JUNE 2008 VOL. 94, NO. 9 HAPPY FATHer’s DAY! Thank you, friend Jesus, for my father who loves me, for my grandfather who cares for me, and for God, your father and mine, who made me and is always with me. —Friend Jesus: Prayers for Children Fraternally Yours, HAPPY FLAG DAY! Z"ENSKA: JEDNOTA This year marks the 59th anniversary of the Act of ISSN 0897-2958 Congress proclaiming June 14 as National Flag Day. Fraternally Yours, Citizens across this country will pause to recite the Pledge ZENSKA JEDNOTA, is a monthly magazine published by the of Allegiance to our Flag on this day and I encourage each First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association. and of you reading this to do so as well! As members of the National Headquarters at 24950 Chagrin Blvd., First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association you are among Cleveland, Ohio 44122 the 10 million Americans affiliated with the National EDITOR: Carolyn Bazik Fraternal Congress of America and each of you can P.O. Box 1617, Reading, PA 19603 st E-mail: [email protected] become part of history by celebrating the 231 birthday of Phone (610) 373-2743 • Fa x (610) 375-8333 the “Stars and Stripes.” Periodical Postage Paid at Cleveland, OH 44101 Carolyn Bazik National Flag Day honors the adoption of the Stars and additional entries and Stripes as our national flag by the Continental Con- Subscription Rate, Non-Members: $6.00 — 1 Yr. gress, 231 years ago. A national Flag Day was the dream of Bernard J. Printed at Triangle Press Cigrand, a 19-year-old school teacher at Fredonia, Wisconsin. In 1885, in a 6720 Allentown Blvd., Harrisburg, PA 17112 windswept school atop a glacier-formed hill overlooking rolling farmland, Postmaster: Send address changes to Cigrand celebrated the first Flag Day by placing a small flag in a bottle on his Zenska Jednota, desk. Cigrand taught his students about the history of the flag and recited a First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association 24950 Chagrin Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44122 ceremonial pledge. His efforts over the next 31 years led to a national Deadline for all articles is the 15th observance honoring the flag. of the month, 1½ months prior to the issue date. You may ask, “Why should I observe this day?” Quite simply, our flag is OFFICE HOURS — HOME OFFICE more than a patchwork of cloth. It is the silent sentinel of our freedom. It is a Monday through Friday — 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. constant reminder of the courage required to maintain our freedom, the Phone: (216) 464-8015 • Toll Free: 800-464-4642 liberty we enjoy in being self-governed and the loyalty and trust which unites Fax: (216) 464-9260 • Website: www.fcsla.com us despite our individual differences. BOARD OF DIRECTORS On this National Flag Day, I encourage you to talk to your spouse, CHAPLAIN: children, grandchildren or friends about what the flag means to you. Because Rev. Msgr. Peter M. Polando, Saint Matthias others have given their fortunes and their very lives to secure our freedom, Church, 915 Cornell St., Youngstown, OH 44502. Residence: (330) 788-5082. we have the freedom NOT to participate in this national observance. PRESIDENT: However, it is good that we pause to honor our nation’s flag, for this act helps Mary Ann S. Johanek, 24950 Chagrin Boulevard, remind each of us that we are most blessed to be one nation, under God, Beachwood, OH 44122. (800) 464-4642. Ext. 1011. VICE-PRESIDENTS: indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And that, fellow citizens, and Rosemary A. Mlinarich, 25726 State Line Road, members of the FCSLA is something worth celebrating. Crete, IL 60417. Residence: (708) 672-6275. Fraternally, Carolyn Linda M. Killeen, 22947 Frederick, Farmington, MI 48336. Residence: (248) 379-2514. Bernadette J. Demechko, 2634 Taft Avenue, Youngstown, OH 44502. Residence: (330) 782-8638. I AM YOUR FLAG E-mail: [email protected] SECRETARY: I was born on June 14, 1777. Irene J. Drotleff, 24950 Chagrin Boulevard, Beachwood, OH 44122. (800) 464-4642. Ext. 1012. I am more than just cloth shaped into a design. TREASURER: I am the refuge of the world’s oppressed people. John M. Janovec, 24950 Chagrin Boulevard, I am the silent sentinel of Freedom. Beachwood, OH 44122. (800) 464-4642. Ext. 1016. TRUSTEES: I am the inspiration for which American patriots gave their lives and fortunes. Cynthia M. Maleski, Esq., 24950 Chagrin Boule- I have led your sons into battle from Valley Forge to the bloody jungles of Vietnam. vard, Beachwood, OH 44122. (800) 464-4642. I walk in silence with each of your honored dead, to their resting place. Virginia Holmes, 1625 Vermont Avenue, White Oak, PA 