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 COVID health and safety requirements, masks, distancing, and preregistration (578- 3697). Thanks for all your kindness and goodwill, God bless

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 Wielkanocy / Fourth Sunday of Easter

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie: Dz 4,8-12
Psalm: 118
Drugie czytanie: 1 J 3,1-2
Ewangelia: J 10,11-18

First Reading: Acts 4:8-12
Psalm: 118
Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-2
Gospel: John 10:11-18

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Kamień wzgardzony stał się fundamentem / The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone

MASS INTENTION FOR TODAY is for Louise Baker offered by Wayne Joseph
LECTOR TODAY: Noah Starzomski-Wilson
LECTOR NEXT SUNDAY: Janusz Wawrzyszyn

MESSAGE FROM POPE FRANCIS DURING THIS PAST HOLY WEEK: “We have broken the bonds of our relationship with the Creator, with our fellow human beings, and with the rest of creation. We need to heal the damaged relationships that are essential to supporting us and the entire fabric of life.” (Message for Earth Day)

ALTAR SOCIETY designated volunteers for May: Janet Hawthorne, Evelyn Wojcik

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. Dziekujemy bardzo!

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPECIAL PRAYERS:
-For John Doiron, father of Howie and father-in-law of Angela, who is presently in the hospital.
-This is the Sunday (Good Shepherd Sunday) when the church prayers for vocations – for discernment about what God is calling us to do and how to minister to others.

PLEASE NOTE: LAST CHANCE TO FILL OUT A PRAYER CAPSULE CARD: We’re almost at the final stage of the Polish Village Hall kitchen construction project. Please submit prayer capsule cards by next Sunday. It’s a chance to write a prayer intention of any kind, which will go into a little capsule in the new kitchen. Or you can send an e-mail to tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca and we’ll write your message on a card! Many thanks!

PLANNING FOR NOVA SCOTIA POLISH HERITAGE MONTH (SEPTEMBER): We’re encouraging projects large and small – all kinds of ways of honouring Polish heritage! We can also announce that the featured author this year will be William Kowalski. He lives in Mahone Bay and has a large body of work. One of his recent books is called The Best Polish Restaurant in Buffalo.

AN INVITATION TO OUR MAY 3rd LECTURE: On Monday, May 3, at 7:00pm, the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society would like to invite you to an on-line lecture to mark Polish Constitution Day and the Feast Day of Mary, Queen of Poland. This year’s lecture is dedicated in memory of Melbourne McKay. Our guest will be author Brianne Turczynski. She will join us to talk about (and show images related to) her heart-wrenching new book, Detroit's Lost Poletown. It's a true story of people who fought to save their Polish and multicultural neighbourhood --2 houses, churches, shops, parks -- from total demolition in the 1980s. What can we in Cape Breton learn from their story? The struggle to keep the Polish church in Poletown alive was particularly poignant. The church was sold off to an automobile company without telling the parishioners. The pastor courageously remained in solidarity with the parishioners, but it took its toll on his physical health and he passed away unexpectedly soon after.
You’ll be able to join the May 3rd lecture by computer or telephone.
Here are the links:
https://zoom.us/j/99417295836?pwd=WG40U2thaE9lNVdiTUdWTkpVK0wxQT09 Meeting ID: 994 1729 5836 Passcode: 125022
If you prefer to join the May 3rd lecture by telephone: 1 647 374 4685; or 647 558 0588 Canada; Meeting ID: 994 1729 5836

NEW WEBSITE FOR NOVA SCOTIA POLISH HERITAGE MONTH: There’s a new website for Nova Scotia Polish Heritage Month (September). We’ll be further populating it in the coming weeks and months. Any suggestions are welcomed! Please check it out here: www.PolishMonthNS.ca .

ZARZAD (BOARD) MEETING FOR ST. MICHAEL’S POLISH BENEFIT SOCIETY this evening at 7:00pm.

COVID SEATING / ATTENDANCE SYSTEM FOR OUR MASSES: To our regular attendees: We will assume you are attending Mass (you don’t need to receive a prior call), but if you cannot attend please call Stephanie Black at 902-578-3697. If you have not attended in a while, but would like to attend, please call Stephanie to reserve a seat. Thanks, everyone, for the wonderful goodwill and cooperation with all of the safety protocols during the pandemic.

FOOD CUPBOARD - 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 (eg. shampoo, soap, toilet paper). 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.

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 of our radio segments for $100? The Coast has kindly agreed to allow the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society 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. Our radio theme for this coming week will be BRIANNE TURCZYNSKI’S UPCOMING MAY 3rd lecture. Brianne Turczynski herself will be our guest. And thank you to Michael and Ursula Melski for sponsoring this week’s segment.

COLLECTION FOR APRIL 18: $1,024.20, including $70 for the Building Fund! Many thanks for all your support! Bόg zapłaƈ!
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 IMO (IN MEMORY OF) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUILDING FUND:
IMO Melbourne McKay from Shirley Ardelli and family
Living intention: Joseph and Irene Urbaniak on their 45th wedding anniversary from Tom Urbaniak and Alison Etter

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!

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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!