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: PLEASE NOTE: CHURCH RE-OPENED FOR MASS ON JULY 5, with health and safety requirements and pre-registration. Please see below for more information.

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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Trzydziesta Druga Niedziela Zwykła / Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Mdr 6,12–16
Psalm: 63
Drugie czytanie: 1 Tes 4,13–18
Ewangelia: Mt 25,1–13

First Reading: Wisdom 6:12-16
Psalm: 63
Second Reading: 1 Thess. 4:13-18
Gospel: Matthew 5:25:1-13

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Ciebie, mój Boże, pragnie moja dusza / My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God

MASS INTENTION FOR TODAY is for Blanche Peters offered by Gerry Baker

Wednesday Masses and Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa are not being held during this phase of re-opening.

Altar Society designated volunteers for November: Marilyn Gillis, Joe Gillis

DZIĘKUJEMY NASZYM WETERANOM / THANK YOU TO OUR VETERANS: May God bless you. We pray for all veterans, including the deceased veterans of St. Mary’s Polish Parish. In tribute to them, the following is the refrain from Czerwone Maki na Monte Cassino – literally Red Poppies on Monte Cassino – by Feliks Konarski, which is almost like a Polish version of In Flanders Fields:

Czerwone maki na Monte Cassino
Zamiast rosy piły polską krew...
Po tych makach szedł żołnierz i ginął,
Lecz od śmierci silniejszy był gniew!
Przejdą lata i wieki przeminą,
Pozostaną ślady dawnych dni!..
I tylko maki na Monte Cassino
Czerwieńsze będą, bo z polskiej wzrosną krwi

PLEASE NOTE: Please see the end of the bulletin for the detailed public health protocols specific to our church. Please note that we are using a pre-registration system, where persons attending must receive a prior call. If you have not recently been called, please contact Stephanie Black (902-578-3697). Thanks very kindly.

AFTER-MASS PROTOCOL: We depart out the side entrance, row by row, starting with front rows and maintaining distancing. Singing of “Sto lat” for birthdays and anniversaries can happen outside with distancing, as indoor singing is not permitted at this time because of the health regulations. Many thanks. Dziekujemy bardzo!

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Fr. Dennis still has on-line Mass available: http://www.sainttheresasydney.com/

PRE-CHRISTMAS BAZAAR AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL: This coming Saturday, November 14 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Scaled-down version (12 vendors) with public health measures and social-distancing. Beautiful, one-of-a-kind Christmas items. Free admission – but donations will be welcomed.

DZIEKUJEMY! A huge thank you to fellow parishioners who made 260 dozen pierogi as a fund-raiser this past week! This is a very gracious and much appreciated donation of time and effort, which will support the new-kitchen project of the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society – to help match provincial and municipal funding in order to commence the project. Heartfelt thanks! Shout out to volunteers (in alphabetical order): Stephanie Black, Anne Marie Campbell, Joe and Marilyn Gillis, Janet Hawthorne, Wayne Joseph, Carolyn Kiley, Jancia and Toni LaRusic, Jancia MacCormack, Carolyn Markotich, Ursula Melski,  Sophie and Roddie O’Toole, Bernie Paruch, Jerry Pocius, Peggy Ryba, Robert Schella, Jean Annette White, Mary Wrobleski

A REQUEST FOR NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS: If you are registered to attend Mass this Sunday (or in the following weeks), and if you can, we would be very grateful if you could bring a non-perishable food item or personal care item. There will be a box at the entrance. These items will help to stock our Food Cupboard outside the Polish Village Hall and also assist Loaves and Fishes.

FOOD CUPBOARD AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL: Thank you for your help. The sign says “Take what you need, leave what you don’t, give what you can. Thank you!”

AVAILABILITY OF THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL: With public health restrictions and limitations, rentals are available for certain smaller activities, subject to detailed protocols (similar in some ways for those in place for the church) and a cleaning surcharge. Please contact Bernie LaRusic at 902-561-6500. Thanks for your ongoing support!

