Parafia p.w. Narodzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny
ST. MARY’S POLISH PARISH
21 Wesley St., Sydney, NS, B1N 2M5
(meeting until our rebuilding at Holy Redeemer Church
with thanks to our friends of Holy Redeemer Parish)
Tel.: (902) 564-4847
Fax: (902) 564-2260
www.stmaryspolishparish.ca
Witamy wszystkich! Welcome to all!
We are pleased to share our faith and rich traditions with the whole community.
Established in 1913. Our second century of faith and service … WE WILL RISE AGAIN

PROBOSZCZ/PASTOR:  Father Paul Murphy 564-4355

MSZY/MASSES: Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (temporarily at Holy Redeemer Church)
Wednesday Masses on hold until we rebuild our church.
Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa will now be said before Sunday Masses.

SPOWIEDŹ:  Godzina do uzgodnienia z księdzem.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Anytime upon request to the priest.

SAKRAMENT CHRZTU ŚWIĘTEGO:  Prosimy o kontakt z księdzem conajmniej na 1 miesiąc przed planowaną datę.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM: Please contact the priest at least one month in advance.

SAKRAMENT MAŁZEŃSTWA:   Zapowiedzi powinny być ogłoszone conajmniej na 6 miesięcy przed planowaną datę.
SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY: Intentions must be announced at least six months in advance.

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Świętej Rodziny Jezusa, Maryi i Józefa / Feast of the Holy Family

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION is for Jim Leonard offered by the Kyte family. Eternal rest grant onto him O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. Wieczny odpoczynek racz Mu dać Panie, a swiatłość wiekuista niechaj Mu świeci na wieki wieków. Amen

The Vigil Candle this week is in keeping with the World Day of Prayer for Peace, that all of humanity may come to know peace and to live in dignity and friendship

Eucharistic Minister for today: Suzanne Campbell

Ushers for collection today: Joe Gillis, Robert Melski Jr.

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

In the new year, we will pray the Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa at 9:15 a.m., before every Sunday Mass.

Thursday, January 1, 9:30 a.m. NEW YEAR’S DAY – FEAST OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD (a holy day of obligation) -- preceded by Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa. The Mass intention will be for all parishioners.
Lectors: Elaine Tynski-Shipley, Teresa Fagan
Eucharistic Minister: Janet Hawthorne
Altar Servers: Caleigh and Rudy
Ushers: Steve Melnick, Michael Melski
Greeters: Victoria Aucoin, Stephanie Black

Sunday, January 4, 9:30 a.m. FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY.  The Mass intention will be for Herbert Black offered by Stephanie Black & family
Lectors: Edmund Rudiuk, Jola Cebula                                                                            
Eucharistic Minister: Marilyn Gillis
Altar Servers: Brianna and Matthew
Ushers: Tony Gniewek, Toni LaRusic
Greeters: Toni LaRusic, Janina MacCormack

Collection receipts for Sunday, December 21:  $1174.30 (broken down as follows: $984.30 regular collection, $190.00 Rebuilding fund. (Christmas collections will be reported in the next bulletin.) Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Mary’s Polish Parish. Dziękujemy bardzo!

MASS CARDS/VIGIL CANDLE: Contact Tom Urbaniak (563-1226)

IN MEMORIAM DONATION: To make an In Memoriam donation, please speak with Shauna MacKay. These will be acknowledged in the bulletin. Building Fund contributions will go toward the new church. To contribute to the Building Fund, please write on your regular envelope or cheque “Designated to the Rebuilding of St. Mary’s Polish Church.”

“IMIENINY” (NAME DAYS) FOR THE COMING WEEK. Help to maintain a longstanding Polish Catholic tradition by acknowledging relatives, friends, and colleagues who are celebrating their “name day,” corresponding with the feast day of a saint of the same name.  Where there is more than one saint of the same name who has been assigned a day, your “name day” is the one closest to your birthday. It is customary in the Polish tradition to acknowledge the name day of a relative or friend:
December 28: Antoni, Emma
December 29: Domawit, Dominik, Gosław, Jonatan, Marcin, Tomasz
December 30: Dawid, Eugeniusz, Katarzyna
December 31: Korneliusz, Melania, Sebastian, Sylwester
January 1: Mieczysław, Mieczysława, Mieszko
January 2: Abel
January 3: Danuta, Piotr, Genowefa

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA – 15 MINUTES BEFORE MASS, as of New Year’s Day – the Feast of Mary Mother of God. Most copies of the books with the Novena in it were lost in the fire so on New Year’s Day our greeters will distribute the text.

