ST. POLYCARP:
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS AT SEA PROGRAM – Saturday, November 2nd, to Sunday, November 24th
From Saturday, November 2nd, through Sunday, November 24th, we will be collecting items for our Annual Christmas at Sea Collection for seafarers that dock at Wilmington during the month of December. Containers marked “Christmas at Sea” will be located at the front church entrance and in the hallway by the coat rack. We are collecting the following items: toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, shampoos, deodorants, soap, hand lotions, chap sticks, combs, playing cards, knitted hats, knitted scarves, warm socks, warm winter coats (for men or women), warm sweaters (for men or women), winter gloves, sewing kits, cough drops, candy, gum, pens, and stationary. Your generous donations will be most welcome by the Seamen’s Center of Wilmington. The seafarers, who are typically nine months at sea, working 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, will be very appreciative of your generosity. If you have any questions, please call Joyce Tolson at (302) 659 – 2645.
SMYRNA CLAYTON CHRISTMAS PARADE – Sunday, December 1st
The Parish and Family Life Committee is happy to announce that St. Polycarp will be participating in the Smyrna Clayton Christmas Parade being held at 5 pm. on Sunday, December 1st. Donations of Christmas candy and other items would be greatly appreciated! If you would like to donate or participate, please contact Kendra Friel at nyx25@comcast.net or (302) 354 – 3902 for more information.
GIRL SCOUTS AT ST. POLYCARP – Monday, December 2nd
Interested in joining the Girl Scouts? All girls, grades K–12 can participate in Girl Scouts here at St. Polycarp. We will be having an information evening on Monday, December 2nd, at 6:30 pm in the Mother Drexel Hall. If you cannot make the information meeting, contact Tracie Bruno at (302) 242 – 4150 or by email: gscbsu31@gmail.com.
GIVING TREE – Sunday, December 8th
All gifts purchased for the children’s requests from the Giving Trees, set up at the Main Entrance of the Church and in the Parish Hall, need to be returned to the Parish Hall no later than Sunday, December 8th. Your generosity will help to make Christmas extra special this year! Thank You!
THE ST. VINCENT DEPAUL SOCIETY ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TURKEY / HAM / CHICKEN DROP-OFF – Thursday, December 12th
St. Vincent de Paul has been collecting Turkey’s for ten years. On Thursday, December 12th, from 6 pm – 7:30 pm there will be a Turkey, Ham, Chicken, and Food Gift Card DROP OFF in the Church’s back parking lot. If you would like to donate to a needy family, just drive by and drop off your item, no need to get out of the car. The Knights of Columbus will be helping with the collection. A Food gift card from (Acme, Food Lion, Aldi, or Walmart) can be of any denomination but should not be over $30. During the months of November and December, Food cards can also be placed in the Poor Box, located at each entrance of the Church. On Saturday, December 14th, SVdP Vincentians will distribute the donations to the homes that we have visited during this year. As of October 31st of 2019, SVdP has visited 93 families having 68 children.
I would like to thank everyone who has helped SVdP this year and in the past. This will be our tenth year that SVdP has distributed a turkey to a family in need. In 2009 we visited 65 families of which 50 turkeys were distributed, this past year in 2018, SVdP visited 114 families of which 68 turkeys and hams were distributed. With your continued generosity, I pray we can provide a Christmas meal for the less fortunate families in our community.
If you or your family need assistance, please call SVdP at (302) 264 –6630.
Thank you and God Bless you.
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY SODALITY ADVENT RETREAT – Saturday, December 14th
Please join the Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality for an Advent Retreat on Saturday, December 14th, at 9am in the Hall. This retreat is open to all. Deacon Charlie Robinson will be the speaker. Sign-up sheets are at the entrances to the Church or you can email Dee Lim at delial42@yahoo.com. A light lunch will be served.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA – Sunday, December 15th
You know what makes meeting Santa even better?
