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. Mandatory masks, distancing, 25% capacity, max 50 in building, including 40 in main part of church, no choir or congregational singing

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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IV Niedziela Zwykła / Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
Pierwsze czytanie / First Reading: Jr 1,4-5.17-19
Psalm: 71
Drugie czytanie / Second Reading: 1 Kor 12,31-13,13
Ewangelia / Gospel: Łk 4,21-30
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Będę wysławiał pomoc Twoją, Panie / I will sing of your salvation

AT MASS, WE WILL BLESS THE SPECIAL POLISH “GROMNICE” CANDLES FOR CANDLEMAS DAY / FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD. We are inviting households to take a candle home. Free-will offering will support the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace. Development and Peace does humanitarian and relief work on behalf of Canadian Catholics, with partners around the world. In the Polish tradition, we often light the gromnice candles to pray for safety and during times of natural disasters and harsh weather. The candles are often given as gifts and lit at the bedside of someone who is gravely ill, while prayers are said.

We continue to pray for the soul of Mary Pierrynowski. Mary’s funeral Mass Saturday is now available as a streamed video on our parish Facebook page. Thanks to everyone

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

UPCOMING TAKE-OUT HAM AND POTATO SALAD DINNER (plus coleslaw, bun, dessert): to raise funds for the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society: Friday, February 11, from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Take-out only; from the church side entrance; only pre-sold tickets – there won’t be sales at the door; $12. Tickets are available now. You can also call or e-mail (902-563-1226; tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca). Thanks to all of the volunteers who are helping with this. Please let us know if you can take several tickets to sell to friends or family. It would be a big help!

POLISH STORIES AND SAYINGS FOR CANDLEMAS DAY: In our Polish tradition, Candlemas Day (Feast of the Presentation of the Lord at the Temple) is also known as Święto Matki Boskiej Gromnicznej – literally the Feast of the Blessed Mother of the Thunder Candle. It actually marks the end of the long Christmas season – the last day that carols are sung. The artwork and imagery for this day are very special. The Blessed Mother is shown in a winter scene with a thunder candle and a friendly wolf or wolves at her side. In some Polish stories and legends, one of the wolves is Mary’s helper and she had actually saved the wolf from villagers. They light the way for travellers and protect villages from storms. They are sometimes accompanied by larks, who speak for the first time on this day. There are also sayings about the coming year’s harvest or the end of winter. Gdy z gromnicy w kościele ciecze, zima jeszcze się powlecze. (If the gromnica candle is dripping in the church, winter will still persist.)
Gromnica, zimy połowica. (We see the gromnica candle – we know that winter is half over.)
Gdy słońce świeci na Gromnicę, to przyjdą mrozy i śnieżyce. (If the sun shines on this feast day, then we know that frosts and snows are coming.)
Skwiercząca gromnica zwiastować miała burzowy rok. (A crackling candle heralds a stormy year.)

DECORATING YOUR “GROMNICE” CANDLE FOR CANDLEMAS DAY with ribbons and greenery: Last year we did a very short workshop video for our parish Facebook page. You can link to it here: https://www.facebook.com/stmaryspolishchurch/videos/215076330298621 Or simply go to our parish Facebook page and scroll back to February 2, 2021 (a year ago).

STO LAT! Extending many best wishes to Father Dennis for his upcoming birthday, February 8 – blessings, health, and happiness! The greetings are early because Father Dennis will be spending some time with family in the United States for the first time since the pandemic began. Safe travels, Father Dennis!

A REQUEST FOR NON-PERISHABLE ITEMS: We would be very grateful if you could bring a non-perishable food item or personal-care item (eg. shampoo, soap, toilet paper) to church. 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, 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. RADIO SEGMENT THIS COMING WEEK will be on Polish customs for Candlemas Day. Many thanks to Patricia Ryba for lending her voice to this segment. And sincerest thanks to the Ardelli family in memory of Michael Ardelli and Dawn Marie Ardelli for sponsoring this segment. On this special feast day, they are in their prayers. Our parish misses them.

RECENT COLLECTION INFORMATION January 9 / 16: $1,705.00, including $675.00 to the Building Fund
January 23: $769.65, including $65.00 to the Building Fund. Many thanks for your generosity!

RECENT IMO (IN MEMORY OF) CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUILDING FUND:
IMO Delores Starzomski from Wagmatcook Band Council; the Best family; Jack and Donna Dalrymple; Gerald Pocius; Tom Urbaniak and Alison Etter; Jo-Ann and Francis Wall; Robert Schella; Jean Annette White; Rosalie Starzomski; Sophie Barrington and family; Janet Hawthorne; John and Carolyn Markotich; Toni LaRusic
IMO Mary Pierrynowski from Jerry Pocius

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 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). Also, please free to use the mail: St. Mary’s Polish Parish, 21 Wesley St., Sydney, NS, B1N 2M5. Donations can also 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!

PLEASE PRAY: Thursday was Holocaust Remembrance Day, which coincides with the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi Auschwitz Concentration camp in German-occupied Poland in 1945. Please pray … never again. Also, we continue to pray for peace in Ukraine.

MEETING: The St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society Board meets Sunday evening at 7:00pm by Zoom. A link has been sent to all board members. Any members who are not on the board but wish to participate are most welcome. Please e-mail tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca for a link.

Życzymy błogosławionego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week!