Gabriela Kuhel; Corresponding Sec-retary: Mrs. Julka Smole; Treasurer: Mrs. Marija Leben; and Auditors: Mrs. Ivanka Pretnar and Mrs. Ann Arhar. During the meeting the pastor, Rev. Joseph P. Boznar, thanked the past and present members for the enormous material and spiritual support they have given to the parish throughout the years. He noted that many members, though advanced in years, continue to come and volunteer in whatever manner they are able, to help the parish. The President, Mrs. Ivanka Matic, presented to the parish the Christmas monetary gift of $10,000 for the auditorium kitchen. The pastor thanked the group profusely for their generous donation. Dr. Zenon A. Klos E. J85‘" Area ^ 531-7700 — Emergencies -Dental Insurance Accepted Laboratory on Premises - Same Day Denture Repair rOMPLF.TE DENTAL CARE FACILITY 848 E. 185 St. (between Shore Carpet & Fun Services) SHA Birthdays Happy Birthday to the following residents of the Slovene Home for the Aged who were bom in the month of January: 1/02 - William Jane, 99, bom in Gillespie, PA 1/13 - Sam Papesh, 96, born in Pueblo, CO 1/13 - Adele Siauciunas, 86, bom in Lithuania 1/15 - Frank Ivancic, 79, bom in Cleveland 1/17 - Bob Shepard, 75, bom in Cleveland 1/23 — Victoria Steiger, 76, bom in Crestline, OH 1/25 - Phyllis Lotz, 79, bom in Cleveland 1/26 - Josephine Zupančič, 88, born in Slovenia 1/27 - Virginia Kostreba, 80, bom in Runa, WV 1/28 - Bernice Rudnicki, 86, born in Cleveland Stimbur^s Accounting Accounting & Income Tax Services 496 E. 200th St.. Euclid, OH 44119-(216)404-0990 Fax (216) 404-0992 taxtime@en.com http://stimburysaccountlng.com Enrolled to Practice Before the Internal Rwwoe Seruce Sennong Mviduais Corporations i Small Businesses. St. Clair Pensioners News A Happy, Healthy New Year to everyone. The flu bug came to visit us and we hope it flies away before Jan. 1st. Our Christmas Party was fabulous. St. Clair Slovenian Home looks like a mansion when it is all dressed up. Josephine Perpar designed table centerpieces, etc. favors by Lillian Ribarich and Frances Forsythe. The entire staff brought more door prizes than you can imagine and everyone had a good chance to win. The toe tapping music was provided by Joe Okom and Vince Globokar which led to the festive air. Sylvia Plymesser, Joe Avsec, Terry Hočevar, Aggie Koporc, and a few others led us in singing those wonderful Christmas carols. A big thank you to Rev. Victor Cimperman who led us in saying grace and thanksgiving. Needless to say, the food prepared by our chef Julie Zalar and her staff was delicious and comforting. Wow. What a presentation. Recently Julie Zalar lost her dear husband, Frank. We will keep you in our prayers. Our longtime member A1 Koporc is in Heartland Nursing Home in Mentor. We wish him well. A million thanks to Florence Jak-sic and Joseph Avsec for shopping and putting together the delightful assortment of Christmas goodies for all our laid-up pensioners. I heard that Mrs. Cizel moves her tree in a different area in her room every day. The soft toys, etc., were a big hit. Thanks to Flo and Joe; you are really great. Now for the good stuff, on Tuesday, Jan. 14 we will be traveling to Windsor Casino. The cost is $10 with a cash bonus of $ 15 or a meal voucher. What a deal. Departure time is at Euclid Orr Arena at approximately 7 a.m. Departure time at Slovenian Home approximately 7:20 a.m. Bring your passport or birth certificate. You must have these papers in order to get on the bus. Your check must be at my house by Tuesday, Jan. 7. There are a few openings. Make checks payable to St. Clair Pensioners, and write on the check Orr Arena or St. Clair so we’ll know where to pick you up. Don’t forget your I.D. Send checks to Valerie Baznik, 19790 South Lake Shore Blvd., Euclid, OH. Any questions call 216-531-9279. —Valerie Baznik Slovenian Genealogists Meet Weather permitting, the Ohio Chapter of the Slovenian Genealogy Society International will meet in January as follows: WEST SIDE group -Monday, Jan. 6 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Parma Regional Library, 7335 Ridge Road, Parma, Ohio. EAST SIDE group -Tuesday, January 7 from 7 -8:30 p.m. at the Euclid Public Library, 631 East 222nd Street, Euclid, Ohio. The program for both meetings will be devoted to exploring the origin of Slovenian names using Janez Keber’s columns in past issues of Slovenija as the basis for discussion. Mr. Keber has accumulated information for hundreds of Slovenian surnames since he began writing for the magazine. Please join us for an interesting, informative evening. Maybe your surname will be among those we discuss. If the weather is questionable, please call Rose Marie Jisa at (440) 230-2954 or email at bonitab-ser@ameritech.net to confirm that the meeting will take place. i Specialists in Corrective Hair Coloring 19 tina & brenda’s HAIR SALON 461-7989/461-0623 5216 Wilson Mills Road Richmond Hts., Ohio 44143 1 8396 Mentor Ave Mentor, Oh 44060 Office; 440-951-2123 Fax: 440-255-4290 n Realty One as www.realtyone.com "The Lucas Team" Roger Lucas v.m. 440-974-7207 Donna Lucas v.m. 440-974-7217 email: r.lucas@realtyone.com d.lucas@realtyone.com AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANUARY 2, 2003 JANUARY 2, 2003' < Z HH > O s o Q w S < Warm Up With Savory Onion Soup (NAPS)—If you have a warm spot for onion soup, here’s a layer of onion tips and facts about storing and handling that should help you get the most out of the onions you cook with. • Onions should never be stored in the refrigerator or in plastic bags. The best way to store onions is in a cool, diy, well-ventilated place. • High heat makes onions bitter. When sauteing onions, always use low or medium heat. • To reduce tearing when cutting onions, first chill the onions for 30 minutes. Cut off the top and peel the outer layers leaving the root intact. (The root end has the largest concentration of sulphuric compounds that make your eyes tear.) • Onions not only provide flavor, they also provide health-promoting phytochemicals and nutrients. Onions have only 30 calories per serving and are sodium, fat and cholesterol free. Here’s a delicious recipe for onion soup that will warm you up while adding flavor and nutrition to your diet: Savory Onion Soup 4 large yellow onions (about 9 to 11 ounces each), sliced 3 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 tablespoon sugar 2 quarts reduced sodium chicken broth Vi cup brandy (optional) Salt and pepper to taste '/4 baguette French bread, sliced, toasted Onions not only provide flavor, they also provide health promoting nutrients. Grated Romano cheese (about 4 ounces) Melt butter in large saucepan that holds at least 4 quarts. Add onions; slowly cook over medium-low heat 20 minutes, or until tender and golden. Stir often. Add sugar and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add broth; cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 12 minutes. If desired, add brandy; cook 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. To serve, ladle soup into bowl; float toast on soup. Sprinkle with cheese. Makes 6 servings. For more favorite onion recipes, send a SASE to: National Onion Association, Department O, 822 7th Street, Suite 510, Greeley, CO 80631 or visit www.onions-usa.org. Rainbow Jello This is an eye-pleasing, refreshing dessert with! , alternating layers of colored jello and a delicious, white, firm | i cream, (ex: red, white, yellow, white, orange, white). Sylvia! i Pisom provides this one. [ I i Ingredients: 3 small packages of Jello (assorted colors for a nice ! ! effect) 2 packages of unflavored (Knox) gelatin 2 C boiled milk i 1C sugar [ 2 C sour cream ! 2 t Vanilla I I i Directions: [ Make in a 9 x 13 glass dish, lightly greased with! i shortening. Jello layers: Dilute each package of jello with 1 cup ! i boiling water, but only 'A cup cold water. White cream layers: Sprinkle unflavored gelatin over Vi \ ! cup cold water in a large mixer bowl. Stir, then let sit for 1 i minute. Add boiled milk and stir till smooth. Add sugar, sour ! i cream, and vanilla. Beat with mixer for 5 minutes. Divide! ! cream into 3 equal portions for 3 layers. Pour 1 jello layer into dish and firm for 20 minutes. i Carefully pour 1/3 of cream mixture over this (I pour it down ! I the back of a spoon) and firm for 20 minutes. Pour next jello i layer over this and firm. Continue alternating cream mixture ! ! and jello layer, firming 20 minutes in between. Tips'. Although this recipe looks like-consuming, it is ! [ really not too bad. I usually make it while I’m getting ready ! | for a holiday meal, and “hurry it” by refrigerating the jello ! j mixture one “layer” ahead so it is already nice and cool by ! ! the time I pour it in the sheet. I also cool the layers in the i ! freezer, just watch so it doesn’t get frozen. ! Sylvia thinks it’s prettiest if the white foam is on top,! j then you don’t need calories from whipped cream. Would be ! i pretty with a garnish on top, like colored sugar, or multi-! i colored sprinkles. | —Kim Ann Kaifesh ! 1______________ ________Our Family and Friends Recipes ! LAVRISHA Construction & Repair BUILDING IMPROVEMENT SERVICES 6507 St. Clair Ave. - Cleveland, OH 44103 216 / 391-0035 Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. -Benjamin Franklin Fall seven times; stand up eight. -Japanese proverb If you can’t be funny, be interesting. -Harold Ross, founder of The New Yorker Learn to listen. Opportunity may be knocking softly. -Bob Mills Americans eat an average of 18 pounds of fresh apples each year. Legend has it that the entire American coffee industry stems from a single coffee bush smuggled out of France in the 1720s. Open Brand New fX&;: Harvard Village Senior Apts ({900 Harvard Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44105 For more information caU 216-883-04H1 ♦ 1 & 2 bedroom unit« 0 Community room ♦ Elevator ♦ Available for age 55+ ♦ Unique floorplana Only a few apartment homes left! An AtflliMt« of Nmlcntt Church Rsildmcas TDD mnv.rior.ov For Rent E. 200 & Neff Large one bedroom apt. New appliances and caipet. No pets. $450 a month. • 440-951-3087 Big Sized Sleeping Room Working Gentleman Including Utilities Evenings (216) 426-9241 IVORY CITY PIANO SERVICE Albert J. Koporc, Jr. 27359 Tungsten Rd. Euclid, OH 44132 216-731-9780 C&mCng' Ev&nty Saturday, Jan. 25 Pristavska noč at Slovenian National Home on St. Clair, Cleveland. Jan. 31, Feb. 1, 2 Slovenian ski weekend and Giant Slalom Race; dinner and awards at Windham Mts., NY. Info: Ivan Kamin (718) 424-2711. Sunday, Feb. 2 St. Mary’s (Holmes Ave.) Slovenian School dinner, school hall, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2 Collinwood Slovenian Home Annual Shareholders meeting at 2 p.m. Feb. 15-22 Slovenian group organizing one week ski vacation to Lake Tahoe. Info: Ivan Kamin (718) 424-2711. Sunday, Feb. 23 St. Vitus Slovenian Language School hosts Annual Benefit Dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parish auditorium. Saturday, March 15 Slovenian Man and Woman of the Year Banquet at SNH, St. Clair. Tickets $22. Sunday, March 23 St. Mary’s (Holmes Ave.) Slovenian School breakfast 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Sunday, April 6 Super Button Box Bash XXI at Slovenian Society Home, both halls featuring 15 button accordion bands. Sunday, April 13 St. Mary’s (Holmes Ave.) Palm Sunday 9:45 a.m. blessing of butare and procession. 