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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Pierwsza Niedziela Adwentu / First Sunday of Advent

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Iz 63,16b-17.19b;64,2b-7
Psalm: 80
Drugie czytanie: 1 Kor 1,3-9
Ewangelia: Mk 13,33-37

First Reading: Isaiah 63:16b-17,19b; 64:2b-7
Psalm: 80
Second Reading: 1 Cor. 1:3-9
Gospel: Mark 13:33-37

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Odnów nas, Boże, i daj nam zbawienie / Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved

MASS INTENTION FOR TODAY is for Joseph Ryba offered by the Ryba family

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

SIXTH ANNIVERSARY: Today is already the sixth anniversary of the fire. We are grateful to God for keeping us together as a community and for our rebuilding, with the love and support of each other and our friends from all backgrounds and faiths. We are grateful to the wonderful contractors and professionals who worked with us along the way. The picture below shows the steeple raising on January 31, 2016

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/

PRAYERS AND BEST WISHES: Your prayers are requested for Rev. Phyllis Marsh, pastor of our neighbouring St. Philip’s African Orthodox Church, who had a major operation this week. Rev. Phyllis is a wise and generous leader in our community. We pray for strength and recovery.

VIRTUAL VISIT (ON OUR PARISH FACEBOOK PAGE) OF ŚWIĘTY MIKOŁAJ NEXT SUNDAY: Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas) normally visits our church in his bishop’s attire on December 6 (his feast day). This year, he will make a “virtual” appearance on our parish’s Facebook page, in Polish and English. He will talk about his work as Bishop of Myra, caring for others, and take part in singing one of our Polish carols. You are most welcome to tune into our parish Facebook page on Sunday, December 6, at 7:00pm. You don’t have to be signed up for Facebook to see this: www.facebook.com/stmaryspolishchurch .

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 on the Cupboard says “Take what you need, leave what you don’t, give what you can. Thank you!” The Cupboard was put up this spring by the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society, working with carpenter (and fellow parishioner) Adam McCormick and Sixty Minute Signs. The Food Cupboard had very good support from the community, including weekly from our parish.

WOULD YOU LIKE OPŁATEK AND POLISH CHRISTMAS CARDS? We should be receiving an order soon. Please speak with Tom Urbaniak (tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca; 902-563-1226). Although gatherings will be very small this year, it's also a common and heart-warming Polish tradition to place a piece of Oplatek (traditional Christmas wafer) inside a Christmas card as a way of sharing blessings and best wishes with the recipient

RADA UPDATE: The Rada met this week for its first meeting since the annual election earlier this month. A reminder that Rada members for 2020-2021 are, in alphabetical order, Angela Doiron, Joe Gillis, Ursula Melski Jr., John Morykot, Sophie O’Toole, Bernie Paruch, Jerry Pocius, Robert Schella. There was an orientation session, which covered themes that had been identified a few years ago by the Nominations Committee: parish’s Mission statement (reprinted below), shared values of Christian hospitality, principles of consensus and respectful conflict resolution in a Christian context, keeping up and sharing our meaningful and special Polish customs, meeting procedures, finance, budget, and property information, and other topics. (Any of these materials – eg. PowerPoint slides -- are available to any fellow parishioner upon request to Tom Urbaniak, who facilitated the orientation session as a Rada Past Chair.) Rada discussed Christmas decorating, which will happen following the Mass for the fourth Sunday of Advent (December 20). Discussion, including follow-up with Fr. Dennis, on Christmas COVID protocols. More information on that soon.
        
MISSION STATEMENT OF ST. MARY’S POLISH PARISH (as approved at a special parish meeting eight years ago -- on October 28, 2012): “The Mission of St. Mary’s Polish Parish is to be a model community of faith, a devout, participatory Roman Catholic parish, welcoming to all, and a beacon of hope and generosity. Polish heritage, traditions, culture, and language are integral to our spiritual experience. In all we do, we strive for holiness, dignity, justice, and excellence.”

INVITATION TO A WEEKLY ADVENT EVENING PRAYER AND DISCUSSION (join in by computer or telephone): By Zoom. Facilitated by Rev. Alison Etter, who extends a welcome to members of our parish.Thursdays at 8:00 pm
By computer. Please use this link: https://zoom.us/j/9410521825 Password: 227259
By phone: 1 647 374 4685. Enter the meeting ID: 941 052 1825

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 be the Polish customs related to Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas). Guest will be Eddy Szczerbinski. Thank you to Dr. Anna Wesolkowska for sponsoring this week’s segment!

2020 ADVENT MISSION – with Fr. Mark Cherry (a very outgoing preacher of Polish descent who was guest celebrant for us at a Mass last year) at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Monastery – December 7, 8 and 9: 6:30pm each evening. For more information, please call  902-623-0075 or e-mail retreatdirector@ourladyofgracemonastery.ca .

COLLECTION FOR OUR PARISH NOVEMBER 22nd: $617.00, including $130 World Day of the Poor, $35 flowers. 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!

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 is now up. We can still make corrections if there are errors.

ORGAN: It looks like our organ is operating again! Please say a prayer!

ST. MICHAEL’S POLISH BENEFIT SOCIETY: Zarząd (Board) meeting Sunday at 7:00pm

A RECENT MESSAGE ON TWITTER FROM POPE FRANCIS: “Lord, Father of our human family, you created all human beings equal in dignity: pour forth into our hearts a fraternal spirit. Move us to create healthier societies and a more dignified world, a world without hunger, poverty, violence and war.” #FratelliTutti

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POLISH POP-UP TUTORIAL -- ADWENT (ADVENT)
Przygotowanie (pshi-go-do-VAN-yeh) -- Preparation
Przygotowujemy się do Święta Bożego Narodzenia (pshi-go-to-woo-YEH-mih shee-ew do shvee-EN-ta bo-SHEH-go na-rod-ZAY-nya) -- We are preparing for Christmas
Zapalamy świece (za-pa-LA-mih shwee-ET-seh) -- We are lighting candles
Modlimy się (mod-LEE-mih shee-ew) -- We are praying
Nadzieja (nad-JAY-ah) -- Hope
świeca (shvee-ET-sa) -- candle
wieniec adwentowy (vee-EN-yets ad-vent-O-vih) -- Advent wreath
modlitwa (mod-LEET-va) -- prayer
kalendarz adwentowy (ka-LEN-darsh ad-vent-O-vih) -- Advent calendar

POLISH POP-UP TUTORIAL -- BARBORKA (FEAST OF SAINT BARBARA)
Barbórka (bar-BOOR-kah) -- Feast of Saint Barbara -- Miner's Day Holiday. Just like Cape Breton, Poland has a long history of mining, and there is a special place in the national consciousness for miners. On December 4, the Feast of St. Barbara, patron saint of miners, there are “Miners’ Balls” across the country, especially in the Śląsk region. The exact year of St. Barbara’s martyrdom – her punishment for adhering to her Christian faith – is not known, but is usually dated to the third century. It is believed that the death sentence was carried out by her own father, who was later struck by lightning, hence St. Barbara’s special role as interceding to protect those who must work around explosives. She is considered one of the Church’s Fourteen Holy Helpers.
górnik (GOOR-neek) -- miner
kopalnia (ko-PAL-nyah) -- mine
węgiel (VEN-gyel) -- coal

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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!