Parafia p.w. Narodzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny
ST. MARY’S POLISH PARISH
21 Wesley St., Sydney, NS, B1N 2M5
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. Church rebuilt in 2015-2016. Our second century of faith and service

PROBOSZCZ/PASTOR:  Father Rich Philiposki 902-564-4847 or cell 902-577-6331

MSZY/MASSES: Sunday at 10:00 am, 4:00 pm
Weekday Masses: Days & times vary
First Saturday of the month at 8:30 am
Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa following the Wednesday evening Mass
Chaplet of Divine Mercy following the Friday evening Masss

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 Palmowa / Palm Sunday

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION (10:00 am Mass) is for Aniela Lubkowska offered by Janina MacCormack
TODAY’S MASS INTENTION (4:00 pm Mass) is for all parishioners

Eucharistic Minister for today: Marilyn Gillis
Ushers for collection today: Larry Gniewek, Tony Melski

 

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

WEEKDAY MASSES:
HOLY MONDAY-WIELKI PONIEDZIALEK - March 26: No Mass in our church as Chrism Mass will be in Cheticamp
HOLY TUESDAY-WIELKI WTOREK – March 27: 6:30pm The Mass intention will be for Stanislaw Mazun & Family
HOLY WEDNESDAY-WIELKA SRODA - March 28:
6:00pm Confessions in Confessional room
6:30pm The Mass Intention will be for Mary & Manuel Rivas
7:00pm Lenten Lamentations (Gorzkie Zale)
HOLY THURSDAY- WIELKI CZWARTEK – March 29:
7:30pm Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Lectors: Bernie Paruch, Tanya Chislett
Eucharistic Minister: Sophie O'Toole
Altar Servers: All altar servers are kindly asked to participate
8:15pm Adoration at “ciemnica” to 10:00pm
Pizza for all Altar Servers at Glebe after Mass
GOOD FRIDAY- WIELKI PIATEK -March 30:
12:00 noon: Way(Stations) of the Cross
12:30pm Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday (Passion Reading, Veneration of the Cross, Holy Communion)
Lectors: Anna Wesolkowska and Noah Starzomski-Wilson (Passion: Bob Lewandowski and Tom Urbaniak)
Eucharistic Minister: Roddie O'Toole
Altar Servers: Kristofer Starzomski-Wilson, Caleigh Pellerine, James Clarke, Robbie Melski
1:30pm- 6:30pm Adoration at the Tomb
6:30pm Gorzkie Zale (Lamentations in Polish)
HOLY SATURDAY/ WIELKA SOBOTA- March 31:
1:00pm 105th annual blessing of Easter baskets (Swiecenie Pokarmow Wielkanocnych) followed by Easter egg hunt (weather permitting)
Lectors: Krista Ann Starzomski and Tom Urbaniak
Altar Servers: Frankie Chislett, Anthony Melski, Kristofer Starzomski-Wilson
7:30pm Easter Vigil Mass

Sunday, April 1, 8:30am: EASTER SUNDAY: Resurrection Procession and Mass (NOTE: THIS REPLACES THE 10:00am MASS)
Lectors: Edyta Baczyk, Andrzej Cebula
Eucharistic Minister:
Altar Servers: All altar servers are kindly asked to participate
Ushers: Bernie LaRusic, Joe Gillis
Greeters: Victoria Aucoin, Marjorie Ardelli
Altar Society designated volunteers
Care Committee: to visit or send a card, please call Catherine Tucker (902-567-0146) or Vicki Aucoin (562-7142)

Sunday, April 1, 4:00 pm: Third Mass of Easter
Lector:
Usher: Michael Gillis

Collection receipts for Sunday, March 18: $1880.25 (broken down as follows: $695.00 general collection, $190.00 monthly, $422.00 flowers, $209.00 Share Lent, $ votive candles, $ loose, $364.25 rebuilding fund). Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Mary's Polish Parish. Dziekujemy bardzo.

MASS CARDS / VIGIL INTENTIONS: To reserve Mass Intentions / Vigil Intentions, please call Father Rich (902-564-4847 or cell 902-577-6331) or Carolyn Ardelli-Kiley (902-539-1725).

