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: MASSES ARE ON HOLD DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS.
Please see bulletin for information about televised Masses and opportunities to gather for prayer by telephone or computer

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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Niedziela Palmowa / Palm Sunday

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Iz 50,4-7
Psalm: Ps 22
Drugie czytanie: Flp 2, 6-11
Ewangelia: Mt 26,14-27,66

Reading 1, Isaiah 50: 4-7
Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 22
Reading 2, Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel (Passion): Matthew 26:14-27:66

TODAY’S RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Boże mój, Boże, czemuś mnie opuścił?/ My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Had we been together in person at this Palm Sunday, we would have started with the blessing of decorated willows and palms in our Sala 1050 and a procession into the church. On a good-weather day, we would go outside before entering the church through the main front doors. Our hymn for the procession would be:
Hosanna, Synowi Dawidowemu (Hosanna, Son of David)
Choir: Hosanna Synowi Dawidowemu! Błogosławiony, który idzie w imię Pańskie! O Królu izraelski! (Translation: Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is the one who goes in the name of the Lord, or king of Israel)
And we would repeat: Chrystus Królem, Chrystus wodzem, Chrystus, Chrystus Władcą nam. (Translation: Christ the king, Christ who leads, Christ, Christ, guide for us.)

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Let us continue to pray for everyone on the front lines of the struggle against COVID-19, for everyone who has died, for everyone who is ill, for people who have lost employment, or are feeling particularly isolated at this difficult time. And for all other intentions that we carry in our hearts.

FR. DENNIS’S DAILY MASSES ON LINE: Many of Fr. Dennis’s Masses are videoed and posted here: http://www.sainttheresasydney.com/ .  We are all encouraged and invited to view these Masses and be spiritually connected.

HELP WITH PICKING UP AND DELIVERING GROCERIES / PRESCRIPTIONS: Please call 902-563-1226. The St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society is pitching in to assist. We’d be happy to help.

HOLY WEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO PRAY TOGETHER IN “REAL TIME” BY TELEPHONE OR COMPUTER: Rev. Alison Etter (who is connected to our parish through marriage to Tom Urbaniak) would like to extend a warm welcome to any members and friends of St. Mary’s Polish Parish to join in opportunities to offer prayer intentions and for reflections on Holy Week. Alison will also sing or teach hymns 
There are two easy ways to connect:
By phone at 1 647 374 4685. Enter the meeting ID: 941 052 1825
Or by computer by going to this link: https://zoom.us/j/9410521825
Palm Sunday on-line/telephone gatherings (please see above for how to access):
10:00 am – for 30 minutes followed by virtual tea time
11:00 am - children's time
11:30 am – for 30 minutes followed by virtual tea time

Holy Week on-line/telephone gatherings (please see above for how to access):
Holy Monday - 12 noon  15 minutes of prayer
Holy Tuesday - 12 noon  15 minutes of prayer
Holy Wednesday -12 noon Ecumenical service on facebook.com/GlaceBayChurches
Holy Thursday- 6pm Supper service / Bring bread, or even bring your supper, to eat together through on-line/telephone connection.
Good Friday - 12 noon   45 minutes -- prayers and reflection

Easter Sunday on-line/telephone gatherings (please see above for how to access):
6:15 am --  15-minute sunrise / Resurrection prayer                                                                                                      
10:00 am – for 30 minutes followed by virtual tea time
11:00 am - children's time
11:30 am – for 30 minutes followed by virtual tea time

ECUMENICAL SERVICES ON FACEBOOK AND RADIO: Alison is also working with a Roman Catholic colleague (Fr. Duaine Devereaux), an Anglican colleague (Rev. Dorothy Miller), and Pastor Dave Sawlor of Lighthouse Church to do ecumenical Lent and Easter services every week for Facebook and radio.  
Facebook is 12 noon every Wednesday: https://www.facebook.com/GlaceBayChurches The recording then stays on-line.
And Sundays at 12 noon on The Coast Radio (89.7 FM)

“PEOPLE’S SCHOOL” ON CBC RADIO ONE: Theme – Community Resilience and Leadership: the COVID-19 edition. Every Tuesday and Friday at 4:35pm. This is a collaboration of CBC Radio and CBU Tompkins Institute.  This past week, we looked at the role of churches and other faith communities in supporting their broader communities, and also faith and ethics around community leadership and service to others: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-36-mainstreet-cape-breton . Or go to the Facebook page of CBC Cape Breton. Look for links that say “People’s School".

THANK YOU VERY KINDLY FOR YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP COVER ONGOING PARISH BILLS AT THIS TIME. It is possible to make a secure on-line donation to our parish (and receive an instant charitable tax receipt) by going to Canada Helps. Their site address to contribute is:  https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/st-marys-polish-parish/. (link to this site is provided on our parish website homepage). The parish’s mailing address is St. Mary’s Polish Parish, 21 Wesley St., Sydney, N.S. B1N 2M5. Thank you. God bless. Bog zaplac!

