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!
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. Praying of the Rosary begins prior to Mass at approximately 3:35 p.m.

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 Adwentu / Third Sunday of Advent

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION is for Irene Melnick offered by Stephanie Black and 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

The Third Sunday of Advent is also known as “Gaudete” Sunday, from the Latin “to rejoice”.  On this day, the rose-coloured candle is lit on the Advent wreath, in addition to two violet-coloured candles. Having passed the mid-point of Advent – a period of solemn preparation – the church uses a different colour on this Sunday as a way of somewhat lightening the mood and providing symbolic encouragement as we continue our prayerful journey to Christmas.

The Vigil Candle this week is for Pope Francis’ December prayer intention: “That children who are victims of abandonment or violence may find the love and protection they need."

Eucharistic Minister for today: Kay Violande

Ushers for collection today: Joe Gillis, Robert Melski Jr.

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, December 18, 4:00 p.m. Mass followed by Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa. Praying of the Rosary prior to Mass beginning at approximately 3:35 p.m. The Mass intention will be for deceased members of the Wadden family offered by Hazel Williams.  

Sunday, December 22, 9:30 a.m. Fourth Sunday of Advent.The Mass intention will be for Henry Pierrynowski offered by Aggie and Peter Stephenson.
Lectors: Jola Cebula, Tony Melski   
Eucharistic Minister: Suzanne Campbell                
Altar Servers: Noah, Nikolas                                            
Ushers: Steve Melnick, Toni LaRusic
Greeters: Victoria Aucoin, Stephanie Black
Altar Society volunteers for December:  Catherine Tucker, Herb Tucker, Marjorie Ardelli                   

Collection receipts for Sunday, December 8:  $1149.95 (broken down as follows: $413.00 weekly contribution, $70.00 monthly supplementary contribution, $59.60 candles, $26.25 loose, $325.00 building fund, $60.00 Christmas flowers, $195.00 sales of Polish Christmas cards, etc. Thank you very much for your support of St. Mary’s Polish Parish. Dziękujemy serdecznie!

MASS CARDS/VIGIL CANDLE: Contact Tom Urbaniak (563-1226)

IN MEMORIAM DONATION: To make an In Memoriam donation, please pick up one of the IMO cards/St. Mary’s Polish Church envelopes at the back or speak with Shauna McKay. These will be acknowledged in the bulletin. We also welcome donations to the Building Fund, as we continue with improvements and repairs.

“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:
December 15: Celina, Iga, Ignacy, Krystiana, Nina, Wolimir, Żegota
December 16: Alina, Zdzisława    
December 17: Florian, Jolanta, Żyrosław
December 18: Bogusław, Gracjan, Laurencja, Wszemir
December 19: Beniamin, Dariusz, Gabriela, Mścigniew, Tymoteusz
December 20: Bogumiła, Dominik
December 21: Tomasz, Tomisław
December 22: Beata, Drogomir, Franciszka, Zenon

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYING OF THE ROSARY – Every Wednesday before the 4 p.m. Mass (beginning at approximately 3:35 p.m.).

PLEASE NOTE: The Advent Holy Hour that was scheduled for our church this afternoon (Dec.15th) has been cancelled due to the anticipated storm.

ADVENT HOLY HOURS:
During the Sundays of Advent we will be holding afternoon Holy Hours from 2-3 pm. Please plan to attend. Thank you!
Dec. 22nd - Holy Redeemer Parish
This Holy Hour will be offered for your family intentions and for vocations to the Priesthood. It will consist of hymns, Scripture readings, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Adoration and Benediction. There will also be time prior for confessions. Please plan on joining us in Prayer and Worship.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR A SUPERB, MEMORABLE ST. NICHOLAS DAY CELEBRATION LAST SUNDAY. Acknowledgments to the hard-working volunteers involved in planning and organization.

CONFIRMATION: We are very pleased that four members of St. Mary’s Polish Parish will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation from Bishop Dunn today. They will be at Holy Redeemer at 11 a.m.: Bartek Cebula, Justyn Gillis, Nicholas Pellerine, Nikolas Starzomski-Wilson. (Please note: Some of our families are absent this morning in preparation for that Mass.) Let us pray for them and their families. Thank you to all who helped with their preparations.

