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!
We are pleased to share our faith and rich traditions with the whole community.
Celebrating 100 years of faith and service (1913-2013)

PROBOSZCZ/PASTOR:  Father Paul Murphy 564-4355

MSZY/MASSES: Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. followed by Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa. Praying of the Rosary begins prior to Mass at approximately 3:35 p.m.

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

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION is for Gerald Travis offered by Peggy Ryba & family. Eternal rest grant onto him O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. Wieczny odpoczynek racz Mu dać Panie, a swiatłość wiekuista niechaj Mu świeci na wieki wieków. Amen

The Vigil Candle this week is for deceased members of the Melski family offered by Robert and Michelle Melski.  

Eucharistic Minister for today: Patsy Kiley

Ushers for collection today: Larry Gniewek, Toni LaRusic

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, April 16, 4:00 p.m. Mass followed by Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa. Praying of the Rosary prior to Mass beginning at approximately 3:35 p.m. The Mass intention is for Henry Pierrynowski offered by Joanne Kingsbury & family.

Friday, April 18th: GOOD FRIDAY – 3 p.m.
Eucharistic Minister: Janet Hawthorne
Lectors: Edyta Baczyk, Tony Melski
Ushers: Bernie LaRusic, Robert Melski Sr.

Saturday, April 19th: HOLY SATURDAY – BLESSING OF THE EASTER BASKETS at 1 p.m.
Lectors: Stephanie Black, Janusz Wawrzyszyn
Greeters: Toni LaRusic, Janina MacCormack

Sunday, April 20, 9:30 a.m. Easter Sunday: The Mass intention will be for Michael P. Ardelli offered by Shirley Ardelli & family.
Lectors: Anne Marie Campbell, Andrzej Cebula 
Eucharistic Minister: Suzanne Campbell  
Altar Servers: Brianna, James                                       
Ushers: Toni LaRusic, Larry Gniewek
Greeters: Peggy Ryba, Joan Mosher
Altar Society volunteers for April: Evelyn Cook, Janet Hawthorne, Anne Marie Campbell, Jimmie Campbell                  

Collection receipts for Sunday, April 6:  $1688.15 (broken down as follows: $895.00 weekly contribution, $205.00 monthly supplementary contribution, $35.00 candles, $70.90 loose, $222.00 Easter flowers, $30.00 Share Lent, $10.00 initial offering, $145.00 building fund, $85.00 Polish Micro-market. Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Mary’s Polish Parish. Dziękujemy serdecznie!

MASS CARDS/VIGIL CANDLE: Contact Tom Urbaniak (563-1226)

IN MEMORIAM DONATION: To make an In Memoriam donation, please pick up one of the IMO cards/St. Mary’s Polish Church envelopes at the back or speak with Shauna McKay. These will be acknowledged in the bulletin. We also welcome donations to the Building Fund, as we continue with improvements and repairs.

“IMIENINY” (NAME DAYS) FOR THE COMING WEEK. Help to maintain a longstanding Polish Catholic tradition by acknowledging relatives, friends, and colleagues who are celebrating their “name day,” corresponding with the feast day of a saint of the same name.  Where there is more than one saint of the same name who has been assigned a day, your “name day” is the one closest to your birthday. It is customary in the Polish tradition to acknowledge the name day of a relative or friend:
April 13: Jan, Justyn, Małgorzata, Marcin, Przemysł, Przemysław
April 14: Julianna, Justyn, Maria, Myślimir
April 15: Anastazja, Leonid, Wacław, Wacława
April 16: Anastazja, Leonid, Wacław, Wacława
April 17: Jakub, Józef, Klara, Radociech, Robert, Rudolf, Stefan
April 18: Bogusław, Bogusława, Gościsław
April 19: Cieszyrad, Czechasz, Czesław, Leon, Tymon, Werner, Włodzimierz
April 20: Agnieszka, Czechoń, Czesław, Nawoj, Szymon, Teodor

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF SCHOOL IS CANCELLED ON WEDNESDAYS DUE TO WEATHER OUR WEDNESDAY MASS WILL ALSO BE CANCELLED. THIS APPLIES TO WEDNESDAYS ONLY.

NIEDZIELA PALMOWA: SPECIAL ASPECTS OF PALM SUNDAY IN THE POLISH TRADITION: Palm Sunday is of course very important for the entire Universal Church. It commemorates Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem, an event retold by all four of the biblical Gospels. All solemn Church observances, including Palm Sunday, are major events in Poland. Palms have long been substituted by posies, willows, and by elaborately and colourfully decorated branches of spruce and boxwood. Sometimes, dried flowers from the previous season are attached to the branches. Tissues and ribbons are often used to decorate the palms, making for very impressive processions. Some of the “palms” are many feet high, and some parishes even organize competitions for the making of palms.  “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9

ADORATION DURING LENT: During the Fridays of Lent, Holy Redeemer Convent Chapel, Whitney Pier, will have Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. This will take place following the 9am Friday Chapel mass and will continue until noon. Please plan on spending some time in quiet prayer and adoration.
Priests from the Sydney Deanery will be available to talk with you, and offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation, beginning on March 12 and continuing until Wednesday of Holy Week at St. Joseph Church, Sydney from 7 to 9 pm.

