Parafia p.w. Narodzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny
ST. MARY’S POLISH PARISH
21 Wesley St., Sydney, NS, B1N 2M5
Tel.: 564-4847
www.StMarysPolishParish.ca
Preparing for our 100th anniversary (2013).
Witamy wszystkich! Welcome to all!
We are pleased to share our faith and rich traditions with the whole community.

PROBOSZCZ/PASTOR:  Father Paul Murphy 564-4355
MSZY/MASSES: Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. including Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa

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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Trzecia Niedziela Adwentu/3rd Sunday of Advent

TODAY’S MASS INTENTION is for Brenda Joseph offered by Wayne & family. Eternal rest grant onto her O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon her. Wieczny odpoczynek racz Jej dać Panie, a swiatłość wiekuista niechaj Jej świeci na wieki wieków. Amen.

The Third Sunday of Advent is also known as “Gaudete” Sunday, from the Latin “to rejoice”.  On this day, the rose-coloured candle is lit on the Advent wreath, in addition to two violet-coloured candles. Having passed the mid-point of Advent – a period of solemn preparation – the church uses a different colour on this Sunday as a way of somewhat lightening the mood and providing symbolic encouragement as we continue our prayerful journey to Christmas.

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NASTĘPNY TYDZIEŃ/THE WEEK AHEAD:

Wednesday, December 19, 4:00 p.m.: Mass followed by Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa (Please note time change) For Ron Melski offered by Liz & family.

Sunday, December 23, 9:30 a.m. The Mass intention will be for Mary Payn offered by Mary Pierrynowski
Lector: Stephanie Black
Eucharistic Minister: Janet Hawthorne
Altar Servers: Brianna and Nicholas

The Vigil Candle for this week is for Colin MacCormack offered by Janina and family.

Collection receipts for Sunday, December 9: $1019.65 (broken down as follows: $575.65 weekly contributions, $100.00 supplementary monthly, $52.00 candles, $55.00 Christmas flowers, $27.00 building fund, $50.00 additional donation). Sincere thanks for your support of St. Mary’s Polish Parish! Dziękujemy bardzo!

OPLATEK/MASS CARDS/VIGIL CANDLE/MASS INTENTIONS: Please call Paul Tynski (562-1716)

“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 16: Alina, Zdzisława
December 17: Florian, Jolanta, Żyrosław
December 18: Bogusław, Gracjan, Laurencja, Wszemir
December 19: Beniamin, Dariusz, Gabriela, Mścigniew, Tymoteusz
December 20: Bogumiła, Dominik
December 21: Tomasz, Tomisław
December 22: Beata, Drogomir, Franciszka, Zenon
December 23: Sławomir, Sławomira, Wiktoria

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OGŁOSZENIA/ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHANGE IN WEDNESDAY MASS TIME FOR THE WINTER MONTHS: 4 p.m.: Our Wednesday evening Mass is at 4 p.m. Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa follows as usual. Father Paul has effected this change out of consideration for people who may find it difficult to drive in the dark, especially in inclement winter conditions.

PASTERKA (MIDNIGHT MASS) AND CHRISTMAS DAY MASS IN OUR CHURCH: There will be traditional kolędy (our beautiful Polish carols) about a half hour before midnight on Christmas Eve. The Mass will begin at midnight. Pasterka literally translates as “shepherd’s mass.” On Christmas Day, Mass will be celebrated at our church at 9:30 a.m. In the Polish tradition, it is customary to attend both the Midnight Mass and the Christmas Day Mass. There will be Mass on Wednesday, December 26 at the usual 4 p.m. time followed by Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa . Our neighbouring parish, Holy Redeemer, will have Christmas Eve masses at 4 and 8 p.m. and Christmas Day at 11 a.m. Also, the Special Advent Sunday devotions (Holy Hour) continue this week at Holy Redeemer at 3p.m.

CONFESSIONS: Father Paul will hear confessions next Sunday beginning at 9:00 a.m. (that is one-half hour prior to the start of our Sunday Mass). Also, next Sunday, Father Alex will hear confessions at Holy Redeemer beginning at 2:30 p.m. (that is one-half hour prior to the start of their Holy Hour Devotions).

