Slovene in Canada

Introduction / History

The country we now call Slovenia is located in Central Europe. It is about the physical size of the US state of New Jersey. The large majority of the people who live in Slovenia called themselves Slovenes or Slovenians. Slovenian is a South Slavic language. While Slovene is the national language of Slovenia, that country also recognizes Italian and Hungarian as regional languages.
What we now call Slovenia has been dominated by various empires throughout its history. At one time the Roman, Byzantine, Holy Roman, Venetian, Hungarian, and Austrian Empires ruled this mountainous land on the Adriatic Sea. After WWII, Slovenia became one of the six republics of Yugoslavia. Slovenia became a separate nation in 1991. Slovenia has a highly developed economy. Slovenia has the highest Human Development Index of the six former Yugoslav republics.
The Slovene language has many Christian resources including a complete Bible and radio programs. At the turn of the 20th century, hundreds of thousands of Slovenes left their land looking for better economic opportunities. Slovenians live in many nations besides Slovenia. These include Germany, Austria, Canada, Argentina, Croatian, the USA, and Canada.
There were few Slovenes in Canada prior to 1920. There were young, single men recruited to work on farms and for the railways. Some of them moved to Canadian towns rather than return to Europe. During and after WWII, Slovens came to Canada to work the mines. Many were political refugees. A third wave arrived in the 1950s; these were family members of the ones who settled in Canada earlier. During this time they established credit unions and started small businesses, often involving construction. Slovenes also established cultural associations during this time.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Slovenes in Canada maintain their ties to the old country through their associations. They get together for musical events, theater, arts, sports. They especially like soccer, lawn bowling, volleyball and hunting. A number of Slovens have been prominent athletes in Canada. Slovenes have also established charitable projects.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The majority of Slovens claim to be Christians. Of those, Roman Catholics are by far the major group. For most Slovenians, their Catholic faith is more a tradition than a living relationship with God. Slovenes are married and buried in the church. They children are baptized into the church by Roman Catholic priests. Most Slovenes are more concerned with their family's economic and social well-being rather than the teachings of the Roman Catholic church.
Evangelical Christians believe the Bible is the only source of authority for Christ's church. Roman Catholics see tradition and the official teachings of the popes and bishops as also being very important. Evangelicals believe one is saved by God's grace alone through faith while Roman Catholics believe in salvation by faith in Christ and one's works. Still evangelicals and Catholics have many beliefs in common such as the beliefs in the Trinity and the virgin birth, the deity, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What Are Their Needs?

Roman Catholic Slovenes need to hear and understand the biblical gospel. Through Jesus Christ one can gain a personal, love relationship with God. Christianity is more than one's tradition or a system of morality. A Slovene's economic success will not satisfy the deep spirituals needs of his or her heart.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to revive the Roman Catholic Church in Canada so that it focuses on Jesus Christ.
Pray for small number of Slovenian Protestant churches to be Christ centered rather than tradition centered.
Pray that the Lord sends disciple-makers to the Slovenian people in Canada and other nations.
Pray for spiritual hunger and a discernment that will keep the Slovenian people in Canada away from spiritual counterfeits.
Pray for the Lord to raise up pastors and Bible teachers for the believers in Slovenia.

Text Source:   Joshua Project