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Za Boha a Národ For God and Nation Slovensk¥ Katolícky Sokol OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SLOVAK CATHOLIC SOKOL – MEMBERSHIP 28,000 – HOME OFFICE: 205 MADISON STREET, PASSAIC, N.J. 07055 – www.slovakcatholicsokol.org Periodical Postage Paid at original entry of Passaic, N.J., 07055 and additional mailing offi ces VOLUME CV PPASSAIC,ASSAIC, NN.J.,.J., FFEBRUARYEBRUARY 2244, 22016016 NUMBER 5063 Pope Francis, Patriarch Kirill at historic meeting proclaim, ‘We’re brothers. It’s Promoting a healthy way of life clear that this is the will of God’ Our Sokol Walking Program enjoyed By Catholic Online continued success in 2015 Christian brotherhood and unity by Katie Swift were the focus of Pope Francis and Supreme Assistant Physical Directress Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill As the coordinator of our Slovak Catholic Sokol Walking Program, when they met on February 12 in I am pleased to report that 2015 was another successful year for our So- Havana, Cuba. It was the fi rst ever kol walkers of all ages in all parts of the United States and Canada. In meeting of a Pope with the Patriarch 2015, our walkers trekked a total of 87,420.1 miles. Great job!! of Moscow, the world’s largest Or- This year was an exciting and super chal- thodox Church. Pope Francis char- lenging year for me. My husband Nathan and I acterized the meeting as open and welcomed our third child in May. We were hap- authentic. It focused on “a series of py to have another little boy, Colin Richard. We initiatives that I believe are viable also packed our house and moved from Georgia and can be realized.” to Washington DC where my husband started his The Pope praised the patriarch’s new position at the Pentagon. The kids and I were humility, brotherhood, and deep de- able to stay with my family in Pittsburgh for most sire for unity. The fi rst-ever meeting of the summer while we got settled and I could par- between a Pope and a Patriarch of ticipate in the International Slet and Convention. Moscow was held privately. “We Pope Francis is shown above greeting Patriarch Kirill of Moscow dur- As the school year started my baby/now big boy spoke as brothers,” Pope Francis ing their history-making meeting in Havana, Cuba on February 12th. Connor started Kindergarten. It seems like yesterday I was writing to all said. “We have the same baptism. - Photo by Reuters of you announcing that I was pregnant with him. We have all adjusted to We are bishops. We spoke of our the Middle East and North Africa. It died in Rome on February 14, 869 our new area, new house, new school and new friends. We are looking Churches.” Pope Francis went on to lamented the hostilities in Ukraine. and was buried in the basilica. The forward to this three year tour. say “We agreed that unity is created The declaration also voiced concern relic was taken from a larger relic of I am very saddened to report that we lost one of our big walkers this by journeying together,” he told a about the threat of secularism to re- the Slavic apostle found in the cha- year. Brother Jerry Lutz passed away in the Fall. This was a very sad and gathering of Catholic and Orthodox ligious freedom and the Christian pel dedicated to SS.Cyril and Meth- close loss for me as Jerry was from my group and I knew him well. He clergy and reporters after his meet- roots of Europe. odius in the basilica. The altar over will be missed. ing with the patriarch. Other topics of discussion includ- the grave of St. Cyril was restored Thank you all for the many notes. I was excited to see all the re- Afterwards, the Holy Father and ed poverty, the crisis in the family, during the Holy Year of 1952 by the sults and to see the interesting places you have all walked through the Patriarch signed a joint declaration abortion, and euthanasia. The Pope Slovak Catholic Federation. The in- year. Brother John Benyak walked the Golden Gate Bridge for the 6th that focused on several topics. The and the patriarch exhorted young scription over the altar in Latin reads (Continued on page 10) declaration focused at length on anti- Christians to live their faith in the “A gift of the sons and daughters Christian persecution, especially in world. of the Slovak nation resident in the Patriarch Kirill characterized the United States.” The historic meet- private meeting as an open discus- ing took place in anticipation of the sion “with full awareness of the feast of SS. Cyril and Methodius