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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XXIX Niedziela Zwykła / Twenty Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Iz 45, 1.4-6
Psalm: 96
Drugie czytanie: 1 Tes 1,1-5b
Ewangelia: Mt 22,15-21

First Reading: Isaiah 45: 1,4-6
Psalm: 96
Second Reading: 1 Thess. 1:1-5b
Gospel: Matthew 22:15-21

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Pośród narodów głoście chwałę Pana / Among the nations, give the Lord glory and honour

MASS INTENTION FOR TODAY is for Julia Munshaw and Catherine Ardelli offered by the Ardelli family

Wednesday Masses and Novena to Our Lady of Czestochowa are not being held during this phase of re-opening.

PAŹDZIERNIK - MIESIĄC RÓŻAŃCA ŚWIĘTEGO / OCTOBER- MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: St. John Paul II said: “The Rosary is my favourite prayer.  A marvelous prayer!  Marvelous in its simplicity and its depth.  In the prayer we repeat many times the words that the Virgin Mary heard from the Archangel, and from her kinswoman Elizabeth”. Singing is not taking place at this time due to COVID-19, but a hymn we would normally have sung this month is “Zawitaj Królowo Różańca Świętego.” The first verse is: Zawitaj Królowo różańca świętego, Jedyna nadziejo człowieka grzesznego! Zawitaj bez zmazy, Lilijo! Matko różańcowa, Maryjo. [Translation: Greetings, Queen of the Holy Rosary, The one hope for sinners! Greetings, o pristine one. Mother of the Rosary, Mary]

POPE FRANCIS’S NEW ENCYCLICAL, FRATELLI TUTTI : Here is a link to an excellent summary of this powerful document for our times: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/fratelli-tutti-pope-fraternity-social-friendship-short-summary.html .

Altar Society designated volunteers for October: Janet Hawthorne and Evelyn Wόjcik

PLEASE NOTE: Please see the end of the bulletin for the detailed public health protocols specific to our church. Please note that we are using a pre-registration system, where persons attending must receive a prior call. If you have not recently been called, please contact Stephanie Black (902-578-3697). Thanks very kindly.

AFTER-MASS PROTOCOL: We depart out the side entrance, row by row, starting with front rows and maintaining distancing. Singing of “Sto lat” for birthdays and anniversaries can happen outside with distancing, as indoor singing is not permitted at this time because of the health regulations. Many thanks.

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

Fr. Dennis still has on-line Mass available: http://www.sainttheresasydney.com/

PRAYERS FOR RECOVERY: Please continue to pray for Sebastian Melski (son of Tom Melski), who was recently in a vehicle accident. He sustained a serious injury and is recovering in hospital, where he has required surgery.

STO LAT! Wishing Lynette Ryba many blessings on the occasion of her birthday!

A HEARTFELT THANKS TO THE SISTERS OF ST. MARTHA! As Fr. Dennis mentioned at the end of Mass last Sunday, our parish received a letter from Sister Elizabeth Riopelle, Congregation Treasurer for the Sisters of St. Martha. In honour of Nova Scotia Polish Heritage Month and all Sisters of St. Martha of Polish descent, the Sisters of St. Martha have made a very generous donation of $5,000 to our parish! The letter notes that the donation is to “offset some of the expenses for the many activities carried out this month [Polish Heritage Month], or for some need of the parish.” We are deeply grateful to the Sisters of St. Martha for their friendship and all they do in so many ways to demonstrate Christian service. A special thanks to Sister Rosaline Tynski, not only for her role in this donation but for remaining continuously connected with our parish. Bóg zapłać!

ON-LINE SESSION MONDAY AT 1:00PM WITH MATEUSZ MYKTYSZYN, MARKETING DIRECTOR FOR THE KSIĄŻ CASTLE IN OUR TWIN CITY, WAŁBRZYCH: You are warmly welcomed to join us. Mateusz will show us a video he has prepared, and we’ll discuss how to do more virtual tours to share with each other’s cities. To link to the session, please contact Tom Urbaniak (902-563-1226; tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca). You can link in by telephone or computer.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SEATING CAPACITY/MASS ATTENDANCE ROTATION: Dear Parishioners: Due to the return of our cottage parishioners and those who hadn’t attended in a while, our seating rotation is even more difficult than when we first re-opened, as we have to maintain low numbers and strict physical distancing. Therefore, this is to kindly reiterate that you must receive a prior phone call (seat assignment) to attend Sunday morning Mass. Because of limited capacity in our space and the public health requirements, we are only able to seat people who are pre-registered (in other words, if you have received a prior phone call). This is to keep everyone safe, but please be assured that we are trying to do the rotation as fairly and inclusively as possible. Please call any of these numbers should you have to cancel your registration: 902-578-3697 (Stephanie); 902-549-1953 (Anne Marie); 902-577-3081 (Wayne). Thanks for your co-operation and goodwill and all the mutual support.

