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: CHURCH RE-OPENED FOR MASS ON JULY 5, with health and safety requirements and pre-registration. Please see below for more information.

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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XV Niedziela Zwykła / Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie:  Iz 55,10–11
Psalm: 65
Drugie czytanie: Rz 8, 18-23
Ewangelia: Mt 13,1–23

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11
Psalm: 65
Second Reading: Rom. 8:18-23
Gospel: Matthew 13:1-23

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Na żyznej ziemi ziarno wyda plony. / The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest

Although we have proceeded with a cautious re-opening (using a pre-call, pre-registration/capacity system), Fr. Dennis still has on-line Mass available: http://www.sainttheresasydney.com/

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

A NOTE ABOUT THE FOOD CUPBOARD: The Food Cupboard in front of the Polish Village Hall has been functioning as intended over the past three months. It is getting more demand, so if you are in the area and can place a few non-perishable items in the Food Cupboard, this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

THE GOOD FOOD BUS will be at the Polish Village Hall this coming Saturday from 1:00 to 2:30pm. It will be outdoors with physical distancing protocols. Everyone is welcome. The Good Food Bus is like a mini-farmers’ market on wheels, with fruits and vegetables at very affordable prices.

FOOD GARDEN (ogródek) on our parish gardens (with vegetables to go to Loaves and Fishes) is in collaboration with Pathways to Employment, a charity that creates employment and volunteer opportunities for people in our community who are living with mental illness. Our past collaborations have been very successful.

COMMUNITY KITCHEN at our church (collaborative effort with other faith communities) remains on hold for the time being due to the physical distancing constraints.

HASHTAG FOR N.S. POLISH HERITAGE MONTH: We’d like to invite you to use the hashtag #WitamyNS for any social media posts about activities or awareness related to Nova Scotia Polish Heritage Month. (Hopefully, it will also be a warm and inclusive way of spreading awareness among fellow Nova Scotians of the Polish word for “we welcome”!) Also, please keep Tom Urbaniak in the loop in the next month (tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca; 902-563-1226) as individual and group activities develop, change or emerge to recognize Nova Scotia Polish Heritage Month. We will be putting out a finalized calendar / list by the end of August to help with cross-promotion!

PARTIAL RE-OPENING OF POLISH VILLAGE HALL – with public health restrictions and limitations. Rentals for certain smaller activities, subject to detailed protocols (similar in some ways for those in place for the church) and a cleaning surcharge, are again available. Please contact Bernie LaRusic at 902-561-6500. Thanks for your ongoing support!

CAN YOU SPARE SOME TIME WEEKLY OR OCCASIONALLY TO HELP WITH MOWING / GARBAGE CLEAN-UP FOR THE CHURCH GROUNDS? Please contact Property Chair John Morykot at 902-756-2722 (Whycocomagh exchange) or 902-564-9652 (Sydney) or e-mail jmorykot@eastlink.ca. Thanks so much for your help!

WEEKDAY RADIO SPOTS ABOUT POLISH CULTURE AND LANGUAGE IN CAPE BRETON: The Coast Radio: 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. 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.Our radio theme this coming week will be “poprawiny” (Polish customs/gathering for the day after a wedding). Thank you to Jerry Pocius for sponsoring this week. Thank you to our radio sponsors so far, who have each sponsored a week (all proceeds are helping the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society get through the pandemic and the temporary hall shut-down): Dr. Paula Michalik, Fr. Dan Doucet, Marjorie Ardelli IMO Michael and Dawn Marie Ardelli, John Morykot, Ryba family IMO Walter Ryba, Steve Melnick, Stephanie Black, Michael and Ursula Melski, Jerry Pocius, Sophie and Roddie O’Toole, Jeni Jackson, Catherine and Herb Tucker, Bernie and Jancia LaRusic, Anne Marie and Jimmie Campbell, , Kathleen MacKenzie, Andy Parnaby, Paul Lenarczyk, Alison Etter, Tom Urbaniak

ON-LINE/TELEPHONE PRAYER DURING THE WEEK (Tuesday evening at 8:00pm): By phone at 1 647 374 4685.  Enter the meeting ID: 941 052 1825; Or link in by computer at https://zoom.us/j/9410521825 . Meeting ID: 941 052 1825; Password: 227259. This is a short gathering of about 15 minutes, hosted by Rev. Alison Etter, and you are most welcome. There is also an opportunity to share any prayer intentions.