WEEKDAY RADIO SPOTS ABOUT POLISH CULTURE AND LANGUAGE IN CAPE BRETON: The Coast Radio: Every weekday at 3:50pm and 7:50pm (FM 89.7). It’s called the “One Minute Polish Broadcast”. Learn a new Polish word, phrase, or cultural tradition. Presented by the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society. Would you consider sponsoring a whole week for $100? The Coast has kindly agreed to allow us to do this as a fund-raiser (they are not charging for air time). Sponsors will be acknowledged on air (IMOs are welcome, birthday tributes, etc). Dziekujemy!  And, we’re recruiting volunteers to go on air (pre-recorded). We’ll help you get ready. No previous experience required, and you do not have to be a Polish speaker. This is a great way for us to bring forward members of our community, as well as promote and share Polish language and culture in our region.Our radio theme this coming week will bepoppies according to the Polish tradition. Guest will be Bob Lewandowski. This segment is a memorial sponsorship in memory of Janina Sztuka.

COLLECTION FOR OUR PARISH NOVEMBER 1st: $2435.00 Many thanks for your generosity. Bόg zapłaƈ!
If you are attending Mass, you will find a collection basket near the entrance and exit (since we are not passing around the basket due to the public health restrictions).

DONATIONS TO OUR PARISH: Thanks very kindly for any help you can provide toward our ongoing expenses. Donations can be made securely on-line at Canada Helps (which will email you an instant tax receipt):   https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/st-marys-polish-parish/. (link to this site is provided on our parish website homepage). Or by regular mail to St. Mary’s Polish Parish, 21 Wesley St., Sydney, N.S. B1N 2M5. Thanks for your support! It’s really appreciated. Bog zaplac!

Juliette MacLeod has sent a note to thank parishioners for our prayers for her late husband, Allister A. MacLeod. We are very grateful to Juliette for also sending a $1,000 donation to the parish to support future initiatives for Polish Heritage Month. This is in addition to her support this year, in conjunction with other sponsors (listed in a recent bulletin), of the interpretive plaque to honour the Polish pioneers of Glace Bay (Dawe Ave. recreation field near Holy Cross Church).

REBUILDING DONOR BANNER: We have made some corrections to the rebuilding donor banner on the wall at the entrance to Sala 1050. The new version will be up before Monday. We can still make corrections if there are errors.

THANKS to everyone for the very positive general meeting of parishioners after Mass last Sunday. If you have not received the update documents (distributed with the bulletin last Sunday), please e-mail (tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca) or call (902-563-1226)

THE GOOD FOOD BUS will be at the Polish Village Hall next Saturday, November 21, from 1:00pm to 2:30pm. This is like a mini farmers’ market on wheels. Everyone is welcome. The collaboration with the Good Food Bus has been going very well.

DE-BRIEFING MEETING ON POLISH HERITAGE MONTH: will be part of a Zoom call of the Atlantic Canada District of the Canadian Polish Congress next Sunday, November 8, at 7:00pm. You are most welcome to participate. Please speak with Tom Urbaniak (tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca or 902-563-1226) for a link or phone number.

A RECENT MESSAGE ON TWITTER FROM POPE FRANCIS: “Jesus challenges us to put aside all differences and, in the face of suffering, to draw near to others with no questions asked.” #FratelliTutti

SWIĘTO NIEPODLEGŁOŚCI – NOVEMBER 11 -- A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND HOPE: November 11th, the day of the armistice ending World War I in 1918, is also the day when Poland became an independent country again after a long period of occupation. Some of the ancestors of our parishioners were involved in that struggle. As such, for people of Polish heritage, November 11th is a holiday of both remembrance and hope. For the 123 years before 1918, Poland had been partitioned between Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Germany/Prussia. Between 1918 and 1939, Poland maintained its independence. However, the beginning of World War II on September 1, 1939, saw the country invaded first by Germany and then by the Soviet Union. The first Chief of State of the post-1918 independent Poland was the legendary Józef Piłsudski. For many years his portrait graced our very own Polish Village Hall. This old portrait was found during renovations and is once again in the hall.

