Judy Lamborn – Page 15 – Saint Polycarp Church

Weekend Update January 6/7

January 5, 2024

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ By our baptism, we are to be the light of Christ in the world. How have you dispelled the darkness for another?
– Where do you see God manifested?
– Through the years, how has your understanding of Christ coming into the world changed?

READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010723.cfm

LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays.

PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.

WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . (New Bulletins are posted on Fridays.) Thank you to all of our weekly bulletin sponsors for your support during the year! Your support has not gone unnoticed by our parish community and is so appreciated!

BULLETIN OVERFLOW: There’s always information that doesn’t fit in our Bulletin – Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE

THIS WEEKEND, JANUARY 6/7 (and Monday, January 8^th – Friday, January 12^th)

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD: This Sunday, January 7^th during the 10:30 am Mass. Children will be called forward before the First Reading and will return to you after the General Intercessions. Our lead catechist is Anna Skinner. She, along with her assistants, have cleared background checks.

AGAPE: Come join us this Sunday, January 7^th following the 10:30 Mass as we welcome in the New Year and celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord! Enjoy a delicious brunch, fellowship and fun! All are welcome.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS: If you purchased a Christmas Ornament from PSR, feel free to find and take your ornament home after Sunday’s Agape. Someone will be there to help you locate your ornament. As always, thank you for your support. The decorated trees brought so many of us joy this Christmas Season. Ornaments will be available at other times for pick-up. See future bulletins/updates for dates/times.

ROCK AND ROLL TRIBUTE: Come join us on in the parish hall on Saturday, January 13^th, 2024 to ROCK in the New Year. Brother Vincent Knights of Columbus along with our Columbiettes are sponsoring a ROCK AND ROLL TRUBUTE with an evening of dinner, show and dancing featuring Mr. Charisma!
Tickets are $45. Contact Anna Skinner at ANNA.SKINZ@gmail.com or (302) 883-5647.
Please make checks payable to Knights of Columbus #7517, 55 Ransom Lane, Smyrna, DE 19977.

NEXT WEEKEND, JANUARY 13/14

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Next Saturday, January 13^th
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will continue in the new year at the end of the 4pm Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of the month. Please plan to stay and spend some time with Jesus.

SECOND COLLECTION: Next Weekend, January 14/15^th – Catholic University and Catholic Communications.

MARCH FOR LIFE: The 51^st annual March for Life in Washington, DC, will take place Friday, January 19^th. Will you march and send a message to the world about the sanctity of every human life? https://marchforlife.org/national-march-for-life/

UPCOMING

ANNUAL FORUM: The Saint Polycarp Annual Forum will take place on Sunday, January 21, 2024, following the 10:30 am Mass. Come and hear about our Parish accomplishments and voice your dreams for the coming year.

PARISH APPRECIATION DINNER: Reserve your spot for the Parish Appreciation Dinner. If you are active in a church organization or serve in any ministry at Saint Polycarp Parish, the parish would like to show their appreciation by inviting you to the parish appreciation dinner. This year the event will take place on Saturday, February 10, 2024, following the 4:00 pm Mass. Seating will be limited, so reserve your spot today. You may make your reservations using the link below or simply scan the QR code. Not a fan of online formats? Call Kathy Curlett at 302 222 9326 to reserve your seats. https://forms.gle/TREWak6DL8JhndbA9

FORMED: Thanks to a very generous and thoughtful parishioner, our FORMED Subscription has been RENEWED for another year! Please SIGN UP NOW and begin enjoying the abundant amount of Catholic content that FORMED has to offer! You won’t be disappointed! To gain full access to FORMED; follow these simple steps:
~Go to: www.formed.org or scan QR Code
~Enter our parish’s zip code (19977)
~Click on St. Polycarp Church
~Enter your name and your email address

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

NEEDED – NEW MINISTRY SCHEDULER: We are currently looking for someone to take over the scheduling of our ministers for the Weekend Masses and Holy Days of Obligation. This person must have good PC organization and computer skills. If you think you might be interested in this position, please call Frank Patton at (302) 508-5268.

SACRISTAN NEEDED: We are still in need of someone to step forward to serve as sacristan. Sacristans have the duty to arrive early to the Church in order to unlock the doors and prepare the Church for Mass. Becoming a sacristan would be a great way to learn more about our beautiful liturgy and become more involved in carrying it out. No previous knowledge is required. If you are interested, please contact the head sacristan Adam Bauer at ajpd.bauer@gmail.com.

DIRECTORY COORDINATOR: The Pastoral Council is looking for a parishioner to coordinate the preparation for a new directory for Saint Polycarp. Our last directory was published in 2018 and we understand there may be an interest in producing a new directory. Please contact Kathy Curlett at (302) 222 – 9326 if you are interested.

ONGOING

SATURDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION at St. Polycarp will take place monthly at the Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of the month. Eucharistic Adoration at St. Dennis Church (Galena MD) will take place on the Fourth Sunday of the month following the 8 am Sunday Mass. Next Saturday Adoration is January 13^th, 2024.

TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 9am to 8pm in the Chapel. We are still in need of people to fill in the following openings 9:30 am, 10:00 am, 10:30 am; 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm and people to fill in when others are ill or cannot attend. Do you have one hour to spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament? Call Cheryl Thomas at (302) 363 – 0404 or email her at salcrest7@gmail.com. All are welcome to stop in and adore Jesus between 9 am and 8 pm in the Chapel on Tuesdays. Stay for 10 minutes, 1 hour…

THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Please consider signing up to host the vocation chalice in your home for a week. Families and individuals are encouraged to sign up! Text or call Alice Gaston at (302) 670 – 7924. For more information visit https://saintpolycarp.org/vocation-chalice/

CONNECTED IN CHRIST (ADULT FAITH FORMATION) meets every Tuesday at 9:00 am in the Parish Library – ALL are welcome. Please join us. If you have any questions, please call Cookie Ruane at (302) 540 – 6429.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD: Children’s Liturgy of the Word is offered every 1^st and 3^rd Sunday of the month during the 10:30am Mass. This is a wonderful opportunity for children in PreK-4^th grade. It mirrors the worship experience of the larger community in an engaging and interactive style. They will listen to Scripture and engage in discussions about what they have heard at their age level. Children will be called forward before the First Reading and will return to you after the General Intercessions. Our lead catechist is Anna Skinner. She, along with her assistants, have cleared background checks.

GLUTEN FREE? Do you have an intolerance to gluten? If so, our parish offers gluten-free wafers to be consecrated for you. Please see our Sacristan 10 – 15 minutes before Mass and let them know that you need a gluten-free wafer put in the pyx. At Communion, please proceed down the aisle to the priest who will have the pyx in his hand and let him know you need a gluten-free host.

IS THAT YOU, FR. JIM? If you receive emails or texts from Fr. Jim asking for favors, gift cards or gifts or stating something similar to “I am currently busy in a meeting now, no calls so just reply to my email.”, please ignore and delete. If an email looks suspicious and you’re not sure, give the office a call.

REDNER’S MARKETS 1% SAVE-A-TAPE FUNDRAISER: Turn your food shopping into cash for our parish. Simply be sure to obtain and scan your Redner’s Rewards Card each time you shop. Save your whole receipt. Bring your receipts to the Parish Office or put them into the collection basket. There is no expiration date – you can turn in receipts months old!

THE SMYRNA/CLAYTON MINISTERIUM FOOD PANTRY is located downstairs at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 22 N. Union St., Smyrna. The pantry is open from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, Monday thru Friday. Due to the increased need in the community, the Pantry is in great need of cereal, juice boxes or pouches, peanut butter & jelly, hamburger helper, tuna helper, canned tuna, sloppy joe sauce (Manwich), boxed spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, vegetable beef and chicken noodle soups, macaroni & cheese, and Chef Boy Ardee canned pastas. No canned vegetables or beans are currently needed. Please, no expired items. Here at St. Polycarp we have bins under the coat rack in the hallway near the bathrooms to accept your donations.

BULLETIN SPONSORS: Thank you to all of our weekly bulletin sponsors for your support during the year!

USEFUL LINKS:

WEBSITE: www.saintpolycarp.org.
BULLETIN: https://www.jppc.net/onlinebulletins/301template.pdf
BULLETIN OVERFLOW: https://saintpolycarp.org/this-weeks-bulletin/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SaintPolycarpCatholicChurch/
ONLINE GIVING: Please consider becoming an e-giver. It is easy to make your weekly or one time contributions in support of the Parish. For more information and to sign up for online giving, visit faith.direct/DE831
ST DENNIS: http://www.stdennischurch.org
DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING https://www.youtube.com/user/DioceseofWilm
FOR THE SAKE OF GOD’S CHILDREN: https://www.cdow.org/giving/fsgc/
THE DIALOG: http://thedialog.org/ Newspaper of the Diocese, copies available as you leave Church or online
EWTN: ewtn.com

FROM THE DIOCESE:

CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640AM. Learn about the work of Seton Center in Princess Anne, Md on the Jan. 6th Catholic Forum podcast. CLICK HERE You can listen online at cdow.org/CatholicForum, or by searching “Catholic Forum” on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or Amazon Music podcasts. “Like” Catholic Forum on Facebook at facebook.com/CatholicForum @CatholicForum.

HAPPENING ELSEWHERE:
LET’S TALK HEALING – St. John-Holy Angels Parish, Newark
January 6, 13, 20, (not the 27^th) & Feb 3 Snow date make-up Feb 10, if needed
Is Jesus still healing people today? Are these healings real, and do they last? How can we pray for healing? Can my broken heart be healed as well as my body? In her new book, Dr. Mary Healy answers these questions and more. Join St. John-Holy Angels Parish for an informal book study and conversation on the book, “Healing: Bringing the Gift of God’s Mercy to the World,” led by Terry Haar/aRise Healing Ministry. Discussions will be held at Holy Angels Church, 82 Possum Park Road, Newark, DE 19711, from 10 am-12 noon on each date. Use the San Damiano Center back entrance to the church. You do not need to attend all of the dates. You can check in for the reading assignments missed before each week you attend. Please read the first 66 pages prior to the first meeting. Coffee/refreshments provided. All interested are welcome. Free. Preregistration is required. (302) 731-2219 or arise@holyangels.net.

LET US PRAY:

A Prayer for the Feast of Epiphany – Bless this Home

Lord God of heaven and earth,
You revealed your only Son to every nation by the guidance of a star.
Bless this home and all who inhabit it.
Fill us with the light of Christ that our concern for others may reflect your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

https://lourdesprayerrequest.com/epiphany_prayer

Weekend Update December 30/31

December 29, 2023

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ Abraham and Sarah, Simeon and Anna, Mary and Joseph all do what God asks because of faith. How does faith guide your actions?

READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/123123.cfm

LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays.

PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.

WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . (New Bulletins are posted on Fridays.)

BULLETIN OVERFLOW: There’s always information that doesn’t fit in our Bulletin – Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE

ATTENTION ENVELOPE USERS – There was an error by the company with the mailing of our January envelopes, so if you could, please place your donation in an envelope with your name and address. (If you know your envelope number that would be great as well, if not, no worries). Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.

THIS WEEKEND, DECEMBER 30/31 (and Monday, January 1^st – Friday, January 5^th)

Weekend Masses December 30 & 31 – The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph – Masses at 4 pm on Saturday, December 30^th and 10:30 am on Sunday, December 31^st.

THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY, HOLY MOTHER OF GOD (A Holy Day of Obligation) & New Year’s Day
Sunday, December 31^st, at 4 pm, Monday, January 1^st, at 10 am
The Blessing of Calendars will take place at the 4 pm Mass, on December 31^stand at the 10:00 am Mass on January 1^st.
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is a Holy Day of Obligation. This year, the obligation to attend Mass on this date is abrogated, in accord with the complementary norm to canon 1246 §2 confirmed for the dioceses of the United States of America. (Whenever the Solemnity of Mary falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated.)
While attending Mass for this solemnity is not an obligation, it’s certainly a wonderful way to honor Mary, our Savior’s Mother, our Mother. Attending the one hour Mass New Year’s Eve or New Year’s morning is a great time to thank God for the blessings of 2023 and to ask God for His blessings in the coming year. (Something to think about: There are 8784 hours in the year 2024. If you took the time to attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, that would be 58 hours total, which is less than 1% of those 8784 hours. Think about it, less than 1%. If you watch TV or are on an electronic device 3 hours a day, that would be 1098 hours or 12% of those 8784 hours. How will you use your time this year?)

GIVING TREE: Thank you, to all the parishioners of St. Polycarp who made this year’s Giving Tree Project a big success. Every year we are amazed by the outpouring of love and generosity you show to the families in our community who need it the most. This year you made the Christmas season extra special for so many of our children and families. God bless you all!

BE BRAVE, ANSWER THE CALL: Are you a Catholic living in harmony with the teachings of the Church? Are you at least 18 years old? Have you received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist & Confirmation? Are you sufficiently mature to perform the duties of Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Mass or to the sick and homebound? These are the qualifications needed to be considered for Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. If this is a ministry you feel God calling you to, please contact Cindy Kennedy at Kennedy-078@msn.com. Formation and training will begin early January.

NEW CANDLES: We hope that you have noticed the new candle stands in the back of the Church. The aqua votive candles ($3 each) are available to be lit for your intentions. Place your $3 in the slot and then just press the button in front of that candle that you would like lit. You must press and hold the button until it lights.

The white candles are memorial candles. These candles are available to be lit in memory of someone. The introductory fee of $120 includes the candle being lit continuously for a full year with a memorial name plate placed in front of that candle with the person’s name on it. This introductory fee is good until Ash Wednesday when the fee will be $150. If you are interested in having one of these candles lit, please contact Kathy at the office. (302) 653-8279 or office@saintpolycarp.org

NEXT WEEKEND, JANUARY 6/7,

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD: Next Sunday, January 7^th during the 10:30 am Mass. Children will be called forward before the First Reading and will return to you after the General Intercessions. Our lead catechist is Anna Skinner. She, along with her assistants, have cleared background checks.

AGAPE: Come join us next Sunday, January 7^th following the 10:30 Mass as we welcome in the New Year and celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord! Enjoy a delicious brunch, fellowship and fun! All are welcome.

UPCOMING

ROCK AND ROLL TRIBUTE: Come join us on in the parish hall on Saturday, January 13^th, 2024 to ROCK in the New Year. Brother Vincent Knights of Columbus along with our Columbiettes are sponsoring a ROCK AND ROLL TRUBUTE with an evening of dinner, show and dancing featuring Mr. Charisma! Tickets are $45. Contact Anna Skinner at ANNA.SKINZ@gmail.com or (302) 883-5647. Make checks payable to Knights of Columbus #7517, 55 ransom Lane, Smyrna, DE 19977.

ANNUAL FORUM: The Saint Polycarp Annual Forum will take place on Sunday, January 21, 2024, following the 10:30 am Mass. Come and hear about our Parish accomplishments and voice your dreams for the coming year.

PARISH APPRECIATION DINNER: Reserve your spot for the Parish Appreciation Dinner. If you are active in a church organization or serve in any ministry at Saint Polycarp Parish, the parish would like to show their appreciation by inviting you to the parish appreciation dinner. This year the event will take place on Saturday, February 10, 2024, following the 4:00 pm Mass. Seating will be limited, so reserve your spot today. You may make your reservations using the link below or simply scan the QR code. Not a fan of online formats? Call Kathy Curlett at 302 222 9326 to reserve your seats. https://forms.gle/TREWak6DL8JhndbA9

FORMED: Thanks to a very generous and thoughtful parishioner, our FORMED Subscription has been RENEWED for another year! Please SIGN UP NOW and begin enjoying the abundant amount of Catholic content that FORMED has to offer! You won’t be disappointed! To gain full access to FORMED; follow these simple steps:
~Go to: www.formed.org or scan QR Code
~Enter our parish’s zip code (19977)
~Click on St. Polycarp Church
~Enter your name and your email address

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

NEEDED – NEW MINISTRY SCHEDULER: We are currently looking for someone to take over the scheduling of our ministers for the Weekend Masses and Holy Days of Obligation. This person must have good PC organization and computer skills. If you think you might be interested in this position, please call Frank Patton at (302) 508-5268.

SACRISTAN NEEDED: We are still in need of someone to step forward to serve as sacristan. Sacristans have the duty to arrive early to the Church in order to unlock the doors and prepare the Church for Mass. Becoming a sacristan would be a great way to learn more about our beautiful liturgy and become more involved in carrying it out. No previous knowledge is required. If you are interested, please contact the head sacristan Adam Bauer at ajpd.bauer@gmail.com.

DIRECTORY COORDINATOR: The Pastoral Council is looking for a parishioner to coordinate the preparation for a new directory for Saint Polycarp. Our last directory was published in 2018 and we understand there may be an interest in producing a new directory. Please contact Kathy Curlett at (302) 222 – 9326 if you are interested.

ONGOING

SATURDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION at St. Polycarp will take place monthly at the Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of the month. Eucharistic Adoration at St. Dennis Church (Galena MD) will take place on the Fourth Sunday of the month following the 8 am Sunday Mass. Next Saturday Adoration is January 13^th, 2024.

TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 9am to 8pm in the Chapel. We are still in need of people to fill in the following openings 9:30 am, 10:00 am, 10:30 am; 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm and people to fill in when others are ill or cannot attend. Do you have one hour to spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament? Call Cheryl Thomas at (302) 363 – 0404 or email her at salcrest7@gmail.com. All are welcome to stop in and adore Jesus between 9 am and 8 pm in the Chapel on Tuesdays. Stay for 10 minutes, 1 hour…

THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Please consider signing up to host the vocation chalice in your home for a week. Families and individuals are encouraged to sign up! Text or call Alice Gaston at (302) 670 – 7924. For more information visit https://saintpolycarp.org/vocation-chalice/

CONNECTED IN CHRIST (ADULT FAITH FORMATION) meets every Tuesday at 9:00 am in the Parish Library – ALL are welcome. Please join us. If you have any questions, please call Cookie Ruane at (302) 540 – 6429.

FAITH WITH FRIENDS (ADULT FAITH FORMATION) meets the first Thursday of every month at 6 pm in Room 7. Everyone is invited. Questions? Contact Ashley Wilson at (302) 535-4118.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD: Children’s Liturgy of the Word is offered every 1^st and 3^rd Sunday of the month during the 10:30am Mass. This is a wonderful opportunity for children in PreK-4^th grade. It mirrors the worship experience of the larger community in an engaging and interactive style. They will listen to Scripture and engage in discussions about what they have heard at their age level. Children will be called forward before the First Reading and will return to you after the General Intercessions. Our lead catechist is Anna Skinner. She, along with her assistants, have cleared background checks.

GLUTEN FREE? Do you have an intolerance to gluten? If so, our parish offers gluten-free wafers to be consecrated for you. Please see our Sacristan 10 – 15 minutes before Mass and let them know that you need a gluten-free wafer put in the pyx. At Communion, please proceed down the aisle to the priest who will have the pyx in his hand and let him know you need a gluten-free host.

IS THAT YOU, FR. JIM? If you receive emails or texts from Fr. Jim asking for favors, gift cards or gifts or stating something similar to “I am currently busy in a meeting now, no calls so just reply to my email.”, please ignore and delete. If an email looks suspicious and you’re not sure, give the office a call.

SMYRNA-CLAYTON FOOD PANTRY: Due to increased need in the community, the Pantry is in great need of cereal, juice boxes or pouches, peanut butter & jelly, hamburger helper, tuna helper, canned tuna, sloppy joe sauce (Manwich), boxed spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, vegetable beef and chicken noodle soups, macaroni & cheese, and Chef Boy Ardee canned pastas. Please, NO CANNED vegetables or beans are currently needed. Bins for your donations are located under the coat rack near the hall.

REDNER’S MARKETS 1% SAVE-A-TAPE FUNDRAISER: Turn your food shopping into cash for our parish. Simply be sure to obtain and scan your Redner’s Rewards Card each time you shop. Save your whole receipt. Bring your receipts to the Parish Office or put them into the collection basket. There is no expiration date – you can turn in receipts months old!

THE SMYRNA/CLAYTON MINISTERIUM FOOD PANTRY is located downstairs at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 22 N. Union St., Smyrna. The pantry is open from 9:30 am to 10:30 am, Monday thru Friday. Here at St. Polycarp we have bins under the coat rack in the hallway near the bathrooms to accept your donations. Please, no expired items.

BULLETIN SPONSORS: Thank you to all of our weekly bulletin sponsors for your support during the year! Your support has not gone unnoticed by our parish community and is so appreciated!

USEFUL LINKS:

WEBSITE: www.saintpolycarp.org.
BULLETIN: https://www.jppc.net/onlinebulletins/301template.pdf
BULLETIN OVERFLOW: https://saintpolycarp.org/this-weeks-bulletin/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SaintPolycarpCatholicChurch/
ONLINE GIVING: Please consider becoming an e-giver. It is easy to make your weekly or one time contributions in support of the Parish. For more information and to sign up for online giving, visit faith.direct/DE831
ST DENNIS: http://www.stdennischurch.org
DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING https://www.youtube.com/user/DioceseofWilm
FOR THE SAKE OF GOD’S CHILDREN: https://www.cdow.org/giving/fsgc/
THE DIALOG: http://thedialog.org/ Newspaper of the Diocese, copies available as you leave Church or online
EWTN: ewtn.com

FROM THE DIOCESE:

CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640AM. Catholic Charities’ Fritz Jones is the guest on the December 30^th Catholic Forum podcast. CLICK HERE You can listen online at cdow.org/CatholicForum, or by searching “Catholic Forum” on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or Amazon Music podcasts. “Like” Catholic Forum on Facebook at facebook.com/CatholicForum @CatholicForum.

HAPPENING ELSEWHERE:
LET’S TALK HEALING – St. John-Holy Angels Parish, Newark
January 6, 13, 20, (not the 27^th) & Feb 3 Snow date make-up Feb 10, if needed
Is Jesus still healing people today? Are these healings real, and do they last? How can we pray for healing? Can my broken heart be healed as well as my body? In her new book, Dr. Mary Healy answers these questions and more. Join St. John-Holy Angels Parish for an informal book study and conversation on the book, “Healing: Bringing the Gift of God’s Mercy to the World,” led by Terry Haar/aRise Healing Ministry. Discussions will be held at Holy Angels Church, 82 Possum Park Road, Newark, DE 19711, from 10 am-12 noon on each date. Use the San Damiano Center back entrance to the church. You do not need to attend all of the dates. You can check in for the reading assignments missed before each week you attend. Please read the first 66 pages prior to the first meeting. Coffee/refreshments provided. All interested are welcome. Free. Preregistration is required. (302) 731-2219 or arise@holyangels.net.

LET US PRAY:

Lord, You make all things new
You bring hope alive in our hearts
And cause our Spirits to be born again
Thank you for this new year.
For all the potential it holds.
Come and kindle in us
A mighty flame
So that in our time, many will see the wonders of God
And live forever to praise Your glorious name.

– Author Unknown

The Work of Christmas Begins

When the carols have been stilled,
When the star-topped tree is taken down,
When family and friends are gone home,
When we are back to our schedules
The work of Christmas begins:
To welcome the refugee,
To heal a broken planet,
To feed the hungry,
To build bridges of trust, not walls of fear,
To share our gifts,
To seek justice and peace for all people,
To bring Christ’s light to the world.

– by Michael Dougherty, a variation on Howard Thurman’s ‘When the Song of the Angels is Stilled’

Weekend Update December 23/24

December 22, 2023

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~Do you look upon God as your rock or do you seek refuge elsewhere?
~ Mary surrenders her life to God when she says, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.” Are you willing to surrender any part of your life to God?
~What virtues might Mary have relied upon in answering God’s call?

READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122423.cfm

LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays.

PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.

WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . (New Bulletins are posted on Fridays.)

BULLETIN OVERFLOW: There’s always information that doesn’t fit in our Bulletin – Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE

December 24^th is both the 4^th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve.
No one Mass fulfills the Sunday obligation and the Christmas obligation.

MASSES FOR THE 4^th SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Saturday, December 23^rd at 4 pm
Sunday, December 24^th at 10:30 am

MASSES FOR CHRISTMAS:
Sunday, December 24^th at 4 pm and 9 pm
Monday, December 25^th at 10 am.

You are cordially invited to join us for the 4pm Christmas Eve Mass and to watch our PSR 1^st graders bring to life our Nativity Pageant. The reenactment of the First Christmas will take place immediately following the 4 pm Mass. This performance will surely put you into the Christmas Spirit.

READINGS FOR CHRISTMAS:https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122523.cfm

Fr. Jim, Deacon Frank, Erica Taylor, CRE and all the staff here at St. Polycarp wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

May you be blessed with hope, peace and love this Christmas and in the New Year.

THIS WEEKEND, DECEMBER 23/24 (and Monday, December 25^th – Friday, December 29^th)

SEE ABOVE FOR THE MASS SCHEDULE FOR THE 4^th SUNDAY OF ADVENT AND THE CHRISTMAS MASS SCEDULE

RECONCILIATION – St. Polycarp Church:
Saturdays from 2:30 – 3:30 pm & following the 10:30 am Mass on Sunday, December 24^th.

THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: December 24^th at 4 pm – Stephanie Roch. Please consider signing up to host the vocation chalice in your home for a week. Families and individuals are encouraged to sign up! Text or call Alice Gaston at (302) 670 – 7924. For more information visit https://saintpolycarp.org/vocation-chalice/

NATIVITY CRÈCHES FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF DELAWARE AND MARYLAND’S EASTERN SHORE: Last Christmas, the diocese invited each of its 56 parishes and 18 mission churches to submit a photograph of their crèche to be included in the video that celebrates the 800^th anniversary of the very first Nativity scene. In 1223, wanting to emphasize the humble circumstances of Jesus’s birth and to inspire the local people to more deeply appreciate the Christmas story. St. Francis of Assisi set up a live Nativity scene in a cave in the quaint Italian village of Greccio.

On Sunday, December ^17th, 2023, a new video debuted on the Diocese of Wilmington’s YouTube channel. This video, produced by the Diocese of Wilmington, presents a montage of photographs of Nativity crèches from the Catholic churches of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The video includes beautiful instrumental Christmas hymns as a background. Families are invited to watch the 12 ½ minute video together, discuss which scene they like best and why, maybe try to be the first to identify the scene from our parish. Visit www.YouTube.com/DioceseofWilm to view the video. (Pick-up a copy of this weekend’s Dialog as you leave Mass and check out the center page!)

WE HAVE A WINNER! The highest bidder in our annual parking spot auction wishes to remain anonymous and would like the parking spot to go to Deacon Frank Weber in gratitude for his ministry here at St. Polycarp. Enjoy the parking spot for another year, Deacon Frank! Thanks to everyone who submitted a bid.

BE BRAVE, ANSWER THE CALL: Are you a Catholic living in harmony with the teachings of the Church? Are you at least 18 years old? Have you received the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist & Confirmation? Are you sufficiently mature to perform the duties of Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Mass or to the sick and homebound? These are the qualifications needed to be considered for Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. If this is a ministry you feel God calling you to, please contact Cindy Kennedy at Kennedy-078@msn.com. Formation and training will begin early January.

NEW CANDLES: We hope that you have noticed the new candle stands in the back of the Church. They are electric candles, which are safer and do not create soot. The aqua votive candles ($3 each) are now available to be lit for your intentions. After you put your money in the slot, you just need to press the button in front of that candle. You must press and hold the button until it lights.

The white candles are memorial candles. These candles are available to be lit in memory of someone. The introductory fee of $120 includes the candle being lit continuously for a full year with a memorial name plate placed in front of that candle with the person’s name on it. This introductory fee is good until Ash Wednesday when the fee will be $150. If you are interested in having one of these candles lit, please contact Kathy at the office. (302) 653-8279 or office@saintpolycarp.org We hope you enjoy them.

CHRISTMAS NOVENA: Christmas is a time to reflect on the blessings of family and shared togetherness. We exchange gifts as an act of love and appreciation, but there is no greater gift we can give than the gift of the Holy Mass. Although a loved one may no longer be present to share this time with us, let us remember that, now more than ever, they rely upon us for their spiritual well-being. Please use the Christmas Novena envelope to show your loved ones they have not been forgotten. (Envelopes can be found at the doors of the Church.)

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS: Gifts are usually given at the birth of a child. Let us generously give the Holy Family beautiful flowers representing the intentions of our loved ones. Please consider using the Christmas flower envelope to help us proclaim our joy as we rejoice in the birth of our Lord. (Envelopes can be found at the doors of the Church.)

EARLY DEADLINE JANUARY 7^th BULLETIN: During the busy holiday season, the bulletin is due earlier to the publisher. All submissions that you would like to appear in the bulletin, need to be submitted earlier than usual. If you plan on having an insert, please contact Judy immediately. Insert deadlines are sooner than the deadlines listed below! ALL Submissions (including inserts or questions about inserts) should be emailed to submission@saintpolycarp.org. Judy can also be reached at the parish office (302) 653-8279. Bulletin for January 7^th – Submissions due by December 26^th end of day.

CONGRATULATIONS! 2023 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: Thank you to all those parishioners who contributed to the 2023 Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. Our parish has achieved our goal in pledges and money collected for the appeal! Your generosity in supporting this year’s appeal once again demonstrates that you understand the mission of our Church. Now that we have reached our goal in money collected, we will receive back half of the money collected above the goal for projects around our campus. We invite those who haven’t yet had the opportunity to give to the Appeal to join us in spreading the spirit of gratitude. Envelopes can be found at the doors of the Church You can also support the appeal online at www.cdow.org click “Giving” then “Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal,” or simply scan this QR code with your cellphone.

