THANKSGIVING DAY – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28^th , MASS – 9 AM:
Mass will be at 9:00 am at St. Polycarp.
The Liturgy Committee is asking that all those who attend this Mass, to please bring a non-perishable food item for the Food Pantry. The Pantry is in need of cereal, instant oatmeal, juice boxes or pouches, peanut butter & jelly, hamburger helper, tuna helper, canned chicken, tuna, or Vienna sausages, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, Chef Boyardee canned pasta, canned beef stew or chili, rice or noodle side dishes, applesauce or canned fruits, powdered or boxed milk, Ritz or saltine crackers. Please, no expired items.  There will be baskets near the entrances for the food items. The baskets will then be brought up during the Offertory Procession.
Thank you for your kind hospitality for those in need!

THE PARISH OFFICE will close at noon on Wednesday, November 27^th and remain closed until Monday, December 2^nd at 9am.

ANNUAL FALL CLEANUP: Saturday, November 30^th, 2024 9am – Noon. Come join us for the Annual Fall Cleanup. We need you to help beautify the campus by clearing the ground of leaves, branches and debris. Please bring a rake, blowers, gloves and your friends. Great opportunity for Confirmandi volunteer hours. We welcome folks on riding mowers that can vacuum up the leaves. We appreciate any amount of time you are able to give. Light refreshments will be available. Please text or call Michael Pyle at 302-423-9732 or email him at mjpyle58@msn.com so we can know how many folks to expect.

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 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER

~ How will you find ways to focus on prayer this Advent?
~ When burdened with anxiety, how can you hand over your troubles to God during prayer?
~ What can you do this Advent to increase your love for others?

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READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120124.cfm

LIVE-STREAMING FROM ST. POLYCARP: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays.  DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMINGhttps://www.youtube.com/user/DioceseofWilm

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 or use this QR code

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UPDATE: FAITH AND CHARITY APPEAL – One Body, One Spirit in Christ: Our Parish has pledged $67,505.52 surpassing our goal of $61,500. Of the pledged $67,505.52 pledged we have collected $63,532.54, leaving $3972.98 in outstanding payments. Thank you to all our parishioners who contributed to the 2024 Appeal. For those who haven’t fulfilled their pledges, kindly remember to send in your payments.
Now that we have reached our goal in money collected, we will receive back half of the money collected above the goal. For years the generosity of our folks has enabled us to do parish projects with the funds we receive. Your generosity in supporting this year’s appeal once again demonstrates that you understand the mission of our Church.

As we approach the end of the year, we invite you to consider a special gift to the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. Your generous support enables vital ministries across our diocese, including Catholic education, family life, and outreach to those in need. Every gift, no matter the size, helps bring hope and faith to our communities. If you haven’t yet had the chance to contribute, now is a perfect time to make a meaningful impact. Envelopes can be found at the doors of the Church. You can also support the appeal online at www.cdow.org  or simply scan this QR code with your cellphone.

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THIS WEEKEND, November 30/December 1 (and Monday, December 2^nd – Friday, December 6^th) FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

ANNUAL DEACON CHARLIE MEMORIAL ADVENT POSTER CONTEST: Our PSR students participated once again in the Annual Deacon Charlie Memorial Advent Poster Contest. Our students did a remarkable job and are getting more and more creative each year. The winning posters will be on display in the main vestibule this weekend. They will rotate around to the other doors during Advent.

Congratulations to:
Sunday, Grades PK/K – 4:
1^st Place: Ryder Hackett (PK)
2^nd Place: Ethan Okpara (2^nd Grade)
Honorable Mention: Jase Reed (3^rd Grade)

Tuesday, Grades 5 -8:
1^st Place: Kiara Okpara (7^th Grade)
2^nd Place: Alana Oscar (8^th Grade)
Honorable Mention: Hailey Arrighi (6^th Grade)

Look for pictures of the winning posters in future bulletins.  All posters will be displayed in the hall before next weekend, December 7/8. Congratulations to each and every student! We are so proud of you! Thank you for sharing your God given talents with us!

 

OUR GIVING TREE Committee coordinates the Christmas gifts for needy children in our community. We work closely with our Parish School of Religion and the Smyrna School District to identify children in need. Please return gifts to the Parish Hall no later than Sunday, December 1^st. Contact Fran and Jim Walls at 302-359-9152, if you have any questions. Thank you for your continued support and generosity!

