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 COVID health and safety requirements, masks, distancing, and preregistration (578- 3697). Thanks for all your kindness and goodwill, God bless

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 Wielkiego Postu/ First Sunday of Lent

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Rdz 9,8-15 
Psalm: 25
Drugie czytanie: 1 P 3,18-22
Ewangelia: Mk 1,12-15

First Reading: Gen. 9:8-15
Psalm: 25
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22
Gospel: Mark 1:12-15

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Drogi Twe, Panie, to łaska i wierność / Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant

MASS INTENTION FOR TODAY is for Michael and Nellie Cleary offered by Peggy 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/

A MESSAGE FOR LENT FROM FATHER DENNIS: My Dear Parishioners: We have once again begun our Lenten Journey of Faith. Lent is Holy, as we become holy and enter into it. It is a time to strengthen our faith and renew our spirits in Christ. We renew our Spirits in Christ so that we may witness, with our lives, to Christs’ presence with us. IF we are to fast let us fast from hatred, ill will, malice of all kinds – let the light of Christ shine through us to those we encounter. I pray for you that this Lenten journey may bring you and all around you the peace of Christ. You remain in my prayers, please also pray for me. – Fr. Dennis Lamey, Pastor of St. Mary’s Polish Parish and St. Theresa’s Parish.

LENT ON-LINE WEDNESDAY PRAYER: Wednesdays at 8:00pm. A short gathering to learn more about Scripture, share prayer intentions, and reflect on readings.
You can join by computer or telephone. Here’s a link:
https://zoom.us/j/9410521825?pwd=N3JPZlp4YjBYeXkvZzdUMlNwdjJGQT09
Meeting ID: 941 052 1825
Passcode: 227259
Or dial in:
+1 647 374 4685 Canada
+1 647 558 0588 Canada
Meeting ID: 941 052 1825

As the bulletin was going to print, we learned of the passing of MYRNA GILLIS on Saturday afternoon. Myrna was a long-time friend and supporter of our parish. We will miss her. Our parish extends prayers and condolences to Simon and to everyone in the community who is mourning Myrna passing. Eternal rest grant onto her, O Lord.

REMEMBERING MELBOURNE McKAY: We continue to pray for Melbourne and for his family. Melbourne’s funeral service took place on Saturday. The St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society posted the following on the Facebook page of the Polish Village Hall: The St. Michael's Polish Benefit Society mourns the passing of Melbourne McKay, one of the first members of the Society to be recognized as a Life Member for his decades of quiet, hard-working service. We will miss him and never forget the many ways in which he helped others and supported the work of the Society, the Polish community, and the Polish Village Hall. May he rest in peace. Wieczny odpoczynek racz Mu daƈ Panie. Prayers and condolences are extended to Mel's family.

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 the words “Na zdrowie!” and when they’re used. Thank you to Tony Melski for being our radio voice this week. And thank you to our recognized sponsor for this week, Sophie and Roddie O’Toole!

PRAYER CAPSULE: As part of the current kitchen construction at the Polish Village Hall, a prayer capsule will be enclosed. We'd love to have you include a prayer intention in the capsule (eg. deceased family members, prayers for the community, prayers for peace, etc). We have some cards on which to write intentions. Or please contact tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca (902-563-1226), and we'll make sure your prayer intentions go into the capsule. This is also a way for the St. Michael's Polish Benefit Society to say thank you to St. Mary's Polish Parish for the support and close collaboration which has been ongoing for more than a century!

FACE MASKS WITH THE CAPE BRETON POLISH TARTAN: This week, we will have a very small number of face masks with the Cape Breton Polish tartan. They are $20 each (proceeds to the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society). To reserve one, please e-mail tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca or call 902-563-1226.

COLLECTION FOR OUR PARISH FEBRUARY 14: $851.00, including $240 for the Building Fund and $5.00 for fuel. Thank you for your support and 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).

RECENT IMO (IN MEMORY OF) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUILDING FUND:
IMO Dawn Marie and Michael Ardelli from Shirley Ardelli
IMO family and parishioners from Elizabeth Kozakiewicz Wasiuk (Etobicoke, Ont.)

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!

ANNUAL COMMITTEE RECRUITMENT: If you might be interested in serving on the 2021 Finance Committee, or in learning more, please speak with any member of the Rada

A RECENT MESSAGE ON TWITTER FROM POPE FRANCIS: “Lent is precisely the season of hope when we turn our gaze back to the God who is patient. Saint Paul passionately urges us to place our hope in reconciliation: “Be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20).”

Development and Peace ShareLent campaign – more information: https://www.devp.org/en/campaign/sharelove

PHOTOS OF PARISH ACTIVITIES FOR PARISH SCRAPBOOK: Vicky Aucoin has been doing an amazing job keeping the parish scrapbooks, and welcomes your photos (labelled, if possible) as activities happen

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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!