10 a.m. Mass. Sunday, June 8 St. Mary’s (Collinwood) Slovenian School picnic at Slovenska Pristava, 12:30 Mass followed by dinner. Sunday, Sept. 21 St. Vitus Altar Society annual dinner. Sunday, Nov. 9 Slovenian Junior Chorus Fall Concert, Slovenian Society Home, Euclid, OH. Croatia to apply for EU entry Croatia will apply early in courts for action, the gov- 2003 for EU entry. The application, which some diplomats believe will be premature - will force the Union to consider further lengthening a list of candidate members that already includes 13 countries. A first wave of 10, mainly former communist, central European countries is set to join in May, 2004. Romania and Bulgaria are due to join in 2007. Turkey has yet to start negotiations. Croatia, wbiqb hopes it can catch up with Bulgaria and Romania, will be the first full EU membership applicant from the five western Balkan countries that have been offered special Stabilization and Association Agreements with the EU. But the application faces problems. In September, the government became embroiled in a row with International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) based in The Hague after it demanded the extradition of General Janko Bobetko, head of Croatia’s armed forces for part of the 1991-1995 war of independence. While the indictment has now been passed to Croatian emment initially refused to extradite the 83-year-old general. There has also been international concern about the slow return of hundreds of thousands of Croatian Serb refugees from the 1991-1995 conflict. Both issues have damaged the government’s international credibility. The country’s EU accession efforts are also nearly a decade behind those of some other ex-communist countries. Croatia made little progress during the 1990’s because of international disapproval of the then government, run by the semi-authoritarian Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). The government has appeared keen to make an application well before general elections due within a year, probably in late 2003. The EU is expected, nevertheless, to give a broadly positive reaction. It may use the prospect of progress in EU accession talks to encourage improvement in problem areas such as Croatia’s cooperation with the ICTY,______________________ Thanks to Phil Hrvatin for this news item. It was believed by some in the southern United States that if the fire pops on the hearth, a letter is headed your way. 1 iSglth Notices; 1 FRANK ZALAR Frank Zalar, age 77, passed away at his home in Richmond Heights, Ohio on Sunday, December 22, 2002. Mr. Zalar was bom in Breze, Slovenia. He was employed as a grinder at Cleveland Twist Drill for 36 years. He retired in 1988. Mr. Zalar was a member of St. Mary’s Church (Coll.) Holy Name Society, Pensioners of Slovenska Pristava, KSKJ Lodge #226, and Lilija Dramatic Club. He was the husband of Julia (nee Jerin); the father of Frank (Metka), Edward (Anna Marie), Anna (Vic) Kmetich and Stanley (Jamie); grandfather of Franci, Viktorija, Monika, Tanya, Maria (deceased), Eddie, Vic, Kati, Adriana and Daniel. Frank was the brother of Joze (deceased), Ludvik, Alojz and Ivana (all of Slovenia). Visitation was held at Zele Funeral Home on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, from 2-8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, Dec. 27, at St. Mary’s Church. Burial was in All Souls Cemetery. The family suggests donations in his memory to St. Mary’s Church, 15519 Holmes Ave., Cleveland, OH 44110 Endowment Fund or Building Fund. OLGA SKRLJ Olga Skrij (nee Markun), beloved wife of Stanley (deceased); loving mother of Sonja Graham (Roland) and Sandra Szuch (Gene); grandmother of Katherine and Douglas Graham; sister of Frank Markun and Emil Markun (deceased); sister-in-law of Andrea and Jenie Zakrajšek; aunt and great-aunt. Friends were received at Zele Funeral Home, 452 E. 152 St., Friday 2 - 4 and 7 -9 p.m. where services were held Saturday at 10 a.m. Interment Knollwood Cemetery. CARST-NAGY Memorials 15425 Waterloo Rd. 481-2237 “Serving the Slovenian Community.” ANTOINETTE MISJAK KENNICK Antoinette Misjak Kennick, bom June 28, 1910; devoted daughter of the late Franc Misjak and Antonia (nee Rozman); loyal sister of Marija Verstovšek, Stephanie (nee Misjak), the late Franz Misjak, the late Karl Misjak, the late Josef Rozman, the late Milch Bems, the late Ivo Misjak, and the late Louis Misjak; beloved wife of the late attorney William J. Kennick, Sr., Ward 23 (Cleveland) Councilman; dearest mother of Dr. Virginia Emery, attorney William J. Kennick, Jr., and Dr. Victoria Urubshurow; kindest grandmother of Tamsan, Paul Hamilton, Delghi, Donzen, John, and Jacqueline; and loving greatgrandmother of Thora-Antoinette, Nadia, Hedin, Konrad, and Stefan. Antoinette Kennick was bom in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, and at the age of 27, upon marriage to William J. Kennick became a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, whereshe worked as an interpreter at the International Institute of Cleveland, and taught Slovenian language classes for 15 years at the St. Clair and Collinwood Slovenian National Homes. The family received friends Saturday morning, December 28, 2002 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. only, at Zak Funeral Home, 6016 St. Clair Avenue. Funeral Mass immediately following in St. Vitus Church at 11 a.m. Interment Calvary Cemetery. Zele Funeral Home MEMORIAL CHAPEL Located at 452 E. 152 St. Ph: (216) 481-3118 Family owned and operated since 1908 JOSEPHINE ZERULL Josephine Zerull (Telban), 90, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29 at Lake West Hospital. Josephine was bom on March 10, 1912 in Cleveland. She was a 25-year resident of Euclid. Josephine is survived by daughters Margaret Stipich and Joan Starr; seven grandchildren; and 13 greatgrandchildren. Deceased family: hus- band, Frederick; siblings Mary Jurlina, Ann Jasko, Frances Simončič, Angela Pastwa, Julie Lasco and John Telban. Friends will be received Thursday, Jan. 2 at The Dan Cosic Funeral Home, 28890 Chardon Rd., Willoughby Hills, OH from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection at 10 a.m. Friday, January 3, 2003 at Immaculate Conception Church, 37932 Euclid Ave., Willoughby. Interment Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland. Love never dies as long as there is someone who remembers. Of the 13,h Anniversary of June Jean Ambrosic passed away Jan. 3,1990 God looked upon His garden and found an empty place. Then He looked down upon His earth and saw her smiling face. He put His arm around her and lifted her to rest. God’s garden is beautiful, because He has the very best. Though her smile is gone forever, and her hand we cannot touch; We will always have sweet memories of the one we love so much. Deeply loved and missed Ambrosic Family FRANK E. KRAVOS Frank E. Kravos, 82, passed away in Western Reserve Health Care Center on Monday, Dec. 16. Mr. Kravos was bom on March 5, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a longtime resident of Holmes Avenue in Collinwood before moving to Euclid where he lived for 40 years. Mr. Kravos was employed as a tool & die maker at Motch & Merriweather. He retired in 1981. Mr. Kravos was a U.S. Army Veteran of WWII. He was a Pfc. in the 698th Field Artillery Battalion and served in Europe. He received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 bronze stars. He was a member of SNPJ. Frank was the husband of the late Florence “Alma” (nee Stražišar); the father of Joyce McGough, Douglas F. (wife Patricia) and Frank A. (wife Lynne); grandfather of Gregory, Bryan, Laura and Leanne; brother of Albina Sebenek, Mary Moze, Joseph and the following deceased: Adele and Vincent. Friends called at Zele Funeral Home, 452 E. 152 St. Thursday, Dec. 26 from 4-8 p.m., where services were held Friday at 9 a.m., and at the Chapel of the Divine Word, 8100 Eagle Rd., Kirtland, OH at 10 a.m. Burial in All Souls Cemetery. Donations in his memory to a charity of your choice. In Memory Thanks to Maria Cvgelj of Cleveland, OH who donated $10.00 in memory of Ivan Cugelj. Donation Thanks to Anonymous of Willoughby Hills, Oh for the generous $60.00 donation. In Memory Thanks to Anna Marie Marinch of Las Vegas, NV who renewed her subscription plus added a $10.00 donation in memory of her husband, A1 Marinch. In Memory Thanks to Maria Novak of Euclid, OH who renewed her subscription and added a $50.00 donation in memory of her husband, John Ivan Novak. In Memory Thanks to Mary Coffelt of Milwaukee, WI who renewed her subscription plus added a $20.00 donation in memory of Ralph C. Coffelt. In Memory Thanks to Frances Virant of Cleveland, OH who renewed her subscription plus added a $25.00 donation in memory of parents John and Mary Virant who were readers of this paper for many years. In Memory Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Kaifesh of Mentor, OH who renewed their subscription and added a $15.00 donation in memory of Alice Opalich. In Memory Thanks to Ed and Julie Harbie of Cleveland, OH who renewed their subscription plus added $15.00 in memory of the Peternel and Harbie family. In Memory Thanks to Olga Kalar of Euclid, OH who submitted a $25.00 donation in memory of Ludvik Kalar. . (440)602-5120 Fax (440) 602-5124 ZELE CO., L.P.A. RONALD ZELE & SCOTT J. ZELE . Attorneyiat Law Centre Plaza South Suite 330 35350 Curtis Blvd. Eastlake, Ohio 44095 In Loving Memory Fulhcr Mother Father (•rundl'ulhcr Grandmother Grandfather (•rcul-Grundfulhcr Great-Grandmother Great-Grandfather THOMAS MARY JOHN S. POSTOTNIK POSTOTNIK PANGONIS Died Ma> 21. 1956 died Jan. 5, 1946 A silent thought, a secret tear. Keeps your memories ever dear. died Jan. 3. 1970 Sadly missed by: CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, AND GREAT, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN 7 AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANT (ARY 2, 2003 AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA, JANUARY 2, 2003 Life and Times of Bishop Baraga by KATE CONVISSOR In winter the snow lies deep along the Lake Superior coastline. Winds howl, and the snow swirls and drifts, sometimes eight feet deep. On a frigid winter night it is dangerous to go outside. But the Ojibway Indian had come in the night, covered with snow and banging on the door, and Fr. Frederic Baraga opened his door to anyone. He welcomed the Indian and his dog and fed them in the warmth of his cabin. “My mother is very sick,” the native said in the Ojibway dialect. “She wants to see the blackrobe.” And so, since Fr. Frederic Baraga refused no one, he set out at dawn with the Ojibway. The old Indian woman was still alive when they reached her cabin after three days of hard travel. Baraga heard her confession and anointed her before she died. Then he returned to his mission outpost at the base of the Keewanaw Peninsula. Michigan’s upper peninsula was the land of the Ojibway in the mid-19th century, and Fr. Frederick Baraga was their priest. His efforts to evangelize these Native Americans and to improve their lives have scattered his name like wheat across the evergreen wilderness. A county, a village, a street, a township and numerous shrines in his name are witness :o Baraga’s historic mark upon the area. He may soon become its saint as well. Earaga was bom into wealth and educated to be a lawyer in his native Slovenia (formerly part of Yugoslavia), but he became a priest instead and left his inheritance to his sisters. As a parish priest Baraga quickly made enemies among his superiors for his impulsive zeal and popularity with the common people. Worn by his colleagues’ scorn, Baraga decided to volunteer for the missions, where his energy and dedication might be equal to the challenge of his ministry. The Michigan frontier was changing when Baraga first saw the blue-water state in 1830. The pine and maple forests had begun to yield to the farmer and the lumber baron. Trapping and lumbering in the lower peninsula were depleting resources that had sustained the nomadic native cultures for centuries. White man’s firewater brought a crippling addiction to the tribes, and government agents from the War Department continually pressured th§ impoverished natives to sell their land. Baraga was first stationed at Arbre Croche, a peaceful Ottawa mission at the northwest corner of Michigan’s mitten. He was diligent, sometimes foolhardy, in carrying out his