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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Trzecia Niedziela Wielkiego Postu/ Third Sunday of Lent

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Wj 20,1-17 
Psalm: 19
Drugie czytanie: 1 Kor 1,22-25
Ewangelia: J 2,13-25

First Reading: Ex. 20:1-17
Psalm: 19
Second Reading: 1 Cor. 1:22-25
Gospel: John 2:13-25

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Słowa Twe, Panie, dają życie wieczne / Your words, O Lord, give eternal life

MASS INTENTION FOR TODAY is for Nelgah MacDonald offered by Shirley Ardelli and family

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

ALTAR SOCIETY designated volunteers for March: Jean Annette White, Angela Doiron

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/

STO LAT: Happy 50th birthday to Tony Melski. Wishing him many blessings and lots of health and happiness!

GOOD FRIDAY: On Good Friday, we will have Gorzkie Żale (the traditional Lenten Lamentations) and Stations of the Cross in our church. Time to be announced. Following that, the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society will be preparing Easter food baskets for shut-ins (to be blessed on Holy Saturday) and food hampers. Time to be announced

EASTER FOOD BLESSING: On Holy Saturday at 1:00pm, we will have the traditional blessing of Easter foods (Święcenie Pokarmόw Wielkanocnych). Physical distancing protocols will be in place. More information to follow.

A SPECIAL NOTE OF THANKS:
To Mom’s “Parish” Family: We, the children of Nellie Tynski, would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mom’s Parish family for all of your support during this difficult time. To those who attended the Funeral Mass, sent Mass cards and donated to the Church Building Fund, we thank you for your kindness. Heartfelt thanks to Father Paul for his touching homily and kind words about Mom; to Stephanie Black and Anne Marie Campbell for your tireless efforts in organizing the seating arrangement to allow for so many to attend the Funeral Mass while ensuring social distancing; to Angela Doiron who helped Steffie and Anne Marie with the smooth flow of attendees entering and exiting the Church; to John Morykot who came early in the morning to ensure that the walkways and parking lot were cleared and salted following the poor weather from the night before; to the Choir, Parish and Altar Society for sending food trays to our home; to our Ciocias and cousins for your loving support and delicious food. A very special thank you to Jean Annette White whose angelic voice guided Mom to heaven with the beautiful hymns that she loved so much. Each and everyone in the Parish held a special place in Mom’s heart. Dziękujemy.

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 zupa grzybowa – Polish mushroom soup. Thank you to Victoria Shulga for being our radio voice this week. And thank you to our recognized sponsor for this week, the Polish Canadian Society of Nova Scotia!

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!

COLLECTION FOR OUR PARISH FEBRUARY 28: $1520.00, including $190.00 for the Building Fund. 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 Raylene Morykot from Frank and Delores Starzomski; Joe and Marilyn Gillis; Janet and Fred Hawthorne; Evelyn Wojcik
IMO Myrna Gillis from Simon Gillis
IMO Nellie Tynski from Janet and Fred Hawthorne; Frank and Delores Starzomski
IMO Melbourne McKay from Jerry Pocius

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: “I come as a penitent, asking forgiveness from Heaven and our brothers for so much destruction and cruelty; a pilgrim of peace, in the name of Christ, Prince of Peace. How we have prayed, in these years, for peace in Iraq! God always listens. It is up to us to walk His paths."

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

FATHER GREG MacLEOD LECTURE SERIES: Upcoming Guest: Dr Mary Jo Leddy, renowned Catholic theologian and director emeritus of Romero House. Title: The Other Face of God: When the Stranger Calls Us Home. "The work for justice involves struggling for systemic change so that there will be less need for charitable activities.... mercy is a dynamic response that begins when one's heart and mind are touched by need and suffering of another person. We are summoned by mercy. At the reach of mercy, one is moved to act with justice. It is the reach of mercy that sustains the passion and commitment to justice."
Wednesday, March 10, at 7:30pm via Zoom (starting with a short presentation on the new Ecumenical Newman House for Students in Sydney)
Sponsored by CBU Chaplaincy and Newman Society
https://zoom.us/j/99753679029...
Meeting ID: 997 5367 9029
Passcode: 057391

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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!