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: Sunday at 9:30am, Wednesday at 6:30pm
Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa following the Wednesday evening Mass

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 (9:30 am Mass) is for Irene Melnick offered by her family

Eucharistic Minister for today:
Ushers for collection today: Robert Melski Sr., Tony Gniewek

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, December 18 6:30pm The Mass intention will be for Peter Tynski. Praying of the Rosary before the Mass. Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa will follow the Mass.

Sunday, December 22, 9:30am Czwarta Niedziela Adwentu / Fourth Sunday of Advent The Mass intention will be for Tyler Galbraith
Lectors: Anne Marie Campbell, Tom Urbaniak
Eucharistic Minister:
Altar Servers: Kristofer Starzomski-Wilson, Robbie Melski, James Clarke
Ushers: Joe Gillis, Toni LaRusic
Greeters:
Altar Society designated volunteers for December: Ursula Melski, Eileen Fagan-Steele
Care Committee: to visit or send a card, please call Catherine Tucker (902-567-0146) or Vicki Aucoin (562-7142)

Collection receipts for Sunday, December 8: $960.00 (including: $ general collection, $ monthly, $ flowers, $ votive candles, $ loose, $10.00 fuel, $ Community Kitchen Project, $ building fund). Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Mary's Polish Parish. Dziekujemy bardzo.

MASS INTENTIONS / VIGIL CANDLE: To reserve Mass Intentions / Vigil Candle, please contact Fr. Dennis directly at 902-564-4222 or speak with him before Mass. (There is no fee for Mass intentions.)

IN MEMORIAM DONATION: In Memoriam donations will be acknowledged in the bulletin. Building Fund contributions will go toward the new church. To contribute to the Rebuilding Fund, if you do not have an envelope, you can write on your regular envelope or cheque “Designated to the Rebuilding of St. Mary’s Polish Church.”

 

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

LUNCH AFTER MASS TODAY WITH VISIT OF ŚWIĘTY MIKOŁAJ (ST. NICHOLAS) who will bring small presents for children (Polish custom for the Feast Day of St. Nicholas). Everyone is welcome. There is no charge. Św. Mikołaj will be wearing his traditional bishop’s attire.

LOAVES AND FISHES: Thanks to everyone who brought an item. There will be a box in the lunch area in Sala 1050

CHRISTMAS EVE SHEPHERD’S MASS (“PASTERKA”) WILL TAKE PLACE AT OUR CHURCH AT 10:00PM, with our beautiful Polish carols starting at 9:30pm. (St. Theresa’s Christmas Eve children’s Mass at 4:15pm, evening Mass at 7:00pm, and Christmas Day Mass at 10:00am)    Please note that there will be no Mass in our church on Christmas Day.                 

CHRISTMAS DECORATING OF OUR CHURCH: After Mass on Sunday, December 22. We would be most grateful to anyone who can stay a short time to assist.

ST. MICHAEL’S POLISH BENEFIT SOCIETY will be delivering baskets on Christmas, with Oplatek and Christmas treats. If you know anyone in our community (including our broader community) who might appreciate a basket and a visit please call 902-563-1226; tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca.

OPŁATEK ($5) – the traditional Polish Christmas wafer (for sharing around the table at Wigilia Christmas Eve and other Christmas meals) and POLISH CHRISTMAS CARDS ($2) are available at the back of the church.

THE CUSTOM OF OPŁATEK: The custom of breaking and sharing unleavened wafers (embossed with holy images) at family and community gatherings during the Christmas season (beginning with Christmas Eve) originated in Poland in the 17th century – and is today a primarily Polish, Lithuanian, and Slovak tradition. The large majority of families of Polish heritage continue to follow this custom. It is also traditional for Polish families who send Christmas cards in the mail (even to non-Polish friends) to put a piece of Opłatek inside the card. When sharing the Opłatek, it is customary to say something like the following: “I wish you much health, happiness and the Lord's bountiful blessings as well as the fulfillment of all your plans and everything you wish for yourself.”

Pogoria Polish Folk Ensemble will be singing Polish Christmas Carols today at a hymn sing at St. Philip’s African Orthodox Church at 3:00pm. If anyone else would like to join in with us, we’d be most grateful. Please stay for a short rehearsal following the parish lunch. Many thanks!

INVITATION TO A CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE: Tom Urbaniak and Alison Etter will be having a Christmas Open House at their new home in Glace Bay (14 Highland St.) on Monday, December 23, between 7:00pm and 9:00pm. You are warmly welcomed to drop by for some refreshments and fellowship. Wesołych Świąt!

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL: 9:00pm December 31. DJ Robin Krszwda. Tickets are $15. This is always a wonderful celebration. Tickets will be available at today’s lunch after Mass or by contacting Nicole MacCormack at 902-371-5088.

ANDRZEJ RAFALSKI from Halifax will be here next Sunday after Mass for the usual pre-Christmas Polish deli sale.

DZIĘKUJEMY! Thanks to everyone who helped with Abbey Tea last Sunday and for everyone who brought sandwiches and sweets. The event was sold out and enjoyed by all!

REBUILDING DONOR WALL: For the past few months, we have had a temporary rebuilding donor recognition wall at the entrance to Sala 1050. We are going to move in the new year to make it permanent. Please advise of any corrections by calling 902-563-1226 or tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca .

PARISH OPŁATEK POTLUCK: Sunday, January 12, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, Polish Village Hall. Every year, this is a beautiful way to end the Christmas season.