IN MEMORIAM DONATION: In Memoriam donations 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.”

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

FATHER RICH REPORTS:
Niech Bedzie Pochwalony Jezus Chrystus! Praise be Jesus Christ!
Dear Parishioners & Friends:
On this day, the Church recalls the entrance of Christ the Lord into Jerusalem to accomplish the Paschal Mystery. With the commemoration of the beginning of the Passion of the Lord on this Palm Sunday, we will bless branches of palms and pussy willows “bazia” (the tradition in Poland). We will process from the “sala” into the church. Due to the length of the reading of the Passion, there will be no homily today but just some quiet time to reflect on what Jesus underwent for us all. There will be no Mass on Monday as I will be at the Chrism Mass in Chéticamp.  There will be Masses on Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Please see the special times for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. On Good Friday before the symbolic tomb will be adoration of the Lord (Blessed Sacrament) under the veil. This is a tradition in Polish churches after the Good Friday Liturgy until Easter Sunday morning. After the 12:30 Good Friday Liturgy, we will have several hours of adoration from 1:30 to 7:00pm. It is important that someone always be present, and for that reason I will have a sign-up sheet in a book at the back of the church if you can commit an hour or even half an hour before the Lord. The Novena to Divine Mercy will begin on Good Friday and will be prayed after Masses all week up to Divine Mercy Sunday (April 8).  HAVE A BLESSED HOLY WEEK!

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IN MEMORY OF (IMO) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REBUILDING FUND:
IMO Peter Stephenson from Agnes Stephenson
IMO Peter & Elsie Tynski from Anne Redmond
IMO Frances Pollock from Nellie Tynski
Polish Easter items that were sold last week were donated IMO Janina Sztuka from Tom Urbaniak
Other donations to the rebuilding fund: Steve Melnick

PRE-EASTER SALE OF POLISH MEATS AND OTHER FOODS: Sala 1050 after the 10:00am Mass today. Andrzej Rafalski from Halifax will be here.

NOTE ABOUT EASTER BASKETS: This year’s blessing of the Easter baskets (Swiecenie Pokarmow Wielkanocnych – an age-old Polish custom) will take place on Holy Saturday at 1:00pm. Please wear Polish traditional attire if possible or a St. Michael’s jacket or a Polish tartan scarf/tie. Please speak with Care Group members Vicky Aucoin (562-7142) or Catherine Tucker (567-0146) about anyone who is homebound who should be on the list to receive a blessed basket. Everyone will be invited to contribute an item to a collective basket for Loaves and Fishes.

SHORT GATHERING TO PREPARE EASTER BASKETS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMEBOUND: Holy Saturday at 11:30 am (preceding the blessing at 1:00pm) We will also explain the religious significance of the items in a Polish Easter basket. A special invitation to all youth in the parish to join us to put together these Easter baskets, with gratitude for your help.

LOAVES AND FISHES: At Holy Saturday’s (1:00pm) blessing of Easter baskets, we will invite everyone to please contribute an item from your basket to a collective basket for Loaves and Fishes. This can include fresh items.

ASSIGNMENTS IN VARIOUS MINISTRIES FOR APRIL 2018:
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Please refer to the schedule provided by Marilyn Gillis

LECTORS:
Easter Sunday: Edyta Baczyk, Bernie Paruch
April 8: Teresa Fagan, Andrzej Cebula
April 15: Anna Wesolkowska, Noah Starzomski-Wilson
April 22: Krista Ann Starzomski, Jerry Pocius
April 29: Anne Marie Campbell, Janusz Wawrzyszyn

USHERS:
Easter Sunday: Bernie LaRusic, Joe Gillis
April 8: Toni LaRusic, Robert Melski Jr.
April 15: Robert Melski Sr., Tony Gniewek
April 22: Larry Gniewek, Tony Melski
April 29: Bernie LaRusic, Joe Gillis

GREETERS:
Easter Sunday: Victoria Aucoin, Marjorie Ardelli
April 8: Mary (Micka) DiPenta, Teresa Fagan
April 15: Toni LaRusic, Janina MacCormack
April 22: Joan Mosher, Peggy Ryba
April 29: Catherine Tucker, Herb Tucker

ALTAR SOCIETY SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS: to be discussed at the Altar Society meeting after Mass today

THIS YEAR’S “ROYAL TEA” will be on Sunday, April 8, at 12 noon (to 2:00pm) Tickets are $15. Please get your tickets from Nicole Baker after Mass today. This is a fun, traditional high tea, and usually a sell-out event! This year’s tea will help complete renovations to the Polish Village Hall.

