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
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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Niedziela Miłosierdzia Bożego / Divine Mercy Sunday

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION is for the Kyte family. Wieczny odpoczynek racz Im dać Panie, a swiatłość wiekuista niechaj Im świeci na wieki wieków. Amen

The Vigil Candle this week is for the Holy Father’s prayer intention “that persecuted Christians may feel the consoling presence of the Risen Lord and the solidarity of all the Church.”

Eucharistic Minister for today: Wayne Joseph

Ushers for collection today: Toni LaRusic, Robert Melski Jr.

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

WEDNESDAY MASSES are on hold while we rebuild. Please note that Father Paul leads the Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa every Sunday before Mass (starting at about 9:15 a.m.). Copies of the Novena are at the back of the church.

Sunday, April 19, 9:30 a.m. TRZECIA NIEDZIELA WIELKANOCNA/ THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER: The Mass intention will be for Gerald Travis offered by Peggy Ryba.
Lectors: Anna Wesolkowska, Robert Lewandowski                                                       
Eucharistic Minister: Suzanne Campbell
Altar Servers: Brianna, Nicholas, and Rudy
Ushers: Robert Melski Sr., Larry Gniewek
Greeters: Catherine Tucker, Herb Tucker

Collection receipts for Sunday, April 5:  $3602.55 (broken down as follows: $2782.55 general collection, $820.00 rebuilding/building fund. Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Mary’s Polish Parish. Dziekujemy bardzo.

MASS CARDS/VIGIL CANDLE: To reserve Mass Intentions or Vigil Candle intentions, please call 902-563-1226. Please note that any 2015 Mass intentions recorded before the fire were lost and we would be most grateful if parishioners could check in again.

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 Rebuilding Fund, if you do not have an envelope, you can 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:
April 12: Andrzej, Iwan, Juliusz
April 13: Jan, Justyn, Małgorzata, Marcin
April 14: Julianna, Justyn, Maria, Myślimir
April 15: Anastazja, Leonid
April 16: Erwin, Julia, Ksenia
April 17: Jakub, Józef, Klara
April 18: Bogusław, Bogusława, Gościsław
April 19: Cieszyrad, Czechasz, Czesław, Leon

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Niedziela Miłosierdzia Bożego / Today is Divine Mercy Sunday: “Jesus said to Sr. Faustina one day: `Humanity will never find peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy.’ Divine Mercy! This is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the risen Christ and offers to humanity.”--Blessed Pope John Paul II, April 22, 2001. Sister Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) was canonized in 2000, and the Holy Father officially designated the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday in the General Roman Calendar, an important moment of Grace and Devotion reflecting what was communicated to Sister Faustina. Divine Mercy Sunday is also the day after the conclusion of the Novena of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which begins on Good Friday. Its closing prayer is: “Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.”

ST. MARIA FAUSTYNA KOWALSKA (1905-1938): A Polish nun, visionary, and mystic, St. Faustina (Faustyna) recounted powerful spiritual dialogues with Jesus, including conversations about the Divine Mercy devotion. She also directed the painting of the first Divine Mercy image. She had trouble gaining acceptance into a convent because she could not pay her own way. But she quickly distinguished herself with a great work ethic and piety. By 1930, many of her meditations were focused on the Divine Mercy. Before her death, St. Faustina predicted the horrors of war that were to occur. The Divine Mercy devotion became an inspiration to the oppressed Poles in their occupied country, and the devotion began to spread around the world. After the war, the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Mercy was formed to carry on St. Faustina’s work and her example of deep faith.

REMINDER: DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR TODAY – 2:30-3:30 – Holy Redeemer

TODAY AFTER MASS – SWIĘCONKA BREAKFAST:  Our parish’s traditional Polish Easter breakfast at the Polish Village Hall. Everyone is welcome. Tickets are $10, except $5 for attendees ages 12 and under and can be paid for once seated in the hall. Proceeds to the rebuilding of our church. Dziekujemy!

NEW: SECURE ON-LINE WAY TO DONATE TO OUR REBUILDING: As requested by the fund-raising working group we now have a secure, easy, on-line way to donate to the rebuilding of our church by credit card or debit. And you will get a charitable tax receipt e-mailed to you promptly. You can also make your donation in memory of someone and even set it up to make an automatic monthly credit card donation. This is set up through Canada Helps:  www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/st-marys-polish-parish/ .In the coming days we hope to have a link directly from our parish website (www.stmaryspolishparish.ca).

SERVICE PROJECT UPDATE – THE PIER BOARD GAME (fund-raiser for Pier Habitat for Humanity project in collaboration with other faith communities): The manufacturer has sent a final mock-up (including box and contents) for review. We will be meeting Tuesday at 5:15 in the Polish Village Hall. You are welcome to attend. We will also be planning an official launch for May. This has turned out to be a very positive project. The board game is a lot of fun and profiles our places of faith.

FUND-RAISING WORKING GROUP: Will meet next Sunday after Mass.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Next Annual General Meeting of our parish is set for Sunday, May 31, after Mass. This will include a financial report and reports from various parish ministries and committees. At this time, any parishioners who would like to serve as members of the Nominating Committee should please speak with Patricia Paruch, Secretary of the Rada Duszpasterska (patriciaparuch@hotmail.com; 562-7185).

PRE-MOTHER’S DAY FUND-RAISING TEA FOR THE REBUILDING : Sunday, April 26, 12 noon to 2 p.m.  Come dressed in your finest attire. Prizes for the fanciest fascinator, hat or most representing the Downton Abbey theme. Sandwiches and sweets. Even a sip of bubbly!  Tickets are $10 each or 2 for $15 and can be reserved by calling Nicole Baker at 902- 371-5088.

JOHN PAUL II DAY: April 2 was the first John Paul II Day in Canada, following an Act of Parliament.

New “IMO” (Building Fund) cards and envelopes have been printed and are at the back of the church.

RECENT “IMO” (in memory of) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE (RE-)BUILDING FUND:
IMO Bernard MacDonald from Shirley Ardelli
IMO Sophie Tynski from Terry Wojick

REBUILDING FUND CONTRIBUTIONS: Building Fund contributions will go toward the new church. To contribute to the rebuilding if you do not have an envelope, you can also write on your regular envelope or cheque “Designated to the Rebuilding of St. Mary’s Polish Church.”

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 see bulletin insert for the words.
Entrance: Alleluja biją dzwony [Alleluia, Bells are Ringing]
Offertory: Wstał Pan Chrystus [Christ is Risen]
Communion: Daj Mi Jezusa[Grant Me Jesus]
Post-Communion: Bądź uwielbiony, Panie [Be Praised, Lord]
Closing: Jezu Ufam Tobie [Jesus, I Trust in You – Divine Mercy hymn]