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: CHURCH RE-OPENED FOR MASS ON JULY 5, with health and safety requirements and pre-registration. Please see below for more information.

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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XXI Niedziela Zwykła / Twenty First Sunday of Ordinary Time

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie:  Iz 22: 19-23
Psalm: 138: 1-2, 2-3, 6, 8
Drugie czytanie: Rz 11:33-36
Ewangelia: Mt 16: 13-20

First Reading: Isaiah 22: 19-23
Psalm: 138: 1-2, 2-3, 6, 8
Second Reading: Romans 11:33-36
Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-20

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands / Panie, Twa laska trwa po wszystkie wieki

MASS INTENTION for August 23rd is for Donovan Nault offered by Shirley Ardelli and family.

Wednesday Masses and Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa are not being held during this early phase of re-opening.

Wealth can force us to build walls. Jesus, instead, invites His disciples to transform goods and riches into relationships, because people are worth more than things, they are more valuable than any riches we possess –– A recent tweet from Pope Francis

PLEASE NOTE: Please see the end of the bulletin for the public health requirements related to Mass. Please note that we are using a pre-registration system, where persons attending must receive a prior call. If you have not yet been called, please contact Stephanie Black (902-578-3697). Thanks very kindly.

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Although we have proceeded with a cautious re-opening, Fr. Dennis still has on-line Mass available: http://www.sainttheresasydney.com/

PROPER PROCEDURE WHEN LEAVING THE CHURCH AFTER MASS: When leaving the church after Mass, please exit row by row, starting with the front pew near the altar. You will be directed when your row should exit to the centre aisle. Do not exit by the side aisles. Remember to keep social distance at all times. Do not linger in the church, but immediately leave the building. Socializing can occur outside the church.

SINGING IN CHURCH: A reminder that one of the protocol regulations for our church services is that there is to be no singing within the church. Singing for special events (such as birthdays) can go on outdoors after Mass.

A REQUEST FOR NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS: If you are registered to attend Mass this Sunday (or in the following weeks), and if you can, we would be very grateful if you could bring a non-perishable food item. This year because of physical distancing we can’t have the blessing of vegetables and herbs as part of the Feast Day of Matka Boska Zielna. But we’re grateful to everyone who was able to bring root vegetables or non-perishable items this morning for our Food Cupboard and Loaves and Fishes. For future weeks, Loaves and Fishes is especially in need of clamshell containers, salt and pepper packets, potatoes, carrots, small juice packs, small water bottles, plastic forks and knives.

LOAVES AND FISHES THANK YOU!: The staff and volunteers at Loaves and Fishes send a special thanks to the parishioners of St. Mary’s who were so generous in last week’s donation, and are most grateful for your continuing support of food and supplies during these difficult times.

PRAYERS AND CONDOLENCES: Our parish extends its prayers and condolences to the family of Alison Etter (Tom’s wife), whose grandmother, Cora Etter, passed away on Wednesday. We pray that her family find comfort and God’s peace during this sad time

URODZINY / BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS!:
Sto lat to Edyta Baczyk who had a birthday this past week.

KONGRATULUJEMY!: Heartfelt congratulations to Nicole MacCormack and her husband, Jeff, on the birth of their daughter, Melah Aniela Rose! Congratulations to Roddie and Sophie O’Toole who will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with an outdoor open house on Sunday, August 30th, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, at their residence at 52 MacDonald’s Lane (across from the Regional Hospital).

Fr. Rich Philiposki has just taken up service as pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Saskatoon. For Fr. Rich this was an unexpected re-assignment to Canada, but he is looking forward to the experience. We wish him well! Z Bogiem!

A NOTE ABOUT MASKS: We have all been wearing masks since the church re-opened. These are now legally mandatory in church. Children under 2 are exempt as well as children between the ages of 2 and 4 when their caregiver cannot get them to wear a mask. People with a valid medical reason for not wearing a mask are also exempt.  https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/staying-healthy/#masks

A NOTE ABOUT OUR FOOD CUPBOARD: The Food Cupboard in front of the Polish Village Hall has been functioning as intended over the past three months. It is getting more demand, so if you are in the area and can place a few non-perishable items in the Food Cupboard, this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

FOOD GARDEN (ogródek) on our parish gardens (with vegetables to go to Loaves and Fishes) is in collaboration with Pathways to Employment, a charity that creates employment and volunteer opportunities for people in our community who are living with mental illness. Our past collaborations have been very successful.

COMMUNITY KITCHEN at our church (collaborative effort with other faith communities) remains on hold for the time being due to the physical distancing constraints. Thanks to everyone who was involved in the kitchen clean-up.

HONOURING GLACE BAY’S POLISH HERITAGE:  Dr. Ed Michalik is project lead on an initiative to develop a permanent, public, outdoor, illustrated commemorative tablet to honour the Polish community of Glace Bay. It’s a collaboration with the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society. Ed has set up a GoFundMe page, with a project description. Please go to: www.gofundme.com/f/gbpolishheritage .  Please spread the word, and please consider making a contribution to this legacy project. Any amount will be a big help!

VOLUNTEERS FOR FACEBOOK VIDEOS: We are collaborating with the Cape Breton Regional Library on short Facebook videos on cuisine and art related to Polish heritage in our region. Would you like to be part of a video? No previous experience is required. It’s a great way to share a little bit of our culture with the broader community.

ACTIVITIES FOR NOVA SCOTIA POLISH HERITAGE MONTH – HERE’S WHAT’S BEING PLANNED SO FAR IN OUR AREA:

• Sept. 1: Nova Scotia’s Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Arthur LeBlanc, will issue a video statement for Nova Scotia Polish Heritage Month
• Sept. 10-12: Evenings – Drop-in exhbit (with physical distancing) at Polish Village Hall anchored by Kris Tynski – photography and also links to his Polish heritage
• [We are working on the possibility of offering a take-out Polish meal around the second weekend of September.]
• Walbrzych-CBRM – On-line Workshop on Research about Sister Cities – September 21 – 4:10pm – Everyone is welcome.
• September 24 at 10:00am: On-line CBU-hosted lecture with special guest Amanda Chalupa – researcher on the “Syberacy” – Poles deported to Siberia who eventually found safety in East Africa and other places. Amazing stories! Amanda’s research also offers insights into refugee experiences that are practical for helping refugees of all backgrounds today.  In conjuction with this lecture, there will be an in-person physically distanced film screening of Memory is Our Homeland, a beautiful Polish-Canadian film.
• Unveiling of commemorative marker for Glace Bay’s Polish community (date to be announced)
• Weekday radio spots on The Coast featuring NS Polish Heritage Month
• The Beaton Institute will be doing a social-media series with archival photos/stories of Polish Cape Bretoners
• The Cape Breton Regional Library will be doing Facebook videos on cooking and art.
• [Working on a possible colouring contest.]
• “Moja Polska” Competition – please see note below.

 

FEATURED WRITER FOR NOVA SCOTIA POLISH HERITAGE MONTH: We have recorded an interview with Dr. Leonard Pluta (Antigonish), excerpts of which will be broadcast during Nova Scotia Polish Heritage Month. Leonard is a retired professor of economics at St. FX. He wrote a riveting novel called Father of a Thousand Orphans. Although it’s fiction, it’s based on dramatic real events – Polish child refugees in India during World War II. Their  welfare was entrusted to Leonard’s uncle, Father Franciszek Pluta. Leonard is also the co-author of The Big Picture, a definitive study of the Antigonish Movement in Nova Scotia

“MOJA POLSKA” CONTEST:  A Note from PCSNS (Polish Canadian Society of Nova Scotia):  Are you interested in Polish culture? Have you ever dreamed of going to Poland on vacation or have you been there already? Are you learning Polish or just thinking about it? If you answer yes to any of these questions then our “Moja Polska” contest is just for you. All you have to do is create a short artistic work (up to 1000 words of prose, 25 lines of poetry, a visual image, a song no longer than 5 minutes, or a video of that length) about your relationship with Poland: your impressions, memories, dreams, or any experience that stands out for you. Share your thoughts of what Poland means to you! You can create your work in Polish or in English.  You have a chance to win a Poland-themed prize package (unfortunately not including a trip to Poland - maybe in the future!) To submit your work to our contest, simply email it to: pcsns.chair@gmail.com. You may enter as often as you wish until the deadline of August 24. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded during Nova Scotia Polish Heritage Month, September 2020. This contest is open to any resident of Nova Scotia in one of two age categories: 0-15 and 16-120 year olds! If you are looking for more detailed instructions and rules of the contest, please send a message to pcsns.chair@gmail.com

CALL FOR PHOTOS OR VIDEOS: Our colleagues in Halifax are working with the Halifax Regional Library on web pages related to Polish Nova Scotians. They would like to include an assortment of images and videos. If you would like to share anything, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with Marianna Gajewska: parabolicadesign@gmail.com

AVAILABILITY OF POLISH VILLAGE HALL: Within public health restrictions and limitations, rentals are available for certain smaller activities, subject to detailed protocols (similar in some ways for those in place for the church) and a cleaning surcharge. Please contact Bernie LaRusic at 902-561-6500. Thanks for your ongoing support!

CAN YOU SPARE SOME TIME WEEKLY OR OCCASIONALLY TO HELP WITH MOWING / GARBAGE CLEAN-UP FOR THE CHURCH GROUNDS? Please contact Property Chair John Morykot at 902-756-2722 (Whycocomagh exchange) or 902-564-9652 (Sydney) or e-mail jmorykot@eastlink.ca. Thanks so much for your help!

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). 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 for $100? The Coast has kindly agreed to allow us 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). Thanks so much! 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 will be a great way for us to bring forward members of our community, as well as promote and share Polish language and culture in our region.Our radio theme this coming week will be on the Polish Village Hall with speaker Katrina Paruch. The sponsors are Joe and Marilyn Gillis. Thank you to our radio sponsors so far, who have each sponsored a week in support of the Society: Joe and Marilyn Gillis, Wayne Joseph, Wanda Pierrynowski IMO Teofil Pierrynowski, Dr. Paula Michalik, Fr. Dan Doucet, Marjorie Ardelli IMO Michael and Dawn Marie Ardelli, John Morykot, Ryba family IMO Walter Ryba, Steve Melnick, Stephanie Black, Michael and Ursula Melski, Jerry Pocius, Sophie and Roddie O’Toole, Jeni Jackson, Catherine and Herb Tucker, Bernie and Jancia LaRusic, Anne Marie and Jimmie Campbell, Kathleen MacKenzie, Andy Parnaby, Paul Lenarczyk, Alison Etter, Tom Urbaniak

LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTION: $960.00
Thank you very kindly for your generosity! If you are attending Mass, you will find a collection basket near the entrance and exit (since we are not passing around the basket due to the public health restrictions).

DONATIONS TO OUR PARISH: Thanks very kindly for any help you can provide toward our ongoing expenses. 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). Or by regular mail to St. Mary’s Polish Parish, 21 Wesley St., Sydney, N.S. B1N 2M5. Thanks for your support! It’s really appreciated. Bog zaplac!

LOOKING AHEAD TO OCTOBER – SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS: As we could not hold our Annual General Meeting this spring, we are looking at holding a short Special General Meeting in October after a Mass (and to make information available to anyone who cannot be there) in the main church with all the physical distancing still in place. It would be to share the latest financial information, other updates, and also to elect or confirm Rada members

AUGUST 26TH IS THE FEAST DAY OF OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA: Our Lady of Czestochowa, or the Black Madonna of Poland, is a very famous painting of the Blessed Virgin holding the Child Jesus. Under this title, Mary is the Patron and Protector of Poland. Since the face of Mary is very dark, she is referred to as the “Black Madonna.” This darkening of the image comes from centuries of being hidden and the many years of soot and smoke from candles illuminating the icon. The picture follows the traditional form of an icon. Mary gestures toward Jesus, directing the attention away from her and pointing to Jesus as the source of salvation. The child Jesus extends his right hand in blessing to the viewer of the painting and holds a book of the gospels in his left hand. As in many icons, Jesus looks like a small man, reminding us that Jesus, while still a child, is fully mature in his Divine nature. The painting of the Madonna has a long history. Legend has it that it was painted by Saint Luke on a piece of a cedar tabletop built by Saint Joseph. Some even say it is part of the table used at the Last Supper. Saint Helen found this painting when she went to Jerusalem in search of the true cross. She gave the painting to her son, Constantine. When the city of Constantinople was invaded by the Saracens, the people prayed to Mary and the city was saved. This began the great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary attached to this painting. The history of the painting is more accurately documented in 1382, when Prince Ladislaus was owner of the painting. In that year, when the Tartars were invading the Prince’s palace, an arrow hit the painting, lodging in the throat of Mary. Prince Ladislaus decided to take the icon to Opala, the town where he was born, in order to keep the picture safe. On the journey there, he stopped and spent the night at Czestochowa. The next day, as they began to continue the journey, the horses pulling the wagon with the painting of Our Lady refused to move. Prince Ladislaus took this as a sign that the painting was to remain in Czestochowa. The icon was placed in the care of the Order of the Hermits of Saint Paul at their monastery called the Mount of Light, or in Polish, Jasna Gora. The icon of the Black Madonna, Our Lady of Czestochowa, is there to this day.

PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR MASS, SPECIFIC TO OUR CHURCH – as of Sunday, July 12
Dear Fellow Parishioners and Friends:
Below are the public health requirements related to Mass attendance, as applied specifically to our church. These have also been posted on our parish website and Facebook page. Thank you so much for your patience, understanding, and goodwill as we collectively adjust. Please also see #3 and #4 below about the pre-registration / seat-designation system for Mass attendance.   Dziekujemy bardzo serdecznie! Z Bogiem.

CELEBRATION OF HOLY MASS AT ST. MARY’S POLISH CHURCH:

1. The COVID-19 virus is still a danger to our community, province, and country. As we have seen with our neighbours south of the border, it can re-spread very quickly. Please stay safe.

2. We as a parish must abide by all applicable guidelines to ensure the safety of all, while being able to worship in a safe way. This requires patience as we adapt to a new form of attending Holy Mass.

3. For the first week (Sunday, July 5), parishioners were being randomly called until our smaller capacity is reached to maintain social distancing. If you are not sure if the parish has your telephone number, or if you wish to ensure that the parish has a current telephone number for you, please call Stephanie Black at 902-578-3697 to leave your telephone number. In subsequent weeks, persons who could not attend the previous week were being called first.

4. At this time, attendance can only be through the pre-registration process outlined in #3. The parish will maintain a record of everyone who is present and their contact information (for contact-tracing should the need arise).

5. Please ensure that you are completely free of any of the potential COVID symptoms. If you are registered to attend, but feel at all ill (eg. fever, colds), or feel poorly for any reason, please do not attend. There is a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass.

6. Masks are now mandatory. (All attendees have been wearing masks in church – and masks were available at the entrance. Thank you!) Please remember that this is also for the safety of others.

7. Physical distance of two metres (six feet) will be required inside and outside the church (if not in family bubbles). Everyone is requested to avoid handshakes, hugs and other close contact.

8.  Every second pew will be signed as “not in use,” as well as the entire side aisles of the church. Those pews that are being used will have the required spacing indicated.

9. Entry will be through Wesley St. doors. Staged (gradual) exit will take place through side (parking lot) doors.

10. There will be hand sanitization at the entrance.

11. There will be no choir for the time being, as per the public health requirements.

12. There will be one lector and no altar servers.

13. The church will be sanitized (pews, knobs, etc) after use in order to be fully clean for each Mass.

14. Ushers will assist with seating, from a distance.

15. There will be no Holy Water in the hand fonts.

16. Fr. Dennis will explain protocols for Communion, which will necessitate social distancing and extreme prudence.

17. Communion will be distributed only in the hand. The Priest will wear a mask, and he will sanitize his hands before and following Holy Communion. It is not permitted at this time to take Holy Communion to anyone outside the church.

18. Confession remains on an as-requested basis, maintaining social-distancing guidelines.

19. Other church in-person gatherings remain suspended for the time being.

20. There will be no paper bulletins in the church. Bulletins will continue to be provided electronically (on Saturday) or by regular mail (Canada Post). Please do not hesitate to e-mail or call (tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca; 902-563-1226) if there is anyone who is not currently receiving a bulletin who would like to receive a bulletin. 

21. Hymnals, brochures, and other items in the pews have been removed for the time being.

22. Collection baskets will be placed at the entrance and exit. (Collection will not be conducted in the usual way.) Thank you kindly for your support.

Życzymy błogosławionego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week!