 

RESERVED PARKING SPOT: Help out the church with this annual fundraiser and Parish tradition of putting up a parking spot to the highest bidder!  You will have the reserved spot (with your name on it) for one year. With the winter weather coming, maybe you will want to have that close spot for you or a loved one (maybe as an early Christmas gift). Please submit your bid amount by December 1^st at 3 pm by emailing financialmanager@saintpolycarp.org with the Subject Line:  “Parking Spot Bid” or dropping it in the collection basket or black drop box under the portico. Your bid should be labeled “Parking Spot Bid” with your name & phone number on it.  Individual parishioners, as well as, groups are welcome to bid. All bids MUST be in writing.

 

SMYRNA/CLAYTON CHRISTMAS PARADE THIS SUNDAY: Parish & Family Life is representing St. Polycarp in the Smyrna/Clayton Christmas Parade being held Sunday, December 1^st! Parade will begin at Clayton Elementary at 5pm. If you can not join us, consider supporting with a bag of candy which will help us spread Christmas cheer & Welcome members in our Community! Contact Deanna Lail @ dlail14@comcast.net or 302-535-2957 or Ashley Wilson ashfran8587@gmail.com

          

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS AND CHRISTMAS NOVENA OF MASSES: 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. Christmas is a magical time of year for LOVE and PEACE and time to reflect and BELIEVE that God gave us His Son to be with us always. There is much comfort in knowing that God loves us unconditionally. Share the joy of Christmas by adding all your loved ones to our Christmas Novena of Masses. Envelopes will be available at the doors.

PRAYER CHAIN: A special thank you to Laverne Dykes who has been our Ministry Leader for the Prayer Chain.  Laverne is stepping aside after years and years of leading this Ministry of Prayer. Thank you, Laverne! We welcome Cookie Ruane who has volunteered to lead this ministry. To add someone to the prayer list or to become a member of the Prayer Chain, contact Cookie at (302) 540-6429 or rosie11031949@yahoo.com. Prayer requests are made by phone or email to the Prayer Chain leader (Cookie) and then distributed by telephone or by email through the chain members who pray for those intentions. We welcome any parishioner to become a new member to the Prayer Chain. It is easy: there are no meetings to attend.

               
THE DEANERY ADVENT PENANCE SERVICE will be held at Holy Cross Church in Dover on Thursday, December 5^th.
For Advent Reconciliation information click here or scan the QR code

 

PLANNING PRAYER: Please join our Facilities Planning Committee in prayer as we seek God’s guidance for updating our Parish kitchen.  We will be praying the “Planning Prayer” immediately following the Prayer of the Faithful.  Prayer cards will be available in the pews. We would encourage you to take one home and pray it there also.

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NEXT WEEKEND, December 7/8 (and Monday, December 9^th – Friday, December 13^th)

PLEASE PRAY for our Parish children who will make Reconciliation for the first time next Saturday.

THE SECOND COLLECTION next weekend, December 7/8, is for the Retirement Fund for the Religious.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Saturday, December 7^th,    Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place at the end of the 4 pm Vigil Mass next Saturday. Please plan to stay and spend some time with Jesus.  When you do leave, please do so in silence as others are praying.

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: This year, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8^th, falls on a Sunday, the Second Sunday of Advent. The Sunday Liturgy takes precedence over the Holy Day. Therefore,  the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, will be transferred to Monday, December 9^th, and it is a Holy Day of Obligation.

Accordingly, the faithful have two obligations:
~ to attend Mass either Saturday evening or Sunday morning to fulfill the obligation for the Second Sunday of Advent
4 pm Vigil Mass on Saturday, December 7^th
10:30 am Mass on Sunday, December 8^th
~ and to attend Mass either Sunday evening or Monday to fulfill the obligation for the Immaculate Conception.
4 pm Vigil Mass on Sunday, December 8^th
8:30 am Mass on Monday, December 9^{th
(At St. Dennis, Monday, December 9th at 7 pm)}

Many people wonder why they just can’t attend the Sunday evening Mass and fulfill the obligation for both. The Readings for each Mass are different. One set of readings is for the Second Sunday of Advent and one set is for the Holy Day.

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UPCOMING:

THE FACILITIES PLANNING COMMITTEE meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the hall.  We are looking for parishioners with backgrounds in electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting and other construction expertise needed for our project.  If God has blessed you with a gift you can share, please contact John Irwin, Executive Officer of Facilities Planning at 740-317-3617. Our next meeting is Tuesday, December 3^rd at 6:30 pm in the hall.

 

MOVIE TIME! Come to the hall immediately after the 4 pm Mass on December 14, 2024. We will watch a very short video “The Veil Removed”
(about 7 minutes) and have a snack. This film is highly acclaimed, and we are sure you will not be disappointed. This video is approved for all ages

 

BREAKFAST WITH JESUS: Come join Brother Vincent Knights of Columbus on Sunday, December 22nd after the 10:30 Mass for Breakfast with Jesus in the Mother Drexel Hall.

