Monthly Bulletin
OCTOBER 2023
St. Mary’s Parish
Polish National Catholic Church
365 Burrows Ave. Winnipeg, MB R2W 1Z9 • Tel. (204) 586-3825
Rev. Bob Kay – Administrator
Website: www.stmarypncc.ca
Celebration of the Eucharist and Mass Intentions:
XXVI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, October 1, 2023
10:00AM – † Władysław, Józef, Julia
CHRISTIAN FAMILY SUNDAY, October 8, 2023
10:00AM – † Stanisław, Marianna, Anna, Kazimiez
Blessing of Herbs, Flowers, and First Fruits
THANKSGIVING DAY, October 9, 2023
HERITAGE SUNDAY, October 15, 2023
10:00AM – † Very Rev. Wacław Cwieka († Oct. 17, 2014), Władyslaw Czelen, Roman Gałaczynski
XXIX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, October 22, 2023
10:00AM – † Zofia Wojciech
XXX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, October 29, 2023
10:00AM – † Gregory Fedon
HARVEST DINNER after Mass
In November we pray for all our deceased loved ones who are preparing to enter Heaven by being purified of their sins, weaknesses, and failures, and the effects of sin on themselves and others.
I encourage all of you to make certain this month that you have requested Masses to be offered for your loved ones. The anniversary of death always provides a great opportunity to remember them, but also birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and other important dates. Since November is specifically dedicated to them, take advantage of All Souls Day cards (Wypominki). Even if you can’t afford to give an offering, give us their names.
We will pray for them.
LITURGICAL CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 2023
October 2 – Guardian Angels
Each person on earth has a guardian angel who watches over him and helps him to attain his salvation. Angelical guardianship begins at the moment of birth; prior to this, the child is protected by the mother’s guardian angel. This protection continues throughout our whole life and ceases only when our probation on earth ends, namely, at the moment of death.
October 7 – Holy Mother of the Rosary
On October 7th, our Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, also called Our Lady of Victory. The Feast was established after the European victory over the Ottoman Turks on October 7, 1571- a victory in which a greatly out-numbered European force was victorious through the intercession of The Blessed Virgin Mary. This victory is attributed to Our Lady because of the exhortation of Pope St. Pius V, who instructed all Catholics to pray the Rosary for the intention of victory against the Turkish invaders.
October 9 – Christian Family
The family that prays together stays together. Can we make this a special Sunday in our parish bringing together the entire parish family? Now is the time to spread the word and encourage those who are lapsed in their worship attendance; left the parish, or just are not worshipping anywhere; to come and join us on Sunday, October 9th with a reunion of our entire parish family. Be persistent in promoting this special solemnity of our Church which could potentially encourage them to a more participation in parish worship.
October 16 – Heritage Sunday
The largest waves of Polish immigration to the United States and Canada took place when Poland was divided during the middle of 19th century through World War I, as well as when it was under communist control after World War II. October is the month when the Polish community celebrates its heritage, traditions, culture and history. Special events, such as those occurring during October, which attract a great number of citizens, are the best way to remind people, hard-pressed in everyday life, that they are Poles and should be proud of it.
October 18 – Luke, Apostle & Evangelist
St. Luke came from Antioch, was a practicing physician and was one of the first converts to Christianity. He accompanied St. Paul, who converted him, on his missionary journeys and was still with him in Rome when St. Paul was in prison awaiting death. We hear no more of him afterwards and nothing is known of his last years. The Church venerates him as a Martyr.
October 24 – Raphael the Archangel
St. Raphael is one of seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord. Raphael’s name means “God heals.” He is also the patron of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers.
October 28 – SS. Simon & Jude, Apostles
The Church celebrates the feast of Saints Simon and Jude whose names occur together in the Canon of the Mass and are also celebrated on the same day. Possibly this is because they both preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia and Persia where it is said they had both been sent.
