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 CI PASSAIC, N.J., DECEMBER 12, 2012 NUMBER 4979 A Blessed Christmas to All Our Members and Friends During this Year of Faith Father, source of light in every age, the virgin conceived and bore your Son who is called Wonderful God, Prince of Peace. May her prayer, the gift of a mother’s love, be your people’s joy through all ages. May her response, born of a humble heart, draw your Spirit to rest on your people. Christ is born for us; come let us adore him! NAŠIM ČLENOM A ČITATEĽOM PRAJEME POŽEHNANÉ A VESELÉ VIANOCE! PAGE 2 SLOVAK CATHOLIC FALCON, DECEMBER 12, 2012 Happy 20th Anniversary Christmas Greeting from our Protector Introducing our January 1, 2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the independence of Christmas 2012 newest members Slovakia. We rejoice with the land “Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankin- of our ancestors, cense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to located in the very Herod, they departed for their country by another way.” heart of Europe, as (Matthew 2:11b-12) it commemorates this milestone in its Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Slovak Catholic Sokol, history. All Ameri- Unless our celebration of the Christmas Season is refl ective of our cans who trace intention to live the next year of our pilgrimage in service to the Lord, it their ancestry to Slovakia are jus- will be just another holiday. It is unthinkable for us Christians that it be tifi ably proud of its achievements nothing more than just that. and accomplishments as it stands The Magi have been my favorite symbol of among the free and independent Christmas for a long time. We give gifts, - so did nations of the world. We pray that the Magi. We change the focus of our activity for 2013 may bring continued eco- the Season, - the Magi chose an alternate route for nomic and social success. Happy their journey. The difference is that the gifts of the anniversary and Zdar Boh! Magi were for the Lord, whom they recognized as the Lord’s Anointed King. And, their choosing a different direction changed their lives as well as OUR NEXT ISSUE world history. Things were never the same for The issue of December 26, them after that encounter with the Infant Christ. 2012 will be our traditional Re- Blake Andrew Hrudowsky, born Saint Gregory the Great, Pope, in one of his homilies in the Sixth view of Fraternal Activities for November 21, 2011, is the son of Century, described the gifts of the Magi. Gold symbolizes wisdom, 2012 in magazine format. Our Nicholas and Michelle Middle- which we offer when making right choices. Frankincense symbolizes Marek Donald Pettit, born May next regular issue will be that of brook Hrudowsky of Virginia prayer, which prayer is acceptable to the Lord when it refl ects the good- 26, 2012, is the son of Steve and January 9, 2013. Deadline for Beach, Va. He was enrolled as a ness of our lives. Myrrh symbolizes suffering, which we offer when we Tricia Anderson Pettit of Per- all information and photos for member of Assembly 312 in Pas- subject our desires to those of the Lord. ryopolis, Pa. He was enrolled as a this issue is Thursday, January 4, saic, N.J. As for the Magi choosing an alternate route, member of Assembly 162 in Do- 2013. that can symbolize our New Year’s Day resolu- nora, Pa. We thank all our members and tions. However, let us choose wisely and effective- friends for their continued coop- ly. Let our resolutions be ones that will change the eration in promoting our offi cial course of our life; but, resolutions that we can and publication during the past year. intend to keep. Our Slovak Catholic Falcon has This Christmas, may it not be merely an ob- served our organization since serving of an event that changed world history; - 1911 and continues to refl ect may it not be a celebration of just another festive our many activities and projects. time of the year. Rather, may it be one that changes us, as we associate May I extend prayful best wishes ourselves with the Magi in their homage to the Divine Child laying in for a joyous Christmas season the manger at Bethlehem. and a happy and healthy New I pray that all of you in our Society experience a very Blessed Year 2013, one fi lled with God’s Christmas and a New Year of living that acknowledges Jesus as our