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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Czwarta Niedziela Zwykła / Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Pwt 18,15-20
Psalm: 95
Drugie czytanie: 1 Kor 7,32-35
Ewangelia: Mk 1,21-28

First Reading: Dt 18: 15-20
Psalm: 95
Second Reading: 1 Cor 7:32-35
Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Słysząc głos Pana, serc nie zatwardzajcie / Hearing the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts

MASS INTENTION FOR TODAY is a Mass for the living (special intention for Julia Urbaniak) offered by Lynette Ryba

Wednesday Masses and Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa are not being held at this time.

ALTAR SOCIETY designated volunteers for February: Delores Starzomski, Tom Urbaniak

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/

HOW CANDLEMAS DAY (FEB. 2) IS CELEBRATED IN THE POLISH TRADITION: Excerpted from Fr. Mark Borkowski, “Candlemas Day”: 
“In Poland this day is called Matki Boskiej Gromnicznej which is translated literallly as Mother of God of the Thunder Candle. The candles blessed this day are called gromnicy or thunder candles because they are kept in the home for use especially in time of thunderstorms to protect the house from being hit by lightning. They are also a protection against other natural calamities such as floods, fire and drought. The blessed candles are also lit at the bedside of the dying to protect the individual from Satan, and to light the way to heaven. “It was believed by many that at the time of death there was a contest for the soul of the dying between angels and the devil. At the Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan there is a beautiful painting hanging in one of the halls which depicts Mary walking at night through the snows of the Polish countryside, carrying a large candle in her hands as if it was a sword. At her feet wolves can be seen running fearfully away from her and from the small cottages of the townsfolk she is protecting. Polish legend says she walks across Poland with her gromnica aglow, protecting homes and farm animals from many packs of hungry wolves, that prowl about looking for prey during the harsh Polish winters.”

A NOTE ABOUT ROTATIONS / USE OF THE SALA 1050 (hall area attached to church) WITH VIDEO-FEED FOR MASS OVERFLOW DURING COVID: Since we have been fortunate to have opened the Sala to accommodate more seating capacity for parishioners, we thank everyone for your understanding if selected to sit there. Fr. Dennis has indicated that he would like us to rotate parishioners so that most will get an opportunity to sit in the Sala.  You will not be asked to sit there every week, but you may be selected more than once.  Before the Sala opened up, we were more limited in being able to accommodate parishioners on Sunday in order to maintain the required physical distancing. Thank you all for your consideration and understanding. God bless. Bóg zapłać!

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!”

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 of our radio segments for $100? The Coast has kindly agreed to allow the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society 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 for this coming week will be Polish customs for Candlemas Day. Thank you to Dr. Bob Lewandowski for being our radio voice this week. And thank you to our recognized sponsor for this week, Dr. Paula Michalik.

ST. MICHAEL’S POLISH BENEFIT SOCIETY: Zarząd (Board) Meeting this evening at 6:30pm. We will start upstairs to look at progress in the kitchen construction and then continue the board meeting downstairs (with masks and distancing).

PLEASE NOTE: The next RADA MEETING will be on Monday, February 22, at 7:00pm. It has been pushed back to allow the Finance Committee and the Endowment Trustees to complete reports that will be coming to Rada.

COLLECTION FOR OUR PARISH JANUARY 24: $1040.00, including $200 to the Building Fund. Thank you for your support and generosity.
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).

RECENT IMO (IN MEMORY OF) CONTRIBUTION TO THE BUILDING FUND:
IMO Blanche Kolanko Chisholm from Terry Chisholm

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!

A RECENT MESSAGE ON TWITTER FROM POPE FRANCIS: “The words of the Sacred Scripture were not written to remain imprisoned on papyrus, parchment or paper, but to be received by a person who prays, making them blossom in his or her heart.”

PICTURE AT ENTRANCE TO POLISH VILLAGE HALL: The old picture of Pope John Paul II had become quite worn and damaged over time. So, it was replaced with this one (which we enlarged) – showing the Pope with Jancia and Michelle Melski in 1984.

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ON THIS MID-WINTER CANDLEMAS DAY, WE ASSOCIATE MARY WITH SPRING AND PRAY FOR SAFETY DURING WHAT REMAINS OF THE WINTER.

HYMN:
The words evoke goodness, peace, and support.
1. Była cicha i piękna jak wiosna, żyła prosto, zwyczajnie, jak my. Ona Boga na świat nam przyniosła i na ziemi wśród łez nowe dni zajaśniały.
Ref. Matka, która wszystko rozumie, sercem ogarnia każdego z nas. Matka zobaczyć dobro w nas umie, Ona jest z nami w każdy czas.
2. Dzisiaj światu potrzeba dobroci, by niepokój zwyciężyć i zło. Trzeba ciepła, co życie ozłoci, trzeba Boga, więc ludziom nieśmy Go, tak jak Ona.

A POEM FOR CANDLEMAS DAY:
Od wszystkiego złego
Od tego co wiesz
Dom nasz i rodzinę
W dzień i w nocy strzeż
Matuś moja matuś
Jak obrazek śliczna
Matuś moja matuś Matko Boska Gromniczna

Translation:
From all that is bad,
And with all that you know
Our home and family
Protect by day and night
O dear mother
How splendid is thy image
O dear Mother, Our Lady of the Thunder Candle

POLISH "POP-UP" TUTORIAL FOR CANDLEMAS DAY - -Święto Matki Bożej Gromnicznej
Luty (loo-ti) – February
Drugiego lutego – second of February
Świeca (sh-fee-ETS-a) – Candle
Matka Boża Gromniczna (Mat-ka / bo-jj-a / Gro-m-NEEchna) – Our Lady of the Thunder Candle
Wilki (Veel-kee) – Wolves
Kuchenka (coo-HEN-ka) – stove
Drzwi (dg-vee) / wejście (vay-sh-ch-e)-- doors/doorway

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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!