PANCAKES!!! Once again the Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, December 15th, following the 10:30 am Mass. A delicious hot breakfast buffet including eggs, bacon — and of course — PANCAKES. Plan to join us for this fun event including photos with Santa.
NATIVITY OF THE LORD CHRISTMAS MASS SCHDEULE – Tuesday, December 24th, and Wednesday, December 25th
Tuesday, December 24 at 4 pm (followed by Nativity Pageant)
Tuesday, December 24 at 9 pm
Wednesday, December 25 at 10 am
ST. DENNIS:
NATIVITY OF THE LORD CHRISTMAS MASS SCHDEULE – Tuesday, December 24th, and Wednesday, December 25th
Tuesday, December 24 at 5 pm (Hispanic)
Tuesday, December 24 at 9 pm
Wednesday, December 25 at 10 am
ELSEWHERE:
AN EVENING WITH THE OBLATES – Saturday, November 23rd
The Oblates of St. Francis De Sales invite you to An Evening with the Oblates on Saturday, November 23rd, at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, DE. The acclaimed chef, television, and radio personality, Fr. Leo Patalinghug will be giving a dinner demonstration. The evening from 6 pm to 11 pm includes dinner and dancing. The tickets cost $150 per person (cocktail attire) and benefits the care and support of elderly and infirm Oblates, education and formation of Oblate seminarians, and DeSales Service Works. For ticket information or sponsor opportunities call (410) 398 – 3057, email ralcaraz@oblates.org, or visit Oblates.org.
MASS AT SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER – OLD BOHEMIA – Tuesday, December 3rd
Fr. Chris Hanley will celebrate Mass in honor of the Feast of Saint Francis Xavier on Tuesday, December 3rd, at 6:30 pm (1690 Bohemia Church Road, Warwick, MD).
VESPERS AT ST. FRANCIS XAVIER SHRINE – OLD BOHEMIA – Sunday, December 8th
A prayer service commemorating the Feast of the Immaculate Conception will be held on Sunday, December 8th, at St. Francis Xavier Shrine (Old Bohemia). The vespers will start at 4 pm followed by a short concert presented by the Women’s Schola of St. Joseph Parish, Middletown, DE. The program will feature the Ave Maria and Magnificat in several musical styles. Rosemary Hadland is the musical director and Lauren Cataldi-May will provide piano accompaniment. Refreshments will be served following the program. There is no charge to attend the event, however in honor of Blessed Mother Mary, donations of diapers and baby hygiene items will be collected for Catholic Charities Diaper Bank, serving families throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Tours of the historic property, which is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, will be offered one hour prior to the program. The shrine is considered the mother church of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington and is located at 1690 Bohemia Church Road, Warwick, MD 21912.
Founded in 1704 by Jesuit priests, Bohemia Mission is one of the oldest permanent Catholic establishments in the English Colonies and is considered the mother church of the Diocese of Wilmington. The plantation was established to clandestinely minister to the scattered Catholics throughout what is now Cecil County, MD, the entire Delmarva Peninsula, and southeastern PA, at a time when Catholicism was outlawed in the English Colonies.
Through the efforts of Francis W. (Frank) Krastel, Sr., Alfred N. Phillips, owner of nearby Worsell Manor, and John Ward, the Old Bohemia Historical Society (OBHS) was established in 1953 as a non-sectarian non-profit corporation. The eleven founding members of the group immediately started major repairs to the church which had fallen into ruin due to neglect. The Society purchased the adjoining 120-acre farm on which the plantation was located and had been sold by the Diocese of Wilmington in 1931. The OBHS continues to maintain the site. Income for the upkeep of the buildings and grounds is generated from the collection at five Masses at the church every year, fundraisers, membership gifts, and donations from benefactors.
Schools, Knights of Columbus Councils, Columbiettes, Altar and Rosary Societies, Sodalities, youth groups, religious education classes, senior clubs, Scout groups, and other church organizations and ministries are encouraged to organize a tour of the historic site. Groups may arrange for their pastor or associate pastor to celebrate Mass during the visit. Catholic weddings can also be celebrated in the church. For more information, contact Kathy at (302) 378 – 7283 or email her at OldBohemiaHS@gmail.com.