COLUMBIETTES ANNUAL COOKIE WALK: Join us on Saturday, December 21^st after the 4 pm Mass or on Sunday, December 22^nd after the 10:30 am Mass. You will be able to purchase delicious homemade cookies lovingly baked by our Columbiettes! Many varieties. Only $1 per bag!

 

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: We will not be having Adoration on Tuesday, December 24^th nor Tuesday, December 31^st.

COME JOIN THE BROTHER VINCENT #7517 K of C & COLUMBIETTES on Saturday, January 18^th, 2025 from 5:30 – 9 pm in St. Polycarp Parish Hall. A fun filled night with dinner…show…dancing! Tickets $45. Call or email Anna Skinner at 302-883-5647 ANNA.SKINZ@gmail.com or Mike Cunningham at 302-389-8952 mikec923@yahoo.com. Look for the insert in next weekend’s bulletin!

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ST. POLYCARP CHURCH:
Tuesday, December 24^th, at 4 pm
Tuesday, December 24^th, at 9 pm
Wednesday, December 25^th, at 10 am
ST. DENNIS CHURCH:
Tuesday, December 24^th, at 4 pm
Tuesday, December 24^th, at 6 pm (Hispanic)
Wednesday, December 25^th, at 10 am

 

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ONGOING:

EVENING BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP: The evening “Pathway to Peace” bereavement support group meets weekly on Thursdays at 7 pm in Classroom 8. Please contact the parish office if you are considering joining us. 302-653-8279 or office@saintpolycarp.org

 

VIDEOGRAPHERS NEEDED: Are you interested in helping to promote Saint Polycarp Parish? Do you have videography skills? The Pastoral Council is looking for someone to help us make a video to showcase our parish campus. Please contact our Executive Officer, Ken Eckard at kennetheckard9@gmail.com.

 

EARLY DEADLINES FOR DECEMBER & JANUARY BULLETINS: As we enter the busy holiday season, the bulletin is due earlier to the publisher because of expected delays in delivery time.  All submissions will need to be submitted earlier than usual. PLAN NOW! To see full list of deadlines – CLICK HERE

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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

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ONGOING 

THREE YEARS OF ABUNDANT GRACE AND TRANSFORMATION – EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL

MISSION: To renew the church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

VISION: To inspire a movement of Catholics across the United States who are healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist—and who are then sent out on mission “for the life of the world.”

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HOLY COMMUNION TO THE SICK AND HOMEBOUND – Do you know someone who is sick or homebound and not able to make it to Mass? We would love to give them the opportunity to receive Holy Communion in their homes. Please contact April Corrales at 302-220–9616 or Lori Ostrowski at 302-540–6522

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.
Upcoming Saturday Eucharistic Adoration at St. Polycarp: Saturdays,  December 7^th, January 11^th, February 8^th, March  8^th, April 12^th, May 10^th.

TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 11 am to 8 pm in the Chapel. 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 11 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/     Sunday, December 10 – Lail Family, Sunday, December 29 – Netz Family

CONNECTED IN CHRIST (ADULT FAITH FORMATION) meets every Tuesday after the 8:30 am Mass in the Parish Library – ALL are welcome. We begin with prayer, then watch a video, usually from FORMED and follow up with a discussion. We close with prayer by 11am. Come and share your faith with us. Any questions, call Cookie Ruane, 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 10:30 am 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.

MEMORIAL BRICKS: Adding your MEMORIAL BRICK to the walkway of our Blessed Mother is a unique way to keep your memories alive. Honor family and friends! Share a favorite quote, and more!  You can order through Faith Direct at: https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/org/831  Scroll down until you see “Memorial Bricks” (you do not need to sign up for Faith Direct), or use this QR code or return your form with payment of $100 to St. Polycarp Church.  Envelopes marked with “Memorial Brick” may  be placed in the Offertory collection, mailed or delivered to the Parish Office (place in black box).

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 through 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 Boyardee 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!

                                                                               

 

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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 CHURCH: http://www.stdennischurch.org        153 N. Main St. Galena, MD  21635    410-648-5145
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. Published every other week.
EWTN: ewtn.com

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FROM THE DIOCESE:

CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Listen to Catholic Forum each week. The Catholic Forum debuts every Wednesday at 12 p.m. This week, talented singer/songwriter, Marie Miller, will discuss her new album and live musical presentation in honor of St. Therese. The Catholic Forum podcast on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music podcasts and YouTube.com/DioceseofWilm debuts every Wednesday at 12:00 p.m.; and on Relevant Radio 640 every Saturday afternoon at 1:30.  More information is available at cdow.org/CatholicForum CLICK HERE  

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 LET US PRAY:  BLESSING OF THE ADVENT WREATH (from USCCB)