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE will be at 3 p.m. in our church (April 18th)
EASTER SUNDAY MASS at 9:30 a.m.

HOLY SATURDAY (APRIL 19) – BLESSING OF THE EASTER BASKETS – 1 P.M. If you have traditional attire, please wear it for this occasion. Even if you do not have a basket, please join us for to be part of this beautiful Polish custom, and please invite relatives and friends.

COLLECTIVE BASKET FOR LOAVES AND FISHES – On Holy Saturday, during the blessing of the Easter baskets, we would be grateful if everyone could contribute on item from her/his basket to a collective basket, which will go toward an Easter meal at Loaves and Fishes. And yes, these can be items that are fresh and perishable. Thank you

IMO (“in memory of”) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUILDING FUND:
IMO Jennie Melski from Peggy and Lynette Ryba, Joe and Patricia Ryba, Johnny Borden, Wayne Joseph, Andrzej Cebula, Tom Urbaniak
IMO Wladyslawa Cebula from Tom Urbaniak

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR PARISHIONERS: Yet again, our parishioners have shown great kindness and generosity. You came through in a big way for our family in Lviv (the Ukraine/Caritas project). Krista Ann and some of our youth Catechism students took an inventory and photos. Everyone who saw the items all arranged together was touched by the response. And it was amazing to see the turnout for making pierogi last weekend. At times there were more than 30 people downstairs all hard at work on different tasks in various work stations. There was a very upbeat atmosphere. May the Blessed Mother continue to intercede for us and keep us as a strong and caring faith community, open to all and strengthened in our faith by the unique Polish customs and traditions.

A RESPECTFUL REQUEST: YOUR PHOTOS OF BLESSED POPE JOHN PAUL II AND EVENTS, PLACES RELATED TO HIM (PHOTOS TO BE RETURNED): During the lunch following our canonization celebration on Divine Mercy Sunday (April 27 at 2 p.m.) we will have a rolling slide presentation. Please share any photos: it could be from the 1984 meeting of our parishioners with the Holy Father, from our Mass following the Holy Father’s death in 2005, perhaps from visits you took to holy sites in Poland or at the Vatican. Please give your photos to Tom Urbaniak or e-mail them to him at tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca. Photos will be returned. Thank you!

PIER FAITH COMMUNITIES – WORKING TOGETHER WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: The next meeting is on Tuesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. in our church. All are welcome! This is shaping up to be an exciting collaboration among faith communities.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – RADA DUSZPASTERSKA: As part of the Parish’s Annual General Meeting on May 4, there will be elections to the Rada. If you would be interested in serving, please give a short written note to Janet Hawthorne, chair of the Nominating Committee, either in person or by e-mail janethawthorne@hotmail.com by April 16th. Section 5.3 of the By-laws states: “In recruiting nominees, the Nominating Committee shall have regard to ensuring a Rada that consists of women and men of strong faith in the parish who, collectively, bring a range of experience and skillsets, are representative of different generations, and are apt to carry out their duties with good judgment, dignity, discernment, and through constructive problem solving. Nominees should have knowledge of and appreciation for the cultural heritage of the Parish.” As per the by-laws, nominees will be invited to a short orientation session about the duties of the Rada. The Rada advises the Pastor and helps coordinate, in cooperation with committees and fellow parishioners, the parish’s activities, operations, and outreach.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA (WHICH WE PRAY TOGETHER EACH WEDNESDAY IN OUR CHURCH) CAN BE FOUND IN THE NEW BOOK PRZEZ POKOLENIA: PRAYERS AND CUSTOMS OF ST. MARY’S POLISH CHURCH (in the pew pockets). Most of the old books were worn and had to be retired from the pews.

PARISH CENTENARY COOKBOOKS. Additional copies have been printed. Please speak with Shari McKay or Shauna McKay.

OUR BOOK PRZEZ POKOLENIA: Prayers and Customs of St. Mary`s Polish Church ($10 each). Please speak with Tom Urbaniak.

GIFT CERTIFICATES – POLISH VILLAGE HALL.  Please speak with Bernie LaRusic. Since the renovations, the hall is seeing increasing traffic as a comfortable, modern, versatile space for events large and small.

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. Please call 564-8494.

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR ON-LINE “VIRTUAL TOUR” AND AN 8.5 MINUTE PARISH WELCOME VIDEO ON OUR WEBSITE:  www.stmaryspolishparish.ca

Wishing you a blessed week! Bóg zapłać!
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TODAY’S HYMNS:
Entrance: Hosanna Synowi Dawidowemu – not in hymnal – please see back of bulletin insert: ALSO: Wjeżdża Król Nasz [Enters Our King] – not in hymnal
Offertory: Pozwól mi Twe męki śpiewać [Allow Me to Sing of Your Suffering] – not in hymnal
Communion: Bądźże pozdrowiona [Be Praised] -- #102 in the coil-bound hymna
Post-Communion: Ach, mój Jezu jak Ty klęczysz [Oh My Jesus As You Kneel] -- #67
Closing Hymn: Krzyżu Chrystusa [The Cross of Christ] -- #73

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