Parafia p.w. Narodzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny
ST. MARY’S POLISH PARISH
21 Wesley St., Sydney, NS, B1N 2M5
(meeting temporarily at Holy Redeemer Church
with thanks to our friends of Holy Redeemer Parish)
Tel.: (902) 564-4847
Fax: (902) 564-2260
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. (temporarily at Holy Redeemer Church)

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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Trzecia Niedziela Adwentu / Third Sunday of Advent

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION is for Jozef Ryba 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 Pope Francis’s prayer intention for December, that the birth of the redeemer will bring peace and hope to all people of good will.

Eucharistic Minister for today: Suzanne Campbell

Ushers for collection today: Robert Melski Sr., Larry Gniewek

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

WEDNESDAY MASS AND NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA – In the new year, we will pray the Novena at 9:15 a.m., before every Sunday Mass.

Sunday, December 21, 9:30 a.m. Fourth Sunday of Advent. The Mass intention will be for Catherine Ardelli and Julia Munshaw offered by Shirley Ardelli & family.
Lectors: Janusz Wawrzyszyn, Tony Melski                                                                     
Eucharistic Minister: Marilyn Gillis
Altar Servers: Caleigh and Kristopher
Ushers: Bernie LaRusic, Joe Gillis
Greeters: Marjorie Ardelli, Carolyn Kiley
Altar Society volunteers for December: (we will be asking for the Altar Society’s kind assistance to set up some special prayers and events in the coming weeks): Peggy Ryba, Ursula Melski, Catherine and Herb Tucker, Lynette Ryba                                 

Collection receipts for Sunday, December 7:  $3140.80 (broken down as follows: $1365.80 regular collection, $175.00 Building fund, $1600.00 toward rebuilding. Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Mary’s Polish Parish. Dziękujemy bardzo!

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

IN MEMORIAM DONATION: To make an In Memoriam donation, please speak with Shauna MacKay. These will be acknowledged in the bulletin. Building Fund contributions will go toward the new church. To contribute to the Building Fund, please write on your regular envelope or cheque “Designated to the Rebuilding of St. Mary’s Polish Church.”

“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:
December 14: Alfred, Izydor, Sławobor
December 15: Celina, Iga, Ignacy, Krystiana, Nina, Wolimir, Żegota
December 16: Alina, Zdzisława
December 17: Florian, Jolanta, Żyrosław
December 18: Bogusław, Gracjan, Laurencja
December 19: Beniamin, Dariusz, Gabriela, Mścigniew, Tymoteusz
December 20: Bogumiła, Dominik
December 21: Tomasz, Tomisław

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

PARAFIA P.W. NARODZENIA NAJSWIETSZEJ MARYI PANNY: WE WILL RISE AGAIN – A NOTE:   We continue to receive prayers and support from across Canada and beyond. It’s been overwhelming. We know that we are not alone. Thanks to all the offers of help, we know that the rebuilding will bring together so many friends near and far. St. Mary’s Polish Church will again beautifully reflect our spiritual and cultural heritage and traditions, and be at the heart of our community, with doors open to all, caring for all. Pokój z wami. Thank you for all you are doing to help us come through this difficult time.

AFTER MASS TODAY, PLEASE COME TO THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL, DOWNSTAIRS. Everyone is welcome. There will be refreshments and snacks. We will have Polish Christmas cards and Oplatek for sale. Also, Andrzej Rachwalski from Halifax will be here for his pre-Christmas sale of Polish meats and other food products (including some new products this year). Profits will support the rebuilding. We will also have a chance to chat informally about our parish Christmas preparations.

CATECHISM AND POLISH CULTURAL CLASS, for school-age children, led by Krista Ann Starzomski. Plans are underway to resume these shortly.
POLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES, led by Edyta Baczyk, will be resumed in the new year.

OSWIECENIE CHOINKI ORAZ PRZYBYCIE SWIETEGO MIKOLAJA: NEXT SUNDAY (Dec. 21) --  6 P.M. – CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AND VISIT BY ST. NICHOLAS AT THE SITE OF OUR CHURCH There will be Polish carols and hot chocolate. Please invite friends, as we come together to say thank you for each other’s support, reflect on the Christmas season, and renew our energy as we prepare to rise again. St. Nicholas will be dressed in traditional Polish style. Today after Mass, we will gather at the Polish Village Hall and talk about plans and arrangements.

Our St. Mary’s Polish  Parish “PASTERKA” -- Christmas Eve Mass – 10 p.m. Polish carols beginning a half hour before.
Holy Redeemer Christmas Eve Masses – 4 and 7 p.m.

MASS INTENTIONS AND VIGIL CANDLE  FOR 2015: CAN BE SUBMITTED AFTER MASS TODAY AT THE GATHERING AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL, OR RESERVED BY CALLING 902-563-1226.

St. Mary’s Polish Parish collection envelopes for 2015 will be available next week. If you or your family do not currently have envelopes, but would like to, please speak with Shauna McKay, Chair of the Finance Committee (samckay@ns.sympatico.ca; 902-539-4354). Building Fund envelopes were lost in the fire but will be printed shortly. Building Fund contributions will go toward the new church. To contribute to the Building Fund, please write on your regular envelope or cheque “Designated to the Rebuilding of St. Mary’s Polish Church.”

THIS AFTERNOON AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL – 2 P.M. – JOLA CEBULA AND STUDENTS – CLASSICAL VIOLIN CONCERT – Everyone is welcome – Admission is $10 each. There will be sandwiches, treats, and refreshments. Jola’s concerts are a popular event before various holidays.

SYLWESTRA – NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL, hosted by the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society. Dancing from 9-1. Music by DJ Robin Krszwda. Tickets are $15. Please call Tony Melski at 902-537-1417.

ST. MARY’S POLISH PARISH TELEVISED MASS FOR SHUT-INS: We will be recording the Mass for shut-ins at the CTV Studio on George St. on Tuesday, January 6, at 7 p.m. It would be great if everyone could make it. If you have traditional Polish attire or St. Michael’s jackets, please wear them for the recording.

PARISH COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITMENTS: Our parish does a lot of work in the wider community. We are determined to keep those commitments even in the face of adversity. We were host/convener for inter-faith meetings and activities (including a successful fund-raiser) to support the local Habitat for Humanity. This includes the development of “The Pier” fund-raising board game, which is nearing completion. (For $100 sponsors can have their name on the board.) We will continue to be very active in this project. We will also continue to actively support Loaves and Fishes, and to work with Caritas Polska, Development and Peace, Samaritan’s Purse, and others.

CAPE BRETON POLISH TARTAN ORDERS (proceeds to our parish) are still being fulfilled. There is an order form on our website: www.stmaryspolishparish.ca . Orders will generally take a few weeks to complete.

PROPERTY COMMITTEE CHAIR – Jim Campbell. If you notice any repair/upkeep issues, please feel free to contact Jim at 565-8924 (cell) or 562-5837 (home).

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: Please note: Our hymnbooks were destroyed in the fire. New ones will be prepared, but we will provide texts and notes as inserts wherever possible.)
Entrance: Archanioł Boży Gabriel [Gabriel, Angel of God]
Offertory: Po upadku człowieka grzesznego [After the Sinful Fall]
Communion: Pan Jezus już się zbliża [The Lord Jesus Draws Near]
Post-Communion: Zdrowaś bądź, Maryja [Hail Be Mary]
Closing: Oto Pan Bóg przyjdzie [The Lord Cometh]