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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Środa Popielcowa / Ash Wednesday

Dziś rozpoczyna się Wielki Post – czterdziestodniowy czas oczekiwania na wielkie przeżycia Męki, Śmierci i Zmartwychwstania Jezusa Chrystusa.
Today marks the beginning of Lent – the forty-day period of preparation for the Passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Translation of today's Second Reading, which will be read in Polish (2 Cor 5:20-6:2):
Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says: In an accepatable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Gorzkie Zale Lenten Lamentations:
“The Gorzkie Zale [gosh-geh-zahl-leh] began in Warsaw's Holy Cross Church during the 1700s. The devotion incorporates prose and verse, chant and reading, prayer and meditation, inviting participants to reflect on the mystery of Christian redemption, the Passion and death of the Christ. This deep appreciation for the Passion is seen in the most popular Polish image of Christ, Chrystus Frasobliwy, the so-called "sorrowing Christ," which depicts Christ in the Garden, bent in prayer and sorrow. The Lamentations highlight the very emotional nature of Polish spirituality, inviting a personal identification with the Suffering Lord and His Mother. The devotion is most often preceded by Benediction and chanted kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament.” Many Poles know the texts of the entire three-part cycle by heart. Source:annhetzelgunkel.com/easter/eastgz.html

Note: The Gorzkie Zale are printed in our parish’s book Przez Pokolenia: Prayers and Customs of St. Mary’s Polish Church.

Words spoken when ashes are administered: “Pamietaj, czlowiecze, ze z prochu powstales i w proch sie obrocisz.” (Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.)

Opening Hymn: Ach Moj Jezu (O My Jesus) – which depicts the suffering of Christ, but also the hopes we place in Him to lead us to holiness.
Ach mój Jezu, jak Ty    W Ogrojcu zakrwawiony!   Tam Cię Anioł z w smutku cieszył, Skąd był świat pocieszony.
Ref.: Przyjdź, mój Jezu,  Przyjdź mój Jezu, pociesz mnie! Bo Cię kocham serdecznie.
Second Verse: Ach, mój Jezu, jakeś srodze. Do słupa przywiązany, Za tak ciężkie grzechy nasze. Okrutnie biczowany

Hymn during the placing of ashes: Posypmy głowy popiołem (We sprinkle heads with ashes)

Offertory Hymn: Krzyżu Chrystusa (O Cross of Christ)
First verse: Krzyżu Chrystusa, bądźże pochwalony, na wieczne czasy bądźże pozdrowiony!  Gdzie Bóg, Król świata całego

Communion Hymn: Jezu Drogi Tyś miłością (Dear Jesus, You are Love)

At the closing, we sing the lamentation (three times): Któryś za nas cierpiał rany, Jezu Chryste zmiłuj się nad nami! (Translated as “You who suffered wounded for us, Christ Jesus, have mercy on us!”)