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 Rich Philiposki is currently in residence (seasonal) as pastor. Contact info: rphiliposki@aol.com 702-881-3674 (cell)
-During Father Rich’s extended times outside the region, Father Evo DiPierro will serve as Administrator: dipierro@dal.ca

MSZY/MASSES: PLEASE NOTE: Public health continues to strongly recommend wearing masks in congregate settings

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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Boże Narodzenie / Christmas 2022

Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia! / Wishing you a blessed Christmas!

CZYTANIA / READINGS:
PASTERKA SHEPHERDS’ MASS (CHRISTMAS EVE, 10:00pm)
Pierwsze czytanie / First Reading: Iz 9, 1- 3. 5-6
Psalm: 96
Drugie czytanie / Second Reading: Tt 2:11-14
Ewangelia / Gospel: Lk 2:1-14
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Dziś się narodził Chrystus Pan, Zbawiciel / Today is born our Saviour, Christ the Lord

MASS ON CHRISTMAS MORNING (9:30am)
Pierwsze czytanie / First Reading: Iz 52:7-10
Psalm: 98
Drugie czytanie / Second Reading: Heb. 1:1-6
Ewangelia / Gospel:
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Ziemia ujrzała swego Zbawiciela / All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God

MASS INTENTION FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, Wigilia Bożego Narodzenia / Christmas Eve, 10:00pm PASTERKA Christmas Eve Shepherds’ Mass (Celebrant's intentions) MASS INTENTION FOR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, Dzień Bożego Narodzenia / Christmas Day, 9:30am: For the souls of Dawn Marie & Michael Ardelli offered by Shirley & Family

UPCOMING MASSES:
MASS INTENTION FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, St. Stephen the First Martyr, 6:30pm (followed by Novena to Saint Monica): For the souls of Stanley & Stella Paruch offered by Judy Clow
MASS INTENTION FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, St. John the Apostle, 6:30pm (Blessing of Wine – as per Polish custom): For the soul of Steve Melnick offered by Ursula & Michael Melski
MASS INTENTION FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, Holy Innocents, 6:30pm (followed by Novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa): For the soul of Hilda MacLeod offered by Jancia & Bernie LaRusic
MASS INTENTION FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 9:00am: For the soul of Steve Melnick offered by James & Ann Marie Melnick
MASS INTENTION FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, Feast of the Holy Family, 6:30pm (followed by Divine Mercy Chaplet): For the soul of Rudy Pierrynowski offered by Jennifer & Jason Wilson
MASS INTENTION FOR SATURDAY DECEMBER 31, St. Sylvester (Sylwestra) New Year's Eve (daytime), 9:00am: For special intentions offered by Jean Annette White
MASS INTENTION FOR SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, New Year's Day / Nowy Rok, Solemnity of Mary Mother of God / Uroczystość Matki Boski, 9:30am: For deceased members of the Ryba & McKay families

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OGŁOSZENIA / ANNOUNCEMENTS

THANK YOU to everyone who helped make the celebration of the life of Steve Melnick this past week so meaningful and spiritual. We continue to extend our prayers, love, and support to Stephanie and to Steve’s family. A link to the video feed of the funeral Mass for Steve is posted on the Facebook page of the parish and on the Facebook page of the Polish Village Hall.

STO LAT! Wishing Kevin Gniewek many blessings on his birthday and lots of health and happiness in the year ahead!

OPŁATEK AND POLISH CHRISTMAS CARDS are still available (table at the back of the church). On the same table are also Polish soup mixes for Christmas. Free-will offering for the above items with proceeds to St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society for the Polish Village Revitalization project, which is currently underway. Many thanks.

NEW YEAR’S EVE TICKETS are available after Masss (from Bernie LaRusic or Tom Urbaniak) or by calling Nicole at 371-5088 or Bernie at 561-6500. $15. 9:00pm to 1:00am on New Year’s Eve. Light meal included. DJ. Robin Krszwda.This event is always well received and much enjoyed. We have colour posters upon request, if you would like to put them up or share them.

OPŁATEK MASS AND POTLUCK: Sunday, January 15. This is our very special annual Opłatek Mass and potluck, where we exchange a meal and the traditional Polish Christmas wafer. Mass will be at 11:00am that day followed by the potluck at the Polish Village Hall. Bishop Wayne Kirkpatrick will join us that day.

