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: MASSES ARE ON HOLD DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS.
Please see bulletin for information about televised Masses and opportunities to gather for prayer by telephone or computer

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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Czwarta Niedziela Wielkiego Postu / Fourth Sunday of Lent

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: 1 Sm 16,1b.6–7.10–13b
Psalm: Ps 23
Drugie czytanie: Ef 5,8–14
Ewangelia: J 9, 1-41

Reading 1, First Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
Reading 2, Ephesians 5:8-14
Gospel, John 9:1-41

TODAY’S RESPONSORIAL PSALM (how appropriate for our time!): “Pan mym pasterzem, nie brak mi niczego.” / The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

May God bless you during this challenging time. Let’s stay together through telephone and computer. Also, we’ll be posting regular updates on the parish Facebook page: www.facebook.com/stmaryspolishchurch/.

Let’s pray for health care workers, other front-line workers, and everyone working extra hard to keep our communities functioning, especially in parts of the world that have been hardest hit. Let’s also pray for anyone who is feeling particularly isolated at this time.

As per the bishop’s letter of March 17 (which was circulated to fellow parishioners for whom we have e-mail addresses), all Masses, meetings, and in-person activities in the diocese are suspended until further notice due to the COVID-19 crisis.

HELP WITH PICKING UP AND DELIVERING GROCERIES / PRESCRIPTIONS: Please call 902-563-1226. The St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society is pitching in to assist. We’d be happy to help.

THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN: Due to the COVID-19 situation and to respect the most recent guidelines from the province about gatherings and social-distancing, the operations of the Whitney Pier Community Kitchen at St. Mary’s Polish Church are suspended for the time being.  However, for anyone in the area who might need help at this time picking up groceries or prescriptions, please note that the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society will be pitching in to assist (as a service to the community). If you need help with getting groceries or prescriptions, please call 902-563-1226. Take care, everyone. Keep well. And keep in touch. God bless. Bóg zapłać!

TELEVISED MASSES: Please see bishop’s note included in this bulletin

A SPECIAL NOTE TO CONVEY PRAYERS AND BEST WISHES: Fr. Krzysztof Drzazga, who visited our church two years ago from the Diocese of Lublin, Poland (he was travelling in Canada with a fellow priest and his sister) sent this kind note: “Serdecznie pozdrawiam całą parafię Matki Bożej w Sydney. W tych trudnych chwilach pamiętam o Was w moich modlitwach. Z całego serca proszę niech Maryja - wspomożenie wiernych, uzdrowienie chorych, wyprasza Wam potrzebne łaski. Niech Bóg miłosierny Wam błogosławi.” (Translation: I would like to extend my heartfelt wishes to St. Mary’s Polish Parish in Sydney. In these difficult times I remember you in my prayers. With all my heart I ask Mary – who intercedes to help the faithful and heal the sick –ask for your needed graces. May the merciful God bless you.)

OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER BY TELEPHONE OR COMPUTER: Rev. Alison Etter (who is connected to our parish through marriage to Tom Urbaniak) would like to extend a warm welcome to any members and friends of St. Mary’s Polish Parish to join her every couple of days by live connection through telephone or computer to share prayer intentions and for a chance to check in on each other. 
There are two easy ways to connect:
By phone at 1 647 374 4685. Enter the meeting ID: 941 052 1825
Or by computer by going to this link: https://zoom.us/j/9410521825
Weekday prayer (15 minutes):
Tuesdays at 4:00 pm
Fridays at 10:30 am
Sundays:
10:00 am - 30 minutes followed by virtual tea time
11:00 am - children's time
11:30 am - 30 minutes followed by virtual tea time

“PEOPLE’S SCHOOL” ON CBC RADIO ONE: Topic – Community Resilience and Leadership. Every Tuesday and Friday at 4:40pm. This is a collaboration of CBC Radio and CBU Tompkins Institute. In the coming days, we will have guests from our sister city – Walbrzych, Poland – on this broadcast!

THANK YOU VERY KINDLY FOR YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HELP COVER ONGOING PARISH BILLS AT THIS TIME. It is possible to make a secure on-line donation to our parish (and receive an instant charitable tax receipt) by going to Canada Helps. Their site address to contribute is:  https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/st-marys-polish-parish/. (link to this site is provided on our parish website homepage). The parish’s mailing address is St. Mary’s Polish Parish, 21 Wesley St., Sydney, N.S. B1N 2M5. Thank you. God bless. Bog zaplac!

