Parafia p.w. Narodzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny
ST. MARY’S POLISH PARISH
21 Wesley St., Sydney, NS, B1N 2M5
(meeting until our rebuilding 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.
Established in 1913. Our second century of faith and service … WE WILL RISE AGAIN

PROBOSZCZ/PASTOR:  Father Paul Murphy 564-4355

MSZY/MASSES: Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (temporarily at Holy Redeemer Church)
Wednesday Masses on hold until we rebuild our church.
Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa will now be said before Sunday Masses.

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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Czwarta Niedziela Zwykła / Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION is for John J. LaRusic offered by Jancia & Bernie LaRusic. 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

TODAY’S RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Słysząc głos Pana serc nie zatwardzajcie [Hearing the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.] Pronunciation: Sw-ish-onts /gwos /pa-na / se-rts / nee-e / zat-var-dz-aye-ch-e

The Vigil Candle this week is for Pope Francis's prayer intention for evangelization: “That prisoners, especially the young, may be able to rebuild lives of dignity.”

Eucharistic Minister for today: Suzanne Campbell

Ushers for collection today: Larry Gniewek, Toni LaRusic

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

WEDNESDAY MASSES are on hold while we rebuild. We will regularly pray the Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa before Sunday Masses (about 9:15). Copies of the Novena are at the back of the church, but on future Sundays, please kindly bring the text with you.

Sunday, February 8, 9:30 a.m. The Mass intention will be for Antoni Nowak offered by Jancia & Bernie LaRusic.
Lectors: Elaine Tynski-Shipley, Tom Urbaniak                                                               
Eucharistic Minister: Janet Hawthorne
Altar Servers: James Campbell, Nicholas and Kristofer
Ushers: Joe Gillis, Bernie LaRusic
Greeters: Dianne Blondin, Elie Blondin

Collection receipts for Sunday, January 25:  $747.50 (broken down as follows: $627.50 general collection, $100.00 Rebuilding fund, $20.00 general building fund. Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Mary’s Polish Parish. Dziękujemy bardzo! In the coming month, we will acknowledge Roof Fund donors who were not acknowledged before the fire.

MASS CARDS/VIGIL CANDLE: To reserve Mass Intentions or Vigil Candle intentions, please call 902-563-1226. Please note that any 2015 Mass intentions recorded before the fire were lost and we would be most grateful if parishioners could check in again.

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:
February 1: Iga, Ignacy, Pawel
February 2: Joanna, Korneliusz, Maria
February 3: Maksym, Oskar, Stefan
February 4: Andrzej, Gilbert, Jan, Joanna, Józef, Weronika, Witosława
February 5: Aga, Agata, Jakub, Jan, Paweł, Piotr
February 6: Antoni, Bogdan, Bohdan, Dorota, Ksenia, Szymon
February 7: Alfons, Parteniusz, Partenia, Romeusz, Romuald, Rozalia, Ryszard
February 8: Jan, Paweł, Piotr, Sebastian

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

On this, the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau in German-occupied Poland, we pray for the souls of the millions of victims. We pray for an end to genocide, murder, torture, persecution and cruelty. We pray for a civilzation of love and human dignity. We join with the whole world in saying ... Never again. Nigdy więcej.

REBUILDING OUR CHURCH/MEETING WITH BISHOP DUNN: On Wednesday, the Rada met with Bishop Dunn and Father Paul Abbass, Vicar General. The Bishop has approved the Council of Priests motion in favour of our rebuilding. The Bishop and Father Abbass had questions about the proposed design.  In consultations since the fire, the Rada and architect Gary Hanley heard the very eloquent view of parishioners that the rebuilt church should be a sacred, traditional, beautiful Polish church that reflects and honours our faith, our people, and our heritage.  There are also some issues to resolve around the amount of the insurance settlement. Thank you for your prayers and hard work. St. Mary’s Polish Church will truly rise again. And we are hearing from far and wide how our example as a parish, the way in which we are overcoming adversity, is an inspiration to fellow Cape Bretoners of every background, and an inspiration to people of Polish heritage wherever they may be. Maryjo, Bogurodzico, Królowo Polski, módl się za nami …

LUNCH AFTER MASS TODAY – POLISH VILLAGE HALL – UPSTAIRS. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

THANKS FOR FRIDAY’S EXCELLENT “POLSKI PIATEK”: It was a well-attended gathering. We enjoyed great food, practiced Polish words and phrases related to Candlemas and Valentine’s, and had enjoyable and humorous entertainment. Also, we got some helpful feedback on the draft version of “The Pier” board game (inter-faith fund-raiser for Habitat for Humanity). Thanks to everyone who helped prepare. The next one will be Friday, February 27, at 6 p.m.  There is no charge.
The Pogoria Polish Folk Ensemble will have a practice following the parish lunch today.

REBUILDING FUND CONTRIBUTIONS: Building Fund envelopeswere lost in the fire but rebuilding envelopes were printed and distributed with the Christmas Eve bulletin and at the Oplatek. Building Fund contributions will go toward the new church. To contribute to the rebuilding if you do not have an envelope, you can also write on your regular envelope or cheque “Designated to the Rebuilding of St. Mary’s Polish Church.”

THANK YOU FROM POLISH CONSUL GENERAL ANDRZEJ SZYDLO: Mr. Szydlo’s term in his current posting has come to an end. He extends his thanks to our parish community. He wrote in an email: “Please, tell everyone that you are the most amazing Polish community I have ever met, worldwide. Seriously, no flattering.”

Beautiful colour images of our historic church at Christmastime (with thanks to Christa Porter and Adam) are being sold for $5 as a fund-raiser for rebuilding. Please see the table at the back.

HOW CANDLEMAS  (FEB. 2) IS CELEBRATED IN POLAND: Excerpted from Fr. Mark Borkowski, “Candlemas Day”:  “In Poland this day is called Matki Boskiej Gromnicznej, which is translated literally as Mother of God of the Thunder Candle. The candles blessed this day are called gromnicy or thunder candles because they are kept in the home for use especially in time of thunderstorms to protect the house from being hit by lightning. They are also a protection against other natural calamities such as floods, fire and drought. The blessed candles are also lit at the bedside of the dying to protect the individual from Satan, and to light the way to heaven. It was believed by many that at the time of death there was a contest for the soul of the dying between angels and the devil. At the Seminary in Orchard Lake, Michigan there is a beautiful painting which depicts Mary walking at night through the snows of the Polish countryside, carrying a large candle in her hands as if it was a sword. At her feet wolves can be seen running fearfully away from her and from the small cottages of the townsfolk she is protecting. Polish legend says she walks across Poland with her gromnica aglow, protecting homes and farm animals from many packs of hungry wolves, that prowl about looking for prey during the harsh Polish winters.”

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

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 see bulletin insert for the words.
Entrance: Wszystko Tobie oddać pragnę [I Strive to Give All to the Lord]
Offertory: Z rąk kapłańskich [From Priestly Hands]
Communion: Dobry Jezu, racz wysłuchać [Hear Us, Gracious Jesus]
Post-Communion: Cześć Maryi [Glory to Mary]
Closing: My Chcemy Boga[We want God]