15131. Residence: (412) 672-1565. Beneath the silent white crosses, row upon row. AUDITORS: I have flown through peace and war, strife and prosperity; and amidst it all, Dorothy Urbanowicz, 27 Crescent Drive, Monessen, I have been respected. PA 15062. Residence: (724) 684-8243. Barbara A. Sekerak, 6312 Elmdale Road, Brook My red stripes symbolize the blood spilled in defense of this glorious nation. Park, OH 44142. (216) 676-9332. My white stripes signify the burning tears shed by Americans who lost their sons. Steve Hudak, 8057 Amber Lane, Brecksville, OH 44141. Residence: (440) 526-7530. My blue field is indicative of God’s heaven under which I fly. EDITOR: My stars are clustered together, unifying 50 states as one, for God and country. Carolyn Bazik, P.O. Box 1617, Reading, PA 19603 “Old Glory” is my nickname, and proudly I wave on high. (610) 373-2743. Honor me, respect me, defend me with your lives and your fortunes. COURT OF APPEALS: Never let my enemies tear me down from my lofty position, lest I never return. Barbara A. Shedlock Ken Dolezal Veronica Bazik Ron Sestak Keep alight the fires of patriotism, strive earnestly for the spirit of democracy,. Mary Jo Noyes Rebecca Coleman Worship eternal God and keep his commandments. Mary Sirocky-Angeloff Monica Anthony And I shall remain the bulwark of peace and freedom for all mankind. Ralph Szubski Bernard Drahozal Lawrence Golofski Carol Yurechko Author Unknown 2 Z"ENSKA:Z"ENSKA: JEDNOTAJEDNOTA The Power of the Holy Spirit Guides the Church and Us Reverend Monsignor Peter M. Polando, National Chaplain My Dear Friends, as the invocation of the Holy Spirit is I remember reading one time about the prayed over the gifts of bread and wine to late country singer, Johnny Cash. Mr. become the Body and Blood of Christ. Cash had a rough time in his younger These indeed are the highpoints of the years, having gone to jail at least seven Holy Spirit directing my life. But there are times and was on the verge of suicide. It other ways that the Holy Spirit directs my was at that juncture in his life, that he gave life and make me a follower of Jesus Christ. himself over to the Holy Spirit and his life The Catechism of the Catholic Church radically changed. All of us who are older [688] lists some of these other ways that know how successful he really was in his the Holy Spirit is present in the Church country singing career. and in the lives of all Christians. The Holy There are times in the history of the Spirit is in the Sacred Scriptures that He Church and in our own personal histories watered, the soul bears the fruit of holiness inspired the human authors to write. He that the power of the Holy Spirit when repentance has made it worthy of is present in the Tradition of the Church overwhelms people and transforms our receiving the Holy Spirit. Although the to which the Church Fathers are always lives into a new creation reflecting the Spirit never changes, the effects of his timely witnesses as well as in the Church’s grace of Jesus Christ. Saint Luke recalls action, by the will of God and in the name teaching authority, the Magisterium, which the day of Pentecost in The Acts of the of Christ, are both many and marvelous. he assists. The Holy Spirit is at work in Apostles as he describes the effect of the The Spirit makes one a teacher of divine the charisms and ministries by which the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, “When the truth, inspires another to prophesy, gives Church is built up and in the signs of the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were another the power of casting out devils, apostolic and missionary life of the Church. all in one place together. And suddenly enables another to interpret holy He manifests his holiness and continues there came from the sky a noise like a Scripture. The Spirit strengthens one the work of salvation in the witness of the strong driving wind, and it filled the entire person’s self-control, shows another how saints. When we pray, the Holy Spirit house in which they were. Then there to help the poor, teaches another to fast intercedes for us. appeared to them tongues as of fire, which and lead a life of asceticism, makes another Dearly I hold the presence of the Holy parted and came to rest on each one of oblivious to the needs of the body, trains Spirit in the sacramental actions of the them. And they were filled with the Holy another for martyrdom. His action is Church. It is in these celebrations that we Spirit and began to speak in different different in different people, but the Spirit encounter Christ personally through the tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to himself is always the same” [PG 33, 932- workings of the Holy Spirit.