MEMORIAL BRICKS: Looking for just the right gift? Make your loved one feel cherished by purchasing a Memorial Brick in his/her honor. Living or deceased, all will be permanently enshrined on our walkway to our Blessed Mother. To order a Memorial Brick to honor your loved ones with a lasting memory, simply complete an order form located at the entrances to the Church or by clicking on the link below. Completed forms may be placed in the collection basket or returned to the Parish Office. Memorial Brick Order Form CLICK HERE
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.
MASS TIMES FOR DELAWARE AND MARYLAND BEACH RESORT AREAS – 2019 Summer
Before you head to the beach, check out the Diocese of Wilmington’s Vacation Mass Guide for Mass times for Delaware and Maryland beach resort areas, and the Chesapeake Bay region. Go to cdow.org/VMG or check out the 2019 Summer Weekend Mass Guide in The Dialog and on TheDialog.org.
CAMP ST. CHARLES – BOYS AND GIRLS CATHOLIC OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMP
For over 60 years, thousands of children have been making friends, learning to work together, and developing an appreciation for Creation while camping out, riding horses, working their way through a challenge course, trying archery, paddling on the river, making art projects, and taking part in lots of other activities at Camp St. Charles (Rock Point, MD). Fully accredited with the American Camp Association and certified by the State of Maryland.
There are 4 Sessions in the 2019 Summer: Session 1 (Sunday, June 23rd, – Saturday, July 6th), Session 2 (Sunday, July 7th, – Saturday, July 20th), Session 3 (Sunday, July 21st, – Saturday, August 3rd), and Session 4 (Sunday, August 4th, – Saturday, August 17th).
For more information, directions, and to sign up for the open house, visit www.campstcharles.org, call (301) 934 – 8799, or email director@campstcharles.org.
SAVE THE DATES! – DATE NIGHT WITH YOUR SPOUSE/FIANCE – Saturdays in May and June (May 4th, May 18th. June 1st, June 22nd)
Do you want deeper intimacy with your spouse/Fiancé and with God AND learn the basics of four classic ballroom dances?
If you said YES to any of the above questions, then come to St. Mary of the Assumption (7200 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 197074) on 4 Saturday Nights from 6:30 pm to 9 pm. May 4th – Fox Trot, May 18th – Waltz, June 1st – Swing, June 22nd – Rhumba.
An evening of Marriage Enrichment. Leave those kids home! Bring a covered dish to share and learn about marital topics such as communication, understanding your spouse’s needs, building intimacy, and fostering forgiveness. End each night in your partner’s arms with a dance lesson taught by former professional dancers. To register or for more information, contact Sue O’Hanlon by email at sohanlon@sjbde.org or call / text at (302) 423 – 4356.
CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF THE VISITATION WITH FR. LEWIS – Friday, May 31st
On Friday, May 31st, celebrate the Feast of the Visitation with Fr Brian Lewis at St Joseph on the Brandywine (10 Old Church Road, Wilmington 19807). Prayer begins at 5 pm with Eucharistic Adoration for the preservation and protection of the sanctity and dignity of all human life from conception to a natural end. Followed by Mass at 6 pm with the Blessing of the Diocesan Life-Sized Rosary, made by the Iannone Family and praying of the Rosary afterwards.
Our greatest weapon against the evil of the culture of death is PRAYER! Come pray for legalized protection of all human life from conception to natural death. We also honor our Mother Mary during the month of May traditionally dedicated to her as well as to mothers. We glorify God when we honor the woman He Himself chose to be His Mother. The Feast of the Visitation is itself a pro-life celebration where Mary and Elizabeth meet and joyfully share in the blessings of God with the two children they have agreed to bring into the world. Since 2017, Delaware has legalized abortion up to the ninth month. Answer Our Lady’s Call and be part of this important evening. For more information call (302) 897 – 3022.
THE OLD BOHEMIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY FUNDRAISER – Saturday, June 1st
A Flapjack Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, June 1 at Applebee’s (320 Dove Run Centre Blvd, Middletown, DE) from 8 am to 10 a. The unlimited breakfast buffet includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, orange juice, and coffee. The tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children age 12 and under. A gift basket raffle will also be held during the event. The proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit The Old Bohemia Historical Society whose mission is to restore and maintain St. Francis Xavier Shrine (Old Bohemia) in Warwick, MD. The breakfast is made possible through the generosity of Applebee’s. To purchase tickets, please contact Kathy at (302) 530 – 9206 or OldBohemiaHS@gmail.com. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door during the event.
EXPERIENCE THE LIFE OF THE SISTERS OF BON SECOURS – Friday, June 28th, to Sunday, June 30th, and Friday, October 25th, to Sunday, October 27th
We invite single Catholic women to experience the life of the Sisters of Bon Secours and to learn more about religious life. You will have the opportunity to be with sisters as you learn about our life. You will also meet and share with other women who are exploring religious life as a life option. This weekend offers time for reflection and one-on-one discussions with a sister. There is also an optional service opportunity to serve those in need and to work as a team within some of our ministries in West Baltimore. This service opportunity will continue through Tuesday, July 2nd for women who are interested.
The first experience will take on Friday, June 28th, to Sunday, June 30th. The second experience will take place on Friday, October 25th, to Sunday, October 27th. For both experiences , the arrival time is 5 pm on Friday and the departure time is 1 pm on Sunday. The location is Sisters of Bon Secours, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, Maryland 21104 (Near Baltimore). To register, visit https://lifeasasister.org/event-details/come-and-see-vocation-weekend-5/
or call (410) 442 – 3172. If you have questions, or concerns, contact Sr. Pat Dowling, CBS, Vocation Director at (410) 442 – 3172 or send an email to CBSVocations@bshsi.org.
PREP COURSE FOR CDOW HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST AT STMA – Monday, August 19th, to Thursday, August 22nd
St. Thomas More Academy (STMA) will be offering a prep course for the December CDOW High School Placement Test on Monday, August 19th, to Thursday, August 22nd, from 9 am to 2 pm. The morning will cover English Language arts and the afternoon will cover mathematics. This prep course is for rising 8th grade students who plan to take the HSPT this year. The cost is $80 for 1 content area and $150 for both English and mathematics.
The Pre-HSPT is on Friday, August 23rd, from 9 am – 12 pm. The test fee is $65. To register, contact STMA at 697 – 8100.
BISHOP’S 5K RUN / WALK – Saturday, August 24th
The Bishop’s 5K Run / Walk benefits Catholic Charities Outreach. The Bishop’s 5K Run / Walk, a totally adaptive event, will be on Saturday, August 24th, at 9 am at Glasgow Regional Park (2275 Pulaski Highway, Newark, DE 19702). Pre-register for the event by visiting Bishops5K.com. Registration is $20 until June 30th, $25 from July 1st to August 22nd, and $30 until race day, plus an event fee of $2.50. All registered runners/walkers will receive a t-shirt and be in the running for prizes. Call Catholic Charities at (302) 655 – 9624 with any questions about the Bishop’s 5K.
Bishop Malooly will be at the starting line AND finish line of the 4th Catholic Charities Bishop’s 5K Run/Walk – will you?
HISTORIC BERLIN AND SCENIC SOUTHERN POLAND – Tuesday, September 17th, to Monday, September 30th
Tour historic Berlin and scenic Southern Poland for 14 days with Fr. Tom Flowers. Visit the Berlin Wall, the world’s tallest statue of Christ (178 feet), the miraculous Eucharistic Host at St. Jacek in Legnica, the Basilica of Our Lady, Queen of Families, the shrine of the Black Madonna, the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, a 1,000-year-old salt mine, and the inspiring wonders of Krakow and Zakopane. For the complete itinerary, visit stjudelewes.org or call (302) 382 – 0914.
WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER – Friday, November 1st, to Sunday, November 3rd
A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is like Springtime! It is a weekend of fresh air, the rebirth of romance and new beginnings. If you would like to make your marriage even more special than it already is – our next Marriage Encounter Weekend will be November 1st – 3rd (Friday – Sunday) in Rehoboth Beach, DE. For information, visit the website at www.me-delmar.org or to register for the weekend, please contact Tony and Linda Massino at (302) 220 – 9833.
TRIPS SPONSORED BY ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH – Saturday, June 15th; and Monday, September 23rd, to Sunday, September 28th
The St. Joseph Catholic Church (1012 N. French St., Wilmington, DE.) is sponsoring three bus trips. If you are interested or have concerns regarding any of the trips, contact St. Joseph Catholic Church. (Do not contact the Parish Office at St. Polycarp Church.)
Washington, D.C. Bus Trip: The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary is sponsoring a bus trip to the National African American History & Culture Museum in Washington, DC on Saturday, June 15th. Adult bus tickets are $45 and students $35. Contact Mary Mirabeau at (302) 354 – 2378 to reserve a seat.
Savannah, Georgia: The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary is hosting their annual bus excursion. A 6 day/5-night excursion to Savannah, Georgia on Monday, September 23rd, to Saturday, September 28th. The cost is $850. Reserve your seat today with only a $300 deposit. Includes 5 breakfasts, 2 dinner (including 1 at Paula Dean’s “The Lady of Sons” Restaurant), a tour of historic area of Savannah, a visit to Savannah’s waterfront, a tour of Jekyll Island, a tour of St. Simons island, and tons of fun!. Contact Deborah Robinson at (302) 494 – 5709 to reserve your seat.
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! Thank you to J. Martin Orlando, MBA Realtor (REMAX); Smyrna Diner; Fletcher Plumbing; Bridge Way Family Restaurant; Smyrna Medical Associates; Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home; Faries Funeral Directors, Inc. and Nutrisystem for advertising with us!