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: Public health protocols in place, including mandatory masks

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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31 Niedziela Zwykła / 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie / First Reading: Pwt/Deut. 6,2-6
Psalm: 18
Drugie czytanie / Second Reading: Hbr 7,23-28
Ewangelia / Gospel: Mk 12,28b-34

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: I love you, Lord, my strength

Next Sunday, as usual, we will pray for deceased veterans of our parish and read their names.

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

COVID-19 UPDATE: A friendly reminder that as part of the province's modified Phase 5, the following applies in our church:
-Masks remain mandatory.
-Proof of vaccination is not required for regular Masses, but will be required for funerals, weddings, and all other gatherings, meetings, and activities hosted by the parish.
-We are still encouraged to try to maintain distancing and avoid crowding. The Sala 1050 will be used for overflow if required or if anyone wishes, with distanced chairs. Also, we will still have chairs at the back of the church to give more space.
-We will still do a staged exit in an effort to avoid crowding
-Pre-registration/names before Mass are not required, but we will keep a list of people attending as they arrive, in case names are needed for contact tracing.
-Masks must still be worn for singing. We will have further discussions about how to re-introduce singing going forward.
-We kindly ask everyone to continue to use the hand sanitizer upon entering the church.
Thank you for the solidarity, kindness, and sense of community during these challenging times! Thanks for helping to keep everyone safe! God bless you!

ZNICZE (POLISH CEMETERY CANDLES): We will have Znicze (Polish cemetery candles) at Mass, and would like to invite each household to take one home as a symbol of our prayers for loved ones and former parishioners who are deceased, and for people who have no one to pray for them.

Wieczny odpoczynek racz im dać Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj im świeci, na wieki wiekow Amen.
[Vyechni / od-po-chin-ek / ra-tch /eem /datch / Pa-nee-e / a / shfiat-wosh-ch / vyek-oo-ee-sta / nee-e-ha-y / eem /sh-fyetch-ee / na / vy-ekee / vyekoof / Amen.]
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord.

ŚWIĘTO PAMIĘCI ZMARŁYCH – ALL SAINTS’ DAY, ALL SOULS’ DAY: Special days for all Catholics and very significant in the Polish tradition. All Saints’ Day was first celebrated in the year 835, in honour of saints known and unknown. All Souls’ Day, for all the deceased, commenced about 100 years later. In Poland, almost everything comes to a stop on these days as people visit hometowns and family gravesides. Cemeteries are lit up with thousands of candles. Flowers are often laid on evergreen branches, and the custom requires that untended and forgotten graves also be adorned with flowers. Poles likewise return to sites of torture and execution from past occupations of the country to pray for the dead and to place flowers and candles. Hundreds of candles are likewise lit at memorial sites for people of special cultural significance, such as revered clerics, writers, artists, and musicians

FOOD CUPBOARD: If you are attending Mass this Sunday, we would be so grateful if you could bring a non-perishable food or personal care item for the Food Cupboard. A note of heartfelt thanks for the generosity of fellow parishioners! Rada Co-chair Bernie Paruch passed along a note to say that the items that parishioners offer each week are very generous and very appreciated. Bόg zapłac!

FOOD GARDEN HARVESTED: The parish food garden went very well this year. We have a collaboration with Pathways, which is a charity that works with people who are living with mental illness to provide employment and training opportunities. Pathways team members did good work on the garden. Some of the food that was harvested helped folks with whom Pathways works who were in need. They also delivered some to Loaves and Fishes.

PIEROGI TALLY: Net proceeds were $2,832.99. Again, a huge thanks to all the volunteers!

PRE-CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: Saturday, November 6, 12:00 noon to 4:00pm, Polish Village Hall. Proof of vaccination will be required. Beautiful, one-of-a-kind items. Hosted by St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society.

STO LAT! Wishing many blessings to Marianne Ratushny Gillis on her birthday. Wszystkiego dobrego!