With all events cancelled at the Polish Village Hall until further notice, the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society is using its sign on Victoria Road to share an important message: "Please call or check in on neighbours who live alone. Thank you"

DAILY MASS IN POLISH: Every day at 9:00am our time, you can watch Mass in Polish at www.kolbe.ca. This is from St. Maximilian Kolbe Polish Parish in Mississauga (which is also closed to the public at this time, but where the priests are broadcasting Mass on line). They are also making plans to livestream traditional Polish Lenten Lamentations (Gorzke Zale) and other significant celebrations.

LENTEN ECUMENICAL SERVICES (jointly prepared by Catholics and other Christians) will be broadcast on The Coast Radio (89.7) starting next Sunday (March 29) at 12 noon.

For anyone who would like a Polish barszcz (borscht) soup-mix package, it can be mailed to you (no charge). Please call 902-563-1226 or email tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca

ST. MICHAEL’S POLISH BENEFIT SOCIETY ZARZĄD (BOARD) will meet by teleconference next Sunday (March 29) at 7:00pm. Teleconference dial-in information will be sent out to all board members. Any members who are not board members but wish to be part of this meeting, you are most welcome. Please call 563-1226 to get the dial-in code.

YESTERDAY’S MESSAGE FROM POPE FRANCIS: “Today we remember the families who cannot leave their homes: may they know how to find a way of communicating well, and conquer the anguish of this moment together. Let us pray together for peace in families today during this crisis, and for creativity.”

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From Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick
March 17th, 2020

My dear people,

In facing the most serious health concerns of recent memory we are indeed living in troubled times but “Do not be afraid”.  We are not dealing with an unexpected tsunami but rather more with the rising waters of the coronavirus which threaten to overwhelm us and our well being if we do not take appropriate measures.  We need to flatten the wave and help slow the spread of this coronavirus called Covid-19.  If we have been following the news, we know the situation is very fluid with different rules across the country on different timetables. There have been a patchwork of policies and restrictions which seem to be changing on a daily basis with so many people looking for direction and reassurance.  What are we to do amid this turmoil?

We are all concerned about the most vulnerable, given their age and health concerns and this includes our clergy.  The medical advice we receive is to avoid gathering in large groups.  We do not want to overwhelm our health care system and so we must take all pre-cautions necessary.

We will follow the directives and guidelines of Nova Scotia Chief Medical Officer of Health. We will heed all official advisories, including the latest guidance from federal and provincial governments. 

For this reason, as Diocesan Bishop, after having consulted our Council of Priests and College of Consultors and the Bishops of Atlantic Canada, I am directing that all Sunday and Weekday Masses be cancelled effective immediately until further notice.   We cannot put a time frame on when the situation will improve. 

I ask each Pastor to celebrate privately Sunday Mass for intentions of their people.  I hereby dispense the faithful from the obligation to participate in the Sunday Mass until we are able to again assemble for the Lord’s Day in accord with directives from our health officials.  Daily televised Mass is offered as an alternative, as the faithful gather to pray in their homes.  Particular care should be given to ensure that the vulnerable are not alone. Parishes may explore creative ways to connect with the vulnerable through phone calls and visits where appropriate.

I do not believe it is prudent to keep our churches open since visitation by unknown people especially the ill and the vulnerable may also cause unnecessary risk of exposure since the churches are not cleaned daily.   All parish and diocesan meetings, events, celebrations, catechetical formation programmes and any other activities in the coming weeks should be cancelled until further notice.

In compliance with federal and provincial health directives regarding the size of the crowd and personal distance between individuals, I direct the following:
Baptisms may be celebrated privately with just immediate family members present.
Weddings may be celebrated privately outside of Mass with just immediate family members present.
Funerals may be celebrated privately outside of Mass with just immediate family members present.  There should be no public receptions permitted at the church during this time.
Mindful of good hygiene and hand washing, pastors are encouraged to reach out to the sick and elderly to ensure they receive the Sacrament of the Sick and pastoral care as needed.
The Sacrament of Penance may be celebrated at any time as scheduled or when the pastor is available.
Later on, we will address the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation with the Pastors.

We continue to pray together for those affected by this coronavirus as well as all healthcare providers, caregivers and researchers.  We pray especially to St. Joseph who is the patron saint and protector of the universal Church and the principal patron saint of Canada.

Life will be different for a while from the way we live and especially not being able to worship in our churches, such challenging days actually brings out the best in people.  We will weather this storm through our common prayer and by working together. “Keep Calm and Carry On.”

(Most Rev.) Wayne Kirkpatrick

Bishop of Antigonish