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!
St. Mary’s Polish Church is a heritage landmark designated by the Province of Nova Scotia
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 Dennis Lamey 902-564-4222; sttheresasydney@gmail.com

MSZY/MASSES: Sunday at 9:30am, Wednesday at 6:30pm
Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa following the Wednesday evening Mass

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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Pierwsza Niedziela Adwentu / First Sunday of Advent

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION (9:30 am Mass) is for the soul of Teofil Pierrynowski offered by Mary Pierrynowski

Eucharistic Minister for today:Sophie O’Toole
Ushers for collection today: Bernie LaRusic, Larry Gniewek

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ / THE WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, December 5, 6:30pm The Mass intention will be for Scott Walker (praying of the Rosary will precede Mass) 7:00pm Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa

Sunday, December 9, 9:30am: Druga Niedziela Adwentu / Second Sunday of Advent The Mass intention will be for the soul of Georgia LaRusic offered by Bernie and Jancia LaRusic and family
Lectors: Tanya Chislett, Janusz Wawrzyszyn
Eucharistic Minister: Janet Hawthorne
Altar Servers: Kristofer Starzomski-Wilson, Frankie Chislett, James Clarke, Robbie Melski
Ushers: Joe Gillis, Robert Melski Jr.
Greeters: Mary [Micka] DiPenta, Teresa Fagan
Altar Society designated volunteers for December: Catherine Tucker, Herb Tucker
Property Committee designated member for the coming week:
Care Committee: to visit or send a card, please call Catherine Tucker (902-567-0146) or Vicki Aucoin (562-7142)

Collection receipts for Sunday, November 25: $929.90 (broken down as follows: $697.00 general collection, $ monthly, $65.00 flowers, $100.00 fuel, $ votive candles, $33.90 loose, $34.00 rebuilding fund). Thank you very much for your generous support of St. Mary's Polish Parish. Dziekujemy bardzo.

MASS INTENTIONS / VIGIL CANDLE: To reserve Mass Intentions / Vigil Candle, please contact Fr. Dennis directly at 902-564-4222.

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

RECENT IN MEMORY OF ("IMO") CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REBUILDING FUND:
IMO Aggie Stephenson from Judy and Ralph Jeans

SPECIAL MEETING: After Mass today, there will be a short special meeting for all parishioners. The meeting will be here in the main part of the church.

ST. MARY’S POLISH PARISH -- A REFLECTION AND PRAYER: This past Thursday marked the fourth anniversary of the fire. The fire and its aftermath were a time of great stress and distress. But we are grateful to God and grateful for the intercession of the Blessed Mother that we remained together as a community and that we have rebuilt with the support, kindness, and generosity of so many people, near and far. We pray that as a parish community, we may radiate our gratitude through a spirit of kindness, abounding generosity, and service to others for a long, long time to come. May we bring love, compassion, and healing to an often hurting and troubled world.

POLSKI PIĄTEK: “Polish Friday” informal social at the Polish Village Hall downstairs Friday, December 7, 2018, 6:00pm. Everyone is welcome.No charge.

VISIT OF SWIETY MIKOLAJ (ST. NICHOLAS): Sunday, December 9, after Mass in Sala 1050. This is in keeping with the Polish custom (next Sunday is the Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Nicholas). Swiety Mikolaj will bring small presents for children. We will have lunch after Mass. Everyone is welcome. The following is a list of parishioners who are on the list this time to please bring a dish. Many thanks for your help! Edyta Baczyk, Ursula and Michael Melski, Anne Marie and Jimmie Campbell, John and Deanie Morykot, Judi and Peter McCarron, Carolyn Kiley, Nicole Baker, Patsy Kiley, Peggy Ryba, Robert Schella, Catherine and Herb Tucker, Anna Wesolkowska, Evelyn Wojcik

LOAVES AND FISHES: If you can, please bring a non-perishable item to the lunch next Sunday.

SINCEREST CONDOLENCES to Genevieve Wawrzyszyn and her family on the passing of Genevieve’s mother, Madeleine Thompson, a frequent visitor to Cape Breton and our church. She will be greatly missed. Donne à elle, Seigneur, le repos éternel. Et que brille sur elle la lumière de ta face.