missionary activities. He went where he was needed at any time, heedless of the distance or the danger. He restlessly circled the land and the lake bringing the Good News to remote huts and villages. Tales of his epic journeys and uncanny rescues began to circulate and are still part of local legend today. He learned to travel as quickly on snowshoes as his Indian guides, sometimes covering an unbelievable 30 or 40 miles a day. But the winter weather, always fickle, could suddenly change, and death might stalk a much shorter journey. Once, in his mid-fifties, Baraga was caught in a blizzard and struggled for 24 hours to reach a cabin only 17 miles away. He ministered to everyone, but his abiding concern was for the Native Americans, and he became known as the “Indian priest.” He lived in their birch-bark huts, learned their languages, and composed prayer-books and hymnals in Ottawa and Ojibway. For 20 years he labored to compile grammar and dictionary of the Ojibway language. The manuscript ran to 1,700 pages and is still the' most authoritative source for that tongue today. He was “One with the people,” writes Most Rev. Mark Schmitt, former Bishop of Marquette. He froze when they froze, hungered when they hungered, and mourned when they mourned. He also rejoiced with them and feasted and celebrated when they feasted and celebrated.” Beginning in 1835, Baraga served the Ojibway in Michigan’s upper peninsula, first as priest, then as bishop, until his death. He was often the first black robe the Native Americans had seen since the French Jesuits evangelized the region 150 years before. He served at two major missions: one at LaPointe, an island in Lake Superior north of Wisconsin; the other at L’Anse at the base of the Keewenaw Peninsula. Baraga hated to waste time. Once, he decided to visit the mission of Grand Portage, 40 miles across Lake Superior from LaPointe. Two foot waves are normal on Lake Superior; in a storm these can become 25 to 50-foot swells. Spuming the safer, coastal route which would take four times as long, Baraga set out with an Indian guide in a small fishing boat. His friends stood on the shore begging him not to go. The lake was calm, the wind steady. Baraga’s decision appeared lucky, if imprudent. But storms blow quickly from the west. A dark haze grew on the horizon and soon waves tossed the frail boat like a match-stick. The two men shipped their oars and lay on the bottom of the boat, expecting to capsize. They were blown westward and eventually saw waves crashing against huge breakers on the shore. It was impossible to avoid the rocks, but their small boat shot gently into the mouth of a river. In gratitude for their deliverance Baraga and his companion marked the site with a rough cross. A marble cross stands there today, and the river is called Cross River. Perhaps Baraga’s serenity in the face of danger lay in the quality of his spiritual life. Every day, whether camping in sub-zero temperatures or dodging raindrops in his birch-bark hut, Baraga faithfully woke in the pre-dawn gloom to pray for several hours. Perhaps his natural courage and zeal was focused and refined by his profound relationship with God. Word and sacrament were vital to him, and he risked his life to bring them to others. As he saw it, this was nothing less than his duty. “His love for Jesus Christ was so deep and personal and strong that he did everything in his power to help others know and love God,” said Regis Walling, former archivist for the Bishop Baraga Association. Baraga was consecrated as the first bishop of northern Michigan on All Saint’s Day in 1853. His first offi-' cial communication was a pastoral letter to his Ojibway converts in their native language and another to English-speaking Catholics. This was Baraga’s most difficult appointment. It brought no greater physical comfort. - After a month of eating potatoes at the bishop’s house, one young assistant begged for a transfer - and Baraga was overwhelmed with the care of such an enormous territory. However, he trimmed and scraped, his resources always fell short; too little money, too few priests. He begged his European friends for funds and vocations, but their generosity dropped soundlessly into an ocean of need, Baraga often wrote in his journal Misere. He yielded stubbornly to age, pushing himself to travel the length and breadth of his diocese until he could no longer labor over its winter trails. He finally laid aside his snowshoes when he had to be supported under both arms. At almost 70, he finally collapsed at a national council of bishops in Baltimore. Advised to stay in a warmer climate, Baraga fairly fled from his hospital bed. He was so weak that his priest companion had to carry him from one train to another, but he wanted to die in his harsh and snowy homeland. Baraga died 18 months later on January 19, 1868 in Marquette. It is said that Baraga baptized some four thousand Native Americans during his mission years. But his heroic quality was his dedication to Slovenia is a very beautiful country that has made great progress in all areas, said former U.S. President Bill Clinton on Wednesday, December 18 when talking to officials from Slovenia’s tourist institutions on the sidelines of a trans-Atlantic marketing conference in New York. Clinton had visited Slovenia as U.S. president in June, 1999. When invited by director of the Slovenian Tourism Board Bojan Meden and the head of Slovenian Tourist Office, Darja Gačnik, to repeat his visit, he said he would gladly do so. In the first 10 months of 2002, - 27,590 U^. citizens his duties and his personal devotion to Christ and his church. “I feel his life has a great deal to tell us,” said Walling, particularly about the need to be faithful in prayer and zealous that others know about Jesus. Baraga’s cause for canonization is in the final stages of preparation before being sent to the Vatican. A lengthy and detailed positio (documentation) has been drafted and is being translated into Italian. Then the Vatican will indicate which of the nearly 100 intercessions attributed to Baraga they will investigate. After nearly six decades of promoting his cause, members of the Bishop Baraga Association may soon see their efforts rewarded. “I think it will happen,” Walling said. visited Slovenia, which is an increase of seven percent over the same period last year. At the conference, the Slovenian officials also met with the owner of the American magazine Elite Traveler, Carl Ruderman, who expressed interest in Slovenia, as he is seeking to offer something new and undiscovered to his readers. The conference, organized by the 33-nation European Travel Commission for the U.S.A., drew together more than 400 government and industry leaders._______ Thanks to Phil Hrvatin for this news item. Mario’s International Program now on WKTX - 830 AM Saturdays - 4 to 5 p.m. Fully Insured •Commercial •Residential »Industrial Frank Zigman J & F Snow Removal 26601 White Road, Wickliffe, OH 44092 Tei: 440/944-1536 Attention West Side Residents SAAD SIBAI 226-3730 ALTERATI0HS BULK LOAD PROFESSIONAL DRY CLEANING ■ SHIRT SERVICE ON PREMISES 15019 MADISON AVENUE • IAKEW00D, OHIO 44107 KWICK-N-CLEAN DRY CLEANERS & LAUNDRY Clinton Remembers Slovenia FOR Freedom AND Justice Ameriška Domovina ElIiJlI a f l rraT, t i ^ AMERICAN IN SPIRIT FOREIGN IN LANGUAGE ONLY SLOVENIAN MORNING NEWSPAPER AMERIŠKA DOMOVINA (USPS 0241 00) Thursday, January 2, 2003 - Vesti iz Slovenije - Janez Drnovšek v državnem zboru prisegel kot predsednik Slovenije Prisegam, da bom spoštoval ustavni red, da bom ravnal po svoji vesti in z vsemi svojimi močmi deloval za blaginjo Slovenije.” S temi, sicer z ustavo predpisanimi beseda-m*> je v nedeljo, 22. decembra popoldne, pred državnim zborom prisegel novi predsednik republike Janez Drnovšek. Pred poslanci in drugimi visokimi predstavniki države ter predstavniki diplomatskega zbora, ki so bili povabljeni na ta slovesni dogodek, je ob strogem in do potankosti izdelanem protokolu tako začel svojo predsedniško pot drugi predsednik republike v zgodovini Slovenije. Prvemu, Milanu Kučanu, je mandat potekel nekaj ur naprej, točno ob polnoči. Po uvodnem nagovoru predsednika državnega zbora Boruta Pahorja, ki se je v imenu poslancev in ljudi, ki jih predstavljajo, zahvalil dosedanjemu predsedniku za o-pravljeno delo in po slovesni prisegi je sledil nastopni govor novoizvoljenega predsednika Janeza Drnovška. Tudi ta se je zahvalil Milanu Kučanu in zagotovil, da bo svojo obvezo, ki jo je sprejel, opravljal odgovorno in po svojih najboljših močeh, s spoštovanjem in zavezanostjo vsem državljankam in državljanom. Ker mandat začenja, “ko se Sloveniji odpirajo vrata v skupni evropski prostor”, je zagotovil, da to ne bo pomoenilo konec slovenske nacionalne zgddovine in izbris slovenske nacionalne identitete. Dodal je pa, da bodo morali zanjo še bolj zavzeto skrbeti, saj je le od Slovencev samih odvisno, ali bodo postali razpoznavni del evropske dediščine. Ob tem, ko je opozoril na temeljito preobrazbo, ki jo je Slovenija doživela v zadnjih desetih letih, je pozval k pozornemu spremljanju socialnih učinkov teh sprememb in blaženju neželenih posledic. Posebno skrb Je po njegovem treba nameniti socialni socialni pravičnosti in solidarnosti. Zmanjševati je treba brezposelnost in vlagati v znanje. Ljudje so temeljno bogastvo Slovenije in naložbe vanje, naložbe v znanje so prednostnega pomena. Slovenija bo soustvarjala novo varnostno in obrambno podobo Evrope, je prepričan Drnovšek. Prednosti njenega članstva v NATU močno pretetajo zadržke, meni, in je opozarjal na izkušnjo osamosvajanja, da so neizkoriščene priložnosti lahko za vedno izgubljene. In povabilo v NATO je za Slovenijo enkratna priložnost. Kot vrhovni poveljnik bo Drnovšek spremljal razvoj oboroženih sil in njihove pripravljenosti. Zlasti zato, ker se začenja proces preoblikovanja Slovenske vojske iz naborniške v profesionalno. Zavzemal se bo za učinkovit civilni nadzor, pa tudi za profesionalni ugled pripadnika oboroženih sil. Med zunanjepolitičnimi prioritetami je Drnovšek ob članstvu v EU in NATU, ki sta temeljni usmeritvi že od osamosvojitve, navedel še urejene in prijateljske odnose s sosednjimi državami, s posebnim poudarkom na narodne skupnosti kot povezovalni dejavnik ter intenziviranje odnosov z ZDA in Rusijo. Ob zaključku svojega mandata čez pet let Drnovšek Slovenijo vidi kot prodorno evropsko državo, trdno umeščeno v evroat-lantske povezave, s prepoznavno mednarodno identiteto - in z v svet usmerjeno gospodarsko odličnostjo. Drnovšku se mandat izteče 22. decembra 2007 ob polnoči. Milan Kučan je bil predsednik republike dva petletna mandata, kar je največ, kar dopušča slovenska ustava. Leta 1992 je bil na volitvah izvoljen kot prvi predsednik republike po novi slovenski ustavi, leta 1997 je ponovno kandidiral in bil tudi ponovno izvoljen. Janez Drnovšek je bil v teh desetih letih predsednik vlade, z izjemo nekaj mesecev leta 2000. Na polovici mandate svoje četrte vlade se je odločil kandidirat za predsednika republike in v drugem krogu volitev 1. decembra s 56,5 odstotka glasov zmagal zoper Barbaro Brezigar, ki je pa vodila zelo močno kampanjo. Predaja poslov med starim in novim predsednikom je potekala v nedeljo, 23. decembra 2002 ob 11. uri dopoldne, oba pa sta bila deležna tudi vojaških časti. TONE ROP, NOVI PREDSEDNIK SLOVENSKE VLADE, ob predstavljanju poslancem državnega zbora programska izhodišča njegove vlade, ki jih bo sicer zagovarjal tekom naslednjih dveh let, do konca mandata. Izhodišča so bila formalno sprejeta po posvetovanju predstavnikov štirih strank, ki skupnj sestavljajo vladno koalicijo: LDS, SLS, ZLSD in DeSUS. Ko drži skupni* ima ta koalicija zanesljivo parlamentarno večino. Iz Clevelanda in okolice LILIJA ima sestanek— Odbor dramskega društva Lilija obvešča svoje člane, da bo redni članski sestanek v ponedeljek, 6. januarja, ob pol osmih zvečer v Slovenskem domu na Holmes Ave. Vsi člani prisrčno