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: PLEASE NOTE: OUR CHURCH BUILDING IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED. MASSES AND IN-PERSON GATHERINGS AND ACTIVITIES ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. PLEASE PRAY FOR BETTER TIMES.
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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Niedziela Miłosierdzia Bożego / Divine Mercy Sunday

Niedziela Miłosierdzia Bożego / A Note on Divine Mercy Sunday :“Jesus said to Sr. Faustina one day: `Humanity will never find peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy.’ Divine Mercy! This is the Easter gift that the Church receives from the risen Christ and offers to humanity.”- St. John Paul II
Sister Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) was canonized in 2000, and John Paul II officially designated the Sunday after Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday in the General Roman Calendar, an important moment of Grace and Devotion reflecting what was communicated to Sister Faustina. Divine Mercy Sunday is also the day after the end of the Novena of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, which begins on Good Friday. Its closing prayer is: “Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.”

ST. MARIA FAUSTYNA KOWALSKA (1905-1938): A Polish nun, visionary, and mystic, St. Faustina (Faustyna) recounted powerful spiritual dialogues with Jesus, including conversations about the Divine Mercy devotion. She also directed the painting of the first Divine Mercy image. She at first had trouble getting accepted into a convent because she could not pay her own way. But she quickly demonstrated her extraordinary work ethic and piety. By 1930, many of her meditations were focused on the Divine Mercy. Before she died, St. Faustina predicted the horrors of war that were to occur. The Divine Mercy devotion became an inspiration to the oppressed Poles in their occupied country, and the devotion began to spread around the world. After the war, the Congregation of the Sisters of Divine Mercy was formed to carry on St. Faustina’s work and her example of deep faith.

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Dz 2,42-47
Psalm: Ps 118
Drugie czytanie: 1 P 1,3-9
Ewangelia: J 20,19-31

Reading 1, Acts 2, 42-47
Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 118
Reading 2, First Peter 1:3-9
Gospel (Passion): John 20: 19-31

RESPONSORIAL PSALM FOR DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY: Dziękujcie Panu, bo jest miłosierny. / Give thanks to the Lord, for he is merciful

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Let us continue to pray for everyone on the front lines of the struggle against COVID-19, for everyone who has died, for everyone who is ill, for people who have lost employment, or are feeling particularly isolated at this difficult time. And for all other intentions that we carry in our hearts.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY MASS WITH FR. DENNIS ON LINE: Mass may be viewed by going to: http://www.sainttheresasydney.com/
Mass will be posted as of Saturday evening. A special Divine Mercy liturgy will be shown Sunday at 2:00pm

PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS: Michael Melski, who has an operation in Halifax on Tuesday

Vicky Aucoin called to say that she is out of the hospital and with her niece in Dartmouth, beginning a gradual recovery. Please continue to pray for her.

HELPING OUT WITH FREE FOOD HAMPER PROGRAM / DELIVERIES: The St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society was invited to a recent meeting with the United Way of Cape Breton (since the Society had already been doing grocery deliveries in the Pier). The Society is now also delivering free food hampers on behalf of United Way partner organizations to households in the Pier struggling to afford groceries at this time. The deliveries are done in a safe, no-contact way – lots of precautions are taken. If you know someone who may benefit from a weekly hamper with some groceries, please call 902-563-1226 or e-mail tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca. As demand increases, we may need some additional volunteer assistance. Donations toward the program are also being gratefully received.  Please let us know if you might be able to help.  

SOME GREAT NEWS – DAILY RADIO SPOTS ABOUT POLISH CAPE BRETON CULTURE!: Every weekday at 3:50pm and 7:50pm (FM 89.7). It’s called the “One Minute Polish Broadcast”. Learn a new Polish word, phrase, or cultural tradition. Presented by the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society. (This past week we looked at Śmigus Dyngus, or Dyngus Day, a Polish celebration for Easter Monday.)    Would you consider sponsoring a whole week for $100? The Coast has kindly agreed to allow us to do this as a fund-raiser (they are not charging for air time). This will be a huge help to bridge the Society through the pandemic (the radio spots will continue afterwards as well), since hall revenues have dried up. Sponsors will be acknowledged on air (IMOs are welcome, birthday tributes, etc). Thanks so much! Dziekujemy!      And, we’re recruiting volunteers to go on air (pre-recorded). We’ll help you get ready. No previous experience required, and you do not have to be a Polish speaker. This will be a great way for us to bring forward members of our community, as well as promote and share Polish language and culture in our region.

OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER IN “REAL TIME” BY TELEPHONE OR COMPUTER: Rev. Alison Etter (spouse of Tom Urbaniak) extends a warm welcome to friends at St. Mary’s to be part of prayers/conversations in real-time by linking in by telephone or computer at any of the following times on Sunday:
10:00 am – for 30 minutes followed by virtual tea time
11:00 am - children's activities
11:30 am – for 30 minutes followed by virtual tea time
By phone call 1 647 374 4685. Enter the meeting ID: 941 052 1825
Or by computer by going to this link: https://zoom.us/j/9410521825
If an additional password is requested for telephone or computer, it is 227259#.

Fifteen-minute weekday prayer (opportunity to offer intentions) will be held TWICE this week. Tuesday, April 21, at 8:00pm; Thursday, April 23, at 10:30am. Please use the same call-in codes as for Sunday (see note above).

ECUMENICAL SERVICES ON FACEBOOK AND RADIO: Alison is also working with a Roman Catholic colleague (Fr. Duaine Devereaux), an Anglican colleague (Rev. Dorothy Miller), and Pastor Dave Sawlor of Lighthouse Church to do ecumenical services every week for Facebook and radio.  
Facebook is 12 noon every Wednesday: https://www.facebook.com/GlaceBayChurches The recording then stays on-line.
And Sundays at 12 noon on The Coast Radio (89.7 FM)

“PEOPLE’S SCHOOL” ON CBC RADIO ONE: Theme – Community Resilience and Leadership: the COVID-19 edition. Every Tuesday and Friday at 4:35pm. This is a collaboration of CBC Radio and CBU Tompkins Institute.  This past week, we looked at the legacy of Fr. Jimmy Tompkins and Fr. Greg MacLeod: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-36-mainstreet-cape-breton . Or go to the Facebook page of CBC Cape Breton. Look for links that say “People’s School".

DONATIONS TO OUR PARISH DURING THE TEMPORARY SHUTDOWN: Thanks very kindly for any help you can provide toward our ongoing expenses. Donations can be made securely on-line at Canada Helps (which will email you an instant tax receipt):   https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/st-marys-polish-parish/. (link to this site is provided on our parish website homepage). Or by regular mail to St. Mary’s Polish Parish, 21 Wesley St., Sydney, N.S. B1N 2M5. Thanks for your support! It’s really appreciated. Bog zaplac!

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).

ST. MICHAEL’S POLISH BENEFIT SOCIETY ZARZĄD (BOARD) TELECONFERENCE: Next Sunday (April 26) at 7:00pm. Society members who are not on the board are very welcome to dial in as well. Please contact Tom Urbaniak (tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca; 902-563-1226.

PARISH FINANCE COMMITTEE TELECONFERENCE: Saturday, May 2, at 10:00am

Photo below: Butter Easter lamb and (next page) suris cheese made in the Lithuanian tradition by fellow parishioner Jerry Pocius.

The photo shows Mary Pierrynowski speaking with her daughter, Wanda (Wandzi), from via tablet from The Cove. Both Mary and Wandzi are doing well. This photo also appeared on our parish Facebook page and got lots of positive feedback!

 

Życzymy błogosławionego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week!