GOOD FRIDAY
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

 

EASTER SUNDAY
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

Fr. Jim, Deacon Charlie, Deacon Frank, Erica Taylor and all of the Parish Staff wish everyone a
very blessed and peaceful Easter! May the hope, joy, excitement, and celebration of Easter always
be evident through your actions and words so that we can share the joy and hope of our Catholic
Faith with the world. May the peace of the Risen Lord be with you all.

READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND:    https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040421.cfm

LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for all live stream. (or visit our webpage www.saintpolycarp.org and click on the picture of the altar )  All Masses are live- streamed. Masses may also be viewed at a later time.

BULLETIN: https://www.jppc.net/onlinebulletins/301template.pdf

CONFESSIONS: Confessions will not be heard tomorrow, Saturday, April 3rd, Holy Saturday.

EASTER FLOWERS:  Add to the beauty of our church during this joyful season by using your Easter flower envelope to help us proclaim that Jesus has risen!

EASTER MASS REMEMBRANCE: Living or deceased, the best gift you can give a loved one is the gift of the Mass.  Please use the Easter Mass Remembrance envelope to enjoin your friends and family in our most holy celebration.

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                              TRIDUUM / EASTER SCHEDULE – RESERVATIONS REQUIRED TO ATTEND
(Reservations were accepted last week and earlier this past week. Reservations can not be made by leaving messages or by emailing staff.)  If you have a reservation please arrive at least 5 minutes prior to the beginning of Mass. At that time, your seat may be given away.

All Masses from St. Polycarp will be live-streamed. Visit www.saintpolycarp.org and click on the picture of the altar or visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE
To view live-stream from St. Dennis on Good Friday, visit www.saintpolycarp.org (and click on the picture of St. Dennis Church) or visit www.stdennischurch.org
Good Friday – April 2^{nd            (No morning Mass at St. Polycarp or St. Dennis)}
Liturgy of the Passion & Death of Our Lord          St. Dennis, 3pm
Holy Saturday, The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night – April 3^rd 
Mass             St. Polycarp, 7:30 pm
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord – April 4^th 
Mass            St. Polycarp Church, 8 am & 10 am
St. Dennis Church, 8 am & 9:30 am, &  11 am (Spanish)

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FASTING and ABSTINENCE:  Good Friday is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics.  The norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59.  When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.  The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Roman Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.                          ~USCCB

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RETURNING TO MASS FOR THE FIRST TIME DUE TO THE PANDEMIC? WELCOME BACK! VISITING? WELCOME! We’re glad you’re here. In a continuing effort to keep everyone safe, we observe limited capacity using social distancing guidelines at all times. Reservations are required. You must wear a face mask or covering that covers the mouth and nose at all times.  Restrooms will not be available. At Communion, you will remain in your pew and the Eucharist will be brought to you. Offertory baskets are at the doors of the Church. Thank you for your support and generosity.

The Breaking Bread Missalettes are not available in the pews, but are available at the doors of the Church. Please take one, place your name in it, and bring it back and forth with you to Mass. Please do not leave it in the pew after Mass! This is one more thing our parish is doing to help keep everyone safe!  If you would like to give a donation to help defray the cost of the Breaking Bread Hymnal, please enclose your donation in an envelope and mark it Breaking Bread Donation.  Thank you!

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ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE FINANCE COUNCIL – INTRODUCING TEXT-TO-GIVE
We are expanding our efforts with Faith Direct for automated giving to Saint Polycarp. Faith Direct offers a safe and secure Text-to-Give option allowing you to make a one-time gift.
To give, please follow these simple steps:
1. Text $$  amount to 302-202-2251
2. Follow the link and complete a one-time process
Thank you and may God bless you! 

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PASTORAL COUNCIL: Do you want to help create, deepen and expand our faith community’s journey?  Then we need you on the Pastoral Council!!  We are recruiting new members to replace some of our departing Pastoral Council members. The Pastoral Council serves as advisors to our Pastor on Pastoral issues, in addition to organizing various parish activities. Please give this call from God some very pray full thought. Please contact Cindy Kennedy at (302)653-7525 orkennedy-078@msn.com  with an expression of interest and/or for additional information.