CATECHISM/POLISH CULTURAL CLASS for school-age children (about 30 minutes long), after Mass today downstairs, led by Krista Ann Starzomski.

RECENT SERVICE INITIATIVES BY OUR PARISH CATECHISM CLASS: Congratulations to the students in our parish Catechism class, who are not only learning about their faith but putting it into practice. The class was actively involved in the Operation Christmas Child initiative. Also, the students recently wrote notes to Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, telling them that we are praying for them and for all the people of Afghanistan. In the days and weeks ahead, Krista Ann Starzomski, on behalf of our parish, will be working with the youth participants at the Whitney Pier Youth Club to, among other things, provide lessons in pierogi-making. Thank you, everyone! Bóg zapłać!  

CHRISTMAS DECORATING IN OUR CHURCH: After Mass today, we will be putting up the Christmas trees and continuing with the decorating next Saturday (Dec. 22) at 10 a.m. We would be very, very grateful for the assistance of any parishioners who can spare a bit of time. The Christmas trees, Nativity scene, and other Christmas objects will be put up. In the Church, the Christmas season does not begin until Christmas Eve. So the trees, although set up, will not actually be lit next Sunday (the fourth Sunday of Advent).

STO DARÓW – PROPOSED CENTENARY SERVICE PROJECT FOR OUR PARISH: The Parish Planning Team has consistently heard feedback from parishioners about the desire to make our centenary year a year of service -- and in a way that is easy for everyone to participate throughout the year. The Planning Team is therefore proposing an activity called Sto Darów (literally “100 Gifts”). At each parish gathering – including events/ceremonies and our parish lunches on the first Sunday of each month – we would, collectively as a parish, gather 100 non-perishable items for a local food bank. We could also invite other places of faith to organize similar efforts in their communities in solidarity with people in our region who need a helping hand. (In addition, various groups within the parish have already undertaken to do other community outreach work. There will be more on this in subsequent bulletins.) Members of the Parish Planning Team would be happy to get your feedback on this after Mass, or please call 563-1226.

NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE AT THE POLISH VILLAGE HALL: The net proceeds will support the hall and the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society. For tickets, please speak with Tony Melski (537-1417).

PARISH OPŁATEK GATHERING : Sunday, January 13, at 6 p.m. Please mark this time on your calendar. As usual, it will be a potluck supper and our choir will lead us in carols. The Parish Oplatek is a tradition we have been upholding for 100 years, and it is also a custom followed by all Polish churches around the world.

THE VIGIL CANDLE is still available for the weeks of January 21st and 28th. Please speak with Paul Tynski.

LECTORS’ SCHEDULE: In the coming week, we will be preparing the schedule for the first part of 2013. For all lectors, if there are times of year when you will be away, please let Tom Urbaniak know (tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca; 563-1226). Also, it is not too late to sign up to be a lector. As per the recommendation in our Renewal and Service report (the parish three-year plan, developed earlier this year), we will be moving to two lectors at most Masses.

THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON PARISH STATUTES AND POLICIES will have a short meeting after Mass today in the O’Connell Parish Centre.

PASTOR’S NEW YEAR’S DAY LEVEE: On January 1st, New Year’s Day, 1 -3 pm., you are invited to drop in at Holy Redeemer glebe house and visit with Father Paul and Father Alex. Please join them for a cup of tea as we usher in the New Year.

CLEANING, DECORATING, AND THE ALTAR SOCIETY: Thank you to parishioners who signed up recently to help with cleaning, decorating, and the Altar Society. There will be a short meeting after Mass on Sunday, January 6, to divide the work and plan schedules. Thank you kindly to everyone who recently signed up on the yellow forms. There are still blank forms at the back of the church, which list these and other roles. Please simply leave filled-out forms in the pews. Dziękujemy!

Mr. Rachwalski from Halifax is holding his PRE-CHRISTMAS SALE OF POLISH SAUSAGES today after Mass in the Polish Village Hall.