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POLISH LANGUAGE “POP-UP” TUTORIAL:
Wszystkich Świętych – All Saints
Wszystkich  Zmarłych – All Souls
Dzień Zaduszny / Zaduszki – (name often used for All Souls Day)
Znicze – candle for cemetery
modlitwa -- prayer
cmentarz – cemetery
Listopad -- November
Dzień Pamięci – Remembrance Day
Narodowe Święto Niepodległości – National Holiday of Independence (Nov. 11 in Poland)
Wieczny odpoczynek racz im dać, Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj im świeci. Niech odpoczywają w pokoju. Amen. – Eternal rest grant onto them O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

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PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR MASS, SPECIFIC TO OUR CHURCH – as of Sunday, July 12
Dear Fellow Parishioners and Friends:
Below are the public health requirements related to Mass attendance, as applied specifically to our church. These have also been posted on our parish website and Facebook page. Thank you so much for your patience, understanding, and goodwill as we collectively adjust. Please also see #3 and #4 below about the pre-registration / seat-designation system for Mass attendance.   Dziekujemy bardzo serdecznie! Z Bogiem.

CELEBRATION OF HOLY MASS AT ST. MARY’S POLISH CHURCH:

1. The COVID-19 virus is still a danger to our community, province, and country. As we have seen with our neighbours south of the border, it can re-spread very quickly. Please stay safe.

2. We as a parish must abide by all applicable guidelines to ensure the safety of all, while being able to worship in a safe way. This requires patience as we adapt to a new form of attending Holy Mass.

3. For the first week (Sunday, July 5), parishioners were being randomly called until our smaller capacity is reached to maintain social distancing. If you are not sure if the parish has your telephone number, or if you wish to ensure that the parish has a current telephone number for you, please call Stephanie Black at 902-578-3697 to leave your telephone number. In subsequent weeks, persons who could not attend the previous week were being called first.

4. At this time, attendance can only be through the pre-registration process outlined in #3. The parish will maintain a record of everyone who is present and their contact information (for contact-tracing should the need arise).

5. Please ensure that you are completely free of any of the potential COVID symptoms. If you are registered to attend, but feel at all ill (eg. fever, colds), or feel poorly for any reason, please do not attend. There is a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass.

6. Masks are now mandatory. (All attendees have been wearing masks in church – and masks were available at the entrance. Thank you!) Please remember that this is also for the safety of others.

7. Physical distance of two metres (six feet) will be required inside and outside the church (if not in family bubbles). Everyone is requested to avoid handshakes, hugs and other close contact.

8.  Every second pew will be signed as “not in use,” as well as the entire side aisles of the church. Those pews that are being used will have the required spacing indicated.

9. Entry will be through Wesley St. doors. Staged (gradual) exit will take place through side (parking lot) doors.

10. There will be hand sanitization at the entrance.

11. There will be no choir for the time being, as per the public health requirements.

12. There will be one lector and no altar servers.

13. The church will be sanitized (pews, knobs, etc) after use in order to be fully clean for each Mass.

14. Ushers will assist with seating, from a distance.

15. There will be no Holy Water in the hand fonts.

16. Fr. Dennis will explain protocols for Communion, which will necessitate social distancing and extreme prudence.

17. Communion will be distributed only in the hand. The Priest will wear a mask, and he will sanitize his hands before and following Holy Communion. It is not permitted at this time to take Holy Communion to anyone outside the church.

18. Confession remains on an as-requested basis, maintaining social-distancing guidelines.

19. Other church in-person gatherings remain suspended for the time being.

20. There will be no paper bulletins in the church. Bulletins will continue to be provided electronically (on Saturday) or by regular mail (Canada Post). Please do not hesitate to e-mail or call (tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca; 902-563-1226) if there is anyone who is not currently receiving a bulletin who would like to receive a bulletin. 

21. Hymnals, brochures, and other items in the pews have been removed for the time being.

22. Collection baskets will be placed at the entrance and exit. (Collection will not be conducted in the usual way.) Thank you kindly for your support.

Życzymy błogosławionego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week!