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STONES FAITH GARDEN: Have you thought about the stone that you will paint for our Stone Faith Garden?  Will you use words, images or both? Check out our latest video with information about this new garden along with the how-to’s on rock painting! https://youtu.be/7rB7atK3ohQ

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USEFUL LINKS:

RESERVATION INFORMATION FOR WEEKEND MASSES: To view information on how to make a reservation visit https://saintpolycarp.org/rservation-information/
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
THE DIALOG: http://thedialog.org/  Newspaper of the Diocese, copies available as you leave Church or online

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MASSES DURING THE PANDEMIC:  The dispensation of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation issued March 12, 2020 remains in effect for the Diocese of Wilmington.

FROM THE DIOCESE:
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO:  Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640. On the April 3, 2021 episode of Catholic Forum, tune in to hear some joyful Easter music and Bishop Malooly’s annual Easter message to the people of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Listen anytime at cdow.org/CatholicForum or search Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify or iHeartRadio podcasts.

LET US PRAY:

The Nicene Creed                                   

I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna on high!

Due to social distancing guidelines, both of our weekend Masses for this coming Sunday, Palm Sunday, have reached capacity.   10am Easter Sunday Mass, has also reached capacity. At this time, reservations are still available for Holy Thursday, Good Friday (at St. Dennis), the Easter Vigil – Saturday, 7:30 pm and Easter Sunday at 8 am. See below for reservation information.

READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND:    https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032821.cfm

LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for all live stream. (or visit our webpage www.saintpolycarp.org and click on the picture of the altar )  All Masses are live- streamed. Masses may also be viewed at a later time.

BULLETIN: https://www.jppc.net/onlinebulletins/301template.pdf

STATIONS OF THE CROSS – FRIDAYS AT 7pm in Church. (Masks covering the nose and mouth and social distancing required.) Reservations not required. Also live-streamed.  (This will be the last Friday for Stations.)

CONFESSIONS: (Reservations are not required but masks are. Social distancing observed)
Saturdays –  2:30 to 3:30 pm  No Confessions on Saturday, April 3rd, Holy Saturday.
Sundays –  following 10:30 am Mass this Sunday, March 28.

SECOND COLLECTION: Catholic Relief Service Rice Bowl

EASTER FLOWERS:  Add to the beauty of our church during this joyful season by using your Easter flower envelope to help us proclaim that Jesus has risen!

EASTER MASS REMEMBRANCE: Living or deceased, the best gift you can give a loved one is the gift of the Mass.  Please use the Easter Mass Remembrance envelope to enjoin your friends and family in our most holy celebration.

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                                                   HOLY WEEK / TRIDUUM / EASTER SCHEDULE
All Masses from St. Polycarp will be live-streamed. Visit www.saintpolycarp.org and click on the picture of the altar or visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE
To view live-stream from St. Dennis on Good Friday, visit www.saintpolycarp.org (and click on the picture of St. Dennis Church) or visit www.stdennischurch.org
Tuesday  & Wednesday of Holy Week        
Mass         8:30 am
Holy Thursday –  April 1^{st        (No morning Mass at St. Polycarp or St. Dennis)}
Mass of the Lord’s Supper         St. Polycarp Church, 7 pm
Good Friday – April 2^{nd            (No morning Mass at St. Polycarp or St. Dennis)}
Liturgy of the Passion & Death of Our Lord          St. Dennis, 3pm
Holy Saturday, The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night – April 3^rd 
Mass             St. Polycarp, 7:30 pm
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord – April 4^th 
Mass            St. Polycarp Church, 8 am & 10 am:  Capacity has been reached for the 10am Mass.
St. Dennis Church, 8 am & 9:30 am, &  11 am (Spanish)

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RESERVATION INFORMATION

RESERVATIONS for the TRIDUUM:
Reservations for Holy Thursday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday Masses at St. Polycarp were accepted by phone this past Wednesday. Reservations can not be made by calling at other times, leaving messages or by emailing staff.
Online reservations are still being accepted through March 31^st at 12:00pm, noon or until capacity is reached. Please use the following links:
Holy Thursday Mass – https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/details/6482
Good Friday – see below *
Easter Vigil – https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/details/6483
Easter Sunday Mass,  8 am – https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/details/6484
Easter Sunday Mass, 10am – Capacity has been reached.

*Reservations for Good Friday and the Easter Sunday Masses at St. Dennis can be made by calling the Parish Office at St. Dennis on Wednesday, March 31^st from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.  410-648-5291.