CATECHISM AND POLISH CULTURAL CLASS, for school-age children, led by Krista Ann Starzomski to resume shortly.

POLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES, led by Edyta Baczyk, will be resumed in the new year.

MASS INTENTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR: 902-563-1226

BÓG ZAPŁAĆ! Hundreds of friends from the community joined us last Sunday when Father Paul blessed the illuminated Christmas tree on the site of our church and Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas) visited. Although the purpose of the gathering was for us to say thank you and reflect on the Christmas season, there was a very touching moment that will stay with us when several children from the neighbourhood gave coins to Krista Ann Starzomski, youth education coordinator on the Rada Duszpasterska. They said that they wanted to help rebuild the church. That envelope with $7.45 in it means a lot. And it will help with rebuilding.

SYLWESTRA – NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL, hosted by the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society. Dancing from 9-1. Music by DJ Robin Krszwda. Tickets are $15. Please call Tony Melski at 902-537-1417.

ST. MARY’S POLISH PARISH TELEVISED MASS FOR SHUT-INS: We will be recording the Mass for shut-ins at the CTV Studio on George St. on Tuesday, January 6, at 6 p.m. (please note correction in time  from last bulletin) It would be great if everyone could make it. If you have traditional Polish attire or St. Michael’s jackets, please wear them for the recording.

PARISH OPLATEK SUPPER WILL BE ON A SATURDAY THIS YEAR – SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, at 6:30 PM. POLISH VILLAGE HALL (potluck). We will have a food collection for Loaves and Fishes.

INVENTORY OF ITEMS – AS REQUESTED BY ADJUSTOR: We are still finalizing the (lengthy) lists, based on all your input. Thank you! We hope to have a final draft shortly.

INITIAL MEETINGS WITH ARCHITECT -- PRELIMINARY DESIGN-PROPOSAL WORK -- AND REQUEST TO PARISHIONERS FOR OLDER/BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS: Architect Gary Hanley has asked for many older/black- and- white photos of any parts of the church (an exact replica is not possible, and sometimes not in keeping with today’s codes, but the photos will help Gary analyse features and details). Please share your photos with any member of the Rada. Design proposals will incorporate modern features (eg. accessibility, energy efficiency, low maintenance but traditional-looking materials) but also beautiful Polish Catholic elements. We will have to carefully keep costs down and the project within reasonable scale, but also respond to the wonderful donation offers we are receiving of exquisite historic features from other churches or former churches.

St. Mary’s Polish Parish collection envelopes for 2015 were available December 14th at the Polish Village Hall. Unclaimed envelopes are at the back of Holy Redeemer this morning.  If you or your family do not currently have envelopes, but would like to, please speak with Shauna McKay (902-539-4354).

BUILDING FUND ENVELOPES were lost in the fire but rebuilding envelopes were printed and distributed with the Christmas Eve bulletin. To contribute to the Building Fund, please write on your regular envelope or cheque “Designated to the Rebuilding of St. Mary’s Polish Church.”

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROJECT: Our parish continues to work with other faith communities on this project. We are nearing completion of “The Pier” boardgame. For a sponsorship of $100, you can have your name or your organization’s name along the side of the board. Please speak with Tom Urbaniak.

CAPE BRETON POLISH TARTAN ORDERS (proceeds to our parish) are still being fulfilled. There is an order form on our website: www.stmaryspolishparish.ca . Orders will generally take a few weeks to complete.

THE RENOVATED AND REFURBISHED POLISH VILLAGE HALL is a comfortable, well appointed, modernized venue for events large and small. Please consider renting the hall for your events. Please call 564-8494.

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR ON-LINE “VIRTUAL TOUR” AND AN 8.5 MINUTE PARISH WELCOME VIDEO ON OUR WEBSITE:  www.stmaryspolishparish.ca

Wishing you a blessed week! Bóg zapłać!

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TODAY’S HYMNS: Please note: Our hymnbooks were destroyed in the fire. New ones will be prepared, but we will provide texts and notes as inserts wherever possible.)
Entrance: Bóg się rodzi [God is Born]
Offertory: Narodził się Jezus Chrystus [Jesus Christ Was Born]
Communion: Któż o tej dobie [Who at this Hour?]
Post-Communion: Z Narodzenia Pana [From the Birth of the Lord]
Closing: Przybieżeli do Betlejem [They Set Off for Bethlehem]       

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NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA –please retain

From Przez Pokolenia: Prayers and Customs of St. Mary’s Polish Church (published in 2013 as one of our 100th anniversary publications). Most of the copies were lost in the fire, so the Novena is reprinted here.