continued blessings of good God, the Christ, and King. health and happiness. Zdar Boh! Daniel F. Tanzone, Editor God bless each one of you! Brayden Keith Vaidya, born Fraternally yours in the Lord, May 17, 2012, is the son of Keith and Cheryl Ouillette Vaidya of BABY SPOONS Oxbridge, Mass. He was enrolled NOVEMBER 2012 as a member of Assembly 28 in East Douglas, Mass. Assembly No. Name (Most Rev.) Joseph V. Adamec 28 Brayden Vaidya Bishop Emeritus of Altoona-Johnstown Milena Margaret Holmes, born 79 Rylee Myers Episcopal Protector, Slovak Catholic Sokol October 13, 2011, is the daughter 79 Ethan Zumer of Keiran and Amanda Holmes 86 Haycee Bell Christmas Crib Begun by Saint of Baltimore, Maryland. She was 312 Blake Hrudowsky enrolled as a member of Assem- Brings Bethlehem to U.S. Homes bly 113 in Kenosha, Wis. Wreath 22 Hailey Swift THE MOST POPULAR exter- nal manner by which Americans Rylee Ann Myers, born Septem- keep Christ in Christmas today was ber 25, 2012, is the daughter of originated over 750 years ago in Stephen and Brittany Shedlock Italy by a saint. Myers of Smithsburg, Mary- Each year Christmas Crib sets land. She was enrolled as a - miniature representations of the member of Assembly 79 in Lilly, Nativity in paper, plaster, ceramics Pa. or wood - grace many American homes. And no matter how de- luxe their craftsmanship and lavish their display, the traditional Nativ- ity scene recalls the reason for the when many were illiterate and fi rst one prepared at the direction books were few; the saint knew that of St. Francis of Assisi in 1224 - to the graphic reproduction of what show the poverty of the surround- had happened in Bethlehem was ings through which the Son of God the best way of teaching the people. made His entry into the world. ST. FRANCIS found near his After a visit to Bethlehem, St. hermitage in Greccio, Italy, a cave Francis devised his plan to show carved out of the rocky mountain- Kate Elizabeth Whitmer, born people “the want which the Son of side, which recalled exactly the September 29, 2012, is the daugh- Ethan Michael Zumer, born Cayden Carson Paczek, born God suffered, through the lack of grotto he had seen in Bethlehem. ter of John and Laura Frieko June 14, 2012, is the son of Mi- December 18, 2011, is the son all things necessary to a newborn, He chose the poor and simple Whitmer of Cincinnati, Ohio. chael J. and Jessica Shellhamer of Shane and Tiffany Desmond and the manner in which he was people of the Valley of Reiti at She was enrolled as a member of Zumer of Cresson, Pa. He was Paczek of Butler, He was en- placed in a manger and lay on hay the foot of the hill to assemble the Assembly 82 in Dunlo, Pennsyl- enrolled as a member of As- rolled as a member of Assembly between the ox and the donkey.” manger and the living animals. The vania. sembly 79 in Lilly, Pa. 54 in Lyndora, Pa. The 13th century was a time (Continued on page 9) SLOVAK CATHOLIC FALCON, DECEMBER 12, 2012 PAGE 3 $20.00 for adults, $10.00 for children; for reservations call Peter Walentow- icz (973)340-9078 or David Bulwin (973)546-4864. SUN.JAN.13 Q Wreath 54 annual meeting in Youngstown, Ohio, for details, con- From the Desk of the Supreme Secretary tact Vice President Patty Gordulic at tel. (330)286-3130. SUN.JAN.20 My Fraternal View Q Assembly 78 annual meeting in by Steven M. Pogorelec, F.I.C. the social hall of Incarnation of Our Lord Parish, 617 Pierce St., Bethle- hem, Pa. beginning at 1:30 p.m. *Assembly 113 annual meeting in St. Anthony of Padua School meeting room 2223-51st St., Kenosha, Wis. beginning at 2 p.m. REFLECTING ON A GREAT YEAR may be found in this issue. Q Assembly 219 annual meeting in As we come to the close of the 107th year in the life of our We are all aware of the current economic diffi culties affecting Most Holy Trinity Rectory, 18 Trin- organization, may I offer some refl ections and observations. In our next our country. One of the priorities of the new Congress will be the over- ity Plaza, Yonkers, N.Y. following the issue, you will have the opportunity to view the many and varied activi- haul of the U.S. Tax Code. That means every organization with a tax- 9:30 a.m. Mass. ties in which many of our members participated in during 2012 in the exemption - including fraternals - will have to make a case for keeping FRI.JAN.25 Annual Review of Fraternal Activities.