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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Trzecia Niedziela Adwentu / Third Sunday of Advent

The Third Sunday of Advent is also known as “Gaudete” Sunday, from the Latin “to rejoice”.  On this day, the rose-coloured candle is lit on the Advent wreath, in addition to two violet-coloured candles. Having passed the mid-point of Advent – a period of solemn preparation – the church uses a different colour on this Sunday as a way of lightening the mood and giving symbolic encouragement as we continue our prayerful journey to Christmas.

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION is for Georgia LaRusic offered by Jancia & Bernie LaRusic. Wieczny odpoczynek racz Jej dać Panie, a swiatłość wiekuista niechaj Jej świeci na wieki wieków. Amen

Eucharistic Minister for today: Marilyn Gillis

Ushers for collection today: Larry Gniewek, Joe Gillis

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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 9:10 a.m.). Copies of the Novena are at the back of the church.

Sunday, December 20, 9:30 a.m. The Mass intention will be for Catherine Ardelli & Julia Munshaw offered by Shirley Ardelli & family.
Lectors: Anna Wesolkowska, Robert  Lewandowski                                                                     
Eucharistic Minister: Janet Hawthorne
Altar Servers: Brianna, Rudy, Nicholas 
Ushers: Robert Melski Sr., Toni LaRusic
Greeters: Mary (Micka) DiPenta, Teresa Fagan

Collection receipts for Sunday, December 6: $8444.85 (broken down as follows: $1534.85 general collection [including $50.00 for cemetery fund], $6910.00 rebuilding 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:
December 13: Lucja
December 14: Alfred
December 15: Celina, Iga, Ignacy, Krystiana, Nina
December 16: Alina
December 17: Florian, Jolanta
December 18: Laurencja
December 19: Beniamin, Dariusz, Gabriela
December 20: Dominik

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS - TODAY: We will gather as a parish after our 9:30 Mass in the Polish Village Hall to celebrate today's First Holy Communions. Everyone is welcome. We will also have a short rebuilding update – progress, sacred objects, financials, fund-raising, etc. If you brought an item for Loaves and Fishes, please leave it at the hall entrance during lunch. Thank you! During lunch after Mass today, we will have a 3-4 minute “pop-up tutorial” on Polish greetings and words associated with Christmas. Thanks to our Polish teacher, Edyta Baczyk, for leading this.

PRE-CHRISTMAS SALE OF POLISH MEATS: after Mass today at the Polish Village Hall. Andrzej Rachwalski from Halifax will be here.

ST. MARY'S POLISH PARISH 2016 COLLECTION ENVELOPES: These will be on a table in alphabetical order of surname at the hall during lunch today.

NEW YEAR'S EVE AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL: DJ Robin Krszwda. Tickets Tony Melski 537-1417

RECENT IMO (IN MEMORY OF) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REBUILDING FUND:
IMO John & Mary Morykot from John & Christine Morykot
IMO Frances & Peter Durkacz and family and Mary & John Dan MacNeil from Anita (Wisia) MacNeil (also to cemetery fund)
IMO Mary Fliss from staff of Antigonish Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech

CONFIRMATIONS: Congratulations to our fellow parishioners Brianna Pellerine, Noah Starzomski-Wilson, and Kristen Fagan-Steele who are being confirmed on Tuesday at 7p.m. at Holy Redeemer. We are invited to be there to support them!

BLESSING OF HOMES: Father Paul and Deacon John are available to do the traditional annual Polish blessing of homes (with the chalk inscription K+M+B 2016, to signify that like the wise men we are dedicated to following Jesus in how we relate to our world and to others). We will have a sign-up sheet at the lunch after Mass today.

PASTERKA (CHRISTMAS EVE MASS): The St. Mary's Polish Parish Pasterka / Christmas Eve Mass will be at 10 p.m. this year at Holy Redeemer. Please invite friends and family, We would be delighted to have them join us.

OPŁATEK for your Christmas meals will be available at the hall today after Mass.