as responsibility of our Churches, for observed in the Western Church on the future of Christianity, and for the February 14th. SS. Cyril and Metho- future of human civilization.” dius are considered as the Apostles He said the conversation “gave of the Slavs and are venerated by us the opportunity to understand and the Orthodox and Roman Catholic hear the positions of the other.” Churches. The brother saints are “The results of this allow me to considered as the bridge between the assure you that the two Churches East and the West. will continue to work closely togeth- It was St. John Paul II’s great de- er with Christians in all the world, sire to visit Moscow since he him- and with full responsibility to work self was an heir of the Cyrilo-Meth- together against war, so that human odian heritage of faith. He had great life can develop in the entire world.” devotion to SS. Cyril and Metho- Their conversation also aimed to dius, issuing an Encyclical in their strengthen “the bases of personal honor in 1985 and proclaiming them and family morality” through “the co-patrons of all of Europe. In the participation of the Church in the 1990s, it was thought that if the Pa- life of modern human society, that triarch of Moscow would not meet glorifi es the name of our Lord Jesus Pope John Paul in Moscow, perhaps Christ.” elsewhere in Eastern Europe. At one Veteran Sokol walkers - Well-known Group 6 Sokol activist, John During the meeting, Pope point, plans had been formulated for R. Benyak, right, is shown with his son, John Russell Benyak fol- Francis presented a relic of St. Cyril the meeting to take place in Nitra, lowing their walk on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Ca. to Patriarch Kirill, his patron saint. Slovakia which was the center of It was their sixth trek across the historic bridge. Way to go! Brother The relic was taken from the Basili- the Cyrilo-Methodian mission in the Benyak is the long-time fi nancial secretary of Assembly 127 in Mon- ca of St. Clement in Rome. St. Cyril (Continued on page 12) essen, Pa. PAGE 2 SLOVAK CATHOLIC FALCON, FEBRUARY 24, 2016 Wreath 93 Sokolky, Annalise Romine and Juliana Hoeck From the desk of the Supreme Secretary honored by Culver’s National Coloring Contest Hope and Excitement by Scott T. Pogorelec, F.I.C. What is hope? Hope, in its broadest sense, is described as the desire of something together with the expectation of obtaining it. It is to wish for a particular event that one considers possible. It is an emotion in all of us that breeds optimism and creates a positive envi- ronment to achieve a particular goal or expectation. “May the God of hope fi ll you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 I speak of this powerful emotion because I feel it on a daily basis. It is a feeling that can carry you through both the best of times and the worst of times. And this emotion was no stron- ger felt than at our recent Supreme Physical Fit- ness Board Meeting held in Pittsburgh, PA on January 15th-17th. I was fortunate enough to at- tend this meeting, along with our Supreme Pres- ident, Michael J. Horvath, as well as our Honorary Supreme Offi cers, Steven M. Pogorelec, F.I.C. and Larry M. Glugosh. I would like to commend our Supreme Director of Sports and Athletics, James C. Matlon, and the entire Supreme Physical Fitness Board for hosting a well-run and effi cient meeting. The tone of the meeting was one of hope and excitement. Many thoughts and ideas were shared with our wonderful Organization in mind. We are all aware of the challenges set before us, but with drive and determination, we can meet these tasks and our fraternal activities can excel well into the future. But Congratulations to Annalise Romine, age 5, and Juliana Hoeck, age 4, both members of Wreath 93 in simply put, we cannot do it alone. Milwaukee, Wis. for competing in a Culver’s National Coloring Contest and being selected as one of the As many of you know, hosting our fraternal activities can be National Winners. Annalise and Juliana entered into a contest at Culvers in the Fall of 2015 for a chance to a costly and time consuming project. To justify these programs, we be featured in the 2016 Culver’s Calendar.....and won!!! Their artwork is part of the Thank You Farmers need to have the full and enthusiastic cooperation at both the Group Calendar sold at Culver’s restaurants. More than 1,500 entries were received. Annalise’s picture is featured and local levels. We have these events because we believe in them.