COMMEMORATING THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED IN THE ST. MARY`S CEMETERY (PERPETUAL CARE):
We have been asked to keep the following people in our prayers: Michael Prach, Helena & Mikołaj Benczarski, Christina Walton, Helen Chmielowiec, Walter & Stella Maciurzynski, Konstanty Jackiewicz, Very Rev. Waclaw Cwieka, Christine Maciurzynski, Marianna Janiszewska, Anne & Marion Tylipski, Jessie Chorniuk, Frank Favoni, Walter Fedon, Frank & Bernice Payonk, Veronika Sosnowski, Lorraine Mocarski, Eleanor Dutkevich, Rev. Tadeus Czelen, Josephine Bahry, Myron Mischuk, Slavko Solic, Mary Skrypetz, Stanley Bidowski, Budzinski Jadwiga
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
October Birthdays: VanDenBussche Elaine /03/, Maciurzynski Esther /05/, Magsino Katerina /07/, Wasney Emily /09/, Galgo Felix /12/, Mandat Halina /13/, Bathan Jennifer /17/, Kwiatkowski Cecylia /18/, Roldan Aileen /22/, Cabanlong Sharon /27/, Mikolajczyk Martin /30/, Galgo Elsie /31/
October Wedding Anniversaries: Leszczynski Richard & Maria /25/
DAILY INTERCESSION FOR OUR SICK AND HOMEBOUND
The following are our brothers and sisters of St. Mary`s who are currently homebound, suffering from chronic illness, in recovery or in need of special prayers. Especially: Chantalle Witon, Helen Wolejszo, Lloyd Mazur, Rose Budzinski, Halina and Edward Mandat, Janina Dzwonek, Patricia and Claude Caya, Lorraine Fedon, Josie Jackiewicz, Mary Golembioski, Larry Golembioski, Emily Wasney, Donna Fedon, Blair Short, Gail Grywinski, Lena Skrzenta, Grazyna Markiewiecz, Zofia Janecki, Epitacia Nykoluk, Helen Krokosh, Brenda Owsianyk, Martin Mikolajczyk
GIVING TO YOUR PARISH – SIGNIFICANCE CAMPAIGN
Few months ago, all parishioners received letter from Parish Chairman Ted Maciurzynski regarding 2023 Significance Campaign. This year we’ll focus on funding on-going expenses – utilities, insurance, and taxes. Only these expenses cost us almost 16 thousand dollars per year. Please, help us! We are asking for financial help, because without these necessary expenses, the parish cannot exist. We cannot pay taxes, gas, hydro, water, or insurance. These expenses must be paid to keep this church open. As always, all donations to the Significance campaign stay in your church and all donations are fully tax deductible. Thank you to all who have donated to this campaign in past years. I know you will see the Significance of this campaign. This year, I encourage you to be generous and continue to demonstrate how Significant this church is for you.
- MARY’S HARVEST DINNER
We will be hosting a sit-down Fall Harvest Dinner on Sunday, October 29th at 11:15 AM in the Parish Hall. This event is open to all. Come and enjoy lots of delicious food including turkey and all the fixings, as well as raffles! Proceeds from the dinner will benefit our church. Please bring your family and friends to join us and have a sumptuous meal. If you would like to donate a raffle prize or interested in volunteering to help out with the dinner, please contact members of the Women’s Society. If you cannot stay for the event, take out dinners will also be available. There will be 2 lists available for sign up in vestibule so we can make sure that we prepare enough.
MEMBERSHIP
As Polish National Catholics, we have a Democratic Church organized by the people and supported by the Clergy, Diocese and General Church. This is a special and beautiful gift and a great privilege. We have a few responsibilities as National Catholics. We have the obligation to support the General Church and Diocese done through our dues system. Dues are $100 per year for adult member.
PRAY THE ROSARY EVERYDAY THIS MONTH
By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a certain devotion. The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, one of the best known of all Catholic devotions. October includes the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7). The best way to celebrate the month is, of course, to pray the rosary. The word Rosary means “Crown of Roses”. Our Lady has revealed to several people that each time they say a Hail Mary they are giving her a beautiful rose and that each complete Rosary makes her a crown of roses. The rose is the queen of flowers, and so the Rosary is the rose of all devotions and it is therefore the most important one. The Holy Rosary is considered a perfect prayer because within it lies the awesome story of our salvation. With the Rosary in fact we meditate the mysteries of joy, of sorrow and the glory of Jesus and Mary. It’s a simple prayer, humble so much like Mary. It’s a prayer we can all say together with Her, the Mother of God. With the Hail Mary we invite Her to pray for us. Our Lady always grants our request. She joins Her prayer to ours. Therefore, it becomes ever more useful, because what Mary asks, she always receives, Jesus can never say no to whatever His Mother asks for. In every apparition, the heavenly Mother has invited us to say the Rosary as a powerful weapon against evil, to bring us to true peace. With your prayer made together with Your heavenly Mother, you can obtain the great gift of bringing about a change of hearts and conversion. Each day, through prayer you can drive away from yourselves and from your homeland many dangers and many evils.
HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY?
The use of beads or knotted ropes to count large numbers of prayers comes from the earliest days of Christianity, but the rosary as we know it today emerged in the second thousand years of Church history. The full rosary consists of 150 Hail Mary, divided into three sets of 50 which are further divided into five sets of 10 (a decade). Traditionally, the rosary is divided into three sets of mysteries: Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious.
BOOK OF LIFE – Remembering Holy Souls in November
Years ago, we started a new initiative in our Parish – the Book of Life, in which we mention the names our faithful departed. Parishioners may inscribe the names of deceased family members and friends in the Book of Life, which is located on our website (www.stmarypncc.ca). St. Mary’s Parish invites you to add the names your faithful departed to our Book of Life.
During November we especially pray for all who are in the purifying fires of Purgatory, waiting for the day when they will join the company of the saints in heaven. The celebration of Mass is the highest means the Church can provide for charity for the dead, but we can also relieve their sufferings through our prayers, sufferings and penances. We can also help the Poor Souls by doing acts and prayers that have indulgences attached to them.
It is a good devotion to pray for the departed all through the year, to pray for the departed all through the year, not just November. After these Souls in Purgatory are in heaven, they will intercede for us. We should all develop prayerful habits, such as praying the “Eternal Rest” prayer when passing cemeteries, to remind us of our eternal destiny.