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.

______________________________________________________________________________ 

Druga Niedziela Adwentu / Second Sunday of Advent

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Iz 40,1-5.9-11
Psalm: 85
Drugie czytanie: 2 P 3,8-14
Ewangelia: Mk 1,1-8

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11
Psalm: 85
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:8-14
Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Okaż swą łaskę i daj nam zbawienie / Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation

MASS INTENTION FOR TODAY is for deceased members of the Kieƈ family offered by Jean Annette and Richard White

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

Altar Society designated volunteers for December: Stephanie Black, Anne Marie Campbell

DZIEŃ ŚWIĘTEGO MIKOŁAJA / ST. NICHOLAS DAY (Dec. 6): In Poland, Święty Mikołaj (St. Nicholas) normally visits homes with small gifts during the night of December 5-6. Among Polish Cape Bretoners, this sometimes happens but it has been more common over the years to have Święty Mikołaj visit our church or hall on the feast day, in his traditional bishop’s attire, where he also says a few words about Christian generosity and kindness to all. However, this year because of COVID-19, Święty Mikołaj will not be in the Sala 1050, but instead will be making a virtual visit to our parish. Please tune in to our parish facebook page at 7:00pm on Sunday, December 6. The visit will be there for you to see afterwards as well: www.facebook.com/stmaryspolishchurch

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!

______________________________________________________________________________

OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

STO LAT! Wishing the very best to Steve Melnick on his 92nd birthday! Wishing him lots of health and happiness. Sto lat, Steve! Dużo zdrowia!

REV. PHYLLIS MARSH, pastor of St. Philip’s African Orthodox Church, has asked to express her thanks to our parish for our prayers recently during her operation. Rev. Phyllis has now moved to the rehabilitation hospital in Sydney Mines. She is hoping to eventually receive a prosthesis.

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 (eg. shampoo, soap, toilet paper). 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.

PUTTING TOGETHER FOOD HAMPERS FOR CHRISTMAS: The St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society will be having a small gathering (Fri., Dec. 18, 6:00pm Polish Village) – with physical distancing and masks – to put together food hampers for Christmas (to the households in the area to whom the Society was delivering in April, May and June, before the Food Bus came back on line). If you would like to help out that evening, please call 902-563-1226.

PASTERKA (CHRISTMAS EVE SHEPHERDS’ MASS) will be at 10:00pm on December 24. We will have to continue to do seat assignments, but are hoping to have spill-over seating in the Sala 1050 and the Polish Village Hall. If you have not recently been in touch or received a call about Mass attendance, please call Stephanie Black at 902-578-3697.

DECORATING OUR CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS: After Mass on Sunday, December 20. Thanks to anyone who can stay for a short time to help!

WOULD YOU LIKE OPŁATEK AND POLISH CHRISTMAS CARDS? 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

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

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 Oplatek and its spiritual and cultural meaning for Polish families. Guest will be Marjorie Ardelli. This week’s episode is in memory of deceased members of the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society.

COLLECTION FOR OUR PARISH NOVEMBER 29: $933.00, including $30 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!

A RECENT MESSAGE ON TWITTER FROM POPE FRANCIS: “Just as before our birth, our loved ones awaited us, so now Love in person awaits us. If we are awaited in Heaven, why should we be caught up with earthly concerns?  Why should we waste time complaining about the night, when the light of day awaits us?”

NIEPOKALANYM POCZĘCIU NAJŚWIĘTSZEJ MARYI PANNY/FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, 8-ego grudnia / DECEMBER 8: This feast is celebrated exactly nine months before the Feast of the Nativity of Mary (September 8), the feast day of our parish. It has been a global feast day since 1708. In Poland and other countries with deep Catholic traditions, it is often marked as a “family day”. The collect (general Mass prayer) for this day reads: “O God, mercifully hear the supplication of thy servants who are assembled together on the Conception of the Virgin Mother of God, may at her intercession be delivered by Thee from dangers which beset us.

THE FEAST OF ST. BARBARA (the day known as Barbórka in Poland), We pray for miners, living and deceased. Just like Cape Breton, Poland has a long history of mining, and there is a special place in the national consciousness for miners. Polish miners have special ceremonial uniforms – the same ones we presented to the Men of the Deeps in 2013 during a joint concert that was part of our parish’s year-long Centenary celebrations.  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, thus 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.

______________________________________________________________________________

POLISH POP-UP TUTORIAL
Święty Mikołaj (shvee-EHN-tih mee-KO-why) -- St. Nicholas
6-ego grudnia (shoo-STEG-o GROOD-nya) -- December 6
Adwent (ad-VENT) -- Advent
Anioł (AN-yo) -- angel
dzieci (JEH-chee) -- children
prezenty (pre-ZEN-tih) -- gift
kolędowanie (koh-lend-o-VAN-yeh) -- carolling

Przybieżeli do Betlejem
Przybieżeli do Betlejem pasterze,
Grając skocznie Dzieciąteczku na lirze.
Chwała na wysokości,
chwała na wysokości,
A pokój na ziemi.
Oddawali swe ukłony w pokorze
Tobie z serca ochotnego, o Boże!
Chwała na wysokości...

______________________________________________________________________________

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!