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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Wielkanoc / Easter Sunday

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Dz 10,34a.37-43 
Psalm: 118
Drugie czytanie: Kol 3, 1-4
Ewangelia: J 20,1-9

First Reading: Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Psalm: 118
Second Reading: Col. 3:1-4
Gospel: John 20:1-9

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: W tym dniu wspaniałym wszyscy się weselmy / This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad

MASS INTENTION FOR TODAY is for Dawn Marie and Michael Ardelli offered by Shirley and family
LECTOR TODAY: Tom Urbaniak
LECTOR NEXT SUNDAY: Wayne Joseph

MESSAGE FROM POPE FRANCIS DURING THIS PAST HOLY WEEK: “The cross expresses love, service, unreserved self-giving: it truly is the “tree of life”, of overabundant life.”

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

ALTAR SOCIETY designated volunteers for April: Ursula Melski, Eileen Fagan-Steele

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

Bόg zapłaƈ! Thank you to everyone who helped with the various aspects of Holy Week and Easter preparations: For help with ensuring COVID protocols were carefully followed; for the Droga Krzyżowa/Stations of the Cross and Gorzkie Zale on Good Friday; for the Easter baskets for homebound people; for the collection for Loaves and Fishes; for the beautiful blessing of Easter foods; for the decorating and cleaning and telephoning; for the tulips as gestures of friendship; to our Care Group; to the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society; and for all the prayers and generosity at a difficult time.

AN ADDITIONAL THANK YOU to our nine readers and two soloists who contributed to a very spiritual (physically distanced) gathering in our church on Good Friday evening. We had the beautiful and deeply prayerful Polish "Gorzkie Żale" Lamentations. We had readings and prayers related to each of 14 stations of the cross. And there was lots of silent meditation. During it all, we prayed for our world. We prayed for people who are suffering. We also prayed for people who inflict suffering on others. We prayed for healing, forgiveness, and compassion. Please know that wherever you are and whatever your situation, we are praying for you.

COVID SEATING / ATTENDANCE SYSTEM FOR OUR MASSES: To our regular attendees: We will assume you are attending Mass (you don’t need to receive a prior call), but if you cannot attend please call Stephanie Black at 902-578-3697. If you have not attended in a while, but would like to attend, please call Stephanie to reserve a seat. Thanks, everyone, for the wonderful goodwill and cooperation with all of the safety protocols during the pandemic.

FOOD CUPBOARD - 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.

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 ways to say Happy Easter in Polish. Thank you to Kasia Jones for lending her voice to this segment! And thank you to Mary McMullin for sponsoring this week’s segment.

A NOTE ON A SPECIAL UPCOMING MAY 3rd LECTURE: On Monday, May 3, at 7:00pm, the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society would like to invite you to an on-line lecture to mark the Polish holiday. This year’s lecture is dedicated in memory of Melbourne McKay. Our guest will be author Brianne Turczynski. Her recent book is called Detroit’s Lost Poletown. It’s a dramatic and tragic story of a largely Polish neighbourhood that struggled in the 1980s to save their church, homes, and shops from total demolition to make room for a car plant and huge parking lot. You’ll be able to join in the gathering by computer or telephone.

PRAYER CAPSULE: We still have until May 6 – because the final phase of kitchen construction (the cupboards) is behind schedule due to general supplier delays in the industry. 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.

COLLECTION FOR OUR PARISH FOR PALM SUNDAY MARCH 28: $2225.00, including $15.00 for ShareLent, $125.00 for flowers, $725.00 for the Building Fund, $30.00 for Holy Thursday. 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 Nellie Tynski from Hazel Kokocki; Marianne Gillis; Tom Urbaniak and Alison Etter
IMO Raylene Morykot from Tom Urbaniak and Alison Etter
IMO Mike and Lena Kokocki from Hazel Kokocki
IMO Edward and Bernice Ratushny from Marianne Gillis
IMO Michael and Anna Kiec from Marianne Gillis
IMO Melbourne McKay from Tom Urbaniak and Alison Etter
IMO Walter and Joseph Ratushny from Marianne Gillis
IMO Kenny Ratushny from Marianne Gillis

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!

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

FACE MASKS WITH CAPE BRETON POLISH TARTAN: We have received an additional small order of face masks with the Cape Breton Polish tartan! Proceeds support the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society. They are $20.00 each

THANK YOU to the wonderful volunteers who helped to put together Easter baskets for blessing for people who are homebound, along with cards from the parish and the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society. The baskets were blessed during Holy Saturday’s “Swieconka” ceremony

 

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EASTER LETTER:

Dear Parishioners,

Happy Easter! He is Risen Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

This time we are in continues to put constraints on our ability to come together as family, as community, and as the people of God. WE pray that this darkness will soon lift.

The light of Christ is in the world and the Lord has TRULY RISEN. Let the light of Christ Jesus wash over you today, and may the Risen Lord bring joy and peace to your hearts and to your families as we sing praise to God for the gift of His Only Son!

Please be assured of my continued prayers for all of you.

May Easter Joy fill your hearts with the Peace of Christ!

Mary mother of God …Pray for us, St Therese Pray for Us … “Do not abandon yourselves to despair: We are the Easter people, and Hallelujah is our song.”
~ Pope John Paul II

Thank You for your kind cards and offers of Prayer; they are appreciated.

Many Blessings!
Yours in Christ
Fr. Dennis Lamey P.p.

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POLISH POP-UP TUTORIAL – GREETINGS FOR EASTER:
Wesołych Świąt! (ve-SO-wi-h /shfee-OHN-t) – literally “Happy Holy-Days” – also used for Christmas
Wesołych Świąt Wiekanocnych! (ve-SO-wi-h / shfee-OHN-t / vee-elk-a-NO-ts-nih) – literally “happy holy days of the great night” – used specifically for Easter
Wesołego Alleluja! (ve-SO-we-go / Allleluia) – Happy (or joyful) alleluia.
Smacznego jajka! (sm-ah-NE-go/yay-ka) – literally wishing you a “delicious egg”
Radosnych Świąt! (ra-DOE-sn-ih / shee-OHN-t) – literally “Joyous Holy Days”
Życzenia wielkanocne (dg-itch-EN-yee-a / vee-elk-a-NO-ts-ne ) – greetings of Easter
Wstał Pan Chrystus! (fst-Aw/Pan/Hr-IS-toos) – The Lord Jesus is risen

Please Note: Exclamation marks are very common after all Polish greetings

POLISH POP-UP TUTORIAL – EASTER BREAKFAST:
Wielkanoc (vee-el-KA-no-ts) - Easter
Święconka (shvee-ents-ON-ka) - "blessing event” also used for blessing of Easter baskets- Holy Saturday
Woda Święcona (VO-da shvee-entz-O-na) - Holy water
Jajko (YI-ko) - egg
Chleb (hlep) - bread
Ogórki (o-GOOR-kee) - cucumbers
Pomidory (po-mih-DO-rih) - tomatoes
Chrzan (kjan) - horseradish
Ser (sayr) - cheese
Kiełbasa (kee-ew-BA-sa) - sausage
Owoce (o-VO-tseh) - fruit
Ciasto (ch-AS-to) - cake
Makowiec (ma-KO-vee-ets) - poppyseed
Baranek (ba-RA-nek) - lamb

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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!