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 Our church is temporarily closed due to the general provincial shutdown to stop the spread of COVID-19

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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Zesłanie Ducha Świętego/ Pentecost Sunday

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie / First Reading: Dz (Acts) 2:1-11
Psalm: 104
Drugie czytanie / Second Reading: Ga 5:16-25
Ewangelia / Gospel: John 15: 26-27; 16:12-15

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Niech zstąpi Duch Twój i odnowi ziemię / Lord, send out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth

Uroczystość Zesłania Ducha Świętego / Pentecost: Pentecost – literally the fiftieth day (after Easter) – marks the descent of the Holy Spirit among the apostles and other followers of Jesus. Typical church images of the Pentecost show the Virgin Mary seated with the apostles. On this day, we pray for wisdom, piety, and discernment, among other virtues. “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.”  “Przyjdź, Duchu Święty, i zapal w nas płomień.

Bishop Kirkpatrick’s pastoral letter for the Feast of Pentecost can be found here: https://www.antigonishdiocese.com/the -gifts-of-the-holy-spirit/

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

PLEASE NOTE: Nasz kościół jest tymczasowo zamknięty z powodu ogólnego zamknięcia prowincji, aby powstrzymać rozprzestrzenianie się COVID-19. Our church is temporarily closed due to the general provincial shutdown to stop the spread of COVID-19. Stay safe, everyone! Please pray for a successful vaccination program and the end of the pandemic.

CONGRATULATIONS to Bob and Marsha Melski on their recent wedding anniversary!

STO LAT! Happy birthday to Larry Gniewek! Wishing you many blessings.

Please continue to pray for the health of John Doiron, father of Howie and father-in-law of Angela.

Please send along any prayer intentions, birthday, anniversary or memorial wishes or prayers (tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca; 902-563-1226)

Wednesday is Mother’s Day in Poland – and it’s also marked by many people of Polish heritage outside Poland! Wszystkiego dobrego!

HELPING OUR COMMUNITY AT A DIFFICULT TIME / HELPING WITH BASIC NEEDS: Last year, our parish’s endowment did well. This is the ethical investment fund (principal is protected). Using some of the annual return on investment, the Rada and the parish endowment trustees were able to create a $15,000 budget line for this year called “Christian Service – Helping the Community.” The situation in our community and neighbourhood is very difficult. There is a lot of poverty and hopelessness. The Parish and the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society have been talking to agencies and community workers. Basic staples like food and hygiene items, especially during this lockdown, are needed. Longer-term solutions were mentioned also, but basic things right now. At its meeting (by Zoom) on Thursday, the parish Rada had a thoughtful conversation about the challenges, and reviewed some notes about the situation. Rada determined we need to do some things right away to assist the community using part of the special budget line (from part of the investment returns) that is specifically set aside to help the community (Christian service). Therefore: $5,000 will go to the Whitney Pier Youth Club to help get food and basic items to local families. During this lockdown, more than 60 “backpacks” are going out from the WPYC every week to help families in need, and this number is expanding. This donation to buy food and basic items will be spent by the Whitney Pier Youth Club in the community (eg. at Joan’s Grocery). In addition, $2,000 is going to Howard House to help with immediate needs in the home and basic items, like hygiene kits for residents, certain equipment in the house, and bus tickets for residents to get to temporary jobs or volunteer assignments. This is partly in response to Pope Francis’s plea to parishes to help people who are making the transition from prison back into society to put their lives back together, and to show mercy and kindness, as they are often starting with nothing. And a $3,000 contribution to help set up the Father Greg MacLeod House. The parish will officially be one of the 10 founding donors. The Father Greg MacLeod House will be a base/residence for six university students at 37 Esplanade (the property is being donated). The students will be committed to deepening their Christian faith and will pledge to help address the needs of the community, through volunteer service and outreach. The project to set up the Father Greg MacLeod House, which is supported by the bishop, is being led by a team of Catholic and Protestant clergy and volunteer laypeople. Discernment will continue with the parish and with the community about what God is calling us to do to bring hope and help to our brothers and sisters. Thanks to all fellow parishioners for the commitment to love and caring, as we try to deepen our faith and service.

FOOD CUPBOARD: Before the temporary shutdown, our parishioners have been very generous with the contributions every Sunday to the Food Cupboard (which is in front of the Polish Village Hall). We’d be very grateful to anyone who can stop by the Food Cupboard to help keep it filled. We have received good feedback about how much this is helping in the community

SPECIAL ART PROJECT TO FEATURE “HISTORIC HOMES OF POLISH CAPE BRETON”: Dear Friends: Please suggest Polish Cape Breton homes – standing or no longer standing – to feature in a mural project for NS Polish Heritage Month (a project of the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society) – working with artist Emily Sheppard. (contact: 902-563-1226; tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca)

Above is a sample of Emily’s work. Can you recognize it? (It’s the late Joe Dziubek’s home at the bottom of Bryan St., Whitney Pier) We would like to feature as many of the “Polish homes” as possible. The first step will be a beautiful mural in the Polish Village Hall, to be unveiled during NS Polish Heritage Month.

BULLETINS: If you know someone who is not receiving a bulletin either by e-mail or regular mail, please advise. Happy to make sure they receive a bulletin every week– in one form or another! 902-563-1226; tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca

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). And archived at coastalradio.ca. 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, and to promote and share Polish language and culture in our region. Our radio theme for this coming week will be about Janusz Zurakowski the Polish Canadian test pilot of the Avro Arrow. Veronika Brzeski will be the guest. And a big thank you to the Ardelli family for sponsoring this week’s segment in memory of Michael Ardelli and Dawn Marie Ardelli.

DONATIONS DURING THE SHUTDOWN: We are deeply grateful for everyone’s generosity through the pandemic. If you wish to make a donation, the parish’s mailing address is St. Mary’s Polish Parish, 21 Wesley St., Sydney, NS, B1N 2M5. 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). Thanks for your support!

THE NEW KITCHEN CABINETS ARE FINALLY IN AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL! We had a three-month delay due to the construction material general construction shipping delays. But the cabinets are now in. This was the last major step. And the prayer capsule has gone in as well. Thank you to everyone who submitted a prayer or message! The two photos show Albert MacKay of Gillis Home Hardware doing the installation work.

A RECENT MESSAGE ON TWITTER BY POPE FRANCIS: “Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species. Most become extinct due to human activity, and will no longer give glory to God by their very existence, nor convey their message to us. We have no such right.” #Biodiversity #LaudatoSiWeek

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Życzymy błogosławionego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week!