SEAT DESIGNATIONS AT MASS: Thanks to everyone for being so accommodating with the assigned seating, as we try to map out the pews and take account of different family “bubbles” or individual seating and maintain the required distancing, which often means we’re not in consistent seats when we’re registered to attend. Thanks for your understanding.

A REQUEST FOR NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS: If you are registered to attend Mass this Sunday (or in the following weeks), and if you can, we would be very grateful if you could bring a non-perishable food item or personal care item. There will be a box at the entrance. These items will help to stock our Food Cupboard outside the Polish Village Hall and also assist Loaves and Fishes.

A NOTE ABOUT OUR FOOD CUPBOARD: The Food Cupboard in front of the Polish Village Hall has been functioning well 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! God bless!

A QUESTION FOR FELLOW PARISHIONERS, RE PIEROGI-MAKING! We’re putting out a call to see who might be available to volunteer some time on November 5, 6, and 7 (or on any one of those days) to make pierogi to sell (frozen) as a fund-raiser.  No previous experience required. We’d be very grateful for any time and assistance. The proceeds for this particular pierogi sale would be to help the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society raise part of the remaining $8,000 toward a new kitchen in the Polish Village Hall. This is a project that needs to be completed in the next several months (the other funds have already been raised through grants, which must be used soon). If you can spare some time, please let Stephanie Black (902-578-3697) or Tom Urbaniak (902-563-1226) know. Thanks very kindly!

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

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). Sponsors will be acknowledged on air (IMOs are welcome, birthday tributes, etc). 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 is 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“przyroda”, the Polish word for nature. Guest will be Kris Tynski. Many thanks to Marjorie Ardelli, IMO Michael and Dawn Marie Ardelli, for sponsoring this week’s segment.

FORTHCOMING NEW KITCHEN – POLISH VILLAGE HALL: The St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society now has most of the funds in place and will be starting the project soon. Thanks for all the hard work to date, as this is an identified priority for the long-term sustainability of the hall. We are working with a tight budget and a limited space, but still want to maximize the effectiveness/practicality of the new kitchen as much as possible and ensure it meets modern standards. If you would like to give input on kitchen design, particularly if you anticipate using the kitchen often, please call 902-563-1226 or email tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca . To raise the final $8,000 toward this project, the Society will be doing a few fund-raisers, including a sponsored publication called Historic Homes of Polish Cape Breton, with sketched homes and descriptions (and an opportunity to sponsor each one). More information on this will follow.

PRE-CHRISTMAS BAZAAR AT POLISH VILLAGE HALL: This will be scaled down (just 12 vendors) with capacity and traffic carefully regulated for physical distancing, and names for contact tracing, among other measures. It is scheduled for Saturday, November 14, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. For vendor information, please contact Nicole MacCormack at 902-371-5088

LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTION FOR OUR PARISH: will be reported in next week's bulletin.
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).

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!

THE GOOD FOOD BUS will be at the Polish Village Hall next Saturday, October 24, from 1:00pm to 2:30pm. This is like a mini farmers’ market on wheels. Everyone is welcome

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS: Sunday, November 1, after Mass. We will remain in the main part of the church, physically distanced, after Mass. For anyone who does not get a seat that week (as part of the Mass rotation/pre-registration), you’ll be able to get the written updates and ask any questions. We will provide a financial update, have the report of the Nominations Committee, etc. (This is normally done in May or June, but was postponed because of the temporary closure.) The role of the Nominations Committee is to do a call for candidates and do some proactive outreach to help ensure succession and a mix of skillsets, ages, etc, on the Rada. Many thanks to Janet Hawthorne, Marjorie Ardelli, and Krista Ann Starzomski for serving on the Nominations Committee. If you think you might be interested in offering for the Rada, or if you would like to recommend someone, please be in touch with any of the members of the Nominations Committee.

A RECENT MESSAGE ON TWITTER FROM POPE FRANCIS: “We need to develop the awareness that nowadays we are either all saved together or no one is saved. #Poverty, decadence and suffering in one part of the earth are a breeding ground for problems that will end up affecting the entire planet. #FratelliTutti #EndPoverty.”

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POLISH LANGUAGE “POP-UP” TUTORIAL - FALL / HARVEST
Żniwa (jn-EE-va) – harvest
Jesień (YE-shayn) – autumn
kolorowe liście (kolo-RO-ve/LEE-sh-che) – colourful leaves
pomaganie innym (poma-ga-nee-e/een-im) – helping others
dzielenie się posiłkiem (jele-nee-e/sh-e-w/po-SHEw-kyem) – sharing a meal
hojność (hoy-no-sh-ch) – generosity
gościnność (gosh-CHEEN-nosh-ch) -- hospitality

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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 now mandatory. (All attendees have been wearing masks in church – and masks were available at the entrance. Thank you!) 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!