YOUR CHANCE TO OWN ONE OF JOHN TYNSKI’S SPECIAL WORKS OF ART: St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society is selling tickets on a professionally framed depiction of Santa Claus created by John Tynski and donated in loving memory by his family. His Santa Claus drawings were created entirely in waxed crayon and for decades have been a cherished gift from the Tynski’s to many family and friends throughout the years. This particular drawing from 2006 is one of the last pieces of original artwork completed by John (at the age of 90!).  All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to the continued support of the Polish Village Hall. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5 and may be purchased from Paul or Elaine after Mass. Draw date will be December 23rd.  Thank you for your support

VISITORS/EXTRA TIME IN THE CHURCH: You are most welcome to show our collective, sacred, historic home to visitors or guests, or to spend extra time here for prayer. If you would like to access the church outside normal Mass/open hours please call 563-1226; email: tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca and everything will be done to try to accommodate.

CALL FOR PAPERS ISSUED FOR THE 2013 CONFERENCE OF THE CANADIAN POLISH RESEARCH INSTITUTE – TO BE HELD IN SYDNEY TO COINCIDE WITH OUR PARISH’S 100th ANNIVERSARY:
As a tribute to the 100th anniversary of St. Mary’s Polish Parish, the Canadian Polish Research Institute, in partnership with Cape Breton University, is hosting a national conference in Sydney, July 25-28, 2013. The conference title is “Between Past and Future: Culture, Heritage and Community Development of Polonia in Towns and Small Cities.” The focus is Canadian Polish communities outside major metropolitan centres, of which Cape Breton provides an important example. Delegates to the conference will spend time in our church and have some of the sessions in the Polish Village Hall. Papers and presentations are not limited to university faculty and graduate students. Presentations from people involved in the community are welcomed. The call for papers can be found on-line: canadianpolishinstitute.org

ŚWIĘTY JAN KANTY – Feast day: December 23rd: Saint John of Kanty (1390-1473) is a popular Polish saint, especially among people of Polish heritage outside Poland. In his life and vocation, he was able to demonstrate a number of qualities that remain as important as ever:  He was a man of deep faith who also championed science and reason. He was an academic who believed that scholars should not be detached from society. Above all, he was a person of great humility, who only kept for himself that which was needed for a simple life. Everything else, he shared with the poor and downtrodden and with people who found themselves far away from their homeland. Jan Kanty adopted the following motto:
Beware disturbing: it's not sweetly pleasing.
Beware speaking ill: for taking back words is burdensome.

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OUR COMMUNION HYMN TODAY (DECEMBER 16, 2012 – THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT)
W Sakramencie Utajony (Arkadiusz Popławski) 

W Sakramencie utajony, Zbawicielu, nasz Panie, Z Panny czystej narodzony, Duszy naszej kochanie, Bądźże od nas pochwalony Przez nabożne śpiewanie. W Majestacie swym niezmierny, Tobie my się kłaniamy; Pobłogosław lud Twój wierny, Pokornie Cię błagamy: Zbaw nas, Jezu miłosierny, Jako w Tobie ufamy. Chwała Tobie w tej świętości Na wiek wieków niech słynie; Tyś ją dla nas w Swej miłości Ustanowił jedynie; A po śmierci z Twej dobroci Niech nas niebo nie minie.

In the latent Sacrament, Our Saviour and our Lord, Born of the Virgin pure, Our soul and truly adored, May you be praised by us Through our devotional singing. In His immense Majesty, We kneel before you; Bless your faithful people, We humbly beseech you: Save us, merciful Jesus, As we trust in you. Glory to You in all Your sacredness For ever and ever let it be known; You gave especially to us His love Especially set forth And after our death through thy goodness Let us not fail to dwell in heaven.

 

Our hymns today will be as follows:
Opening: #227 (in the coil-bound hymnal)
Offertory: #20
Communion: W Sakramencie Utajony
Post Communion: Witaj Święta Upoczęta (not in hymnal)
Closing: #25