DEANERY PENANCE SERVICE – Monday, December 9th
The Deanery Penance Service will be at Holy Cross, Dover on Monday, December 9th. at 7 pm. Various priests will be there so you have a choice of priests to hear your confession.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Catholic charities needs your help to warm up winter! As temperatures start to decline, Catholic Charities is preparing to Warm Up Winter for its most vulnerable neighbors by collecting new and “gently used” blankets and other bedding, coats, hats, and gloves at each of its office locations now through the end of January 2020. Catholic Charities will freely distribute donated goods through its various programs.
Donors can bring their coats and blankets to any of the following Catholic Charities locations and receive a tax deduction receipt:
Main Office (2601 W 4th Street, Wilmington 19805, 302 – 655 – 9624)
Bayard House (300 Bayard Avenue, Wilmington 19805, 302 – 654 – 1184)
Thrift Store (1320 E. 23rd Street, Wilmington 19802, 302 – 764 – 2717)
Marydale Retirement Village (135 Jeandell Drive, Newark 19713, 302 – 368 – 2784)
Kent County Office (2099 S DuPont Highway, Dover 19901, 302 – 674 – 1600)
Sussex County Office (406 S. Bedford Avenue, Suite 9, Georgetown 19947, 302 – 856 – 9578)
Casa San Francisco (127 Broad Street, Milford 19968, 302 – 684 – 8694)
Seton Center (30632 Hampden Avenue, Princess Anne 21853, 410 – 651 – 9608)
Staff at all locations will accept donations between the hours of 9 am and 4:30 pm. Monday through Friday.All donated blankets and bedding, coats, and other clothing items should be clean, in good condition, and ready to use. Keep in mind that Catholic Charities staff cannot clean, mend, or repair items, and merchandise not fit for distribution must be discarded at Catholic Charities expense
LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered in Delaware by Catholic Charities, is now taking applications for the 2019 – 2020 heating season. The application process runs from July 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020. This federally-funded program assists low-income Delawareans who need help in meeting home energy costs. LIHEAP makes payments directly to home energy suppliers. The LIHEAP benefit is based on a household’s income, size, and type of fuel.
You may be eligible for assistance if your total household income falls within income eligibility guidelines. For example, a household of 4 can have no more than $50,325 in annual household income (before taxes).
In order to qualify, you must make an appointment with a Catholic Charities office for a personal interview. Regular office hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
In Kent County, call (302) 674 – 1782.
In New Castle County, call (302) 654 – 9295.
In Sussex County, call (302) 856 – 6310.
ST. POLYCARP REMINDERS:
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) will begin on Sunday, September 22nd. CLOW is a special sharing provided weekly at our 10:30 am Masses. Following the opening prayer, children in Grades Pre-K through Grade 4, are invited to be dismissed to the hall (or library) to share the Word using their own images and words. The children return following the intercessions. No pre-registration is needed, simply send them with the 2 leaders when invited! Our leaders have had background clearances in accordance with the diocesan For Sake of God’s Children directives.
REMINDER ABOUT THE PARKING
Please do not park in front of the dumpsters on Monday through Friday. This prevents the Waste Management Collection and the Recycling Collection from being picked up. Thank you for your cooperation!
REDNER’S 1% SAVE-A-TAPE FUNDRAISER
Turn your food shopping into cash for our parish. If you are a Redner’s shopper, we would welcome your participation. It is so easy! 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 just put them into the collection basket. There is no expiration date — even receipts months old can be turned in! Your receipts will generate cash for us. What a hands-down and effortless way to help St. Polycarp Church. For more information, contact Joan at (302) 659 – 5317.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Don’t forget to arrive earlier for Mass so that you won’t miss the announcements!
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR ADVERTISERS:
Thank you to our local advertisers who support our parish with their advertisement on the back page. Let’s support them, too! Have you checked them out lately?