DAILY MASS IN POLISH: Every day at 9:00am our time, you can watch Mass in Polish at www.kolbe.ca. This is from St. Maximilian Kolbe Polish Parish in Mississauga (which is also closed to the public at this time, but where the priests are broadcasting Mass on line). They are also doing the traditional Polish Lenten Lamentations (Gorzke Zale) and stations of the cross. They archive the previous Masses on-line as well.

POLISH BARSZCZ (BORSCHT)/ EASTER BARANKI (Polish small Easter lamb figures): For anyone who would like a Polish barszcz (borscht) soup-mix package, it can be mailed to you (no charge). Please call 902-563-1226 or email tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca

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Palm Sunday in Poland

By Shari McKay

If we were to travel to Poland for a typical Palm Sunday, we would be surprised by the grandeur and vibrancy of the ceremonies, as well as the lacking of fresh palm leaves that we have come to expect in North America.  The palms indigenous to the area of Jerusalem have only become available in Poland, in more recent times.  Therefore, the Polish people used whatever resources that they did have.  The use of pussy willows, in place of palms, was particularly popular throughout Poland, so much so that Palm Sunday (Niedziela Palmowa) was often known as Willow Sunday (Niedziela Wierzbowa). The pussy willow’s popularity stems from the fact that it is often the first shrub to bud after the winter and has become synonymous with rebirth and is thus symbolic of the Resurrection.

Great effort was exerted in making one’s ‘palm’ with the addition of boxwood and yew, dried flowers and ribbons.  Over time, paper flowers and artificially dyed grasses were incorporated.

Palms blessed in church were believed to offer protection, health and prosperity.  They were used to bless the animals and farmland in order to ensure healthy and fertile livestock and an abundance of crops.  They were placed in the rafters of the barn or in a prominent place of the home as protection from lightening, fire and other misfortunes.  It was believed that swallowing pussy willow catkins (bazie) from the blessed palm would help prevent problems of the teeth, throat and stomach and aid in warding off colds and sore throats.

In the Polish countryside, the making of one’s own palm is still tremendously popular today, with regional variations in style.  Some villages have become quite well-known for their palm making competitions where a prize is awarded for the tallest and most beautiful palm.  It is not unusual for an individual’s palm to be 1-7 metres tall with community groups sometimes achieving palms greater than 30 metres.  In Polish cities, one will find colourful pre-Easter markets with an enormous selection of pre-made palms available for purchase.

Over the years, our own Polish community has gathered to make traditional Polish palms.   Perhaps that is an activity that you would like to continue in your household, despite these challenging times.  Consider foraging in nature for signs of spring and thus indication of strength of life, hope and renewal.  If you cannot find any pussy willows, perhaps consider using fir or spruce – the Polish highlanders often do.  You could decorate your palm with boxwood or yew, maybe even consider making flowers from tissue paper or crepe paper and finishing with colourful ribbons.  It will give you good practice for when we are able to once again celebrate Palm Sunday together.  Who knows, perhaps next year, we should plan on a Polish palm making competition.

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A Traditional Polish Easter Basket

Source: Polish American Center

Masło (Butter) - It is often shaped into a lamb (Baranek Wielkanocny) or a cross. This reminds us that we should approach all things with Christ’s love. The “baranek” is sometimes included as a non-edible figure
Babka (Easter Bread) - A round or long loaf topped with a cross or a fish, symbolic of Jesus, who is the Bread of Life
Chrzan (Horseradish) - Symbolic of the Passion of Christ
Jajka (Eggs) and Pisanki (decorated with symbols of Easter, of life, of prosperity) - Indicates new life and Christ's Resurrection. The design of the pisanki sometimes reflects the folk attire, which is very distinctive based on region
Kiełbasa (Sausage) - Represents God's generosity
Szynka (Ham) - Symbolic of great joy and abundance. Some baskets will have lamb or veal
Sól (Salt) – Symbolic of spreading justice and goodness
Ser (Cheese) - Symbolic of the moderation Christians should have at all times
Candle - Represents Christ as the Light of the World
Colourful Ribbons or Sprigs of Greenery - are attached to the basket as signs of joy and new life  
Linen Cover - drawn over the top of the basket, which is ready for the blessing

Since we cannot gather together on Holy Saturday for our traditional Święcenie Pokarmów Wielkanocnych (blessing of the Easter foods) on Holy Saturday, during the week we will send an e-mail with prayers for the blessing of Easter food, which can be done at home. The Polish Bishops’ Conference will be putting out a guide for how to bless Easter baskets at home.