WHITNEY PIER COMMUNITY KITCHEN PROJECT: Meals are served here every Wednesday from 11:30am to1:00pm. Free of charge or donate what you can. Everyone is welcome. The Community Kitchen Project has been going very well.

ST. MICHAEL’S POLISH BENEFIT SOCIETY: meets this evening at 7:00pm.

OPŁATEK – THE TRADITIONAL POLISH CHRISTMAS WAFER: Available as of today at the back of the church. $3.00 per envelope. The custom of breaking and sharing unleavened wafers (embossed with holy images) at family and community gatherings during the Christmas season (beginning with Christmas Eve) originated in Poland in the 17th century – and is today a primarily Polish, Lithuanian, and Slovak tradition. The large majority of families of Polish heritage continue to follow this custom. It is also traditional for Polish families who send Christmas cards in the mail (even to non-Polish friends) to put a piece of Opłatek inside the card. When sharing the Opłatek, it is customary to say something like the following: “I wish you much health, happiness and the Lord's bountiful blessings as well as the fulfillment of all your plans and everything you wish for yourself.”

POLISH RELIGIOUS CHRISTMAS CARDS ($2 each) are available at the back of the church.

Polish Consul General Dariusz Wiśniewski asked to pass along THANKS FOR OUR PARISH’S WELCOME AND HOSPITALITY during his visit to Cape Breton Nov. 25-26. In addition to our parish lunch, the Consul General had supper with the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society, met for breakfast here on Monday morning with the Walbrzych Partner City Steering Committee, met with CBU President David Dingwall and other CBU staff and faculty, and had a lunch meeting with Mayor Cecil Clarke and senior CBRM staff. At all the meetings, it was noted what a positive asset St. Mary’s Polish Parish is to the whole region. Thank you, everyone! Dziekujemy serdecznie! A message left by the Polish Consul General from his visit with us last Sunday can be seen in our parish guest book.

LOST BINDER WITH POLISH FLORAL FOLK MOTIFS: These are the sketches that were used for the panels in the Polish Village Hall. The binder was in the church earlier this year (it was going to be a resource for the future colouring book). If anyone has seen it or borrowed it, please let Genevieve Wawrzyszyn or Tom Urbaniak know. Many thanks for your help.

THE FEAST OF ST. BARBARA (the day known as Barbórka in Poland): December 4th. We pray for miners, living and deceased. Just like Cape Breton, Poland has a long history of mining, and there is a special place in the national consciousness for miners. Polish miners have special ceremonial uniforms – the same ones we presented to the Men of the Deeps in 2013 during a joint concert that was part of our parish’s year-long Centenary celebrations.  The exact year of St. Barbara’s martyrdom ,her punishment for adhering to her Christian faith, is not known, but is usually dated to the third century. It is believed that the death sentence was carried out by her own father, who was later struck by lightning, thus St. Barbara’s special role as interceding to protect those who must work around explosives. She is considered one of the Church’s Fourteen Holy Helpers.

TRANSLATION OF TODAY’S FIRST READING FROM JER. 33:14-16:The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: “The Lord our justice.”

TRANSLATION OF TODAY’S SECOND READING FROM 1 THES.: Brothers and sisters: May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones. Amen. Finally, brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God and as you are conducting yourselves you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

“We cannot truly follow Jesus when we are weighed down by things, because if the heart is crowded with other goods, there will be no room for the Lord, who will become just one thing among others.” – A recent message on Twitter from Pope Francis

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 błogosławionego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week!

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TODAY’S HYMNS: 9:30 am Mass
Entrance: Archanioł Boży Gabryjel (Archangel of God, Gabriel)
Psalm:
Offertory: Głos wdzięczny (From Heaven a Voice)
Communion: O mój Jezu w Hostii skryty (O My Jesus Contained in the Host)
Post-Communion: Witaj Święta i poczęta (Greetings to the Holy and Immaculate)
Recessional: Oto Pan Bóg przyjdzie (Thus the Lord is Coming)