vabljeni! Karl Klezin preminul— Dne 30. decembra je v New Yorku po kratki bolezni umrl 89 let stari Karl Klezin, mož Helene, roj. Cerar. Zapušča šest otrok: Karl, Marjana, Helena, Jože, Dorothy in Marko ter šest vnukov in več drugih sorodnikov. Njegov poklic je bil slikarstvo in je veliko slikal v cerkvi sv. Cirila v New Yorku. Pogreb bo to soboto, 4. januarja iz cerkve sv. Cirila. Več v prihodnji AD. R.I.P. Novi grobovi Frank Zalar Dne 22. decembra je na svojem domu na Richmond Hts. nenadno umrl 77 let stari Frank Zalar, rojen v Brezi, Sloveniji, zaposlen pri Cleveland Twist Drillu 36 let, do svoje upokojitve leta 1988, član DNU pri Mariji Vncbovzeti, Kluba upokojencev Slovenske pristave, KS-KJ št. 226 in Dramatskega kluba Lilija, zanj žalujejo žena Juija, roj. Jerin, otroci Franka (Metka), Edwarda (Anna Marie), Anne (Vic) Kmetich in Stanleyja (Jamie), vnuki(-nje) Franci, Viktorija, Monika, Tanya, Maria (že pok.), Eddie, Vic, Kati, Adriana in Daniel, brat Jožeta (pok.), Ludvika, Alojza in Ivane (vsi v Sloveniji). Pogreb je bil v oskrbi Želetovega zavoda 27. decembra, s sv. mašo v cerkvi Marije Vnebovzete in pokopom na Vernih duš pokopališču. Družina priporoča darove v pokojnikov spomin St. Mary Church Fund, 15519 Holmes Ave., Cleveland, OH 44110, ali v Endowment ali Building Fund te župnije. Mai7 Ziherl Champa Dne 29. decembra je u-mrla 95 let stara Mary Ziherl Champa, rojena Go-deša, vdova po Antonu Ziherlu in Andrewju Champa, mati Anthonyja Ziherla in Stanleyja Ziherla (nekdanji predsednik AM LA) (oba že pok., 3-krat stara mati in 1-krat prastara mati. Pogreb je bil privaten, družinski. (dalje na str. 16) Začetek še enega leta— S to številko pričenjamo še eno leto izhajanja AD, kar ne bi bilo mogoče brez vaše podpore. Kakor doslej, list bo izhajal vsaki četrtek, večkrat bo pa natisnjen že v sredo zvečer, kar, prosimo, naj dopisniki upoštevajo pri posredovanju tako dopisov kakor vesti za to rubriko. Občni zbor Tabora— Tabor- DSPB ima občni zbor v soboto, 11. januarja. Vršil se bo v Slovenskem domu na Holmes Ave. v spodnji sejni sobi, pričel se bo pa ob 6. uri zvečer. Vsi člani in 'prijatelji so lepo vabljeni, da se ga udeleže, kajti bo med drugim , izvoljen odbor za leto 2003. MZA vabi— Misijonska znamkarska akcija vabe člane in sodelavce na litanije, ki bodo v nedeljo, 12. januarja, ob 2. uri pop. v cerkvi Marije Vnebovzete. Sledila bo božičnica. Več v dopisu MSIP na str. 16. Prvič v zadnih 23 letih— Iz buletina župnije Marije Vnebovzete posredujemo vest, da bo župljan g. John Retar posvečen v duhovnika clevelandske škofije 17. maja letos in bo s tem prvi posvečen duhovnik te župnije v 23 letih. Radodarni farani— Iz buletina župnije Sv. Vida pa posredujemo vest. da je bila pomoč faranov ob letošnjih božičnih praznikih izdatna. Celotna božična nabirka je namreč znesla $48,783.26. Projekt o novi dvorani— V buletinu župnije Marije Vnebovzete z dne 22. decembra je sporočeno, da je so bile odobrene spremembe s strani mestnega “Zoning Appeals Board” v zvezi z nameravano gradnjo nove dvorane pri tej župniji. Ta odobritev omogoča pričetek uresničevanje projekta in gotovo bodo tekom leta dodatna poročila. Spominski darovi— Ga. Olga Kalar, Euclid, O., je darovala $25 v podporo AD, v spomin moža Ludvika. G. Joseph Jenko, tudi iz Euclida, je daroval $20, v spomin staršev Jožeta in Flore Jenko. Tretja darovalka iz Euclida, ga. Maria Novak, pa je poklonila $50, v spomin moža Ivana (Johna). Vse darovalcem naša iskrena hvala. Papeževa poslanica tudi v slovenščini... PATER VALERIJAN JENKO, SYDNEY, AVSTRALIJA... Pace m in terris - mir na zemlji: trajna naloga Ljubljana - Papež Janez Pavel II. je v začetku decembra objavil poslanico Pacem in terris - mir na žemlji: trajna naloga. Od ponedeljka je kratko besedilo (knjižica 16 strani) na voljo tudi v slovenščini. Papež meni, da je z božjo pomočjo mogoče zgraditi svet miru na štirih stebrih. Ti so resnica, pravičnost, ljubezen, svoboda. Papeževo poslanico je predstavil slovenski metropolit nadškof Franc Rode. Po njegovih besedah se struktura in misel letošnjel poslanice povezujeta z okrožnico Pacem in terris, ki jo je pred skoraj 40 leti (11. aprila 1963) objavil papež Janez XXIII. Stari papež je čutil, da se mu bliža konec in je želel spregovoriti človeštvu, je v opisu okoliščin nastanka takratne okrožnice dejal Rode. In spregovoril mu je o • miru (dva meseca po objavi okrožnice je Janez XXIII. umrl). Janez Pavel II. ponavlja za Janezom XXIII., da mir ni v območju nemogočega. Predpostavke za mir pa oba vidita v štirih zahtevah človeškega duha: resnica (če bo vsak posameznik priznaval svoje dolžnosti do drugih), pravičnost (če bo vsakdo spoštoval pravice drugih), ljubezen (če bodo ljudje občutili stiske in potrebe drugih) in svoboda (če bodo vsi ravnali odgovorno do drugih). Že Janez XXIII. je opozarjal na pojem skupne blaginje in je z velikim upanjem gledal na Organizacijo združenih narodov. V njej je videl javno avtoriteto na mednarodni ravni, ki bi lahko pospeševala splošno blaginjo človeštva ter utrjevala mir v svetu. Njegova vizija o taki avtoriteti v službi človekovih pravic, svobode in miru, pa še ni v polnosti uresničena, piše Janez Pavel II. Papež meni, da je mednarodna skupnost, ki ima od leta 1948 listino človekovih pravic, večinoma pozabila, da mora na primeren način vztrajati pri dolžnostih, ki izhajajo iz pravic. Po papežu dolžnost določa območje, znotraj katerega je treba omejevati pravice, da se ne bodo spremenile v samovoljo. “Krepkejša zavest splošnih človekovih dolžnosti bi bila zelo potrebna zaradi miru, saj bi dajala moralno osnovo medsebojnega priznavanja reda stvari, ki ni odvisen od volje posameznika ali skupine,” piše papež. Ker so ljudje ustvarjeni z možnostjo moralnih izbir, politika pa je človeška dejavnost. Je tudi politika izpostavljena moralni sodbi, meni papež. Po njegovem “to velja tudi za svetovno politiko”. Med konkretnimi primeri papež v poslanici navedele le “dramatični položaj na Srednjem vzhodu in v Sveti deželi”. Po njegovem ta kaže na nujno potrebo po ljudeh s politiko, ki temelji na spoštovanju človekovih pravic in dostojanstva. Papež pravi, da “ob temeljitem pretehtavanju stvari moramo priznati, da mir ni toliko vprašanje struktur kakor vprašanja oseb”. Po njegovem so mirovne strukture in procesi vsekakor potrebni, vendar so le sad modrosti in izkušenj neštetih dejanj miru mož in žena, ki se niso vdali obupu. Po papežu “dejanja miru ustvarjajo izročilo in kulturo miru”. Srečno in veselo leto 2003! voščiva vsem znancem in prijateljem Blaž in Marija Vavpetič MADISON, OHIO SREČNO LETO 2003! Lenka Mismas in družina 36450 Eddy Road Willoughby Hills, Ohio “Med izseljenci se najbolje počutim” Vida Gorjup-Posinkovič poroča za Rodno grudo O Pater Valerijan Jenko iz Sydneyja je daleč naokoli cenjen in spoštovan slovenski redovnik. Ob svojem jubileju, zlati maši, ki jo je obhajal spomladi 2002, je doživel iskrena voščila svojih prijateljev in vernikov ter celo papežev apostolski blagoslov. Za delo z izseljenci mu je slovenski predsednik Milan Kučan podelil plaketo slovenske države. Slovenska izseljenska matica pa je njemu in frančiškanom v Sydneyju podelila priznanje za sodelovanje na kulturnem področju. Svetovni slovenski kongres mu je podelil naslov Častnega člana Avstralsko-sloven-ske konference, za delo na področju povezovanja priseljencev z avstralsko skupnostjo pa je je prejel medaljo Reda Avstralije. Ob vem tem pa pater Valerijan vedno dodaja, da to niso priznanja njemu osebno, temveč celotni frančiškanski skupnosti, ki že več kot pet- deset let skrbi za Slovence v Avstraliji. ♦ Letošnji (tj. 1. 2002, op. ur. AD) obisk v domovini ob svojem zlatem jubileju je izkoristil za celo vrsto obiskov, mi pa smo ga ob tej priložnosti zaprosili za krajši pogovor. Svojo zlato mašo ste obhajali zelo slovesno in ob številnih čestitkah. Kako ta jubilej doživljate sami? 50 let je zelo dolgo obdobje, čeprav se mi danes zdi, da je minilo zelo hitro. Seveda so ta čas zaznamovala razna obdobja. Prvo je bilo v ZDA, v Lemontu, kjer sem bil posvečen. Zatem sem nekaj časa, približno osem mesecev, služboval v Chicagu, se vrnil v Le-mont, 1959. pa so me premestili v Johnstown v Pennsylvaniji, kjer sem bil štiri leta kaplan. Od tam Vas je pot vodila v Avstralijo. Ste si to želeli ali so Vas tja poslali? Tja sem si želel oditi že takrat, ko je eden naših sobratov od tam odstopil. Takrat sem sklenil, da bom odšel na njegovo mesto. Tega mi najprej niso dovolili, 1963. pa mi je to le uspelo. Pravzaprav sem dovoljenje dobil po nekoliko neneavadni poti. Neposredni predstojniki mi namreč niso dovolili odhoda v Avstralijo, zato sem pisal v Rim generalnemu ministru frančiškanskega reda. V takih primerih se navadno zgodi, da višji predstojnik vrne prošnjo neposrednemu predstojniku, tokrat pa je bilo drugače. V Rimu je namreč služboval naš pater Ciril Ricek, ki je zelo dobro poznal razmere v Avstraliji. General ga je vprašal, ali me pozna in ali je potrebno, da grem v Avstralijo. Ricek je zatrdil, da je moj odhod potreben in tako je general podpisal dovoljenje za tri leta. To dovoljenje je poslal mojemu predstojniku v Lemont in ta mi ga je potem tudi izročil. Potem pa sem tudi sam nekoliko okleval, (DALJE na str. 11) Pater Valergan Jenko na Srečanju v moji deželi, vsakoletni prireditvi Slovenske izseljenske matice, leta 2001 na Bledu, ko prevzema priznanje SIM. Nadškof Rode je za papežem in| sv. Avguštinom opisal mir kot “spokojnost reda” oziroma od vseh priznajo in sprejeto stanje, v katerem vlada pravičnost. Med. najpomembnejše dogodke leta ,v odnosu med državo in Cerkvijo je Rpde uvrstil podpis prvega mednarodnega sporazuma sredi decembra 2001. V Cerkvi čakajo ratifikacijo sporazuma v državnem zboru, za tem se bodo z državo pogovarjali naprej. Ko bo ta mejnik presežen, se začne novo obdobje v odosu Cer-kev-država, pravi Rode. Dejan Pušenjak DELO FAX. 31. dec. 2002 PAVLE BORŠTNIK PERRY, OHIO Novoletna razmišljanja... “Med izseljenci se najbolje počutim” Z Novim letom naj bi bilo vse “novo” ali vsaj “drugače”. Ob tem dnevu nas obhajajo podobni občutki, kot ob kakšnih drugih prelomnicah našega življenja, ali življenja družbe, v kateri se gibljemo. “Nikdar več ne bo tako, kot je bilo” ... neredko padajo podobne besede. Slišali smo jih tudi v prelomnih dneh, ko je Iz balkanskega kaosa izšla samostojna Slovenija ... nikdar več ne bo tako, kot je bilo ... Pa se zgodovina ponavlja, stare napake se prikažejo kot zli duhovi, starih navad se ne moremo otresti in - vse je tako, kot je bilo. Z letošnjim Novim letom pa Slovenija le vstopa v neko “drugačno” obdobje, ne morda v novo, ampak - drugačno. Na nedavnih volitvah so Slovenci doma, pa morda še bolj tisti po svetu, doživeli še eno lekcijo “zgodovine". Že ob prvem, kolikor toliko enotnem, složnem nastopu je opozicija dosegla izreden uspeh. Pa ji je bila ta “sloga” pravzaprav nekako vsiljena. Ko v prvem krogu ni prišlo do odločitve - po za-slugi složnega nastopa dveh strank -, je moral slediti drugi krog in v tem se je dvema prvotni-ma opozicijskima strankama pridružila še tretja. Uspeh ni izostal, pri-H^erjajmo ga samo “opozicijskim” rezultatom na Prejšnjih predsedniških volitvah, ko so kandidati, ki so nastopili proti “kontinuiteti” odnesli z volišč za prgišče glasov. Vse pod desetimi odstotki. Relativno dober, če ne odličen, rezultat, ki ga je na teh volitvah dosegla fot. tko Listen to THE SLOVENIAN HOUR On 50,000 Watt WCPN Cleveland Public Radio CSS Tony Ovsenik Šsm 440-944-2538 opozicija, pa že sam po sebi nakazuje tudi najboljšo politiko, ki naj bi jo opozicija vodila odslej, če naj se nekoč otrese te oznake in prevzame vodstvo države. Odločitev SLS, da v drugem krogu volitev podpre Brezigarjevo, je bila prav-tako logična kot dobrodošla, saj je stranka s tem nekako okrepila svoj “obledeli” značaj opozicijske stranke. Da bo jedro opozicije tudi vnaprej Janševa socialdemokratska stranka, se zdi potrjeno, ne le, ker se je družbena miselnost med Slovenci pod vplivom povojnih dogodkov in razmer brez dvoma nagnila v levo, temveč tudi, ker so volitve med drugim nakazale, da Bajukova Nova Slovenija ne more upati v razvoj, ki bi ji prinesel status večinske stranke. Da je stranka sploh obstala, seveda predstavlja velik uspeh, ki ga je v največji meri tudi treba pripisati Bajukovemu osebnemu ugledu in prizadevanju, toda od tega statusa do statusa večinske stranke, se pot - iz današnje perspektive - zdi enostavno prestrma za skorajšnji uspeh. Drugo vprašanje je osebna prihodnost Barbare Brezigar. S tem, da ni uspela na volitvah, se nikakor ne bi smela končati njena politična kariera. Nekateri komentatorji ji itak priznavajo, da je bila ona resnična zmagovalka na nedavnih volitvah, kljub njihovemu siceršnjemu izidu. ^ Ali bo svojo politično navzočnost v slovenskem javnem življenju še vnaprej uveljavljala kot neodvisna osebnost, odnosno, ali se bo vključila v eno ali drugo politično stranko, je seveda stvar njene osebne presoje. Vsekakor pa bi bila velika škoda, če bi zdaj politične ambicije odložila ali celo pozabila. V vprašanju opozicijskih strank pa je tudi glavna naloga nadaljevanje dosedanjih prizadevanj, obenem s prizadevanji za združitev obeh konservativno obarvanih strank, se pravi SLS in NSi. Tako bi nastala močna konservativna grupacija, ki bi lahko konstruktivno vplivala na bodočo slovensko politiko ter obenem z Janševo SDS poskrbela, da ta politika ne bi spet zajadrala v ekstremne levičarske vode. Upati je tudi, da bodo taka ali podobna prizadevanja prejemala vsaj posredno podporo mednarodnih forumov, se pravi EU in NATO, kar pomeni, da imajo na dolgo roko dobro možnosti za končni uspeh. Z nastopom Janeza Drnovška na položaju predsednika republike in Toneta Ropa kot ministrskega predsednika vlade lahko za prihodnji dve leti pričakujemo nekoliko bolj umirjeno politično dejavnost v Sloveniji, morda celo večje razumevanje za najbolj kritične zahteve opozicije, tudi v vprašanju množičnih grobišč medvojnih in povojnih žrtev. Vsekakor pa bosta prihodnji dve leti, se pravi leti pred prihodnjimi parlamentarnimi volitvami, čas nekakšne politične obnove ali prenove, in čas razporejanja političnih sil, ki se bodo potem pomerile na omenjenih volitvah leta 2004. Takrat pa bo verjetno napravljena generacijska odločitev o nadaljnji poti slovenskega naroda. Politična emigracija pri tem ne bo igrala nobene vloge. Sedanja vlada je sicer v vprašanju njene udeležbe na volitvah izvedla nekaj izboljšav, toda sodelovanje izseljencev na volitvah je bilo še vedno spremljano z nepotrebnimi zapletljaji in nerodnim postopkom. V tem je tudi odgovor na nizko udeležbo. Po podatkih volilne komisije (NADALJEVANJE s str. 10) ker je bilo v Lemontu vse lepo urejeno, z vsemi sem se lepo razumel in se tam tudi dobro počutil. Z odhodom sem zato odlašal od februarja do oktobra 1963, potem pa je pater Bernard iz Avstralije zahteval, naj sporočim, kdaj pridem in ali sploh še želim priti. In tako sem odšel. Za potovanje pa sem si izbral ladjo, da bi kar najdlje trajalo in ne bi prehitro pripotoval na cilj. Kaj ste našli v Avstraliji? Kako so živeli naši ljudje? Veliko naših ljudi je bilo še v zbirnih taboriščih v Villawoodu, v okolici Sydneyja in drugod. Začel sem jih obiskovati, jih zbirati okoli sebe in jih povezovati med seboj. Pomagal sem jim, da so prišli do svojih domov in jih obiskoval tudi še potem, ko so se že odselili. Potem smo počasi sestavili seznam naših rojakov v Sydneyju in okolici, sam pa sem začel maševati po raznih cerkvah v Sydneyju, vsako nedeljo v drugi cerkvi, tisti, ki je bila prosta. To je bilo zelo nerodno, saj so si ljudje težko zapomnili, kje bo naslednja slovenska maša. Svoje cerkve torej niste imeli. Kako ste se dokopali do nje? Jasno je bilo, da potrebujemo svojo cerkev. Pisal sem na agencijo za nepremičnine in dobil kar je bilo med izseljenci nekaj pod 5000 upravičencev, od, katerih se je volilne pravice poslužilo manj kot 2000. Torej premalo, da bi ta “blok” kakorkoli vplival na izid volitev, razen kakšnih izrednih, ko bi res šlo “za nohte”. Delo emigracije pa še ni zaključeno, čeprav je njena zgodba zdaj dodobra publicirana v domovini. V bistvu torej je potreben složen nastop opozicije. Ironično je to, da predstavlja največji argument za to postavko -politika komunistične partije odnosno njene kontinuitete. nekaj ponudb, med njimi tudi za cerkev v Merry-landsu, kjer so od nekdaj živeli tudi Slovenci. Lastniki cerkve so v bližini zgradili novo; staro so hoteli prodati, z izkupičkom pa zgraditi še dvorano. Za cerkev je bilo veliko zanimanja, med drugimi jo je želela kupiti tudi občina, da bi v njej uredila knjižnico, vendar je ponudila prenizko ceno. Nam pa so jo prodali tudi zato, ker so bili zadovoljni, da bo njihova cerkev še naprej služila svojemu namenu. Kako ste zbrali denar za odkup cerkvene stavbe? S prostovoljnimi prispevki vernikov, članov slovenske skupnosti. In tako je zrasla redovna cerkev, v kateri ste utrdili svoje avstralsko obdobje ... Pravzaprav sem v njej prebil slaba tri leta, od 1970 do 1972. Že takoj po vselitvi pa smo sklenili, da bomo stavbo obzidali. Januarja 1973 je bila cerkev slovesno blagoslovljena in odtlej so vsi vedeli, kje so slovenski duhovniki. Pri svojem delu nisem bil sam, štiri leta mi je pomagal pater Lovrenc, krajši čas pater Janez -danes službuje v Adelal-du - pa pater Ciril Božič, za njim pater Tomaž Menart, danes pa je že četrto leto tam pater Filip Rupnik. Ste imeli kot redovniki frančiškani lažjo pot do Slovencev? Frančiškanski red je res zelo prožen in prilagodljiv. Ko je našega nekdanjega generala papež pred leti vprašal, kaj je namen našega reda, mu je ta odgovoril: “Mi smo mašilci lukenj.” S tem je hotel reči, da gremo fran-čiškani rade volje tudi tja, kjer je potreba, pa se drugi obotavljajo. Je to vzrok, da vaše delo cenijo vsi, ne glede na njihovo politično usmeritev? Verjetno res. Sam sem vse, ki so prišli k meni kot Slovenci in kot verniki, vedno sprejel kot svoje rojake. Njihovo o-sebno prepričanje zame (ilnlje na str. iZ) Pesmi ... »n Melodije iz Naše Lepe Slovenije Radijska Družina Cleveland ED MEJAČ Vodja Radijske Družine VVCSB 89.3 FM Nedelja 9-10 am Sreda 6-7 pm 2405 Somrack Drive Willoughby Hills, OH £4094 440-953-1709 ra/FAX web: www.wcsb.org “Med izseljenci se najbolje počutim” (NADALJEVANJE s str. 11) nikoli ni bilo merilo, zato tudi večkrat poudarjam, da bodimo samo Slovenci in verniki, krščeni vsi v en krst. Drugo v izseljenstvu ne pride v poštev. Vse, kar nas deli, je treba pustiti ob strani in ohranjati in poudarjati samo to, kar je nam vsem skupno. Ste imeli zaradi te svoje širine kdaj težave? Seveda ni bilo vedno lahko. Ampak to smo srečno prebrodili. Tudi sami ste v prvi osebi doživljali izseljensko usodo. Kaj pušča najgloblje sledove, kaj izseljence najbolj boli? Predvsem domotožje. To je zelo huda stvar. Tudi ljudje, ki že zelo dolgo živijo po svetu, tega ne morejo preboleti in se vedno radi vračajo. Tako dajo duška svojemu hrepenenju po domovini in po vsem, kar so doživljali v mladih leti kot otroci, kot člani svojih družin. V tujini pa so raztrgani. Nekateri so se sicer vrnili domov, ampak večina se jih je v'sedemdesetih letih, recimo, spet vrnila v Avstralijo. In tudi tisti redki, ki so ostali, bi se bili vrnili, če bi imeli finančne možnosti. Preden so se dokončno preselili, so jim namreč v Sloveniji prikazovali zelo rožnate razmere. Ko pa so zares prišli, so na- BRALCI AMERIŠKE DOMOVINE Priporočajte naš list! leteli na ovire na vsakem koraku. Zato so se raje vrnili na tuje. Kako si to razlagate? Doma preprosto niso več našli tega, kar so pustili, ko so odšli, in se niso mogli več vživeti v novo okolje. Sami sebi tudi niso hoteli priznati, da so se v Avstraliji že povsem udomačili. Ampak tudi ponovna vrnitev v Avstralijo ni bila lahka. Nekateri so se celo oddaljili tudi od slovenske skupnosti, ker jim je bilo skoraj nerodno. Vsi so vedeli, da se vračajo v domovino, potem pa nepričakovana vrnitev ... Vendar so se navadno počasi spet vključili v našo skupnost in spet zaživeli po starem. V Sloveniji se zadnje čase veliko govori o tem, da je treba odpreti vrata izseljencem in jim omogočiti vrnitev v domovino. Kako o tem razmišljate v Avstraliji? Odkar je demokracija, je to vprašanje veliko bolj aktualno. Ljudje, ki so se vrnili v domovino v zadnjih desetih letih, se v Sloveniji hitro znajdejo in lažje znova poženejo korenine. Tudi odnos do Slovenije je drugačen, bolj umirjen. V Avstraliji pa je ze-16 drugačen odnos do posameznih etničnih skupnosti. Je zdaj lažje biti Slovenec kot pred desetletji? Na začetku so v Avstraliji res vzpodbujali asimilacijo in pritiskali na lju- di, da se stopijo z večino. Danes je stališče avstralskih oblasti popolnoma nasprotno. Nič več ne vzpodbujajo asimilacije, temveč ohranjanje lastne etnične identitete in posameznih etničnih skupnosti. Pri tem poudarjajo, da lahko prav vsak prispeva pomemben delež k skupni avstralski kulturi in jo bogati s svojo dediščino, z duhom, s šegami in navadami svojega matičnega naroda. Se je v obdobju asimilacijske politike veliko Slovencev stopilo z avstralsko skupnostjo? Mislim, da je takih zelo malo. Večina je ohranila svojo nacionalno zavest in čeprav so postali avstralski državljani, se še zmeraj čutijo najprej Slovence. Kaj pa druga ali tretja generacija Slovencev v Avstraliji? Ste našli pot do njih? Stik z njimi smo sicer iskali,' vendar pravega u-speha ni bilo. Morda nismo našli pravega načina ali se jim nismo znali primerno približati. Morda pa smo posvečali preveč pozornosti tistim, ki so ves čas prihajali k nam, na mladino, ki nas je obiskovala samo občasno, pa smo nekoliio po- V BLAG SPOMIN OB PETI OBLETNICI ANGELA FUJS Umrla 4. januarja 1998 Šopek rožic smo nabrali, na gomilo tvojo dah, zraven svečko smo prižgali in v tišini s tabo pokramljali. Le kdo pozabil bi gomilo, v kateri zlato spi srce, ki neskončno nas ljubilo do poslednjega je dne. Ko tvoje zaželimo si bližine, gremo tja, v ta mirni kraj tišine. Tam srce se tiho zajoče, saj verjeti ono noče, da te več med nami ni. Žalujejo: mož Frank sin Edward z družino sestra Frances Androjna z družino in brat Štefan Maje z družino. zabili. In to je danes problem. Se mladi odmikajo od cerkve nasploh ali gre zgolj za odtujevanje slovenski cerkvi? Predvsem slednje. Mladi se danes povečini usmerjajo v avstralsko katoliško cerkev, seveda če sploh odločijo za katero od cerkva. Je to potihoma lahko tudi želja po asimilaciji? No, prepričan sem, da bodo mladi v prihodnje prevzeli slovenska društva in nadaljevali delo v njih, vendar po svoje. Če se danes, denimo, želijo vključiti v delo društva, jim le redko dovolijo, da o njem tudi odločajo, češ da so premladi. Ko pa jih potrebujejo, je že prepozno. Mladi bi se seveda vključili v društva, vendar želijo imeti pri tem tudi več besede, kar starejše generacije, ki društva vodijo, navadno težko dopustijo. Ko pa bodo prisiljeni društva prepuščati mladim, jih bodo ti vodili po svoje. In tudi slovensko identiteto bodo ohranjali po svoje. Tak primer je v Pennsylvaniji, kjer deluje majhna slovenska skupnost, ki ima svojo dvorano. Obiskovalci, ki zahajajo tja, govorijo sicer angleško, poslušajo pa slovensko glasbo. Dvorano upravljajo ljudje, ki sicer ne govorijo več slovensko, še naprej pa ohranjajo svoje slovenske korenine. Če bi Vas danes vprašali, čemu naj slovenska država v svoji skrbi za Slovence v Avstraliji posveti največ pozornosti, kaj bi izbrali? n Na prvo mesto bi postavil tečaje slovenskega jezika v domovini, potem pa različna strokovna srečanja, kakršno je bilo pred leti seminar za o-hranitev arhivskega gradiva in ohranjanje sledov prisotnosti Slovencev v Avstraliji. Pravijo, da bi potrebovali kvalificirane učitelje slovenskega jezika. Vendar smo Slovenci v Avstraliji tako raztreseni, da ni mogoče organizirati dopolnilne šole, razdalje so prevelike in v najboljšem primeru bi na enem mestu zbrali kakih 25 študentov. Zato je najboljša rešitev, da Slovenija čim več mladim ponudi možnost, da se vpišejo na tečaje slovenskega jezika v domovini. Ob tem mladi spoznajo tudi deželo svojih prednikov in največkrat sonad njo zelo navdušeni. Ti vtisi, ki jih potem prenesejo na skupnost, prijatelje in pozneje tudi na svoje otroke, so najboljša popotnica za ohranjanje stikov z matično deželo. Danes ste že upokojeni. Imate kakšne posebne načrte? Res sem v pokoju, vendar bom še dejaven, dokler ne bo kdo mlajši prevzel vodstvo našega središča v Sydneyju. Sicer pa bi rad še naprej ostal med rojaki v Avstraliji, dokler mi bodo dopuščale moči, saj sem med njimi preživel dolga leta. To življenje tudi najbolj poznam in zato se v tem svetu tudi najbolje znajdem in počutim. (KONEC) Rodna gruda december 2002 Prijatel’s Pharmacy i ’ St. Clair & E. 68 St. '361-4212 j I IZDAJAMO TUDI ZDRAVILA j ZA RAČUN POMOČI DRŽAVE OHIO - AID FOR l'j II THE AGED PRESCIPTIONS ft ■tj3 v blag SPOMIN ‘t}’ Anton Adamič 1899-1982 Pavla Adamič 1913-1997 Božični čas, čas tihe miline, Čas grenkih spominov, Čustev polno v nas se porodi, Saj odsotna sta premnogo dni. Božja milost naj nad Vama bdi, Pokoja tihega želimo- mi. Otroci: Pavla Dolinar, Mira Kosem in Tone Adamič z družinami ter družina Veider Misijonska Znamkarska Akcija (MZA) Catholic Mission Aid (CMA) je javna, nepridobitna, dobrodelna misijonska organizacija. Ustanovil jo je Fr.