NEXT WEEKEND, DECEMBER 30/31,

Weekend Masses for The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph – Masses at 4 pm on Saturday, December 30^th and 10:30 am on Sunday, December 31^st.

THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY, HOLY MOTHER OF GOD (A Holy Day of Obligation) & New Year’s Day
Sunday, December 31^st at 4 pm, Monday, January 1^st at 10 am
The Blessing of Calendars will take place at the 4 pm Mass, on December 31^stand at the 10:00 am Mass on January 1^st.

UPCOMING

AGAPE: Come join us on Sunday, January 7^th following the 10:30 Mass as we welcome in the New Year and celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord! Enjoy a delicious brunch, fellowship and fun! All are welcome.

ROCK AND ROLL TRIBUTE: Come join us on in the parish hall on Saturday, January 13^th, 2024 to ROCK in the New Year. Brother Vincent Knights of Columbus along with our Columbiettes are sponsoring a ROCK AND ROLL TRUBUTE with an evening of dinner, show and dancing featuring Mr. Charisma! Tickets are $45. Contact Anna Skinner at ANNA.SKINZ@gmail.com or (302) 883-5647. Make checks payable to Knights of Columbus #7517, 55 ransom Lane, Smyrna, DE 19977.

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW: WHY AND WHEN DO WE SIT, STAND AND KNEEL AT MASS? If you would like information on why we stand or sit or kneel during the Mass, please check out the following websites:

https://saintpolycarp.org/overflow/
www.formed.org: Explaining the Faith with Fr. Chris Alar – Part 6: Teaching Mass (Part 1); and Teaching Mass (Part 2)
www.eucharisticrevival.org: go to Blog: Do This in Remembrance of Me: A Step by Step Walk Through the Mass by Fr. Luke Spannagel (there are 52 Parts).

FORMED: Thanks to a very generous and thoughtful parishioner, our FORMED Subscription has been RENEWED for another year! Please SIGN UP NOW and begin enjoying the abundant amount of Catholic content that FORMED has to offer! You won’t be disappointed! To gain full access to FORMED; follow these simple steps:
~Go to: www.formed.org or scan QR Code
~Enter our parish’s zip code (19977)
~Click on St. Polycarp Church
~Enter your name and your email address

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

NEEDED – NEW MINISTRY SCHEDULER: We are currently looking for someone to take over the scheduling of our ministers for the Weekend Masses and Holy Days of Obligation. This person must have good PC organization and computer skills. If you think you might be interested in this position, please call Frank Patton at (302) 508-5268.

SACRISTAN NEEDED: We are still in need of someone to step forward to serve as sacristan. Sacristans have the duty to arrive early to the Church in order to unlock the doors and prepare the Church for Mass. Becoming a sacristan would be a great way to learn more about our beautiful liturgy and become more involved in carrying it out. No previous knowledge is required. If you are interested, please contact the head sacristan Adam Bauer at ajpd.bauer@gmail.com.

DIRECTORY COORDINATOR: The Pastoral Council is looking for a parishioner to coordinate the preparation for a new directory for Saint Polycarp. Our last directory was published in 2018 and we understand there may be an interest in producing a new directory. Please contact Kathy Curlett at (302) 222 – 9326 if you are interested.

ONGOING

SATURDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION at St. Polycarp will take place monthly at the Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of the month. Eucharistic Adoration at St. Dennis Church (Galena MD) will take place on the Fourth Sunday of the month following the 8 am Sunday Mass.

TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 9am to 8pm in the Chapel. We are still in need of people to fill in the following openings 9:30 am, 10:00 am, 10:30 am; 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm and people to fill in when others are ill or cannot attend. Do you have one hour to spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament? Call Cheryl Thomas at (302) 363 – 0404 or email her at salcrest7@gmail.com. All are welcome to stop in and adore Jesus between 9 am and 8 pm in the Chapel on Tuesdays. Stay for 10 minutes, 1 hour…

THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Please consider signing up to host the vocation chalice in your home for a week. Families and individuals are encouraged to sign up! Text or call Alice Gaston at (302) 670 – 7924. For more information visit https://saintpolycarp.org/vocation-chalice/ December 24^th, 4 pm Mass – S. Roch.