THE MEMORARE
ALL:    Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary * that never was it known * that anyone who fled to your protection * implored your help * or sought your intercession * was left unaided. * Inspired with this confidence * we fly to you * O Virgin of Virgins, our Mother. * To you we come * before you we stand * sinful and sorrowful. * O Mother of the Word Incarnate * despise not our petitions * but in your mercy * hear and answer us.  Lady of Jasna Gora, our Mother * trusting in your maternal goodness * and powerful intercession with your son * we place before you our humble prayers and petitions. * To you we commend all our needs * and the needs of our families * and our parish.
[A moment of silent prayer – please reflect on your personal petition.]

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
LEADER: For your presence and intercession at the miraculous shrine of Jasna Gora and for the countless graces obtained for us in the past six centuries.
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa.
LEADER: For your gracious reign over us, for your powerful help throughout our history, especially in the difficult period of suffering.
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa
LEADER: For the maternal care with which you ever surround us, leading us to your beloved Son, strengthening our faith, drawing sinners to conversion, and comforting the sick, the sad, and the faint-hearted.
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa.
LEADER: For guarding us against the flood of indifference, unbelief, and atheism.
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa.
LEADER: For keeping vigil over us through your picture in our churches and homes.
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa.
LEADER: For reconciling our marriages and families in a bond of love and fidelity:
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa.
LEADER: Accept our humble tribute of gratitude even though we know that our thanksgiving can in no way compare with the greatness of your mercies. The graces we have received through you inspire us with hope and desire for further fidelity toward you. O Mother of God, you constantly urge us: “Do whatever He tells you.” Obedient to your inspirations, we stand ready in gratitude to serve you in your kingdom, O Mother of the Church. Amen.

PRAYER OF LOVE AND VENERATION
LEADER: O great Mother of Jesus the God-Man, for your gracious reign over us.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Mother of Sorrows, you who are especially close to us in time of suffering and sickness.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Guardian of our conscience, helping us to a constant renewal of our life.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Help of Christians, you protect all those who are persecuted and held in bondage.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Mother, you aid us in our difficult pilgrimage to our Heavenly Father.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Mother, you call on us, your children, to participate in the salvation of mankind.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Lady of Jasna Gora, may all who venerate you feel now your help and intercession. Make it your continual care to pray for the people of God, for you were blessed by God and made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.

PRAYER OF PETITION
LEADER: In dangers threatening your people …
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: In our constant concern for preserving the Catholic heritage.
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: In our efforts to be faithful to God, to the Cross, and to the Gospel.
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: In danger of succumbing to evil habits.
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: When we are oppressed by doubts and by temptations against faith.
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: When we feel lonely and abandoned.
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: O Mother with the Divine Infant in your arms, through your sacred image in Czestochowa you remind us of the constant presence of your Son and your motherly solicitude as a source of strength and courage in our daily trials, difficulties, and labours. Strengthen us in our faith and obtain for us the power to renew our lives in the spirit of God’s commandments and the Gospels of Christ. AMEN.

PRAYER OF EXPIATION
LEADER: For our negligence in the faith and for the religious indifference through which we have strayed so often from God, not mindful of His presence and love.
ALL: We ask you, Mother, intercede for us.
LEADER: For our conduct, which has not always been in accord with our holy faith nor with the dignity of a child of God, for sins against life, for drunkenness, selfishness, carelessness, envy, and lax morals.
ALL: We ask you, Mother, intercede for us.
LEADER: For being so preoccupied with ourselves that we did not see the needs of our brothers and sisters – the hungry, the homeless, the sick, and the lonely.
ALL: We ask you, Mother, intercede for us.

ACT OF CONSCECRATION
ALL: Mother of God, Immaculate Mary * to you I consecrate my body and my soul * all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings * all that I am and possess. * With eager heart * I dedicate myself to you in slavery of love. * I give you complete freedom in making use of me * for the salvation of men and the assistance of the Holy Church * of which you are the Mother. From now on, I wish to do everything * with you, through you, and for you. * I know that by my own strength * I shall accomplish nothing.* You, however, can do everything * that is the will of your Son * and you are always victorious. Grant then, Help of Christians * that my family, parish, and my country * may truly be the Kingdom of your Son and yours. AMEN.

FINAL PRAYER
LEADER: It is to you, Only Mother of God, that we go for refuge and protection. Look kindly on us as we cry to you in our need. Glorious and Blessed Virgin, be with us always and rescue us from every kind of danger. AMEN.