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FASTING and ABSTINENCE: Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.  Good Friday is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics.  The norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59.  When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal.  The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Roman Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.                          ~USCCB

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ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE FINANCE COUNCIL – INTRODUCING TEXT-TO-GIVE
We are expanding our efforts with Faith Direct for automated giving to Saint Polycarp. Faith Direct offers a safe and secure Text-to-Give option allowing you to make a one-time gift.
To give, please follow these simple steps:
1. Text $$  amount to 302-202-2251
2. Follow the link and complete a one-time process
Thank you and may God bless you! 

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PASTORAL COUNCIL: Do you want to help create, deepen and expand our faith community’s journey?  Then we need you on the Pastoral Council!!  We are recruiting new members to replace some of our departing Pastoral Council members. The Pastoral Council serves as advisors to our Pastor on Pastoral issues, in addition to organizing various parish activities. Please give this call from God some very pray full thought. Please contact Cindy Kennedy at (302)653-7525 orkennedy-078@msn.com  with an expression of interest and/or for additional information.

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RETURNING TO MASS FOR THE FIRST TIME DUE TO THE PANDEMIC? WELCOME BACK! VISITING? WELCOME! We’re glad you’re here. In a continuing effort to keep everyone safe, we observe limited capacity using social distancing guidelines at all times. Reservations are required. You must wear a face mask or covering that covers the mouth and nose at all times.  Restrooms will not be available. At Communion, you will remain in your pew and the Eucharist will be brought to you.
The Breaking Bread Missalettes are not available in the pews, but are available at the doors of the Church. Please take one, place your name in it, and bring it back and forth with you to Mass. Please do not leave it in the pew after Mass! This is one more thing our parish is doing to help keep everyone safe!  If you would like to give a donation to help defray the cost of the Breaking Bread Hymnal, please enclose your donation in an envelope and mark it Breaking Bread Donation.  Thank you!

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ST. PATRICK’S DAY SCAVENGER HUNT: Deadline, March 27th at 11:59 pm
Shamrocks have been hidden around the campus for you to find. Can you count them all? All shamrocks can be found by driving/walking around the Church campus. If you submit a correct guess you will be entered to win a prize. Ten prizes will be awarded. If nobody guesses correctly, the ten closest guesses will win. If exiting your vehicle, you must wear a face covering and keep socially distant from others not in your household. Email your guesses to Deanna Lail dlail14@comcast.net or call Angela Gibson 302-270-4100. Starts Wednesday, Friday March 17th. Deadline to submit your guess is 11:59pm on March 27th

CALLING ALL KIDS! HAPPY EASTER WORD SCRAMBLE GAME: Deadline, March 28th at 11:59 pm. The Easter Bunny has planned a special word scramble Easter game with some very nice Easter prizes.  All parish children are encouraged to participate. Visit https://saintpolycarp.org/easter-egg-scramble-calling-all-kids/.  Unscramble the words and then solve the puzzle.  Just email your answer with your name to assistdre@saintpolycarp.org. Three winners will be selected from all the correct entries. Entries must be received by Sunday, March 28th. Sponsored by our Knights of Columbus!

STONES FAITH GARDEN: Have you thought about the stone that you will paint for our Stone Faith Garden?  Will you use words, images or both? Check out our latest video with information about this new garden along with the how-to’s on rock painting! https://youtu.be/7rB7atK3ohQ

MEMORIAL BRICKS: The Gift of a Memorial Brick is a unique and memorable way to celebrate a special occasion,
honor family and friends, share a favorite quote and more! For more information visit  https://saintpolycarp.org/memorial-bricks/

BROTHER VINCENT COLUMBIETTES SWEEPSTAKES is your chance to win a $75.00 prize in July and help our auxiliary raise funds to help others at the same time.  Every $10.00 you contribute to the sweepstakes earns you one chance for the winning drawing in July. For more information CLICK HERE

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USEFUL LINKS:

RESERVATION INFORMATION FOR WEEKEND MASSES: To view information on how to make a reservation visit https://saintpolycarp.org/rservation-information/
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
THE DIALOG: http://thedialog.org/  Newspaper of the Diocese, copies available as you leave Church or online

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MASSES DURING THE PANDEMIC:  The dispensation of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation issued March 12, 2020 remains in effect for the Diocese of Wilmington.

FROM THE DIOCESE:
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO:  Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640. On the March 27, tune in to hear the Passion of Our Lord as presented by the drama class of St. Elizabeth High School in Wilmington, Delaware. This production first aired on Catholic Forum on Palm Sunday 2009. Listen anytime at cdow.org/CatholicForum or search Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify or iHeartRadio podcasts.

