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.
Established in 1913. Church rebuilt in 2015-2016. Our second century of faith and service

PROBOSZCZ/PASTOR:  Father Rich Philiposki 902-564-4847 or cell 902-577-6331

MSZY/MASSES: Sunday at 10:00 am, 4:00 pm
Weekday Masses: Days & times vary
First Saturday of the month at 8:30 am
Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa following the Wednesday evening Mass
Chaplet of Divine Mercy following the Friday evening Masss

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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Piąta Niedziela Wielkiego Postu / Fifth Sunday of Lent

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION (10:00 am Mass) is for Antonina Ryba offered by the family
TODAY’S MASS INTENTION (4:00 pm Mass) is for all parishioners

Eucharistic Minister for today: Janet Hawthorne
Ushers for collection today: Bernie LaRusic, Joe Gillis

TRANSLATION OF TODAY’S SECOND READING (Heb 5:7-9): In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

WEEKDAY MASSES:
Monday, March 19, 6:30pm Feast of St. Joseph The Mass intention will be for Mieczysław Greczyło
Tuesday, March 20, 6:30pm The Mass intention will be for Edythe Lykowski offered by Father Rich
Wednesday, March 21, 6:30pm The Mass intention will be for living & deceased members of the Ardelli family 7:00pm Gorzkie Zale/Lenten Lamentations
Thursday, March 22, 6:30pm The Mass intention will be for Mirosław Szok offered by Janina Mazun
Friday, March 23, 6:30pm The Mass intention will be for Casimir & Helen Jezeski offered by Father Rich 7:00pm Droga Krzyżowa/Way of the Cross

Sunday, March 25, 10:00am: NIEDZIELA PALMOWA / PALM SUNDAY (please gather at 9:50am in Sala 1050 for blessing of palms/willows and procession) The Mass intention will be for Aniela Lubkowska offered by Janina MacCormack
Lectors: Tanya Chislett, Andrzej Cebula; Reading of the Passion: Stephanie Black, Bob Lewandowski
Eucharistic Minister: Marilyn Gillis
Altar Servers: Frankie Chislett, James Campbell, Matthew Pellerine Anthony Melski
Ushers: Larry Gniewek, Tony Melski
Greeters: Catherine Tucker
Altar Society designated volunteers for March10-31: Janet Hawthorne, Evelyn Cook
Care Committee: to visit or send a card, please call Catherine Tucker (902-567-0146) or Vicki Aucoin (562-7142)

Sunday, March 25, 4:00 pm: The Mass intention will be for all parishioners
Lector:
Usher: Michael Gillis

Collection receipts for Sunday, March 11: $1147.00 (broken down as follows: $722.00 general collection, $220.00 monthly, $170.00 fuel, $10.00 initial offering, $ votive candles, $32.55 loose, $75.00 rebuilding fund). Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Mary's Polish Parish. Dziekujemy bardzo.

MASS CARDS / VIGIL INTENTIONS: To reserve Mass Intentions / Vigil Intentions, please call Father Rich (902-564-4847 or cell 902-577-6331) or Carolyn Ardelli-Kiley (902-539-1725).

IN MEMORIAM DONATION: In Memoriam donations 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.”

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

FATHER RICH REPORTS:
Niech Bedzie Pochwalony Jezus Chrystus! Praise be Jesus Christ!
Dear Parishioners & Friends:
Today is already the Fifth Sunday of Lent.  We are reminded that we must die like the grain of wheat in order to come to life again. I want to thank the readers, altar servers, organist, choir, gift bearers and all who filled the CTV studio for the Mass for Shut Ins last Tuesday. The Mass will be broadcast today at 11:30am on the CTV channel.  After Mass today there will be brief Stations of the Cross for the children of our PREP classes in church. We have only one full week of Lent before Holy Week that begins next (Palm) Sunday when we commemorate the entry and welcoming of the Lord Jesus into Jerusalem. I ask that we all gather in Sala 1050 before the 10:00am Mass and then we will process after the blessing of the palm and pussy willow branches out through the parking lot into the main doors of the church. You will find the detailed schedule of the services of Holy Week in the bulletin today. Please note the designated times for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) that takes place in the room to the left of the sanctuary where a special screen has been placed.

