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
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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Uroczystość Świętej Rodziny / Feast of the Holy Family

Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. In the 17th century, the veneration of the Holy Family was first encouraged in North America by Bishop Francois de Laval of Quebec. The Feast of the Holy Family was instituted by Pope Leo XIII in 1893, at first in January after Epiphany. In 1969, it was moved to the Octave of Christmas (the Sunday between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, which is known in the Church as the Feast of Mary, Mother of God.)

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION is for Jim Leonard offered by the Kyte family. Wieczny odpoczynek racz Mu dać Panie, a swiatłość wiekuista niechaj Mu świeci na wieki wieków. Amen

Eucharistic Minister for today: Suzanne Campbell

Ushers for collection today: Joe Gillis, Tony Gniewek

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

WEDNESDAY MASSES are on hold while we rebuild. Please note that Father Paul leads the Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa every Sunday before Mass (starting at about 9:10 a.m.). Copies of the Novena are at the back of the church.

Sunday, January 3, 9:30 a.m.
Lectors: Anna Wesolkowska, Janusz Wawrzyszyn                                                                     
Eucharistic Minister: Janet Hawthorne
Altar Servers: James Campbell, Matthew, and James Clarke  
Ushers: Joe Gillis, Robert Melski Jr.
Greeters: Joan Mosher, Peggy Ryba

Collection receipts for Sunday, December 20: $4123.15 (broken down as follows: $1225.00 general collection [including $20.00 cemetery fund], $2898.15 rebuilding fund). Collection receipts for Christmas Eve, December 24: $7013.40 (broken down as follows: $2714.40 general collection, $4299.00 rebuilding fund). Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Mary’s Polish Parish. Dziekujemy bardzo.

MASS CARDS/VIGIL CANDLE: To reserve Mass Intentions or Vigil Candle intentions, please call 902-563-1226.

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 Rebuilding Fund, if you do not have an envelope, you can 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 27: Cezary, Jan
December 28: Antoni, Dobrowiest, Emma
December 29: Domawit, Dominik, Gosław, Jonatan, Marcin, Tomasz
December 30: Dawid, Eugeniusz, Katarzyna, Uniedrog
December 31: Korneliusz, Mariusz, Melania, Sebastian, Sylwester, Tworzysław
January 1: Mieczysław, Mieczysława, Mieszko
January 2: Izydor
January 3: Danuta, Piotr

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

RECENT IMO (IN MEMORY OF) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUILDING / REBUILDING FUND:
IMO Wilhelmina Czerniatowicz from Janusz Wawrzyszyn
IMO Hughie McMullin from Kyle and Mary MacDonald
IMO Lachowicz family from Amelda MacKinnon Kelly
IMO Helena Sokol from Anna Wesolkowska; Marilyn & Joe Gillis
IMO Gina DiPierro from Peggy Ryba; Agnes Stephenson

ASSIGNMENTS IN VARIOUS MINISTRIES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON:
EUCHARISTIC MINISTER:
January 3: Janet Hawthorne
January 10: Suzanne Campbell

LECTORS:
January 3: Anna Wesolkowska, Janusz Wawrzyszyn
January 10: Anne Marie Campbell, Robert Lewandowski

ALTAR SERVERS:
January 3: James Campbell, Matthew, and James Clarke
January 10: Brianna, Rudy and Nicholas

USHERS:
January 3: Joe Gillis, Robert Melski Jr.
January 10: Larry Gniewek, Toni LaRusic

GREETERS:
January 3: Joan Mosher, Peggy Ryba
January 10: Catherine Tucker, Herb Tucker

NEW YEAR'S EVE ("SYLWESTER") AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL: 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. DJ Robin Krszwda. Tickets $15.00 from Tony Melski 537-1417

PARISH OPŁATEK SUPPER: Saturday, January 9, 2016 at 6 p.m., Polish Village Hall. Everyone is welcome. There is no charge. Please bring a dish if you can – and if you can a non-perishable item for Loaves and Fishes. We will discuss at the supper what to put in our church time capsule – and also a more general update on the latest rebuilding news.

TO CONTRIBUTE ON-LINE TO OUR REBUILDING, PLEASE GO TO OUR PARISH WEB HOME PAGE (www.stmaryspolishparish.ca) and please click the link to our Canada Helps donation page. It’s a secure system and you’ll receive your charitable tax receipt promptly. Thanks for your support! Please spread the word.

REBUILDING FUND ENVELOPES are at the back of the church. Thank you for your support.

REBUILDING FUND CONTRIBUTIONS: 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.”

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

Życzenia na miłego nowego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week! Bóg zapłać!

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TODAY’S HYMNS: Please see bulletin insert for the words.
Entrance: Bog się rodzi [God is Born]
Offertory: Narodził się Jezus Chrystus [Jesus Christ was Born]
Communion: Któż o tej dobie [Who at the Dawn?]
Post-Communion: Znarodzenia Pana [From the Birth of the Lord]
Closing: Przybieżeli do Betlejem [They Set Out for Bethlehem]

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Gdy się Chrystus rodzi i na świat przychodzi,
Ciemna noc w jasnościach promienistych brodzi
Aniołowie się radują, pod niebiosy wyśpiewują:
"Gloria, gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo."