PARISH EASTER BREAKFAST (ŚWIĘCONKA BREAKFAST) will be held on Sunday, April 15, after the 10:00am Mass in Sala 1050. Everyone is welcome. In next week’s bulletin, we will have a list of parishioners who are next in the rotation to please bring a dish (with a special encouragement for any items related to Easter). If you are not on the parish brunch rotation and would like to be, please speak with Tom Urbaniak (902-563-1226). Many thanks!

THE ST. MICHAEL’S POLISH BENEFIT SOCIETY meets this evening at 7:00pm.

PARISH LIBRARY COMMITTEE: Please refer to last week’s bulletin with a draft outline of items proposed for the library and children’s play area. Please speak with Jerry Pocius (gerald_pocius@cbu.ca).

ALTAR SOCIETY: Short meeting after the 10:00am Mass today. Please gather in the front pews, near Our Lady of Czestochowa. Anyone who would like to be part of the Altar Society or learn more is welcome.

PLEASE CONSIDER SPONSORING A PEACOCK FEATHER FOR $100 AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL: Your name, or the name of a person in whose memory you designate, will be permanently inscribed on the wall below a painted peacock feather downstairs in the Polish Village Hall. The hall has recently gone through some major improvements. Thanks for your help in promoting the hall as a hub for the community. Please speak with any member of the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society or call 902-564-8494.

IN MEMORIAM / BUILDING FUND ENVELOPES / REBUILDING FUND ENVELOPES are at the back of the church. Many thanks for your support.

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 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.”.Donations can also be made by regular mail: St. Mary's Polish Parish 21 Wesley St. , Sydney, N.S. B1N 2M5. Thank you so much for your support.

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.The beautifully renovated downstairs is now available again for rentals for holiday parties or other occasions 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: 10:00 am Mass
Entrance: Hosanna, Synowi Dawidowemu (Hosanna, Son of David)
Psalm:
Offertory: Krzyżu święty (Holy Cross)
Communion: Ludu, Mój Ludu (People, My People)
Post-Communion: Jezu, bądź ze mną (Jesus Be With Me)
Recessional: Któryś za nas cierpiał rany. Jezu Chryste, zmiłuj się nad nami (x3). (You who suffered wounded for us, Christ Jesus have mercy on us)

TODAY’S HYMNS: 4:00 pm Mass (See Pages in St. Joseph Sunday Missal)
Entrance:
Recessional:

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A Traditional Polish Easter Basket

Source: Polish American Center

Maslo (Butter) - It is often shaped into a lamb (Baranek Wielkanocny) or a cross. This reminds us that we should approach all things with Christ’s love. The “baranek” is sometimes included as a non-edible figure.
Babka (Easter Bread) - A round or long loaf topped with a cross or a fish, symbolic of Jesus, who is the Bread of Life.
Chrzan (Horseradish) - Symbolic of the Passion of Christ.
Jajka (Eggs) and Pisanki (decorated with symbols of Easter, of life, of prosperity) - Indicates new life and Christ's Resurrection. The design of the pisanki sometimes reflects the folk attire, which is very distinctive based on region.
Kielbasa (Sausage) - Represents God's generosity.
Szynka (Ham) - Symbolic of great joy and abundance. Some baskets will have lamb or veal.
Sol (Salt) – Symbolic of spreading justice and goodness.
Ser (Cheese) - Symbolic of the moderation Christians should have at all times.
Candle - Represents Christ as the Light of the World.
Colourful Ribbons or Sprigs of Greenery - are attached to the basket as signs of joy and new life.
Linen Cover - drawn over the top of the basket, which is ready for the blessing.