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IN MEMORY OF (IMO) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REBUILDING FUND:

MASS FOR SHUT-INS: Thanks for all the help with the Mass for Shut-ins recording this past Tuesday! It will be broadcast on CTV today at 11:30am.

PAINTING OF LAST SUPPER/GILDING: Jeff Wilson has been working on the painting of the altar all week and it’s looking great! And thanks again to Maura McKeough of Parks Canada for the gold gilding!

POLISH EASTER ITEMS (baranki, pisanki, Polish Easter cards) for sale on back table this morning. Proceeds to support the work of the parish. Dziękuję!

HOLY WEEK – WIELKI TYDZIEŃ IN OUR CHURCH:
PALM (PASSION) SUNDAY- NIEDZIELA PALMOWA March 25:
9:50am Gathering of all the faithful in Sala 1050 for the solemn blessing of palms and willows followed by procession (outdoors) to the main doors of the church
10:00am Solemn High Mass with the reading of the Passion
HOLY MONDAY-WIELKI PONIEDZIALEK - March 26:
No Mass in our church as Chrism Mass will be in Cheticamp
HOLY TUESDAY-WIELKI WTOREK – March 27:
6:30pm Mass intention for Stanislaw Mazun & Family
HOLY WEDNESDAY-WIELKA SRODA - March 28:
6:00pm Confessions in Confessional room
6:30pm Mass Intentions of Our Lady of Victory Congregation
7:00pm Lenten Lamentations (Gorzkie Zale)
HOLY THURSDAY- WIELKI CZWARTEK – March 29:
7:30pm Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper
8:15pm Adoration at “ciemnica” to 10:00pm
Pizza for all Altar Servers at Glebe after Mass
GOOD & GREAT FRIDAY- WIELKI PIATEK -March 30:
12:00 noon: Way(Stations) of the Cross
12:30pm Liturgy of Good Friday (Passion Reading, Veneration of the Cross, Holy Communion)
1:30pm- 6:30pm Adoration at the Tomb
6:30pm Gorzkie Zale (Lamentations in Polish)
HOLY & GREAT SATURDAY/ WIELKA SOBOTA- March 31:
1:00pm 105th annual blessing of Easter baskets (Swiecenie Pokarmow Wielkanocnych)
7:30pm Easter Vigil Mass
EASTER SUNDAY:
8:30am Resurrection Procession and Mass

DELIVERING BLESSED EASTER BASKETS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMEBOUND: This year’s blessing of the Easter baskets (Swiecenie Pokarmow Wielkanocnych – an age-old Polish custom) will take place on Holy Saturday at 1:00pm (please wear Polish attire if possible). Once again this year, we will be preparing Easter baskets for homebound parishioners or anyone else who might appreciate our outreach and friendship at Easter (more info in next week’s bulletin). Please speak with Care Group members Vicky Aucoin (562-7142) or Catherine Tucker (567-0146) about anyone who should be on the list to receive a basket.  Also, we will be inviting everyone to contribute an item from your basket (including fresh items) to a collective basket for Loaves and Fishes. Thanks for your caring and support.