-Charles A. Wolbang, CM. Registrirana je v mestu Columbus, Ohio, ZDA. Za pomoč slovenskim misijonarjem zbira finančno pomoč za njih delo med ubogfrni v misijonskih deželah ter za vzdrževanje bogoslovcev za domači misijon. Hvaležni bomo za vsak dar, ki ga boste darovali v ta namen. Spomnite se misijonarjev in ubogih v svojih oporokah. Za vse prejete darove izdamo potrdilo za “Income tax’’. Uradni naslov: MZA - CMA 17826 Brian Ave., Cleveland, OH 44119 Glavni odbor MZA-CMA, Cleveland t IVAN JAN, lazarist TORONTO, Ont. - V torek, 10. decembra, smo se v cerkvi Brezmadežne poslovili od duhovnika Ivana Jana, ki je od 1. 1966 do 1. 1995 v različnih službah skrbel za duhovno življenje Slovencev v Torontu in Montrealu. Pokojni g. Ivan je bil rojen 16. septembra 1916 v župniji Škale, danes župnija Velenje - Sv. Martin - v vzorni kmečki družini. Zgodaj je začutil duhovniški poklic. Študiral je v Ljubljani, kjer je kot maturant vstopil v Misijonsko družbo sv. Vincencija Pavelskega in se leta 1940 za večno zaobljubil služiti Bogu kot duhovnik in misijonar. 25. junija 1944 je bil posvečen v mašnika. Zaradi vojnih razmer nihče od njegovih sorodnikov iz domače družine ni mogel prisostvovati njegovi prvi maši. Po vojni je zapustil domovino in preko Vetrinja prišel v Rim in leta 1947 na papeški univerzi Gregorian! končal svoje študije. Leta 1948 je po kratkem času v Španiji nadaljeval pot v Argentino in do leta 1966 služboval kot učitelj in kaplan v argentinskih župnijah. Od znamenite božjepot-ne cerkve v Lujanu so ga predstojniki poklicali v Kanado k novi župniji Brezmadežne do 1. 1972, k Slovencem v Montrealu. Od leta 1976 do 1995 je opravljal duhovniško delo in pomagal sobratom v Torontu. Ko so ga začele zapuščati moči, se je naselil v starostnem domu Lipa in od tam še vedno prispeval svoje znanje. Pokojni g. Ivan Jan je imel tih, miren značaj, vendar je bil visoko izobražen v teologiji in znanju jezikov (sedem). Ob zadnjem slovesu v cerkvi Brezmadežne se je pokazalo, kako priljubljen je dober duhovnik. Iz Montreala so se Slovenci z avtobusom pripeljali na pogreb svojega nekdanjega župnika. V množici vernikov, Marijinih sester, sobratov lazaristov, njihovega predstojnika Zdravka Pogorelca in drugih duhovnikov je nadškof Alojzij kardinal Ambrožič vodil pogrebne obrede. Na slovenskem delu katoliškega pokopališča Assumption je duhovnik Ivan Jan v Gospodovem miru našel zadnji dom na zemlji. Anica Resnik Z AMERIŠKO DOMOVINO STE VEDNO NA TEKOČEM Joseph L. FORTUNA POGREBNI ZAVOD 5316 Fleet Ave. Cleveland, Ohio Tel. 216-641-0046 Moderni pogrebni zavod. Ambulanca na razpolago podnevi in ponoči. CENE NIZKE PO VAŠI ŽELJI! v LJUBEČ IN NEPOZABEN SPOMIN! Ob devetindvajseti obletnici, odkar je umrl na Mlakah v Beli krajini naš dobri, skrbni oče, stari oče in tast JOHN F. SMUK Njegovo življenje je ugasnilo 2. januarja 1974. O, ko bi mogli mo{. skovati, ki bi prinesla nam nazaj obličja Tvojega milino in blagodejni Tvoj smehljaj. V spominih svetlih In hvaležnih, v ljubezni lepi, Tebi zvesti, pa ostaneš, ata, Tl pri nas zdaj in slednji časi TVOJI ŽALUJOČI: hčerki VIDA RUPNIK, MIMICA KRAIJ sinova MILAN in ANTONA — zeta in snahi vnuki in vnukinje ter ostalo sorodstvo. ^^Cleveland, Ohio, 2. januarja 2003. Letno zborovanje Društva za slovenske študije na konferenci AAASS v Pittsburghu, Pa. BOWLING GREEN, O. -Konec novembra, od 21. do 24. novembra, se je v mestu Pittsburgh, Pa., vršila konferenca Ameriškega združenja za pospeševanje slovanskih študij (American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies), največje severno-ameriške organizacije te vrste. Pod njenim okriljem je Društvo za slovenske študije (Society for Slovene Studies) imelo svoje redno letno zborovanje, na katerem je gostovala vrsta uglednih ameriških, kanadskih in evropskih strokovnjakov, diplomatov, in članov društva. V različnih sekcijah oziroma strokovnih skupinah so predavali o slovenskih zadevah - zgodovini, kulturi, politiki, vojaških vprašanjih, etnologiji, izseljenskih vprašanjih in drugih. Vse skupaj je bilo letos na konferenci šest strokovnih sestankov o slovenskih zadevah. Poleg tega je bila Slovenija predstavljena tudi na drugih, primerjalnih sestankih. Po številu in dovršenosti predavanj so slovenske teme zavzele ugledno mesto na tej mednarodni konferenci. V petek, 22. novembra zvečer, je sprejel udeležence in goste veleposlanik Reopublike Slovenije v ZDA dr. Davorin Kračun. Na sprejemu je dr. Kračun izročil dr. Carole Rogel “Častni znak svobode Republike Slovenije”. Dr. Rogel, redna profesorica zgodovine na Državni univerzi Ohio (The Ohio State University) v pokoju, avtor številnih strokovnih del, bivša predsednica in še vedno članica izvršnega odbora SSS, že desetletja pospešuje slovenske študije v Severni Ameriki. Dr. Kražun je pred zbranimi prebral posvetilo od 22. februarja 2002: “Predsednik Republike Slovenije odlikuje: prof. dr. Carole Rogel s Častnim znakom svobode Republike Slovenije za nesebično znanstveno, pedagoško in strokovno delo, ki ga je namenila o-zaveščanju ameriške zgodovinske in politične jav- nosti o Slovencih in njihovi domovini. Milan Kučan, predsednik.” Odlikovanje za svoje usluge je sprejela dr. Rogel in je v svojem kratkem odgovoru izrazila zahvalo predsedniku Slovenije in svojim kolegom. V soboto, 23. novembra, so bili udeleženci v gostih pri Slovenski narodni podporni jednoti (SNPJ). Predsednik SNPJ Joseph E. Evanish in drugi predstavniki organizacije (mdr. urednik Prosvete Jay Sedmak in urednica slovenskega dela Vida Košir) so sprejeli udeležence v obnovljenih prostorih rekreacijskega centra v Enon Valleyju v severnozahodni Pennsyl-vaniji. Predsednik Evanish je orisal zgodovino SNPJ in kratko govoril o ciljih te podporne organizacije, tu posebno o njenem kuU turnem delu. V zvezi z izredno lepim sprejemom so direktor muzeja (Heritage Center) Roger Evanish in njegovi kolegi odprli razstavne prostore in povabili goste na ogled, kar so vsi tudi storili. Po nastopu predsednika J. Evanisha je predsednik SSS dr. Metod Milač čestital odbornikom in članom k uspehom in se zahvalil za velikodušno povabilo, saj je SNPJ najela in poslala avtobus v središče Pittsburgha za goste, tako da so se člani in članice SNPJ lahko z velikim prijateljstvom srečali z udeleženci konference. Celotni program slovenskih sestankov se najde v oktobrski okrožnici SSS, ki je tudi na inter- netu (naslov: http://www.arts.ualberta.ca /~ljubljan/sss .html). Urednik Ameriške Domovine/American Home, dr. Rudolph M. Susel in profesorica Sophia Sluzar sta komentirala predavanja kolegov dr. Marjana Drnovška, Milene Milani-čeve in dr. Mr. Mirjam Milharčič-Hladnikove o slovenskih izseljencih. Prof. Drnovšek je dal zgodovinski pregled, ga. Milanič pa je govorila o pisateljicah v tridesetih letih v ZDA, in dr. Mil-harčič-Hladnik je predstavila svoje raziskave o zgodbah slovenskih žensk z njihovih osebnih stališč. O slovenskih intelektualcih in njihovih pogledih na politične in družbene spremembe v zgodovinskem kontekstu so razpravljali dr. Peter Vodopivec. dr. Erwin Dolenc in dr. Aleš Gabrič, vsi iz Inštituta za novejšo zgodovino (Ljubljana). Komentatorja sta bila dr. Dennison Rusinow (U. of Pittsburgh) in dr. Cathy Carmichael (U. of Middlesex, Anglija). Dr. Rogel je vodila sekcijo mlajših strokovnjakov, ki so se predstavili: Josip Močnih (Bowling Green State U.), dr. Darren Purcell (Florida A&M), in Veronika Aplenc (U. of Penn.). Predavanje g. Močnika se je nanašalo na ameri-ško-slovenske politične odnose. Dr. Purcell je razložil pomembnost interneta za zunanjo politiko slovenske vlade. O trnovski soseščini v Ljubljani z etnografskega vidika je govorila ga. Aplenc. Dr. Patrick Pa- (jlalje na str. 14) ltfs Time for your eye exam! J. F. OPTICAL Eye Care Specialists Eye Exams Latest in eye fashion - Contact Lenses We Welcome Your Drs. Prescription 775 E. 185th St. Eye Glasses Cleveland, OH 44119 Repaired Tel.: (216) 531-7933 (34) Letno zborovanje Društva za slovenske študije (NADALJEVANJE s str. 13) Poslanci državnega zbora še vedno zelo deljeni... Kdo ima pravico do groba? Ljubljana (Delo fax, 30. dec. 2002) - Februarja 2003 bo minilo dve leti, odkar je državni zbor v prvi obravnavi sprejel predlog zakona o vojnih grobiščih. Letos spomladi so poslanci poskušali opraviti drugo obravnavo, vendar so jo prekinili ob trinajstem členu (označevanje vojnih grobišč) in sklenili, da jo bodo nadaljevali po predsedniških in lokalnih volitvah. Te so zdaj za nami in sprejem zakona ostaja ena od temeljnih zavez državnega zbora kot kolektivnega predstavnika politične volje volilcev, s katero naj bi opredelil svoj odnos do dogodkov, ki so se zgodili med drugo svetovno vojno in takoj po njej. Kdo ima torej pravico do groba, to je do uresničitve temeljnega civilizacijskega načela, ostaja osrednje vprašanje prihajajočega političnega dogajanja. 0 4 0 terson (U. Califorinia-San Diego) je dal ocene vseh treh referatov. V petek, 23. novembra, so dr. Božo Repe (U. v Ljubljani), dr. Richard Caplan (Oxford U.) in g. Roderick C. Mack-ler (U.S. State Dept.) prebrali referate o mednarodnem priznanju slovenske samostojnosti v letih 1991-2, v sekciji pod vodstvom dr. Stefana Kapscha (Reed College). Ta drugi dan smo spet slišali strokovna mnenja o mednarodnih odnosih Slovenije in sicer v sekciji “Vstop Slovenije v EU in NATO”. Diskusije oz. okrogle mize so se udeležili dr. Mirko Cigler (Ministrstvo za zunanje zadeve), dr. Charles Bu-kowski (Bradley U.) in prof. Joseph Derdzinski (U.S. Air Force Academy). Sekcijo je vodil dr. Karl Ryavec (U. of Mass). Dr. Matjaž Klemenčič (U. v Mariboru), dr. Ivan Čizmič (U. v Zagrebu) in g. Jason Vuic (Ohio State U.) so razpravljali o južnih Slovanih v Ameriki in levičarski politiki v kontekstu med leti 1930-1950. Sekcijo je vodil dr. Charles Jelavich (Indiana U.), dr. Thomas Emmert (Gustavus Adolphus) je komentiral o referatih. Poleg strokovnih sestankov, je imela ob tej priliki SSS tudi svoj letni občni zbor, to pod vodstvom predsednika dr. Metoda Milača. Na njem, kot na vseh prejšnjih, so bili prisotni člani SSS kakor tudi drugi udeleženci letošnje konference. Med njimi, na primer, g. Robert in ga. Lucille Jer-gel iz Pennsylvanije. Kot je razvidno po temah referatov in poročil, in tudi po domačih krajih njih avtorjev, so bile slovenske sekcije repre-zentative in so nadaljevale dolgoletno strkovno tradicijo SSS. Letošnjega leta, na žalost, ni bilo referatov o lingvistiki in literaturi, vendar dva tedna kasneje (5.