20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;
I know them and they follow me.
John 10:27
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
– Do you trust that the Lord hears your cry?
– What has restored you when you have been tempted to grow weary and lose heart?
– When has your faith stirred you to action on behalf of another?
Pastoral Liturgy: July/August 2022
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081422.cfm
LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays.
If you are interested in being involved in this ministry, please email Lisa at lisa.titus@saintpolycarp.org or Judy at communications@saintpolycarp.org.
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE
THIS WEEKEND, AUGUST 13/14 (& week of August 14)
PASTOR’S PEN: Make sure to read the Pastor’s Pen in the Bulletin this weekend for information on our newest staff member! CLICK HERE
SECOND COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND – THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT PETER: This annual collection supports the maintenance and ministry of the Bishop’s own parish and the center of Catholicism in our diocese. It was built over 200 years ago – 50 years before the founding of the Diocese of Wilmington. In 2015, Bishop Malooly, with the support of the priests of the diocese, instituted an annual special collection to support the maintenance and ministry of our Cathedral. This year, the collection will be held on August 13 & 14. More information is available at cathedralofstpeter.com… and at www.cdow.org/cathedral. Thank you for your generosity.
CHEER ON THE GOLFERS! If you can’t come to St. Polycarp’s 3rd Annual Golf Tournament, how about sending the golfers your cheers? Donation is $5 per square. Add your own personal wish. Boards will be outside the Church on August 13th and 14th. Bring your $5. Looking forward to seeing you on August 13th or 14th.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Sunday, August 14 at the 10:30 am Mass – Powell Family – Please arrive 15 minutes before your mass time and pick up materials in the sacristy.
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (August 15) celebrates Mary’s assumption, body and soul, into heaven. Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, August 14th at 4:00 pm. (This Mass is for the Assumption and does not fulfill the obligation to attend the weekend Saturday, 4 pm /Sunday10:30 am Mass.) The Assumption of Mary is a Holy Day, but this year the obligation to attend Mass is lifted because it falls on a Monday. It is always a Holy Day!
THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED on the Holy Day, Monday, August 15, 2022.
ATTENTION PLEASE:
We’re looking for photographers (any level) to take digital pictures at the dedication of the the Giving, Growing and Glorifying Landscaping Project on Saturday, August 20th, following the 4 pm Mass. Please contact Kathy Curlett at kathleencurlett19@gmail.com if you can share your time and talent with us for this special dedication on the 20th.
ADULT FAITH FORMATION – CONNECTED IN CHRIST: Please join us as we begin a study on the Holy Spirit entitled “The Wild Goose” by Fr. Dave Pilonka on Tuesday, August 16 at 9:15 am in the library. There are fourteen sessions. Even if you cannot be present for all, you can see any missed session on Formed. The Holy Spirit will lead us to a place of mercy, healing, peace, and presence…a Person that will lead us to the Heart of God. For more information, please contact Cookie Ruane 302-540-6429.
PSR REGISTRATION: Registration is now open for 2022-2023 religious education classes. We offer religious education classes for children in Pre-K through Grade 9, Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation. We also offer Intermediate Sacramental Prep (ISP) for older children who have not yet received sacraments. Please register early to help us plan for next year & registering early helps you save money! Use the QR code to register or visit https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/org/831
(See form for tuition rates. Tuition rates increase on August 16th – register today!) For information on how to register or to print a paper form CLICK HERE
CAN YOU HELP? Parish School of Religion (PSR) With PSR plans underway for the Fall, we need your help in filling a few positions. Are you able to dedicate some of your time to help us grow and complete our PSR team? We’d love to welcome you to our PSR family! If God is calling you, contact Erica Taylor, CRE at 653-4101 or at dre@saintpolycarp.org.
Currently we need:
–Catechist & Assistant for Grade 3 (Sunday morning)
–Assistant for Grade 8 (Tuesday Evening)
–Desk Assistant (Tuesday Evening)
PSR WISH LIST: It’s that time of year again! Our PSR catechists are beginning to prepare for the upcoming PSR school year. The excitement is building as we plan to welcome our students and 
their families back for another great year! Our catechists are committed to teaching and helping our children grow in love and faith by donating their time all year. Our catechists also donate their own money for supplies throughout the year. Please consider helping them out by purchasing an item or two from their wish list below. All items can be dropped off Monday-Friday at the parish office between 9 a.m. & 3 p.m., anytime in the bin under the black drop box, or after both weekend Masses in the marked bins under the coat racks near the bathrooms, across from the hall.