“JASEŁKA” – MINI POLISH CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: (two preparatory workshops the week of January 5/ presentation on January 12 at our Oplatek potluck) – We’d love to give you a role! No previous experience or knowledge of Polish required. This will be a fun experience for all ages. If you’re interested, please let Tom Urbaniak know

THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN: Meals every Wednesday in our church from 11:30am to 1:00pm. Wholesome meals and a very friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Meals are free or donate what you can. Everyone is welcome. Many thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors.This Wednesday will be the final meal before the Christmas-New Year holiday (after this week, meals will resume January 8) (Please see the note above, however, about basket delivery on Christmas.)

LECTORS FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON:
Christmas Eve (10:00pm): Krista Ann Starzomski, Janusz Wawrzyszyn
December 29: Edyta Baczyk, Bernie Paruch
New Year’s Day: Stephanie Black, Andrzej Cebula
January 5: Ursula Melski, Tom Urbaniak

USHERS FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON:
Christmas Eve: Bernie LaRusic, Tony Gniewek
December 29: Joe Gillis, Toni LaRusic
New Year’s Day: Larry Gniewek, Robert Melski Jr.
January 5: Bernie LaRusic, Joe Gillis

For Eucharistic Ministers’ schedules, please see the list provided by Marilyn Gillis.
For Greeters’ Schedules, please see the list provided by Marjorie Ardelli and Carolyn Kiley

SWIETY MIKOLAJ (ST. NICHOLAS): In Poland, Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas) normally visits homes to leave gifts during the night of December 5-6. Among Polish Cape Bretoners, this sometimes happens but it has been more common over the years to have Sw. Mikolaj visit our church or hall on or close to the feast day. St. Nicholas will be in his bishop’s clothing when he visits us because, in the 4th century, he was the kind-hearted and generous Bishop of Myra, in present-day Turkey. St. Nicholas is often accompanied by an angel when he visits. He sometimes asks Catechism questions. In addition to being patron saint of children, St. Nicholas is also the patron saint of sailors, merchants, and people in prisons, among others.

As we prepare for Święty Mikołaj to arrive at lunch after Mass today, we will prepare to sing this kolęda (carol) together:
Wśród nocnej ciszy (Amid the Night’s Stillness)
1.Wśród nocnej ciszy głos się rozchodzi:
Wstańcie, pasterze, Bóg się wam rodzi!
Czym prędzej się wybierajcie,
Do Betlejem pospieszajcie
Przywitać Pana. (x2)
2.Poszli, znaleźli Dzieciątko w żłobie
Z wszystkimi znaki danymi sobie.
Jako Bogu cześć Mu dali,
A witając zawołali
Z wielkiej radości. (x2)

FEAST DAY OF ST. JAN KANTY: Coming up next Monday is the feast day of St. Jan Kanty, a much-loved Polish saint, especially in the Polish diaspora. He lived between 1390 and 1474, travelled on many pilgrimages, helped the poor, and always lived modestly. While in Krakow, he gathered food and clothing to help stuggling students of the university.

TRANSLATION OF TODAY’S SECOND READING (JAS. 5:7-10): Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

" The time before Christmas calls us to ask ourselves: What is the great desire of my heart? It is God Himself who puts this ‘thirst’ in our hearts. And He comes to meet us by this route, wherever there is hunger and thirst for peace, hunger and thirst for justice, freedom and love” --A message on Twitter from Pope Francis

PARISH CARE GROUP: Please advise of anyone to whom we should reach out with prayers, a note, call, wishes, etc. Please call Vicky Aucoin (562-7142) or Catherine Tucker (567-0146).

PHOTOGRAPHS OF PARISH EVENTS: Vicky Aucoin has been compiling parish scrapbooks. As parish events happen, she’d be really grateful if you could share your photos! Vicky’s telephone number is 562-7142.

IN MEMORIAM / BUILDING FUND ENVELOPES / REBUILDING FUND ENVELOPES are at the back of the church. Many thanks for your support.

TO CONTRIBUTE ON-LINE TO OUR REBUILDING, PLEASE GO TO OUR PARISH WEB HOME PAGE (www.stmaryspolishparish.ca) and please click the link to our Canada Helps donation page. It’s a secure system and you’ll receive your charitable tax receipt promptly. Thanks for your support! Please spread the word.

REBUILDING FUND CONTRIBUTIONS: Building Fund contributions will go toward the new church. To contribute to the rebuilding if you do not have an envelope, you can also write on your regular envelope or cheque “Designated to the Rebuilding of St. Mary’s Polish Church.”.Donations can also be made by regular mail: St. Mary's Polish Parish 21 Wesley St. , Sydney, N.S. B1N 2M5. Thank you so much for your support.

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.The beautifully renovated downstairs is now available again for rentals for holiday parties or other occasions Please call 564-8494

Życzenia na błogosławionego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week!

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TODAY'S HYMNS: 9:30 am Mass
Entrance: Archanioł Boży Gabryjel (Archangel of God, Gabriel)
Psalm:
Offertory: Głos wdzięczny (From Heaven a Voice)
Communion: Bądźże pozdrowiona (Humbly We Adore Thee)
Post-Communion: Witaj Święta i poczęta (Greetings to the Holy and Immaculate)
Recessional: Oto Pan Bóg przyjdzie (Thus the Lord is Coming)