From a popular Polish carol (Translation as follows:)
When Christ is born and comes into the world ,
Brilliant light radiates into the dark night
The angels rejoice and under the heavens they sing …

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NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF CZĘSTOCHOWA – which we pray together every Sunday before Mass (at about 9:10)
From Przez Pokolenia: Prayers and Customs of St. Mary’s Polish Church (published in 2013 as one of our 100th anniversary publications).
Most of the copies were lost in the fire, so the Novena is reprinted here.

THE MEMORARE
ALL:    Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary * that never was it known * that anyone who fled to your protection * implored your help * or sought your intercession * was left unaided. * Inspired with this confidence * we fly to you * O Virgin of Virgins, our Mother. * To you we come * before you we stand * sinful and sorrowful. * O Mother of the Word Incarnate * despise not our petitions * but in your mercy * hear and answer us.  Lady of Jasna Gora, our Mother * trusting in your maternal goodness * and powerful intercession with your son * we place before you our humble prayers and petitions. * To you we commend all our needs * and the needs of our families * and our parish.  [A moment of silent prayer – please reflect on your personal petition.]

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
LEADER: For your presence and intercession at the miraculous shrine of Jasna Gora and for the countless graces obtained for us in the past six centuries.
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa.
LEADER: For your gracious reign over us, for your powerful help throughout our history, especially in the difficult period of suffering.
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa
LEADER: For the maternal care with which you ever surround us, leading us to your beloved Son, strengthening our faith, drawing sinners to conversion, and comforting the sick, the sad, and the faint-hearted.
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa.
LEADER: For guarding us against the flood of indifference, unbelief, and atheism.
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa.
LEADER: For keeping vigil over us through your picture in our churches and homes.
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa.
LEADER: For reconciling our marriages and families in a bond of love and fidelity:
ALL: We thank you, Our Lady of Czestochowa.
LEADER: Accept our humble tribute of gratitude even though we know that our thanksgiving can in no way compare with the greatness of your mercies. The graces we have received through you inspire us with hope and desire for further fidelity toward you. O Mother of God, you constantly urge us: “Do whatever He tells you.” Obedient to your inspirations, we stand ready in gratitude to serve you in your kingdom, O Mother of the Church. Amen.

PRAYER OF LOVE AND VENERATION
LEADER: O great Mother of Jesus the God-Man, for your gracious reign over us.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Mother of Sorrows, you who are especially close to us in time of suffering and sickness.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Guardian of our conscience, helping us to a constant renewal of our life.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Help of Christians, you protect all those who are persecuted and held in bondage.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Mother, you aid us in our difficult pilgrimage to our Heavenly Father.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Mother, you call on us, your children, to participate in the salvation of mankind.
ALL: We love you and venerate you.
LEADER: O Lady of Jasna Gora, may all who venerate you feel now your help and intercession. Make it your continual care to pray for the people of God, for you were blessed by God and made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.

PRAYER OF PETITION
LEADER: In dangers threatening your people …
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: In our constant concern for preserving the Catholic heritage.
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: In our efforts to be faithful to God, to the Cross, and to the Gospel.
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: In danger of succumbing to evil habits.
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: When we are oppressed by doubts and by temptations against faith.
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: When we feel lonely and abandoned.
ALL: Be our help and our protection, O Lady of Jasna Góra.
LEADER: O Mother with the Divine Infant in your arms, through your sacred image in Czestochowa you remind us of the constant presence of your Son and your motherly solicitude as a source of strength and courage in our daily trials, difficulties, and labours. Strengthen us in our faith and obtain for us the power to renew our lives in the spirit of God’s commandments and the Gospels of Christ. AMEN.

PRAYER OF EXPIATION
LEADER: For our negligence in the faith and for the religious indifference through which we have strayed so often from God, not mindful of His presence and love.
ALL: We ask you, Mother, intercede for us.
LEADER: For our conduct, which has not always been in accord with our holy faith nor with the dignity of a child of God, for sins against life, for drunkenness, selfishness, carelessness, envy, and lax morals.
ALL: We ask you, Mother, intercede for us.
LEADER: For being so preoccupied with ourselves that we did not see the needs of our brothers and sisters – the hungry, the homeless, the sick, and the lonely.
ALL: We ask you, Mother, intercede for us.

ACT OF CONSCECRATION
ALL: Mother of God, Immaculate Mary * to you I consecrate my body and my soul * all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings * all that I am and possess. * With eager heart * I dedicate myself to you in slavery of love. * I give you complete freedom in making use of me * for the salvation of men and the assistance of the Holy Church * of which you are the Mother. From now on, I wish to do everything * with you, through you, and for you. * I know that by my own strength * I shall accomplish nothing.* You, however, can do everything * that is the will of your Son * and you are always victorious. Grant then, Help of Christians * that my family, parish, and my country * may truly be the Kingdom of your Son and yours. AMEN.

FINAL PRAYER
LEADER: It is to you, Only Mother of God, that we go for refuge and protection. Look kindly on us as we cry to you in our need. Glorious and Blessed Virgin, be with us always and rescue us from every kind of danger. AMEN.