-7. decembra) so se udeležili simpozija o slovenskem romanu v Ljubljani člani SSS dr. Henry Cooper, dr. John Cox, in dr. Timothy Pogačar. Vsi, ki se zanimajo za slovenske zadeve, bodo nadvse dobrodošli na konferenci novembra leta 2003 v Torontu. Informacije o. tej konferenci lahko dobite od urednika okrožnice (tj. SSS Newsletter) dr. Davida Ster-moleta: naslov na internetu: www.arts.ualberta.cay~ ljubljan. Dr. Timothy Pogačar za dr. Rado Lenček, direktor, Raziskovalno-dokumentacijski center SSS Z AMERIŠKO DOMOVINO STE VEDNO NA TEKOČEM Vlada je v sodelovanju s svojo komisijo za reševanje vprašanj prikritih grobišč poskušala na o-menjeno vprašanje odgovoriti z dopolnili k predlogu zakona, ki jih je sprejela v začetku leta 2002 in s katerimi poskuša vsa grobišča (vojaška grobišča, grobišča žrtev vojne) obravnavati e-nako, besedila posvetitve-ne narave na obeležjih pa naj bi bila različna. Na obeležjih vojaških grobišč (razen na grobiščih pripadnikov" tujih armad) naj bi pisalo: Padli v vojni. Republika Slovenija. Na grobiščih žrtev vojne naj bi se besedilo glasilo takole: Umrli kot žrtve vojne. Republika Slovenija. Na grobiščih žrtev vojne - po vojni usmrčenih oseb pa naj bi bil napis: Umrli kot žrtve vojne in revolucije. Republika Slovenija. Toda neusklajenost vladajoče koalicije je že februarja 2002 botrovala vložitvi amandmajev skupine 26 poslancev vladnih strank (ZLSD, LDS, DeSUS) in dveh opozicijskih poslancev (SNS). Skupina poslancev trdi, da ne o-poreka pravici do groba usmrčenih med vojno in po njej, saj pieteta do mrtvih od države terja, da jo zagotovi tudi tistim, katerih nasilna smrt je bila doslej zamolčana, grobovi pa celo prepovedani. Toda hkrati so prepričani, da moramo v Sloveniji imeti in ohraniti grobove oseb, ki so umrli v vojni ali vojaški agresiji na Slovenijo leta 1991, ali povedano drugače, ve- BRALCI AMERIŠKE DOMOVINE . Priporočajte naš list! deti se mora, kdo je padel za domovino. Ljudska stranka je bila doslej edina, ki je v celoti podprla vladna dopolnila. Omenjeni skupini poslancev je očitala, da želi zaradi ideološke zaslepljenosti preprečiti, da bi za grobišča domobrancev in belogardistov priznali status vojaških grobišč. Zato želi v zakon vriniti podobo dogodkov v drugi svetovni vojni, kot jo pišejo zmagovalci in kot izhaja iz logike, ki svojemu nasprotniku ne priznava enakega statusa kot samemu sebi. Tudi koalicija Slovenije (SDS in NSi) se je na zakon odzvala s svojimi dopolnili, v katerih terja, da se medvojno obdobje razglasi predvsem za revolucijo in državljansko vojno. To naj bi bil razvidno tudi iz zakona, in sicer na način, da so vsi usmrčeni v vojni in ■ po njej padli prav zato, ker sta na slovenskih* tleh divjala revolucija in državljanska vojna. Iz obeležij pa naj bi bilo razvidno ime vojaške formacije, ki so ji)m) pripadali mrtvi. Danes še ni videti, da bi si bile stranke kaj bliže, kot so si bile* pred letom dni oziroma še. prej, ko gre za vprašanje polpretekle zgodovine. Predsednik komisije za reševanje vprašanj prikritih grobišč Peter Kovačič Peršin je pred časom zapisal, da je “sprava moralno dejanje, ki pomeni medsebojno priznavanje krivde za storjeno zlo. Sprava ni pravni akt, ki bi zahteval ugotavljanje krivde in njeno sankcioniranje. Za množične poboje po vojni je krivda na vseh straneh, tako na tisti, ki je del slovenskih ljudi mobilizirali za svoje ideološke cilje na strani protirevolucije, kot na tistih, ki je v evforiji svojega zmagoslavja poteptala najosnovnejši kodeks vojaškega ravnanja in s tem oblatila pravični boj za narodovo osvoboditev.” Toda dokler bodo mrtvi zlorabljeni za ideološke spopade, toliko časa jih ne bo mogoče dostojno pokopati. Ali bodo to poslanci zmogli v 1. 2003?*. Tega! ne vemo, zagotovo ■ pa se bo v item letu zgb-' dilo vsaj dvoje. Denar za dokončanje del v spominskem parku in objektu Teharje je zagotovljen in po vladnih zagotovilih naj bi bila letos dela dokončana. Že čez nekaj dni pa bo tudi znano, kdo je bil izbran na javnem natečaju za oblikovanje enotnega spominskega obeležja, s katerim naj bi označili zamolčane grobove. Sredi poletja 2002 je namreč na. predlog prej .omenjene vladne komisije ;: ministrstvo (» za delo, družino .in socialne i. zadeve m naročilo natečaj za enotno spominsko' O-beležje prikritih grobišč (izjema velja za Teharje in Kočevski Rog). V prvem letu naj bi postavili okoli 50 takšnih obeležij, v naslednjih pa še od 150 do 200. Natečaj se je iztekel sredi novembra 2002 in, kot je pojasnil Peršin, bo vse v zvezi z njim jasno sredi januarja 2003. Majda Vukelič V Blag Spomin Ob šesti obletnici smrti ljubega moža, očeta, starega ata, strica in brata Mirota Celestina Umrl dne 3. januarja 1997. Tihe misli preteklih let povezujejo dragocene spomine brez konca neviden, neslišen si vedno med nami ljubljen, odsoten, vedno drag in blag. žalujoči: žena Mari sinovi: Peter (Barbie), Jože (Terri), Marko (Joanne), Andrej (Annette), Charles (Trači), in Tomaž hčerka Mary Ann Krevh (Erik) vnuki in vnukinje. sorodniki v Ameriki, Kanadi in Sloveniji. BRICKMAN & SONS FUNERAL HOME 21900 Euclid Ave. (216)481-5277 Between Chardon Rd. & E. 222 St. in Euclid, Ohio Ob 80. obletnici skavtstva na Slovenskem ... Vsak dan vsaj eno dobro delo Ljubljana - Skoraj štiri tisoč mladih šteje Združenje slovenskih katoliških skavtov in skavtinj. Skavtsko gibanje se je na slovenskih tleh začelo razvijati leta 1922, ob osemdeseti obletnici pa so 30. novembra v šentviški škofijski gimnaziji pripravili slavnostno akademijo. Angleški general Robert Baden Powell je na začetku prejšnjega stoletja napisal priročnik za izvidnike. Čeprav je bila knjiga namenjena vojakom, so se zanjo zanimali tudi mladi fantje. To delo je bilo nekakšno izhodišče, za njim je napisal še en priročnik, na osnovi katerega se je leta 1907 rodilo skavtstvo, ki se je pozneje razvilo v eno največjih svetovnih gibanj. V mednarodnem merilu ga danes “poosebljata” dve organizaciji - World Organization of Scout Movement, ki ima 25 milijonov članov, in World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, ki združuje 10 milijonov ljudi. Skavtstvo v Sloveniji Skavt postaneš tako, da se na začetku šolskega leta pridružiš eni od obstoječih skupin - v Sloveniji delujejo v 65 lokalnih enotah, ki jim pravijo tudi stegi. Prvo leto sodelovanja se pripravljaš na skavtsko obljubo, v kateri so strnjene vse osnovne vrednote tega gibanja. kavti obljubijo zvestobo Bogu, domovini, med njihovimi zakoni je našteto, da si skavt šteje v čast, da si pridobi zaupanje. Zavežejo se, da bodo pomagali bližnjemu in naredili vsak dan vsaj eno dobro delo ter da bodo čisti v mislih, besedah in dejanjih,” je povedal Danilo Kozoderc, načelnik Združenja slovenskih katoliških skavtov in skavtinj (ZSKSS). "Prizadevamo si za celostno vzgojo mladih in pri tem poudarjamo šest področij: spoznavno, telesno, duhovno, moralno, Čustveno in družbeno, ki skupaj gradijo zrelo osebnost. Pomemben ele-nient našega dela je tudi vzgoja za odgovorno odločanje,” je dodal. Člani organizacije so stari od 8 do 21 let (sta- rejši so voditelji) in so razdeljeni v tri starostne skupine. Najmlajši so volčiči in volkuljice, njihovo druženje temelji na igri, vodilo pa je Kiplingova knjiga o džungli. Izvidniki in vodnice so stari od 11 do 16 let in več časa namenjajo urjenju v veščinah, ki jih potrebujejo za življenje v naravi, ročnim spretnostim, orientaciji. Pripadniki skupine najstarejših se imenujejo popotniki in popotnice. “Poleg tega, da povsem fizično veliko hodijo, je pot simbol osebnega napredovanja. Osredotočijo se na skupnost in prostovoljstvo. Usmerjamo jih, da si poiščejo neko dejavnost, kjer prostovoljno delajo, in tudi tako rastejo. Eni postanejo vodniki v ska-vstvu, drugi pomagajo u-čencem z učnimi težavami, obiskujejo ostarele, vodijo kake otroške skupine in počnejo še veliko drugih stvari. Gre predvsem za to, da ponudijo svoj čas in pristopijo k nekomu, ki je potreben pomoči,” je pojasnil načelnik ZSKSS. Skupine se srečujejo enkrat na teden, dvakrat ali trikrat na leto preživijo skupaj konec tedna, vsako poletje pa pripravijo tabor. Zlasti starejši se precej povezujejo z vrstniki iz tujine. Na čelu združenja, ki je na slovenskih tleh začelo delovati v drugo pred dvanajstimi leti (prvič je delovalo od leta 1922 do 1941, ko so ga zaradi vojne razpustili), je izvršni odbor, v katerem sta načelnik in načelnica ter odgovorni za posamezna področja (delo z mladimi, usposabljanje voditeljev, gospodarstvo, finance). V vsej organizaciji sta dva zaposlena, tajnik in strokovni sodelavec, drugi pa so prostovoljci. Kozoderc je, na primer, učitelj na računalniški srednji šoli v Mariboru. Skavtska organizacija se največ financira s članarino, ki znaša skupaj o-koli štiri tisoč tolarjev na leto. Vse pogosteje pa se kot nacionalna mladinska organizacija prijavlja na razne razpise urada za mladino, ministrstva za šolstvo, urada za informiranje, študentske organizacije, je še povedal Ko- napisano 2002 •! > Vojaška služba v stari Jugoslaviji (nadaljevanje) ANTON ŽAKELJ - m. del - O ♦ O ♦ O Kak teden po “zakle-tvi” (prisegi) so nam dovolili, da gremo v mesto v nedeljo popoldne, seveda v spremstvu desetarja (kaplarja). Izbral nas je štiri in šel z nami. Njegov cilj je bil - kafana. Kmalu smo se prepričali, da tu kafane niso podobne kavarni Union v Ljubljani, ampak male hišice s komaj en kvadratni čevelj velikim zamreženim oknom. Štruca belega kruha v oknu pove prav toliko kot bi napis KAFANA. Tudi notranjščina je zelo skromna: bakreni vrček in za jajce velike skodelice na polici, peči se pa ne spominjam, kakšna je bila. Kava je bila črna, brez mleka in zelo osladkana, kar dobra (vendar mi je pozneje bolela glava). Šli smo še malo po mestu. Večkrat so vpili na nas otroci: “Mom-ci, ovdje ima djevojaka!” (Mladeniči, tukaj so dekleta). Mislili so, da iščemo dekleta. Bolj zanimivo se mi je zdelo, kako nedeljo po- zoderc. Zanimanje za skavtstvo je po njegovem v Sloveniji precejšnje - na leto se jim pridruži povprečno okoli sto novih članov -in včasih celo presega zmožnosti organizacije, zlasti zaradi omejenega števila usposobljenih voditeljev. Taborniki in skavti pripadajo svetovni skavtski družini. “Oboji si prizadevamo za dobro mladih in jih vzgajamo. Razlika je, da mi gradimo na vrednostnem sistemu krščanstva, in to izpostavljamo. Taborniki delajo bolj po šolah, mi pa prostorsko nismo vezani nanje. Veliko naših skupin se x sestaja ob župniščih, ki nam ponudijo prostor, čeravno to ni edina možnost,” je razložil Kozoderc. Barbara Hočevar Nedelo. 