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!
St. Mary’s Polish Church is a heritage landmark designated by the Province of Nova Scotia
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 Dennis Lamey 902-564-4222; sttheresasydney@gmail.com

MSZY/MASSES: Sunday at 9:30am, Wednesday at 6:30pm
Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa following the Wednesday evening Mass

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.

______________________________________________________________________________ 

Czwarta Niedziela Adwentu / FourthSunday of Advent

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION (9:30 am Mass) is for the soul of Michael Ardelli and Dawn Marie Wadden offered by Shirley and family

Eucharistic Minister for today: Sophie O’Toole
Ushers for collection today: Toni LaRusic, Tony Melski

______________________________________________________________________________

NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

Monday, December 24, 10:00pm “PASTERKA” CHRISTMAS EVE SHEPHERDS’ MASS (Beautiful Polish carols start at about 9:30 pm) The Mass intention will be for the soul of Aniela and Jan Lublowski offered by Jancia MacCormack.
Lectors: Krista Ann Starzomski, Edyta Baczyk
Eucharistic Minister: Marilyn Gillis
Altar Servers: James Clarke, Kristofer Starzmoski-Wilson, Frankie Chislett, Robbie Melski, Anthony Melski
Ushers: Bernie LaRusic, Larry Gniewek
Greeters: Herb Tucker, Catherine Tucker

Tuesday, December 25 NO MASS
Wednesday, December 26 NO MASS

Sunday, December 30, 9:30am: Uroczystość Świętej Rodziny / Feast of the Holy Family The Mass intention will be for the soul of Madeleine Thompson offered by Ursula and Michael Melski
Lectors: Janusz Wawrzyszyn, Noah Starzomski-Wilson
Eucharistic Minister: Janet Hawthorne
Altar Servers: James Clarke, Kristofer Starzomski-Wilson, Frankie Chislett, Robbie Melski
Ushers: Joe Gillis, Tony Gniewek
Greeters: Shirley Ardelli, Carolyn Ardelli-Kiley
Altar Society designated volunteers for December: Catherine Tucker, Herb Tucker
Property Committee designated member for the coming week:
Care Committee: to visit or send a card, please call Catherine Tucker (902-567-0146) or Vicki Aucoin (562-7142)

Collection receipts for Sunday, December 16: $933.00 (broken down as follows: $895.00 general collection, $ monthly, $ flowers, $ fuel, $ votive candles, $38.00 loose, $ rebuilding fund. Also, NOT included in the above total is $250 to the Community Kitchen project in memory of George and Marie Black from Sharon Black). Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Mary's Polish Parish. Dziekujemy bardzo.

MASS INTENTIONS / VIGIL CANDLE: To reserve Mass Intentions / Vigil Candle, please contact Fr. Dennis directly at 902-564-4222 or speak with him before Mass. (There is no fee for Mass intentions.)

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.”

______________________________________________

OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

A MESSAGE FROM FR. DENNIS:
Niech Bedzie Pochwalony Jezus Chrystus !  Praise Be Jesus Christ!
Dear People of God,
I can hardly believe that we are already at the last Sunday of Advent! Time has seemed to speed up and now we will celebrate our Christmas Liturgy on Monday night
(as requested) at 10pm.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the kind gifts and cards. I would also like to thank you for your warm welcome and generous hearts. May God’s greatest blessings come down on you all and may your Christmas be blessed and your New Year filled with Joy and Promise.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!    
May God’s greatest blessings be upon you this Christmas!
Fr Dennis Lamey

PLEASE NOTE: PASTERKA (SHEPHERD’S MASS) : Christmas Eve at 10:00pm.  Kolędy Polish carols will begin at about 9:30pm. Everyone is welcome! This Mass on Christmas Eve will be our Christmas Mass. (There will be no Mass on Christmas Day.)

“WIGILIA” (CHRISTMAS EVE): THE POLISH CUSTOM OF THE EXTRA PLATE: In keeping with the Polish custom, we are all invited to set an extra plate at our tables this Christmas Eve. It’s a symbol of our commitment to hospitality and to generosity throughout the year. Let us pray that in our parish and in our community there will always be space for newcomers and for anyone who may need our support and friendship, regardless of their situation in life. Let us continue to look outward with compassion and a spirit of service. On Christmas Eve if the sky is clear, we watch for the first star before starting our meal. It’s also a Polish custom to place some hay in the middle of the table and to place the Oplatek on top of it – a symbol of Christ’s birth in a stable.

THANK YOU for your contributions last week of household staple items and non-perishable food items. These have been delivered to the Salvation Army.

POLISH RELIGIOUS CHRISTMAS CARDS ($2 each) and OPŁATEK ($3 per envelope) are available at the back of the church (proceeds to support the work of the parish).

POLISH BARSZCZ (BORSCHT) PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE TODAY at the back of the church for $2. Each package makes four servings. Barszcz is a very common item among Polish gatherings at Wigilia (Christmas Eve) and is enjoyed by many.

SALE OF POLISH DELI ITEMS AND OTHER ITEMS: Andrzej Rafalski from Halifax will be here after Mass for the usual pre-Christmas sale. It will be in our Sala 1050.

WHITNEY PIER COMMUNITY KITCHEN PROJECT: Meals are served here every Wednesday (including Dec. 26 and Jan. 2) from 11:30am to1:00pm. Free of charge or donate what you can. Everyone is welcome. It’s a very inclusive and hospitable atmosphere.This Wednesday during the meal,our Pogoria Polish Folk Ensemble will be singing Polish carols. Sincerest thanks to all the volunteers. God bless

ON NEW YEAR’S DAY (FEAST OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD), WE WILL HAVE MASS AT 9:30 am. The church designates this day like a Sunday.

CHURCH ENVELOPES FOR 2019 are at the back of the church. If you would like parish envelopes, please call 902-563-1226. Many thanks!

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL: DJ Robin Krszwda. Tickets are $15; 9:00pm to 1:00am. Tickets have been selling well. There will be a late evening “lunch”. Please speak with any member of the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society or call 902-371-5088. As of the printing of this bulletin, tickets were almost sold out.

ANGEL ORNAMENTS FEATURING THE CAPE BRETON POLISH TARTAN: We sold out two weeks ago and have made some more. There will be a table in Sala 1050 after Mass. Thanks for your support. Proceeds support the work of the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society.

PARISH OPŁATEK POTLUCK: Sunday, January 13 at 1:00pm in the Polish Village Hall. Everyone is welcome.

TRANSLATION OF TODAY’S SECOND READING (from Heb. 10: 5-10) : Brothers and sisters: When Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.'" First he says, "Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in." These are offered according to the law. Then he says: Behold, I come to do your will." He takes away the first to establish the second. By this "will," we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

“Let us entrust ourselves to Our Lady so that she may help us prepare our hearts to welcome Baby Jesus at his birth.” – A recent message on Twitter from Pope Francis

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 błogosławionego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week!

______________________________________________________________________________

TODAY’S HYMNS: 9:30 am Mass
Entrance: Spuśćcie Nam(Bless, O Lord)
Psalm:
Offertory: Głos wdzięczny (From Heaven a Voice)
Communion: Pan Jezus już się zbliża (The Lord Jesus is Near)
Post-Communion: Witaj Święta i poczęta (Greetings to the Holy and Immaculate)
Recessional: Oto Pan Bóg przyjdzie (Thus the Lord is Coming)