DOŻYNKI 2021 – THINKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR: The Polish community in Alberta has kindly offered to join efforts with us, on our parish and hall grounds, for Dozynki (Polish Harvest Festival), a year from now in September 2021, during Nova Scotia Polish Heritage Month. They will send a delegation and show some of the displays or peformances that they normally do. We’re looking for a few people to be part of a liaison group with our counterparts in Alberta (occasional meetings by telephone or on-line) to map out what this will look like. On the Alberta side, our main contact is Thomas Lukaszuk, whose family came to Canada when he was a child and spent their first year here in Cape Breton. They then moved to Alberta, where Thomas eventually became a Cabinet minister and deputy premier. He is no longer in politics, but is still very active in Polonia and in the broader community.

LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTION FOR OUR PARISH: $5,100.00, including $1,070.00 for the Building Fund, $20 for ShareLent, and $5 for Papal Charities. Thank you very kindly for your generosity! If you are attending Mass, you will find a collection basket near the entrance and exit (since we are not passing around the basket due to the public health restrictions).

RECENT "IN MEMORY OF" CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUILDING FUND:
IMO Tom and Charlotte Chmiel from Lois Chmiel
IMO Charlotte Chmiel from John and Christine Morykot; Genevieve Whalen

DONATIONS TO OUR PARISH: 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!
For those attending Mass, collection baskets will be at the entrance and exit. (Collection basket will not be passed around.) Dziekujemy bardzo!

PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR MASS, SPECIFIC TO OUR CHURCH – as of Sunday, July 12
Dear Fellow Parishioners and Friends:
Below are the public health requirements related to Mass attendance, as applied specifically to our church. These have also been posted on our parish website and Facebook page. Thank you so much for your patience, understanding, and goodwill as we collectively adjust. Please also see #3 and #4 below about the pre-registration / seat-designation system for Mass attendance.   Dziekujemy bardzo serdecznie! Z Bogiem.

CELEBRATION OF HOLY MASS AT ST. MARY’S POLISH CHURCH:

1. The COVID-19 virus is still a danger to our community, province, and country. As we have seen with our neighbours south of the border, it can re-spread very quickly. Please stay safe.

2. We as a parish must abide by all applicable guidelines to ensure the safety of all, while being able to worship in a safe way. This requires patience as we adapt to a new form of attending Holy Mass.

3. For the first week (Sunday, July 5), parishioners were being randomly called until our smaller capacity is reached to maintain social distancing. If you are not sure if the parish has your telephone number, or if you wish to ensure that the parish has a current telephone number for you, please call Stephanie Black at 902-578-3697 to leave your telephone number. In subsequent weeks, persons who could not attend the previous week were being called first.

4. At this time, attendance can only be through the pre-registration process outlined in #3. The parish will maintain a record of everyone who is present and their contact information (for contact-tracing should the need arise).

5. Please ensure that you are completely free of any of the potential COVID symptoms. If you are registered to attend, but feel at all ill (eg. fever, colds), or feel poorly for any reason, please do not attend. There is a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass.

6. Masks are strongly encouraged to be worn. (All attendees have been wearing masks in church – and masks were available at the entrance.) Please remember that this is also for the safety of others.

7. Physical distance of two metres (six feet) will be required inside and outside the church (if not in family bubbles). Everyone is requested to avoid handshakes, hugs and other close contact.

8.  Every second pew will be signed as “not in use,” as well as the entire side aisles of the church. Those pews that are being used will have the required spacing indicated.

9. Entry will be through Wesley St. doors. Staged (gradual) exit will take place through side (parking lot) doors.

10. There will be hand sanitization at the entrance.

11. There will be no choir for the time being, as per the public health requirements.

12. There will be one lector and no altar servers.

13. The church will be sanitized (pews, knobs, etc) after use in order to be fully clean for each Mass.

14. Ushers will assist with seating, from a distance.

15. There will be no Holy Water in the hand fonts.

16. Fr. Dennis will explain protocols for Communion, which will necessitate social distancing and extreme prudence.

17. Communion will be distributed only in the hand. The Priest will wear a mask, and he will sanitize his hands before and following Holy Communion. It is not permitted at this time to take Holy Communion to anyone outside the church.

18. Confession remains on an as-requested basis, maintaining social-distancing guidelines.

19. Other church in-person gatherings remain suspended for the time being.

20. There will be no paper bulletins in the church. Bulletins will continue to be provided electronically (on Saturday) or by regular mail (Canada Post). Please do not hesitate to e-mail or call (tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca; 902-563-1226) if there is anyone who is not currently receiving a bulletin who would like to receive a bulletin. 

21. Hymnals, brochures, and other items in the pews have been removed for the time being.

22. Collection baskets will be placed at the entrance and exit. (Collection will not be conducted in the usual way.) Thank you kindly for your support.

Życzymy błogosławionego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week!