POP-UP "JASELKA": This is like a little traditional Christmas pageant but with a very Polish spin! It’s a heart-warming tradition. We will do a fun version in person at the Oplatek on January 15, but similar to what we did on-line the past couple of years. We will have no collective rehearsals, but we would give you a line in Polish and a "character” (eg. shepherd, angel, etc). We’ll give you a recording of your line to help with Polish pronunciation. We will give out the lines one week in advance. If you would like a line, please just say the word and it will be great to have you in it! Absolutely no previous experience with the Polish language is required. We’re not aiming for any kind of perfection, just a chance to come together as a community.

HAND-MADE DISH CLOTHS – FUNDRAISER FOR UKRAINIAN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE: at the back of the church. These beautiful unique dishcloths have been handmade by Dee-Dee (Yurczyszyn) Jackson and her sister Brenda Yurczyszyn and were donated to us (via Marjorie Ardelli) for the Ukrainian humanitarian fund. Available small size 2 for $5, large size $3 each.

VEHICLE PLATES: Cape Breton Polonia and Nova Scotia Polonia front vehicle plates are still available at the back of the church. $25.00 each

FUND-RAISING FOR UKRAINIAN HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE: A generous donation of $500 last week from John and Deanie Morykot put us over the $31,500 mark in total funds raised through our parish. We are using all the funds raised to support three charities that are directly helping refugees and displaced people either within Ukraine itself or who have fled to Poland. Our largest chunk of support has been going to our sister city Wałbrzych’s Ukrainian refugee assistance fund (via the CBRM). We are also supporting Caritas efforts on the ground (via the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace) and the Catholic Near East Welfare Association. We have special envelopes (marked “Ukrainian Humanitarian Assistance”) at the back of the church if you are considering making a contribution. Thank you for your support!

FOOD CUPBOARD: Please consider bringing a non-perishable food or personal care item (e.g. shampoo, soap, toilet paper) to church when you come to Mass. These items will help stock our food cupboard outside the Polish Village Hall. There is a significant need in our community. Thank you for any help.

OUR POLISH-THEMED RADIO SEGMENTS: The Coast Radio 89.7 (weekdays at 3:50pm and 7:50pm or any time at coastalradio.ca). This coming week's topic will be Sylwestra – New Year’s Eve. Thank you to Nicole MacCormack for lending her voice. This week’s segment is dedicated by the Society with thanks to Bernie LaRusic, for his outstanding and constant volunteer service. Dziekujemy, Bernie! Also, you can re-listen to this past week’s segment on Polish Wigilia Christmas Eve traditions (with Robert Schella) on coastalradio.ca
We’re always looking for sponsors and volunteers. It’s $100 for a whole week. Sponsors are recognized on air – and any dedications, too (eg. if you’re sponsoring as a memorial or as a birthday or anniversary gift). The Coast is generously redirecting the sponsorships back to the St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society (which produces the segments), which has been a big help to the Society. If you think you might like to sponsor a week, please e-mail tom_urbaniak@cbu.ca or call 563-1226. Many thanks!

PUBLIC HEALTH PROTOCOLS – MASKS ARE STILL STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Thanks for all your kindness, patience, and co-operation through the pandemic.

COLLECTION FOR DECEMBER 18: $1425.00 including $100.00 for fuel, $25.00 for flowers, $500.00 for Ukrainian humanitarian assistance. Many thanks, everyone, for your kindness and generosity!

THANKS VERY KINDLY FOR YOUR DONATIONS TO OUR PARISH : 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!

SPECIAL GIFT IDEAS REFLECTING OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND CAPE BRETON POLONIA: We still have some of the following. Please don’t hesitate to request them:
-Parish cookbook with Polish recipes from our parishioners ($10)
-Teddy bears with the Cape Breton Polish tartan ($35 each or a pair for $65)
-The Polish Cape Bretoners Colouring Book ($10)
-Polonia front vehicle plates ($25)

FATHER RICH’S COLUMN: Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia wszystkim parafianom i przyjaciołom naszego polskiego kościoła w Sydney! Blessed and joyful Christmas greetings to all parishioners and friends of St. Mary's Polish Church! This past week we laid to rest our oldest parishioner, Steve Melnick. Our church was full of his family, parishioners, friends and neighbours. We thank all who took part in the Mass - - choir, readers, pallbearers from St. Michael’s Polish Benefit Society, and all who helped to put together the reception at the Polish Village. May God grant him eternal life and happiness! I want to thank all those who stayed after Mass last Sunday and decorated, cleaned and prepared the church for Christmas. Please note within this octave of Christmas there will be daily Masses. On Monday we will have our first short devotional prayers through the intercession of Saint Monica (whose statue we brought from Poland on the high altar). Saint Monica is patron saint of all those who pray for return to faith of baptized people, including family members. A Polish tradition for St. John's Feast on December 27th (Tuesday) will be blessing of wine which will be shared by all present at the end of the 6:30pm Mass. Next Saturday after the 9:00am Mass will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until 11:00am as we conclude the year in asking for forgiveness for sins, individual and collective, asking for God's blessings for the world, especially for peace and end to the war that brings untold sufferings to our Ukrainian brothers and sisters. You will find on the tables at the rear of the church information about the Pilgrimage Tour to Poland that I have organized for both people in Las Vegas as well as a smaller group (15 seats) departing from Halifax. Special part of the program for our Sydney group will be two days in the Wałbzrych area of Lower Silesia (CBRM’s sister city). The land price is still in the process of being calculated. There will be an informational Tour Meeting on Sunday, January 8th, after Mass at about 11:00am with a video presentation as well. Have a blessed Christmas Week and a Happy, Healthy and Holy New Year 2023! – Fr. Rich