1. dec. 2002 poldne, ko so prišle mimo kasarne dekleta, vse v črnem in držeč se skupaj pet ali sedem in zagradile vso cesto. Škoda se mi je zdelo, da so imele svoje obraze pokrite s črnimi maskami. Ker so bile dobre pevke, je bila verjetno tudi lepa -vsaj katera. O gradovih na turški meji sem že pisal. V bi-haški okolici sta bila dva: eden z imenom Za-valje je bil na hribu blizu kasarne na meji med Bosno in Liko. Tega sem lahko videl vsak dan. Iz daljave se je videlo, da je dosti drevja in zelenja okoli njega, torej mora biti še naseljen. Drugega sem videl kadar smo šli vežbat na drugi travnik. Stal je na navpični skali 100 metrov nad dolino. Ta je razpadel: samo en stolp je še stal. Tega si morem danes ogledati, kot sem že večkrat sklenil. Po kosilu sem se kar brž odpravil na pot; računal sem, da bom hodil kako uro ali dve. Hodil sem čisto sam približno eno uro, ko sem dohitel nekega mladega moža s culo v roki. Na vprašanje, kam gre, je rekel, da nese malico svojirti delavkam, ki plevejo njivo precej daleč. Blizu So-kolca sem vprašal, “Kaj Je to Sokolac?” “To je razvalina gradu Sokolac,” je rekel. Nato sem slišal neko žvižganje. Mislil sem, da gre vlak, pa ga nisem mogel nikjer opaziti. Vprašal sem sopotnika, kaj je to: vlak? “Odža (muslimanski duhovnik) uči moliti,” je rekel. Pa tudi minareta ni bilo nikjer videti. Bil je skrit za hribčkom. Kmalu sva dospela do njive s plevicami. Sopotnik jim je oddal culo, potem me pa spremil na grad, ki je bil s te strani lahko dostopen. Po stopnicah sva se povzpela na vrh edinega stolpa. Od tam ’Se vidi dolina na drugi strani. Stolp je bil podaljšek navpične skale, na kateri je stal. Vprašal sem ga, če -.ve kaj zgodovine gradu, pa ni vedel drugega kot, da je v davnih časih neki užaljeni mož pahnil s -tega mesta svojo nezvesto ženo v prepad. Na stolpp mi je pokazal še star top brez stojala, s katerim so streljali Avstrijci na Turke, kadar so se bližali. Na tleh, na sredi dvorišča, mi je pokazal še odprto jamo, skoro polno čiste vode. Živ studenec, ki nikoli ne usahne. “Pa tudi nikoli ne teče čez rob?” sem ga nejeverno vprašal. Pozno popoldne sem se vrnil domov, truden in lačen, pa zadovoljen, da sem videl nekaj novega. Drugi del moje službe se je bližal koncu. Nisem vedel točno, koliko dni mi še manjka, pa sem upal, da me bodo odpustili nekaj dni prej. ker nisem dobil nič dopusta. Postal sem nemiren. Na 4. četo 26. pešpolka v Sisku sem poslal prošnjo, naj sporoče moji četi v Bihač podatke, kdaj sem bil tam odpuščen in koliko dni mi še manj- -ka. Odgovor je prišel na četo, ne vem kakšen: meni so samo povedali, da to “mora da ide redovnim putem”. Namesto, da bi hodil na vežbe z drugimi, so mi dajali razna dela doma. Naročili so mi, naj obrežem in presadim vrtnice na okrogli gredici v kotu dvorišča. Nalašč sem presadil vrtnice tako. da so bile najmanjše v sredi, največje pa okoli. Narednik je to kmalu opazil in me pokaral. Drugič so mi dali neko delo v “barutami” (skladišču municije). Ne vem, zakaj sem začel pregledovati “živo” muni- • (dalje na str. 16). BRALCI AMERIŠKE DOMOVINE Priporočajte naš list! Misijonska srečanja in pomenki 1458. Iskreno vsem čitateljem misijonske kolone v Ameriški Domovini želim blagoslovljeno leto 2003. Naj nam Bog nakloni miru, zdravja, da bomo lahko delali dobra dela in zares iz ljubezni do Nebeškega Očeta širili božje kraljestvo na zemlji. Naš iskreni prijatelj misijonov, ki že dalj časa podpira s. Marijo Pavlišičl na Madagaskarju, g. Niko Tomc, želi vsem sodelavcem in prijateljem misijonov prav lepo praznovanje božičnih praznikov in veliko milosti v letu 2003. Tudi s. Emanuela, karmeličanka v Sori-Medvode, je poslala prav lepe vrstice za praznike: “Spoštovana! Že smo prižgali prvo adventno svečko, ki nas kristjane opominja, da se za Gospodov prihod med seboj povežemo in si zaželimo lepo praznovanje Jezusovega rojstva. Tako Vam v imenu matere predstojnice in vseh sester želim vesele in lepo doživete božične praznike. Pri jaslicah bomo skupaj molili božjo usmiljeno LJUBEZEN. Novo leto Vam bodi blagoslovljeno, posebno pri Vašem dobrodelnem apostolatu, pa tudi zdavo in srečno! Spremljala Vas bo tudi naša molitev. Hvala Vam za denarno pomoč, katere smo bile v tem letu deležne. Bog, ki vse ve, Vam bo povrnil - nanj se zanesem. Prejmite lep, hvaležen pozdrav in pri molitvi ste vedno z nami, s. Emanuela Frančiška.” Tudi s. Agneza, karmeličanka iz Mirne peči, je poslala Celestinovi prav tople vrstice: “Spoštovana! Z učlovečenjem Besede, svojega Sina, nam je Bog najbolj dokazal svojo neskončno Ljubezen. V tej Ljubezni, v njegovi Previdnosti, poteka naše življenje, četudi je to za nas velikokrat skrivnost, ki se nam bo razkrila šele v večnosti. 4. februarja 2002 so bile volitve, ki jih je vodil g. nad-“škof dr. Franc Rode in izvoljena je bila s. M. Agneza preč. M. Srca. 7. septembra je vstopila nova kandidatinja, ki se je 'zavestno odločila za karmelski poklic molitve in popolnega darovanja Bogu za njegovo Cerkev. Tako se je naša skupnost povečala. Žal, ne za dolgo, kajti kmalu nato si je Bog utrgal prvo rožo z mirnopeškega Karmela. 5. Marjeta Cecilija Jez. Kristusa se nam je pridružila pred sedmimi leti. Z nami se je veselila gradnje novega Karmela in veliko pripomogla za njegov razvoj. Po težki bolezni, ki jo je v duhu vere vdano prenašala, je novembra, na prvo soboto in Vernih duš dan, med sv. mašo, takoj po sv. obhajilu," izdihnila svojo dušo v Gospodovem objemu. V zemljo je bilo položeno prvo zrno, ki naj vzkali v novih poklicih. Hrepenenje nas vseh naj bo, da v prihodnjem letu, vsak dan s svojim življenjem, odgovorimo božji ljubezni! Pozdravljam z zagotovilom molitve pri jaslicah. S. M. Agneza p. M.S.” G. Jožetu Vrtačniku se je oglasil naš znanec iz Ekvadorja in mu piše: “Dragi g. Jože Vrtačnik! Vesel Božič in Srečno Novo leto! Prejel sem Vaše zanimivo pismo. Vidi se, da Vas ohrani pri življenju Friderik Baraga. Obdaril Vas je tudi s potrpežljivostjo v trpljenju. Je že mnogo let, odkar me je kdo imenoval “Ivan”,, kakor so me klicali v otroških letih. Na srednji šoli sem se vpisal kot “Janez”. V Italiji sem bil “Don Giovanni”. Ko sem postal državljan v ZDA sem bil vpisan kot “John”. Od takrat naprej se držim tega imena. Tudi jaz sem imel težave z zdravjem. Pri 85 letih moram uživati mnogo zdravil, da še lahko delam na župniji. Trije slovenski duhovniki so pred enim letom umrli. Ostal sem sam v Ekvadorju. Želim Vam mnogo božičnega veselja in sreče. Vaš vdani John Mervar.” Iz Zambije se je oglasil misijonar Janez Mujdrica in piše: “Spoštovana! Bližajo se božični prazniki in čas, da se vam spet oglasim. Pišem redko, toda vsak dan se vas spomnim pri maši. Kako ste kaj? Zelo bom vesel, če se kaj oglasite in mi poveste, kako je pri vas. Zame je bilo to leto zelo pestro. Na učiteljišču senj poučeval temelje religiozne vzgoje in vodil pastoralo za katoliške študente. Poleg tega sem tudi upravljal našo župnijo, ko je bil župnik na Poljskem na trimesečnem dopustu. Letos sem imel kar dve avtomobilski nesreči: obakrat se je zlomilo železo, ki veže prednje kolo z ostalim delom avtomobila. Na srečo ni bil nihče ranjen. Enkrat so me tudi ponoči, ko sem bil sam doma, obiskali oboroženi roparji. Spet sem imel srečo, da sem ostal živ in zdrav. Seveda, odnesli so precej stvari - lep opomin, da je naš zaklad v nebesih. Sporočam vam, da odhajam na jezikovno učiteljišče, ki se imenuje Charles Lwanga Teacher’s College. To novo delovno mesto je dobrih 200 kmm južno od Lusake na poti proti Viktorijinim slapovom. Srečen sem, da sem lahko za konec sedemletnega dela na Nkrumah učiteljišču izdal knjigo Religious Education with a Difference. (Po slovensko bi se reklo Religiozna vzgoja nekoliko drugače.) Knjiga ima 85 strani. V knjigi skupaj s svojimi študenti poskušam pokazati, kako prava religiozna vzgoja pomaga k osebni rasti in družbenemu razvoju. Od novega leta naprej bo moj novi naslov: CLC Jesuit Community, Private Bag 4, Chisekesi, Zambia. Vsem prisrčen pozdrav iz afriških daljav, Janez Mujdrica” Oglasili so se dobrotniki in poslali svoje darove: M. Tushar (za vse $500, za sv. maše fAni Tushar, za P. Opeka $200, za sv. maše fAni Tushar $200) $900. E.S. Tushar. v spomin mame Ani Tushar, $200. J. & A. Lekan $300. F. Kosem (za vse $40, za sv. mašo za fJohn in fAni Tushar $10 ) $50. M. Kette $50. J. Mraz (T. Mavrič $100, L. Tomazin $100, P. Opeka $100) $300. Dramatsko društvo Lilija (za vse $50, za salezijance $50) $100. Rev. P. Krajnik (za Kar-mel-Soro $500, za Rev. Kos $500) $1000. A. Dragar $100. U. Štepec, za pokojne Ani in John Tushar ter Ralph Coffelt, $30. M. Mlinar, v spomin Mary Ann Mlinar, $1000. A. & M. Lavriša, za Karmel-Sora, $30. N.M. $100. Klub upokojencev Slovenske pristave, sv. maše za pokojne člane, $100. Hvala vsem dobrotnikom. Za konec dopisa pa še povabilo: na drugo nedeljo, 12. januarja, ob 2. uri popoldne, bomo imeli v naši cerkvi Marije Vnebovzete na Holmes Ave. litanije in blagoslov, kjer bomo prosili milosti za to pravkar začeto leto 2003. Vsi prijatelji misijonov in vsi delavci ste iskreno vabljeni, da se nam pridružite pri tej prošnji - pridite k litanijam nato pa še v šolsko dvorano na božičnico. Res - pridite! Marica Lavriša 1004 Dillewood Rd. Cleveland, OH 44119 Vojaška služba v stari Jugoslaviji (NADALJEVANJE s str. 15) cijo in našel, da je bilo v mnogih nabojih več peska kot smodnika. Nazadnje so mi dali vrečko fižola, naj ga posadim na njivi bred ba-rantano. Namesto, da bi sadil fižol po 2, 3 ali 4 skupaj, sem skopal malo večjo jamo in vanjo zagrebel celo vrečko. Tako dolgo vsaj ne bom tu, da bi začele rasti vrečke. Nihče ni tega opazil -vsaj ne do mojega odhoda. Da ne bi bil brez dela, sem opazoval jato vrabcev, ki se je preletavala po njivi, med njimi en “albin” - belček. Ker mi je bilo vroče (bilo je že poleti), bi se bil rad kje skopal, pa tu nobene reke v bližini. Precej daleč proč od kasarne sem našel potoček. Pomandrana trava ob njem je pričala, da nisem prvi kopalec. Slekel sem se in malo zaplaval, pa je bilo potoček pretesan, zato sem se oblekel in šel nazaj v četo. Naslednje jutro me je srbelo po vsem telesu, posebno kjer je bilo kaj las. Takoj sem šel v ambulanto, pa zdravnika še ni bilo. Ambulantni uslužbenec - Slovenec - me je vprašal, kaj mi je; morda bi mi mogel kaj pomagati. Povedal sem mu svoje težave, pa je takoj rekel: “O, tu ti pa lahko prav toliko pomagam, kot zdravnik.” S pestjo je zgrabil iz neke posode polno pest neke sive masti in prenesel na časopisni papir. “Namaži se kjer te srbi enkrat in če bo treba, še jutri enkrat. Upam, da bo dovolj. Bog daj srečo!” Pozabil sem že, ali je bilo res treba mazati dvakrat. Pomagalo je, hvala Bogu! (se nadaljuje) NOVI GROBOVI (nadaljevanje s str. 9) Antoinette M. Kennick Umrla je 92 let stara Antoinette M. Kennick, rojena Misjak v Novem mestu, Slovenija, v Cleveland prišla 1937, vdova po Willi-amu Kennicku (nekdanjemu mestnemu odborniku v Clevelandu), mati dr. Virginije Emory, Williama ml. in dr. Vičtorije Urubshurow, 6-krat stara mati in 5-krat prastara mati, zaposlena več let kot prevajalka pri International Institute v Clevelandu in 15 let poučevala slovenščino na slovenskih šolah, ki so domovale v SND na St. Clairju in Collimvoodu. Pogreb je bil 28. decembra v oskrbi Zak zavoda s sv. mašo v cerkvi sv. Vida in pokopom na Kalvarije pokopališču. Josephine Ženili Dne 29. decembra je v Lake West bolnišnici umrla 90 let stara Josephine Ze-rull iz Euclida, prej živeča v Clevelandu, rojena Telban, vdova po Fredericku, mati Margaret Stipich in Joan Starr, 7-krat stara mati, 13-krat prastara mati, sestra Mary Jurlina, Ann Jasko, Frances Simončič, Angele Pastwa, Julie Lasco in Johna (vsi že pok.). Pogreb bo jutri, 3. januarja, v oskrbi Cosicevega zavoda, s sv. mašo v cerkvi Immaculate Conception na Euclid Ave. v Willoughbyju dop. ob 10. uri s pokopom na Kalvarije pokopališču. Ure kropljenja so danes od 2. do 4. dop. in zv. od 7. do 9. Jerome J. Grdina Dne 30. decembra je v Lake West bolnišnici umrl 74 let stari Jerome J. Grdina iz Willowicka, rojen v Clevelandu, mož Marie, roj. Mirt, oče Jerryja, Linde Kostelnik, Thomasa, Richarda, Diane Coon in Davida, 11-krat stari oče, brat Vic-torja, Gertrude Shirgalis, Marie Wagoner in že pok. Joyce Durra, veteran korejske vojne, član Kolumbovih vitezov, zaposlen do upokojitve pri Sherwin-Williams Corp. Pogreb bo jutri, v petek, v oskrbi Cosicevega zavoda na Chardon Rd. s sv. mašo dop. ob 11.30 v cerkvi sv. Marije Magdalene v Willowicku s pokopom na Vernih duš pokopališču. Ure kropljenja bodo danes od 4. do 8. zv. Frank E. Kravos Dne 16. decembra je u-mrl 82 let stari Frank E. Kravos, rojen 5. marca 1920 v Clevelandu, zadnjih 40 let živeč v Euclidu, vdovec po Florence “Alma”, roj. Stražišar, oče Joyce McGough, Douglasa in Franka, 4-krat stari oče, brat Albine Šebenik, Mary Može, Josepha ter že pok. Adele in Vincenta, zaposlen pri Motch & Merriweather do svoje upokojitve 1. 1981, veteran 2. svetovne vojne, v kateri je služil v ameriški vojski v Evropi, član SNPJ. Pogreb je bil 20. decembra v oskrbi Zeletovega zavoda s sv. mašo v cerkvi Chapel of the Divine Word v Kirtlandu in pokopom na Vernih duš pokopališču. Olga Škrlj Umrla je Olga Škrlj, rojena Markun, vdova po Stanleyju, mati Sonje Graham in Sandre Szuch, 2-krat stara mati, sestra Franka in že pok. Emila, svakinja Andreje in Jenie Zakrajšek, teta in prateta. Pogreb je bil 21. decembra v oskrbi Želetovega zavoda, kjer so bili pogrebni obredi, s pokopom na pokopališču Knollwood. Mary H. Gornik Umrla je 95 let stara Mary H. Gornik, hčerka Josepha in Mary (r. Žagar) (oba pok.), sestra Anne Gr-zybowski ter že pok. Franka, Johna in Alberta, teta in prateta. Pogreb je bil 24. decembra v oskrbi Želetovega zavoda s sv. mašo v cerkvi Marije Vnebovzete in pokopom na pokopališču sv. Pavla na Chardon Rd.