Parafia p.w. Narodzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny
ST. MARY’S POLISH PARISH
21 Wesley St., Sydney, NS, B1N 2M5
Tel.: 564-4847
www.StMarysPolishParish.ca
Witamy wszystkich! Welcome to all!
We are pleased to share our faith and rich traditions with the whole community.
Celebrating 100 years of faith and service (1913-2013)

PROBOSZCZ/PASTOR:  Father Paul Murphy 564-4355

MSZY/MASSES: Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. followed by Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa

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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Siódma Niedziela Wielkanocna Uroczystość Wniebowstąpienia Pańskiego
Seventh Sunday of Easter/Solemnity of the Ascension

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION is for Bridget Kyte offered by the Kyte family. Eternal rest grant onto her O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon her. Wieczny odpoczynek racz Jej dać Panie, a swiatłość wiekuista niechaj Jej świeci na wieki wieków. Amen.

TODAY’S RESPONSORIAL PSALM: “Pan wśród radości wstępuje do nieba.” (Amid joy, the Lord ascends to heaven.) Pronunciation: Pan /vshrood /rad-osh-chee/ vsten-pooh-ye /doe / nee-e-ba

The Vigil Candle this week is for Michael Ardelli offered by Shirley & family.

Eucharistic Minister for today: Kay Violande

Ushers for collection today: Joe Gillis, Wilf Ingram

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD:

Wednesday, May 15, 4:00 p.m. Mass followed by Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa. The Mass intention will be for Hugh McMullin offered by Walter and Priscilla Wójcik.

Sunday, May 19, 9:30 a.m. Uroczystość Zesłania Ducha Świętego/Pentecost. The Mass intention will be for Michael Ardelli offered by Shirley & family. 
Lectors: Stephanie Black, Andrzej Cebula
Eucharistic Minister: Suzanne Campbell
Altar Servers: Marjorie, Carolyn, Matthew
Ushers: Michael Melski, Bernie LaRusic

Collection receipts for Sunday, May 5:  $1446.45 (broken down as follows: $953.00 weekly contribution, $420.00 monthly supplementary contribution, $51.00 candles, $22.55 loose. Not included in the above total: $25.00 Antigonish Diocesan Society (education of priests), $65.00 Papal charities. Thank you very much for your support of St. Mary’s Polish Parish. Dziękujemy serdecznie!

 “IMIENINY” (NAME DAYS) FOR THE COMING WEEK. Help to maintain a longstanding Polish Catholic tradition by acknowledging relatives, friends, and colleagues who are celebrating their “name day,” corresponding with the feast day of a saint of the same name.  Where there is more than one saint of the same name who has been assigned a day, your “name day” is the one closest to your birthday. It is customary in the Polish tradition to acknowledge the name day of a relative or friend:
May 12: Dominik, Jan, Joanna, Wszemił
May 13: Andrzej, Ciechosław, Gloria, Magdalena, Piotr, Robert
May 14: Dobiesław, Wiktor, Maciej
May 15: Jan, Zofia
May 16: Andrzej, Jędrzej, Szymon, Wieńczysław
May 17: Bruno, Sławomir, Weronika, Wiktor
May 18: Aleksander, Aleksandra, Alicja, Edwin, Eryk, Eryka, Feliks, Irena, Myślibor
May 19: Augustyn, Celestyn, Mikołaj, Pękosław, Piotr, Timur

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

CATECHISM AND POLISH CULTURAL CLASS, led by Krista Ann Starzomski, for school-age children following Mass downstairs.

SHORT MEETING OF THE ALTAR SOCIETY (volunteers for Mass preparation, cleaning, decorating) – today after Mass in front of the altar. New members are welcome.

TODAY – MEASUREMENTS FOR POLISH FOLK ATTIRE: If you would like to have your measurements taken and to order traditional Polish folk attire for our upcoming 100th anniversary, please drop by the Polish Village Hall for a few minutes: You can drop by any time after Mass until about 1 p.m. At the hall, please see Frania McKay. All parishioners are invited

Thank you for the non-perishable contributions last week as part of our ongoing Sto Darow [100 Gifts] Centenary Service initiative. These have been delivered to Loaves and Fishes.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CHOIR FOR THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AT THE PIERSCAPE CONCERT ON TUESDAY EVENING! The warm applause and the congratulations on our 100th anniversary are a testament to how much our choir is appreciated in the wider community!

Preparing for a Fund-raising Plant/Garden Sale: Please save pots for a plant/garden sale to benefit our church and hall, anticipated for June. Thank you! Please speak with Catherine Tucker for more information (567-0146).

DESIGNING A CAPE BRETON POLISH TARTAN:  At last week’s community supper, we distributed some possible design options. (Thanks so much to Jeff Wilson!) We’re looking for your votes or your critiques. If you have not received this handout, please speak with Jeff.

CASTING CALL – NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED! Parishioners will recall that Prof. Al Balawyder (retired from St. Francis Xavier University) was here for our Oplatek supper in January and spoke about his book The Odyssey of the Polish Treasures. He has turned it into a play. It is being adapted to a dinner-theatre format, and it will be performed for the first time at the Polish Village Hall on the evening of Saturday, July 27, in conjunction with the conference of the Canadian Polish Research Institute. If you are interested in a role, or just curious, please come to a meeting today at 2 p.m. at the Polish Village Hall.  Josie Sobol is kindly helping to adapt the play to the venue.