PLANNING THE PARISH LIBRARY:  The Library Committee is proposing the following for the library (in Sala 1050) and children’s play area. The construction and areas were generously sponsored (Aggie Stephenson – library; and Anna Wesolkowska – children’s play area). Items will need to be carefully curated and selected knowing that they would be unique and utilized:
- key modern Catholic education resources (several books, DVDs);
- selected books about Poland in English, including attractive coffee table books;
- biographies in English about Polish saints and beatified;
- several high-quality Polish language learning resources, including children’s books like Elementarz and books with famous bajki (nursery/folk tales);
- every book and commemorative program about our parish;
- books in English about Polish traditions, folk arts, crafts, music, dancing, with selected CDs/DVDs, including every CD with our choir;
-some famous Polish literature in good English translations (eg. Sienkiewicz’s Quo Vadis and The Deluge, Mickiewicz’s Pan Tadeusz)
- DVDs of various stages of our church rebuilding;
- assorted popular Polish cookbooks;
- selected books to introduce Croatian and Lithuanian culture, arts, crafts;
- books about multicultural Whitney Pier
Not all the shelves would have to be filled initially. We will also try to ensure we have all the AV equipment we need. The children ’s play area will be movable and on wheels, to ensure the full space can be used for other activities whenever needed. Our vision is that the items can be contained in a well-designed, close-able wooden cart, which can also function as a table (similar to a movable ice cream cart), and would include selected Polish wooden toys and dolls, puzzles (including a puzzle of our church), and assorted Polish games for children (including board games). The Polart website has a sampling of what we might consider having. To share feedback (which is most welcomed!), or if there are particular items or titles you would like to see, please speak with Jerry Pocius, Library Committee chair: gerald_pocius@cbu.ca

ALTAR SOCIETY: will meet next Sunday, March 25th, after Mass (postponed from today). If you would like to be part of the Altar Society or learn more about it, please join us for this short meeting.

FINANCE COMMITTEE: meeting Saturday, March 24, 10:00am in Sala 1050.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE: will be starting its work in early April – prelude to the parish Annual General Meeting on May 27. If you would like to serve on the Nominating Committee, please speak with any member of the Rada.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: date set for Sunday, May 27, after the 10:00am Mass. (By-laws ask the Rada to set the date for after Easter but before summer and give a long notice.) There will be a financial overview, Rada elections, and annual reports. If you would like to serve on the Nominations Committee, which will start meeting in April, please call 902-563-1226. Many thanks.

POGORIA POLISH FOLK REHEARSALS after the 10:00am Mass today. Everyone is welcome.

PLEASE CONSIDER SPONSORING A PEACOCK FEATHER FOR $100 AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL: Your name, or the name of a person in whose memory you designate, will be permanently inscribed on the wall below a painted peacock feather downstairs in the Polish Village Hall. The hall has recently gone through some major improvements. Thanks for your help in promoting the hall as a hub for the community. Please speak with any member of the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society or call 902-564-8494.

“THE POLISH CAPE BRETONERS”: A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COLOURING BOOK PROJECT: Thank you for the suggestions for the colouring book project ( CBU Tompkins Institute). We are trying to incorporate all of them!

THE FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH (MARCH 19), PATRON SAINT OF CANADA, AND ALSO AN IMPORTANT SOLEMNITY IN POLAND: Because of the Polish custom of celebrating name days (imieniny), and because Joseph was such a common name, the practice of “St. Joseph’s tables” (a special meal) became widespread on this day. Our choir will lead us in a special hymn in honour of St. Joseph for the post-Communion today (please see bulletin insert)

A RECENT MESSAGES ON TWITTER FROM THE HOLY FATHER:

POPE FRANCIS' PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH: “That the Church may appreciate the urgency of formation in spiritual discernment, both on the personal and community levels.”

IN MEMORIAM / BUILDING FUND ENVELOPES / REBUILDING FUND ENVELOPES are at the back of the church. Many thanks for your support.

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 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.”.Donations can also be made by regular mail: St. Mary's Polish Parish 21 Wesley St. , Sydney, N.S. B1N 2M5. Thank you so much for your support.

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.The beautifully renovated downstairs is now available again for rentals for holiday parties or other occasions 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: 10:00 am Mass
Entrance: Jużem dość pracował (My Work is Complete)
Psalm:
Offertory: W krzyżu cierpienie (Cross of Compassion)
Communion: Jezusa Ukrytego (Jesus, My Lord and Saviour)
Post-Communion: Józefie, święty Patronie (Joseph, Our Holy Patron)
Recessional: Któryś za nas cierpiał rany. Jezu Chryste, zmiłuj się nad nami (x3). (You who suffered wounded for us, Christ Jesus have mercy on us)

TODAY’S HYMNS: 4:00 pm Mass (See Pages in St. Joseph Sunday Missal)
Entrance:
Recessional: