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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Świętej Rodziny: Jezusa, Maryi i Józefa (święto) / Feast of the Holy Family

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Rdz 15, 1-6.21,1-3
Psalm: 105
Drugie czytanie: Hbr 11, 8. 11-12. 17-19
Ewangelia: Łk 2,22-40

First Reading: Genesis 15: 1-6. 21:1-3
Psalm: 105
Second Reading: Hb. 11, 8:11-12,17-19
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Pan Bóg pamięta o swoim przymierzu / The Lord remembers his covenant forever

MASS INTENTION FOR TODAY is for Mary and Dominic Gniewek offered by Larry Gniewek

PLEASE NOTE: We will have a Mass on New Year’s Day – the Feast of Mary Mother of God, which is like a Sunday in the church – at 9:30am

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

Altar Society designated volunteers for January: Peggy Ryba, Lynette Ryba

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

AFTER-MASS PROTOCOL: We depart out the side entrance, row by row, starting with front rows and maintaining distancing. Singing of “Sto lat” for birthdays and anniversaries can happen outside with distancing, as indoor singing is not permitted at this time because of the health regulations. Many thanks. Dziekujemy bardzo!

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia!

Here some Christmas greetings that were addressed to our parish:
Narodziny Jezusa w Betlejem przyniosły radość światu i każdemu ludzkiemu sercu. Niech nowonarodzony Jezus przyniesie radość, pokój, nadzieję i błogosławieństwo na kazdy dzień Nowego Roku 2021 w rodzinach parafii p.w. Narodzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny w Sydney - Ks. Krzysztof Drzazga [priest of the Archdiocese of Lublin, who visited our church a couple of years ago]

Dear Friends at St. Mary’s Polish Parish: Wishing you all a Merry Christmas! Zdrowych i pogodnych świąt Bożego Narodzenia. – John J. Tomczak, President of the Canadian Polish Congress

On our parish Facebook page on Wigilia (December 24) we posted the following: Our parish would like to wish you and your family a very blessed Christmas. May the celebration of the birth of Christ give us hope. We pray for peace, for health, and for compassion. May we work together to build faithful communities of love, kindness, and caring. Wszystkiego najlepszego! Here are some Polish Wigilia (Christmas Eve) traditions that were summarized in our bulletin this past Sunday. We invite you to participate in these beautiful customs at your home [at this point, we reprinted the information in the insert that was part of our December 20 bulletin.]

Fr. Dennis still has on-line Mass available: http://www.sainttheresasydney.com/

PRAYERS FOR HEALTH: Patricia Paruch, our fellow parishioner currently working in Oregon, tested positive for COVID-19 as well as her husband, Barry. Patricia has been experiencing a number of symptoms and is grateful for the prayers at our Pasterka. She has also asked us to keep in our prayers long-term care residents, including people with whom she works, who are going through a difficult time during the pandemic.

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 or personal care item (eg. shampoo, soap, toilet paper). There will be a box at the entrance. These items will help to stock our Food Cupboard outside the Polish Village Hall and also assist Loaves and Fishes.

FOOD CUPBOARD AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL: The St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society thanks you for your help. The sign on the Cupboard says “Take what you need, leave what you don’t, give what you can. Thank you!”

AN INVITATION TO FELLOW PARISHIONERS: We’re extending an invitation to everyone to learn one line in Polish for a virtual “Jasełka” – or Polish folk Christmas pageant. We’ll link all the participants by computer or by phone. We will do this to conclude the Christmas season on Sunday, January 17, at 7:00pm. There will be no rehearsals, and it will be enjoyable, stress-free and informal. We’ll just give you your line ahead of time and, if you wish, a little bit of help with pronunciation. We’ll also have some koledy and music for that virtual gathering. If you’d like to try doing a line, please speak with Tom Urbaniak. No experience with the Polish language is required. (tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca; 902-563-1226).

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. (Archived editions at coastalradio.ca) Would you consider sponsoring a whole week of our radio segments for $100? The Coast has kindly agreed to allow the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society 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). 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 is 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 for this coming week will be the “szopka” – and the Polish traditions around building Nativity scenes. Guest will be Alison Etter. Alison will also sing a verse from the carol “Dzisiaj w Betlejem.” Many thanks to this week’s sponsor Lindsay Construction.

WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL TEDDY BEARS WITH THE POLISH CAPE BRETON TARTAN! We can deliver them in the area. Please call 902-563-1226. Proceeds support the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society. (“Misiu” and “Misia” -- $35 each or $65 for two!)

COLLECTION FOR OUR PARISH DECEMBER 20: $835.00. Many thanks for your generosity. Bόg zapłaƈ!
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!

A RECENT MESSAGE ON TWITTER FROM POPE FRANCIS: God came into the world as a child to make us children of God. What a magnificent gift! This day, God amazes us and says to each of us: “You are amazing”. #Christmas

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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!