INFORMATION SESSION: November 19: A new study abroad program to allow Cape Breton students to spend part of their summer in our Polish twin city, Walbrzych, is being developed. An information session will be held at CBU on Friday, November 19, at 10:30am. This will include a role (and cost reimbursement) for our parish to help with some basic cultural and language preparation.

PARISHIONERS’ MEETING: After Mass on November 14, we will have a short parishioners meeting which will include a financial update, parish activities update, and Rada Nominations. If you think you might like to consider serving for the Rada or recommending someone, or learning more about serving on the Rada, please speak with Nominations Committee members Marjorie Ardelli or Janet Hawthorne.

CONSUL GENERAL’S VISIT: Polish Consul General Dariusz Wisniewski will be visiting November 19-21. He will join us for Mass on November 21.

DZIĘKUJEMY! A big thank you to Sophie, Roddie, Stephanie, Marjorie, for the thorough fall cleaning they did this week in the Sala 1050, storage room, and kitchen. Bόg zapłaƈ!

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). And archived at coastalradio.ca. 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, and you do not have to be a Polish speaker. Our radio theme for this coming week is Polish customs for Zaduszki (the time around All Saints Day and All Souls Day). Thank you to Bob Lewandowski for lending his voice and to Michael and Ursula Melski for sponsoring this week’s segment.

COLLECTION FOR OCTOBER 24: $813.00. Thank you very kindly for your support of our parish.

THANKS VERY KINDLY FOR YOUR DONATIONS TO OUR PARISH DURING THE PANDEMIC: We are truly grateful for everyone’s generosity through the pandemic. If you are able to make a donation, the parish’s mailing address is St. Mary’s Polish Parish, 21 Wesley St., Sydney, NS, B1N 2M5. 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). Thanks for your support!

POLISH CUSTOMS FOR OBSERVING ALL SAINTS’ DAY AND ALL SOULS’ DAY: The website ehow.com provides an excellent summary of how people who are connected to the Polish heritage usually mark these important days:
1.Participate in the tradition of Zaduszki, lighting candles at and visiting the graves of deceased relatives. The candles, znicze, of All Saints Day are uniquely designed to burn for hours as a prayerful symbol of light to help the souls of the dead find their way. Cemeteries are also decorated with small lanterns. The metal covers of the lanterns help to protect the flames from the wind.
2.Bring fall flowers or wreaths to place on the graves. In Poland, yellow and white chrysanthemums are traditionally used to decorate graves, as are asters. Since the Polish wreaths and flowers of All Saints’ Day are nearly exclusively made of chrysanthemums, these flowers aren't used to celebrate more festive occasions. Kwiat and znicze (flower and candle) markets are set up outside the gates of some graveyards.
3.Join the silent crowds meditating amid the lights. The thousands of candles lighting the cemeteries creates a glow which can be seen from far away. The large cemeteries of Krakow, Rakowicki and Salwator, are particularly populated on All Saints’ Day.
4.Ensure that prayers will be said for your loved ones by bringing Wypominki to a priest. Wypominki is essentially a piece of paper with the name of the deceased written upon it. Traditionally the paper has a black border and serves as a prayer intention or request.
5.Serve food to the poor. The tradition in Poland is to set places for the souls of dead family members. Food is placed on the plates and set aside to serve to the poor

POLISH LANGUAGE “POP-UP” TUTORIAL:
Wszystkich Świętych – All Saints
Wszystkich Zmarłych – All Souls
Dzień Zaduszny / Zaduszki – (name often used for All Souls Day)
Znicze – candle for cemetery
modlitwa -- prayer
cmentarz – cemetery
Listopad -- November
Dzień Pamięci – Remembrance Day
Narodowe Święto Niepodległości – National Holiday of Independence (November 11 in Poland)

Wieczny odpoczynek racz im dać, Panie, a światłość wiekuista niechaj im świeci. Niech odpoczywają w pokoju. Amen
Eternal rest grant onto them O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen

Życzymy błogosławionego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week!