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KOLĘDY:
At about 9:30pm, before the Pasterka Mass, our choir will sing the following beautiful Polish kolędy:
Przylecieli aniołkowie (The Little Angels Hastened to Arrive)
Przystąpmy do szopy (Let Us Step Forward to the Stable)
Cieszmy się (Let Us Be Glad)
W żłobie leży (He is Lying in a Manger)
Dzisiaj chór Aniołów (Today, a Choir of Angels)
Bracia, patrzcie jeno (Brethren, Look Yonder)
Z Narodzenia Pana (With the Birth of the Lord)
Pójdźmy wszyscy do stajenki (Let Us All Go to the Stable)
Adeste Fidelis (O Come All Ye Faithful to be sung in Polish and Latin)

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PIEŚNI / HYMNS: DURING THE MASS (both Pasterka and Christmas morning), we are all invited to join the choir in singing these kolędy:

Entrance Carol: Cicha Noc (Silent Night)
Cicha noc, święta noc,/ Pokój niesie ludziom wszem,/ A u żłóbka Matka Święta/ Czuwa sama uśmiechnięta/ Nad dzieciątka snem/ Nad dzieciątka snem.
Cicha noc, święta noc,/ Pastuszkowie od swych trzód/ Biegną wielce zadziwieni/ Za anielskim głosem pieni/ Gdzie się spełnił cud, / Gdzie się spełnił cud.

CAROL IN PLACE OF THE GLORIA: Gdy Się Chrystus Rodzi (As Christ is Born)
Gdy się Chrystus rodzi i na świat przychodzi, / ciemna noc w jasności promienistej brodzi. / Aniołowie się radują, pod niebiosy wyśpiewują: Gloria, gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo.
Mówią do pasterzy, którzy trzód swych strzegli,/ aby do Betlejem czym prędzej pobiegli, / bo się narodził Zbawiciel, wszego świata Odkupiciel. Gloria, gloria, gloria in excelsis Deo.

Offertory Carol: Jezusa Narodzonego (Jesus Who is Born)
Jezusa narodzonego wszyscy witajmy,/Jemu po kolędzie dary wzajem oddajmy./ Oddajmy wesoło, skłaniajmy swe czoło,/ Skłaniajmy swe czoło Panu naszemu. Oddajmy za złoto wiarę, czyniąc wyznanie,/ Że to Bóg i człowiek prawy leży na sianie. Oddajmy wesoło...

Communion: Dlaczego Dzisiaj (Why Today?) - choir

Post-Communion: Lulajże Jezuniu (A Lullaby to Jesus)
1. Lulajże Jezuniu, moja Perełko,/ Lulaj ulubione me Pieścidełko./
Ref.Lulajże Jezuniu, lulaj, że lulaj/ A ty go matulu w płaczu utulaj
2. Zamknijże znużone płaczem powieczki,/ Utulże zemdlone łkaniem usteczki. Ref.
3.Lulajże, piękniuchny nasz Aniołeczku./ Lulajże wdzięczniuchny świata Kwiateczku. Ref.

Recessional: Dzisiaj w Betlejem (Today in Bethlehem)
Dzisiaj w Betlejem, dzisiaj w Betlejem,/ Wesoła nowina./ Że Panna czysta, że Panna czysta/ Porodziła Syna./
Chrystus się rodzi,/ nas oswobodzi, Anieli grają,/ Króle witają, Pasterze śpiewają,/ bydlęta klękają,/ Cuda, cuda ogłaszają.
Maryja Panna, Maryja Panna,/ Dzieciątko piastuje./ I Józef święty, I Józef święty, Ono pielęgnuje./
Chrystus się rodzi...

Życzymy błogosławionego tygodnia / Wishing you a blessed week!