SHARING OPLATEK: One of the special Polish Christmas traditions. The custom of breaking and sharing unleavened wafers (embossed with holy images) at family and community gatherings during the Christmas season (beginning with Wigilia/Christmas Eve) originated in Poland in the 17th century – and is today a mostly Polish, Lithuanian, and Slovak tradition. The large majority of families of Polish heritage continue to follow this custom. It is also traditional for Polish families who send Christmas cards in the mail (even to non-Polish friends) to put a piece of Opłatek inside the card. When sharing the Opłatek, it is customary to say something like the following: “I wish you much health, happiness and the Lord's bountiful blessings as well as the fulfillment of all your plans and everything you wish for yourself.”

PARISH OPŁATEK SUPPER: Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 6 p.m., Polish Village Hall. There is no charge, but please bring a dish if you can and an item for Loaves and Fishes. Everyone is welcome. We will have our beautiful Polish carols. We will discuss what to put in the time capsule for our rebuilt church, and we will invite some of our youth to lead that discussion.

JOLANTA CEBULA'S CLASSICAL VIOLIN STUDIO CONCERT: This afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Polish Village Hall. No charge – snacks and refreshments included. All are welcome.

HEART-WARMING MESSAGES: We are receiving many heart-warming messages about our parish’s rebuilding efforts and our work in the broader community. Rebecca Walker, coordinator of the Clifford St. Youth Centre, wrote after our St. Nicholas Day celebration to thank us for welcoming their youth and leaders and to say, “I just wanted to say that the kindness from everyone who interacted with them was very much appreciated … The afternoon’s activities were incredible and we will be trying some of the traditions at the centre this month.” Also, on Tuesday, on behalf of our parish, Oplatek was shared with residents, staff and volunteers at L’Arche Cape Breton along with a presentation about our rebuilding and how our work as a parish (with others) can help bring peace to the world. They were most appreciative, and would like to maintain the connection with our parish.

TO CONTRIBUTE ON-LINE TO OUR REBUILDING, PLEASE GO TO OUR PARISH WEB HOME PAGE (www.stmaryspolishparish.ca) and please click the link to our Canada Helps donation page. It’s a secure system and you’ll receive your charitable tax receipt promptly. Thanks for your support! Please spread the word.

REBUILDING FUND ENVELOPES are at the back of the church. Thank you for your support.

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

Życzenia na miłego nowego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week! Bóg zapłać!

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TODAY’S HYMNS: Please see bulletin insert for the words.
Entrance: Hejnał wszyscy zaśpiewajmy [Let Us All Sing]
Offertory: Spuśćcie nam na ziemskie niwy [Watch over us on the earthly plain]
Communion: Pan Jezus już się zbliża [The Lord Jesus is Already Near]
Post-Communion: Zdrowaś bądź, Maryja [Blessed Be Mary]
Closing: Oto Pan Bóg Przyjdzie  [Thus Will Come the Lord God]

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A Quick Pre-Christmas Polish Tutorial:
Jecyk polski (Polish language)
During lunch (obiad), Edyta Baczyk will introduce some greetings and phrases
Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia - Merry Christmas – literally “Happy Holiday of God’s Birth”
Szopka - Nativity scene
Pasterka – Midnight Mass
Wigilia– Christmas Eve
kolędy – Christmas carols
śpiewać kolędy -- to sing Christmas carols
Święty Mikołaj – St. Nicholas
Choinka – Christmas tree
Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku – Happy New Year

Dzisiaj w Betlejem (Today in Bethlehem)
Dzisiaj w Betlejem, dzisiaj w Betlejem
Wesoła nowina
Że Panna czysta, że Panna czysta
Porodziła Syna
(refren:)
Chrystus się rodzi
Nas oswobodzi
Anieli grają
Króle witają
Pasterze śpiewają
Bydlęta klękają
Cuda, cuda ogłaszają (x2)

Translation:
Today in Bethlehem, today in Bethlehem
Joyful news
That the Virgin, that the Virgin,
Gave birth to a Son

Refrain:
Christ is born,
He will free us
Angels play (music)
Kings greet,
Cattle kneel
A miracle, a miracle they proclaim