MEETING WITH BISHOP DUNN: On Tuesday, December 10, our Rada members and finance chairperson had a productive meeting with Bishop Brian Dunn. Present also were our Pastor, Father Paul Murphy, as well as Father Donald MacGillivray (Director of Pastoral Planning) and Father Angus MacDougall (Chair of the Diocesan Real Estate Committee). Bishop Dunn began by acknowledging the 100th anniversary initiatives and other good work that has been done by our parishioners. He stated that he has decided, with advice from the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Committee, that our parish will remain open for the time being. We are still in discussion about some challenging issues, such as the future of O’Connell House. Our next meeting will be in January. Please pray for all involved, for our parish and our diocese.

CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE:
CHRISTMAS EVE:
4pm – Holy Redeemer with carols ½ hour before
8pm -- Holy Redeemer with carols ½ hour before
12 MIDNIGHT - St. Mary’s Polish Church with Polish carols ½ hour before (Pasterka)

CHRISTMAS DAY:
9:30am – St. Mary’s Polish Church with carols ½ hour before
11am – Holy Redeemer with carols ½ hour before

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE:
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:
Midnight Mass: Janet Hawthorne
Christmas Day: Marilyn Gillis
Dec. 29: Suzanne Campbell
New Year’s Day: Kay Violande
January 5: Janet Hawthorne

LECTORS:
Midnight Mass: Stephanie Black,  Andrzej Cebula
Christmas Day: Anne Marie Campbell, Tom Urbaniak
December 29: Elaine Tynski-Shipley, Tony Melski
New Year’s Day: Jola Cebula, Tony Melski
January 5: Anna Wesolkowska, Janusz Wawrzyszyn

USHERS:
Midnight Mass: Michael Melski, Robert Melski Jr.
Christmas Day: Bernie LaRusic, Robert Melski Sr.
December 29: Steve Melnick, Toni LaRusic
New Year’s Day: Michael Melski, Bernie LaRusic
January 5: Steve Melnick, Toni LaRusic

RECENT IN MEMORY OF (“IMO”) CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR BUILDING FUND:
IMO William and Helen Rozicki – from Ron and Mary DiPenta
IMO Theresa Rozicki – from Ron and Mary DiPenta
IMO Edward Rozicki – from Ron and Mary DiPenta
IMO of Peter and Ludwika Tynski – from Annie Redmond
IMO of James Redmond – from Annie Redmond
IMO Eugene Sztuka – from the Choir of St. Mary’s Polish Church
IMO Eugene Sztuka – from Mary Pierrynowski
IMO Eugene Sztuka – from Peter and Aggie Stephenson

CONSULTATION ON DESIGNING A POLISH CAPE BRETON TARTAN: If you did not indicate your preferred option/comments on the form that was in the bulletin last week, there are additional forms pinned to the bulletin board. Please simply leave it in the pew once filled out. Thank you. Based on the comments/input, we will continue to work with the designer in the next couple of weeks, hoping for something that everyone will like.

HAND RAIL TO THE ALTAR: This is an addition that has been requested by Father Paul, and also suggested by a number of parishioners and Father Tom. An economical but elegant solution, recommended to us by carpenter Marc Butot (who donated his labour for the new papal bread-and-salt display), is to use the brass rail that led to the pulpit (but that is now unused and largely hidden). Marc can install it in such a way that it can be removed if large objects need to be carried on or off the altar. He is recommending that it be placed in the middle, but another option is on the right side. If you would like to see different scenarios and give your feedback, please meet for a few minutes after Mass in front of the altar. (This will also be announced in the verbal announcements before Mass.)

OPŁATEK (Polish Christmas wafer for breaking and sharing during Christmas-season meals and for inclusion in Christmas cards) is on the back table. Please leave $3 per envelope in the basket on the back table. Thank you!

NEW YEAR’S EVE (SYLWESTRA) -- POLISH VILLAGE HALL -- TICKETS TONY MELSKI – 537-1417

POLISH RELIGIOUS CHRISTMAS CARDS: There are some cards for sale at the back of the church ($2 per card; please place in basket).