LET US PRAY:

Blessed are you, who have come in abundant mercy!
O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory! Who is the king of Glory?
He, the Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory. Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed are you, who have come in abundant mercy!

 

STONE FAITH GARDEN

As a reflection on the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus’s Paschal Mystery, we will be creating a special STONES FAITH GARDEN on our campus. In it we will teach each other how God has worked in our lives during the last year. This community testimony to God’s activity and presence will continue the teaching of the faith passed on throughout the centuries. We hope that each member of our community will participate! Likewise, we trust that each Council, Committee, parish group, and all of our various ministries will join our families in preparing a stone showing their vision of faith inspired by the disease. Make this part of your Lenten journey. Rocks will be collected during the Easter Season.

The stone for the faith garden should be painted with a few words or images to describe how God worked in you throughout the pandemic. This Lenten project is an exciting time for our family of faith. To learn more about our Stones Faith Garden and for help in painting your rock, view our short video. https://youtu.be/7rB7atK3ohQ

EASTER EGG HUNT EVENT

Due to the ongoing pandemic the Brother Vincent Council Easter Egg Hunt for parish children will be a virtual event again this year. The Easter Bunny is very sad that he will not be coming to St. Polycarp but remains in quarantine, is practicing social distancing and wearing a face mask.

However, he wants to make sure that the children are not forgotten and will still have some fun and has planned a special word scramble Easter game with some very nice Easter prizes.  All parish children are encouraged to participate.

The Happy Easter Word Scramble Game will be emailed to all children registered for PSR.  Parish children not registered for PSR can participate by accessing the game on the following link: Easter Word Scramble.  Entry instructions are listed on the bottom of the game sheet.  Three winners will be selected from all the correct entries.

Everyone is being wished a very Happy Easter and hopefully next year we can hold a safe SUPER Easter Egg Hunt.

The Year of St. Joseph- “Special Indulgences and Prayer”

Dear friends, during this special Church year dedicated to St. Joseph, the Holy See has granted to all the faithful, an opportunity to gain special indulgences, with acts of prayers and good works, through the patronage of St. Joseph. What is an indulgence, you might ask?

An indulgence is defined in the Church’s Code of Canon Law, the “official” law of the Church, as a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven (i.e.- Confession). The faithful Christian when in the state of grace, completes the prescribed works, gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church as minister of redemption, the satisfactions of Christ and the saints. In simple terms, an indulgence can reduce the time one spends in purgatory. (For a further explanation of indulgences, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church or any reputable Catholic website.)

Along with special “Partial” indulgences, the Church has granted the distribution of a “Plenary” indulgence during the Year of St. Joseph. These conditions apply to gain a Plenary indulgence: Sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer according to the intentions of the Holy Father, to the faithful who, with a spirit detached from sin, participate in this special year.

To gain the Plenary Indulgence you need to:

• Meditate for at least 30 minutes on the Our Father
• A spiritual retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on St. Joseph
• Perform a Corporal or Spiritual work of mercy
• Recite the Rosary in families & between husband and wife
• Entrust your daily work to the protection of St. Joseph the Worker
• Pray the Litany of St. Joseph in its entirety or at least partially, for the persecuted Church and all persecuted Christians
• Pray any approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph on the following remaining feast days: March 19 (Solemnity of St. Joseph); May 1 (Feast of St. Joseph the Worker); the 19^th day of every month and every Wednesday in memory of St. Joseph
• The gift of Plenary indulgence extends particularly to the elderly, the sick, the dying and all those who for legitimate reasons cannot leave their homes.

We can also pray daily or whenever possible the official prayer during the Year of St. Joseph, composed by Pope Leo XIII in his 1889 encyclical “Quamquam Pluries.”

He asked the faithful to recite the prayer at the end of the Rosary, especially during October, the month of the Holy Rosary.

Blessings & peace,

Deacon Frank

 

The Official Prayer of the Year of St. Joseph

To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our afflictions, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also.

Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness.

As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

 

PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH

Blessed Joseph, husband of Mary,
be with us this day.
You protected and cherished the Virgin;
loving the Child Jesus as your Son,
you rescued Him from the danger of death.
Defend the Church,
the household of God,
purchased by the Blood of Christ.

Guardian of the Holy Family,
be with us in our trials.
May your prayers obtain for us
the strength to flee from error
and wrestle with the powers of corruption
so that in life we may grow in holiness
and in death rejoice in the crown of victory.
Amen.