-Plastic Pencil/Supply Boxes (see picture above) – approx…8”x 5”x 2”
-Plastic Folders with pockets
-Card Stock…white and color
-White Poster Board (11×14)
-Crayola Crayons – (24ct.)
-Colored Pencils
-Small Paper Clips
-Boxed Tissues
-AA Batteries
-Monetary Donations & Gift Cards (Walmart, Target, Staples) are always appreciated
NEXT WEEKEND, AUGUST 20/21 (& week of August 21)
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR NEXT SATURDAY, AUGUST 20TH
The Giving, Growing and Glorifying Landscaping Project will be dedicated after the 4 PM Mass on August 20, 2022. The Pastoral Council and Liturgy Committee invite you to join us as Father Jim blesses our beautiful new plantings. Photographers will be on hand to take photos and Mr. Softee will provide ice cream cones and cups. We look forward l to seeing you there.
CHANGE THE WORLD: BECOME CATHOLIC! INQUIRY SESSIONS will take place on August 29, September 12. Is there someone you would like to invite to explore the Catholic faith— someone unbaptized, or baptized in a non-Catholic Christian tradition? Do you know someone who needs Confirmation and/or First Eucharist? Perhaps, the Catholic faith can fulfill their desires for a closer relationship with Our Lord. Then, the RCIA process is for them. Please invite them to one or all of our Inquiry Sessions that will take place on August 8; August 29 & September 12, 2022. Sessions take place in the Parish Library at 6:30 pm. Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information or to let him know that you will attend a session(s) You can reach him at DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at
(302) 653-8279.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2022 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: We continue to need your help. Presently we need $4525 to reach our goal. Please read the “Pastor’s Pen” in this weekend’s bulletin. Pledge cards can be found in the pews and at the doors of the church. Thank you to those who have already contributed to this year’s campaign. Participants who pledged to the campaign will receive monthly payment reminders mailed directly from the diocesan Development Office. Please mail all payments in the self-addressed, return envelope provided with your pledge reminder. To learn more about the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal, visit www.cdow.org; click “Giving” then “Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal”, or simply scan this QR code with your cellphone.
Your generosity in supporting this campaign enables the diocese to do the work of our Lord.
When our parish collects its goal amount, we will receive 50% of contributions over the assigned target.
In the past, the generosity of our folks has enabled us to do many projects around the campus.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
SUMMER WEEKDAY MASSES: Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 am.
SAVE this Date—Sunday, September 11, 2022 for St. Polycarp’s 3rd Annual Parish Dinner and Golf Tournament at Links at St. Anne’s in Middletown, DE. Golf Tournament starts with lunch at 12:30 pm with Tee Off at 1 pm. Buffet dinner at 6 pm with golfers, friends, and parishioners from St. Polycarp. You don’t have to golf to join us for dinner! (Buffet dinner is $40.00 per person.) CLICK HERE for more information or contact: Dennis Skinner at papadskinz@yahoo.com (302) 981-8743 or Anna Skinner anna.skinz@gmail.com (302) 883-5647 Register online at https://bit.ly/3HckNKW
SHARE THE HARVEST: The Share The Harvest table is now under the Portico. This allows our parishioners to share their abundant yield from their gardens with their Church family. All are welcome to share and receive.
Have you had the opportunity to dive into FORMED? To sign up visit www.formed.org. Type in our Parish zip code (19977) and follow the steps to sign up or you can use the QR code below. Take advantage of your free subscription to FORMED! Enjoy thousands of hours of quality Catholic content! 
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 process down the aisle to the priest who will have the pyx in his hand and let him know you need a gluten-free host
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: There is no summer break for the need to pray for vocations. Please consider signing up to host the vocation chalice in your home for a week. Text or call Alice Gaston at (302) 670 – 7924. For more information visit https://saintpolycarp.org/vocation-chalice/
August 14 – Powell Family – Please arrive 15 minutes before your mass time and pick up materials in the sacristy.
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!
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. On tomorrow’s episode, Saturday, August 13th, learn about the Catholic Youth Ministry sports program and how it helps the youth of our community to learn valuable life lessons. 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.
MARRIAGE MOMENTS: Sunday, August 14: Some bombs blast property and health. But in marriage, sometimes the “bombs” can be emotinal. Are there any comments you’d like to stop?
PARENTING POINTERS: Share with your child a time you had a success, a failure, and a time that was hard to keep a commitment. I wonder what your child will share.
LET US PRAY: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – August 15. Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, August 14, at 4:00 pm.
Father in heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb
was raised body and soul in glory to be with Him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.