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 COVID health and safety requirements, masks, distancing, and preregistration (578- 3697). Thanks for all your kindness and goodwill, God bless

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 Postu/ Palm Sunday

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Iz 50,4-7 
Psalm: 22
Drugie czytanie: Flp 2,6-11
Ewangelia: Mk 14,1-15,47

First Reading: Is. 50:4-7
Psalm: 22
Second Reading: Ph. 2:6-11
Gospel: Mark 14:1-15, 47

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Boże mój, Boże, czemuś mnie opuścił? / My God, My God, why have you forsaken me

MASS INTENTION FOR TODAY is for Aileen Goduto offered by Jean Annette and Richard White
LECTOR THIS WEEKEND: Stephanie Black, Bob Lewandowski
LECTOR FOR BLESSING OF EASTER FOODS: Krista Ann Starzomski

RECENT MESSAGE FROM POPE FRANCIS: “Those who fast make themselves poor with the poor and `accumulate` the treasure of a love received and shared. Understood and practiced thus, fasting helps us love God and our neighbour, because love focuses our attention on others and considers them as one with ourselves.”

Wednesday Masses and Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa are not being held at this time.

ALTAR SOCIETY designated volunteers for April: Ursula Melski, Eileen Fagan-Steele

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

PALM SUNDAY – WILLOW BRANCHES AND RIBBONS (a Polish Catholic custom): Thanks very much to Ursula Melski. Please feel free to take some (they are at the back of the church). Once at home after the blessing, the branches are often placed close to family photos or religious photos as a symbol of our prayers for health and safety.

GOOD FRIDAY: On Good Friday, April 2, at 6:30pm, we will have Gorzkie Żale (the traditional Lenten Lamentations) and Stations of the Cross in our church.

EASTER FOOD BLESSING: On Holy Saturday, April 3, at 1:00pm, we will have the traditional blessing of Easter foods (Święcenie Pokarmόw Wielkanocnych). Physical distancing and other public health protocols will be in place.

AT THE BLESSING OF BASKETS ON HOLY SATURDAY, WE WILL HAVE A COLLECTIVE BASKET FOR LOAVES AND FISHES: We’ll be inviting everyone to contribute one item from your basket to a collective basket for Loaves and Fishes. The items can include fresh items like eggs, sausage, bread, etc.

BASKETS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMEBOUND: After the Good Friday prayers (6:30pm) this coming week, we’ll be preparing baskets for people who are homebound. Items will be supplied by the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society, but any additional items are welcomed. And if there’s someone you’d like us to deliver to, please don’t hesitate to leave a message at 902-563-1226.

A NOTE ON ST. THERESA’S TIMES THIS WEEK: St. Mary’s parishioners are welcome to register to attend: Holy Thursday Mass at 6:00pm; Good Friday 1:00pm and 3:00pm; Easter Vigil: Saturday at 8:00pm. To register, please call St. Theresa’s at 902-564-4222, Mon. to Thurs. between 9:30am and 12:30pm

POLISH EASTER ITEMS – CARDS, WOODEN PISANKI, PISANKI SLEEVES, BARANKI (lamb figures for baskets): There are items at the back of the church. No charge. Free-will offering to support St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society.

COVID SEATING / ATTENDANCE SYSTEM FOR OUR MASSES: To our regular attendees: We will assume you are attending Mass (you don’t need to receive a prior call), but if you cannot attend please call Stephanie Black at 902-578-3697. If you have not attended in a while, but would like to, please call Stephanie. Thanks, everyone, for the wonderful goodwill and cooperation with all of the safety protocols during the pandemic.

FOOD CUPBOARD - 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.

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 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 what goes in a Polish Easter basket. Thank you to Anthony Melski for making his radio debut! And thank you to Dr. Anna Wesołkowska for sponsoring this week’s segment.

PRAYER CAPSULE: We still have until May 6 – because the final phase of kitchen construction (the cupboards) is behind schedule due to general supplier delays in the industry. As part of the current kitchen construction at the Polish Village Hall, a prayer capsule will be enclosed. We'd love to have you include a prayer intention in the capsule (eg. deceased family members, prayers for the community, prayers for peace, etc). We have some cards on which to write intentions. Or please contact tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca (902-563-1226), and we'll make sure your prayer intentions go into the capsule.

ST. MICHAEL’S POLISH BENEFIT SOCIETY ZARZĄD (BOARD) MEETING: Sunday at 7:00pm at the hall (downstairs), with masks and distancing.

COLLECTION FOR OUR PARISH MARCH 21: $1283.40, including $475.00 for ShareLent, $180.00 for flowers, $115.00 for the Building Fund. Thank you for your support and 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).

RECENT IMO (IN MEMORY OF) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUILDING FUND:
IMO Nellie Tynski from Frania McKay; Shauna McKay; Shari McKay; Madonna and Laurena Clarke; Toni LaRusic

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!

PHOTOS OF PARISH ACTIVITIES FOR PARISH SCRAPBOOK: Vicky Aucoin has been doing an amazing job keeping the parish scrapbooks, and welcomes your photos (labelled, if possible) as activities happen

FACE MASKS: We have received an additional small order of face masks with the Cape Breton Polish tartan! Proceeds support the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society. They are $20.00 each

A NOTE FROM VERONIKA BRZESKI about a newly translated memoir in English about Janusz Żurakowski, the Polish Air Force pilot who came to fame in Canada as the Avro Arrow test pilot (we have an autographed image in the Polish Village Hall), among many other achievements. Veronika’s mother was one of the translators and the book is called Not Only About Flying. You can find the book on any of the on-line booksellers. Veronika also recommends a short documentary film which was aired many years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7j7d5ahTNU which featured Pan Zurakowski. Veronika notes: “I had the honour of working for him driving the motorboat and teaching waterskiing to lodge guests.”

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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!