A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE -- PUTTING UP CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AND PRE-CHRISTMAS CLEANING OF THE CHURCH – NEXT SUNDAY (DECEMBER 22) AFTER MASS: We would be very grateful to anyone who could stay for an hour or two after Mass to help out. We’ll meet briefly in front of the altar, assign roles, and then make our church look splendid for Christmas! Thanks to some local students and teachers (to be acknowledged in next week’s bulletin), we’ll also have an outdoor Nativity Scene this year.

TRADITIONAL POLISH DOOR-TO-DOOR CAROLLING (Sunday, Dec. 29th): There is a sign-up sheet at the back if you wish to be a caroller (no previous experience required!) or to receive carollers at your door. We will have a practice at church after Mass on the 29th, then start at Harbourstone for 2-3 p.m., and then go to people’s doors. We may not be able to make it to every door, but we’ll try to call beforehand.

PARISH OPLATEK SUPPER – SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 6 P.M. – PLEASE MARK ON YOUR CALENDARS

Mr. Rachwalski will be at the Polish Village Hall after Mass today for his pre-Christmas sale of traditional Polish meats.

PARISH CENTENARY COOKBOOKS have sold out, but more will be printed based on orders received. Please speak with Shari McKay or Shauna McKay.

OUR BOOK PRZEZ POKOLENIA: Prayers and Customs of St. Mary’s Polish Church also makes a great gift ($10 each). Please speak with Tom Urbaniak.

ST. THOMAS DAY IN RURAL POLAND: The feast of St. Thomas the Apostle was previously assigned to December 21st (now July 3rd), but customs related to St. Thomas are still practiced at this time of year in parts of Poland. One practice is the blessing of the frozen fields to prepare for Christmas as the family prays the Rosary inside. Sometimes there is also a ringing of hand bells and church bells, a way of invoking God’s special protection for the coming year. One reason for St. Thomas’s special place in Poland is that he was the only apostle believed to have witnessed the Assumption of Mary.

THE RENOVATED AND REFURBISHED POLISH VILLAGE HALL is a comfortable, well appointed, modernized venue for events large and small. Please consider renting the hall for your events. Please call 564-8494.

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR ON-LINE “VIRTUAL TOUR” AND AN 8.5 MINUTE PARISH WELCOME VIDEO ON OUR WEBSITE:  www.stmaryspolishparish.ca

Wishing you a blessed week! Bóg zapłać!

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OUR COMMUNION HYMN TODAY (DECEMBER 15, 2013 – THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT)
W Sakramencie Utajony (Arkadiusz Popławski)

W Sakramencie utajony, Zbawicielu, nasz Panie, Z Panny czystej narodzony, Duszy naszej kochanie, Bądźże od nas pochwalony Przez nabożne śpiewanie. W Majestacie swym niezmierny, Tobie my się kłaniamy; Pobłogosław lud Twój wierny, Pokornie Cię błagamy: Zbaw nas, Jezu miłosierny, Jako w Tobie ufamy. Chwała Tobie w tej świętości Na wiek wieków niech słynie; Tyś ją dla nas w Swej miłości Ustanowił jedynie; A po śmierci z Twej dobroci Niech nas niebo nie minie.

In the latent Sacrament, Our Saviour and our Lord, Born of the Virgin pure, Our soul and truly adored, May you be praised by us Through our devotional singing. In His immense Majesty, We kneel before you; Bless your faithful people, We humbly beseech you: Save us, merciful Jesus, As we trust in you. Glory to You in all Your sacredness For ever and ever let it be known; You gave especially to us His love Especially set forth And after our death through thy goodness Let us not fail to dwell in heaven.

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TODAY’S HYMNS:
Entrance: Hejnał – # 22 in the coil-bound hymnal
Offertory: Spuśćcie nam na ziemskie niwy [Descend to us on our earthly meadow] -- #27
Communion: W sakramencie utajony [Contained in the Sacrament] – not in hymnal; please see bulletin insert
Post-Communion: Zdrowaś bądź, Maryja [Hail to You, O Mary] -- #30
Closing Hymn: Oto Pan Bóg Przyjdzie (Behold, the Lord Cometh) – #25