THE MEN OF THE DEEPS WILL BE PERFORMING A CONCERT IN HONOUR OF OUR PARISH CENTENARY! It will take place on the evening of Saturday, July 6, 2013, at the Boardmore Playhouse, Cape Breton University. Ticket information will be available next week, but please mark this date on your calendars. The event will be hosted by the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society. The Choir of St. Mary’s Polish Parish will be participating, and the evening will be interspersed with short stories about our founders and early immigrants. The Men of the Deeps will have songs appropriate for the occasion, and the Polish Consul General will present a commemorative Polish miner’s uniform.

CENTENARY ART EXHIBIT: NOTE TO PARISHIONERS AND FRIENDS OF THE PARISH: We are inviting all our visual artists of all ages working in all genres (painting, sketching, textiles, rugs, etc.) to display any work of a religious or Polish-cultural theme that you have prepared -- or may be willing to prepare -- at a special Centenary Art Exhibit. It will coincide with the conference of the Canadian Polish Research Institute, which is being held in Sydney because of our centenary. The opening reception will be at the Polish Village Hall on the evening of Thursday, July 25. We would very much like to show a wide range of work from our community. If you are interested in participating in any way or have any questions, please contact Frania McKay (539-4354; frania@ns.sympatico.ca).

PARISH CENTENARY HISTORICAL EXHIBIT ITEMS STILL BEING SOUGHT: Any clippings, photos, any artifacts or documents from you or your ancestors. These will be returned. Please contact Patricia Nalepa (ececp@hotmail.com; 563-1226).

PLEASE MARK THE FOLLOWING PARISH CENTENARY EVENTS ON YOUR CALENDAR:
Family Reunion, including get-togethers for the whole parish community – August 2-5
Main Centenary Mass and Polish Festival – September 8
Other events are described on our website – www.stmaryspolishparish.ca. There are various activities taking place in honour of our centenary.

Concert - Sacred Heart Parish will be presenting A Musical Tribute to Shauna Doolan on Sunday, June 2, at the Church, George St., The concert starts at 2:00 p.m. with doors opening at 1:15 pm. Admission: Adults $12.00 - Children under 12 admitted free.

ST. ANDRZEJ BOBOLA – Feast Day: May 16: St. Andrzej Bobola (1591-1657) was a Jesuit superior and “country missionary” known for working in the most difficult and impoverished conditions, including among plague victims. His holiness and service became widely known in Poland and Lithuania and brought people closer to the church. This was not appreciated by all. Father Andrzej was kidnapped. He was severely tortured and finally murdered, all the while praying for the souls of his kidnappers. He was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1938. A very popular saint in Poland, he was declared one of the Polish patron saints by Blessed Pope John Paul II.

HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY!: A PRAYER FOR MOTHERS:
All-loving God, we give you thanks and praise for mothers young and old.
We pray for mothers who give life and tend to our needs; May they be blessed with patience and wisdom to care for their families and themselves with great joy.
We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us; May they continue to guide in strong and gentle ways.
We remember mothers who are separated from their children because of war, poverty, or conflict; May they feel the loving embrace of our God, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, who wipes every tear away.
We pray for women who are not mothers but still love and shape us with motherly care and compassion.
We remember mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
- Adapted from a prayer by Heidi Busse

EXCERPT FROM THE MAY 6th PASTORAL LETTER OF THE ATLANTIC CANADIAN BISHOPS ON FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CHANGES:
As pastors it is our duty and responsibility to be pastorally sensitive and of one mind and heart with our brothers and sisters who face the new demands and pressures required to qualify for EI. Not only the members of our parishes and faith communities, but all who are experiencing the impact of difficult economic times, need to be understood and supported. From the perspective of our Christian convictions, persons who are unemployed are not problems; you are persons with lives, families and responsibilities. Most of you are trying to deal with the realities of daily living as best you can. As religious leaders, as always, we offer our support and encouragement. We believe that it is important for you to be treated with respect, and that you not be submitted to unrealistic regulations to qualify for assistance when it is needed. There is no doubt that some reforms to EI are necessary, especially when the EI system is abused. Still, the present policy’s priorities, it seems to us, should be more focused on the needs of persons, than on the need to cut government costs on the backs of the most vulnerable in our area ... May the Holy Spirit of Wisdom prevail in these difficult times.

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR ON-LINE “VIRTUAL TOUR” www.stmaryspolishparish.ca

Wishing you a blessed week! Bóg zapłać!

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TODAY’S HYMNS:
Entrance: Serdeczna Matko (Beloved Mother) -- #191 in the coil-bound hymnal
Offertory: Z rąk kapłanskich (From Priestly Hands)
Communion: Jezu drogi Tyś miłością (Dear Jesus, Thou Art Love) -- #112
Post-Communion: Czarna Madonna -- #176
Closing Hymn: Chwalcie łąki umajone (Holy Praise, the May meadows) -- #166.