FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
The Season of Easter began on Easter Sunday, March 31st, and will end on Sunday, May 19th, with the Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday. The Easter Season lasts for 50 days.
During the Easter Season, we will be praying the Apostle’s Creed instead of the Nicene Creed. The Apostle’s Creed can be found on pg. 10 of Breaking Bread. It is the Baptismal symbol of our Church during this season.
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ How has your discipleship been strengthened by the mentorship of another?
~ How are you called to move from “word and speech” to put your faith into action this week?
~ What helps you to stay connected to Jesus, the true vine?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042824.cfm
LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays.
We are experiencing some issues with our live streaming. We are trying to resolve these issues as soon as possible. The stream may not work for some Masses. Thank you for understanding.
DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING https://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
PLEASE PRAY: Please pray for the repose of the soul of Reverend Thomas A. Flowers who passed from this life into eternal life on Wednesday, April 17th at the age of 73. Fr. Tom was Pastor at St. Polycarp from 2002 to 2015. We will remember Fr. Tom and his deep faith and love of our Lord and his dedication to our parish. Thank you, Fr. Tom. May you rest in peace.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 6:30 pm this evening, Thursday, April 25, 2024 at St. Jude the Apostle Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, DE 19958. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 pm on Friday, April 26, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Church, Cedar and Clayton Streets, Wilmington, DE 19805, where family and friends may visit beginning at 10:00 am. Interment will be held in All Saints Cemetery.
LIVE STREAM: The Mass of Christian Burial for Fr. Tom will be live streamed on the Diocesan you-tube channel, www.youtube.com/dioceseofwilm or click on this direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH_I-e-qrbg
Fr. Tom’s obituary can be viewed at
https://www.dohertyfh.com/obituary/RevThomas-Flowers
THIS WEEKEND, APRIL 27/28 (and Monday, April 29th – Friday, May 3rd)
FIRST EUCHARIST: Please pray for those children who will be receiving Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time this Saturday, April 27th, Sunday, April 28th, and next Saturday, May 4th.
FAITH WITH FRIENDS (Adult Formation): We will meet this Sunday at 9 am in the library. This will be our last gathering before we break until September.
APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS: Brother Vincent Columbiette’s, are now taking orders. Order a beautiful locally grown,11″ colorful hanging basket for only $25.00! Your choice of Petunias, Begonias or Geraniums. Orders need to be placed by Monday, May 6th. Baskets will be ready for pick-up at St. Polycarp Church or delivered if needed on Friday May 10th. To place your order or for any questions contact: Jill Mercer- 518-795-7579 jll_mercer@yahoo.com or Darlene Sanphy – 302-270-3915 darpete87@comcast.net
MOTHER’S DAY NOVENA: We are part of this world today because our mothers have given us life. Each one of us has several special women who have enriched our lives: Grandmothers, Aunts, Cousins, Caregivers, Godmothers, Friends, and others. Living or deceased, the best gift you can give a loved one is the gift of the Mass. Please use the Mother’s Day Mass Remembrance envelopes to enlist these special women in the masses offered by our parish.
JOB OPENING AT ST. POLYCARP: We are in need of someone to take care of cleaning the offices, the Church and being the housekeeper at the rectory. Hours can be worked almost anytime – negotiable. This is a paid position, generally around 15 hours a week. This position can be split into separate positions. If you are interested, please contact Fr. Jim at 302.653.8279 or email fr.hreha@saintpolycarp.org. A special thank you to Angela Gibson who has filled this ministry for the last several years. Deadline to apply is May 1.
FAITH AND CHARITY APPEAL – One Body, One Spirit in Christ: Embracing the gospel message, “I am the vine: you the branches – he that abide in me and I in him, the same bears much fruit. For without me you can do nothing. I am the way, and the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me.” Let us come together as one Body and one Spirit in Christ for our Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. Just as the branches bear much fruit when connected to the vine, our collective generosity will bring forth abundant blessings for our community. Your giving is not only a response to the call of Christ but a tangible expression of our interconnectedness. Let us unite in giving, knowing that without each other and without Christ, we can do nothing. Join the Appeal and be a vital part of the fruitful journey we share in faith and charity.
Thank you to everyone who pledged to the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. Your participation strengthens our community. If you have not yet participated, please consider doing so today. Your gift makes a real difference in the lives of thousands of individuals and families who reside within our 12-county diocese. Pledge envelopes are available in the pews and at the doors of the Church and can be placed in the offertory basket. Thank you for your generosity and support.
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.
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.
NEXT WEEKEND, MAY 4/5 (and Monday, May 6th – Friday, May 10th)
MAY CROWNING: Please join us outside, in front of the statue of Mary, next Sunday, May 5th, following the 10:30 am Mass for a short ceremony to honor Mary “the Queen of Heaven”. It is tradition to bring flowers to Mary. Flowers represent a spiritual season of growth and new beginnings. All are invited to bring a single flower or bouquet of flowers and place them in the baskets in front of the altar before Mass begins. Our young children of the parish will carry these flowers during the procession and will place them in front of the statue of Mary during the ceremony. Everyone is invited to the May Crowning! Join us for lunch afterwards in the hall. The May Agape is hosted by the Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality.
Our next AGAPE will be next Sunday, May 5th, following the May Crowning. Come join us as we enjoy food, fun, and fellowship. All are invited. May’s Agape is hosted by the Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality.
CONCRETE REPLACEMENT WORK UNDER PORTICO
The portico and all portico doors will be inaccessible the week of May 6th. If you need to access the office, hall, chapel, library, or meeting rooms, please knock at the staff door. The staff door is the single door located to the left of the portico.
UPCOMING
ANNUAL MOTHER’S DAY ROSE SALE: Birthright of Delaware will host its Annual Mother’s Day Rose Sale at our parish. Please support Birthright’s pregnancy services by purchasing roses after Masses on Mother’s Day weekend which is May 10th – 12th. Roses cost: $3/one rose, $5/three roses, $20/dozen roses, $45/Twenty-five Roses (Bouquet).Your help will truly make a difference! Thank you! We deeply appreciate your support!! You can also make a donation to Birthright of DE in lieu of roses, our address is: 1311 North Scott Street Wilmington, DE 19806.
ST. POLYCARP’S 5th ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT & DINNER: JUNE 30, 2024
GARRISON LAKE GOLF CLUB, 101 West Fairways Circle, Smyrna, DE.
$130 per individual golfer includes lunch, Green fee, Golf Cart, on course beverages including beer, complimentary gift bags, prizes for best teams, long drive/closest to pin, followed by a buffet dinner.
Don’t golf? That’s ok. Join us at St. Polycarp Church for a delicious Italian Feast just $40.00 per person.
For more information and registration, Dennis Skinner (papadskinz@yahoo.com (302-981-8743) Anna Skinner (ANNA.SKINZ@gmail.com) (302-883-5647) or use this QR code. CLICK HERE TO SEE FLYER
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
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.”
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: Saturday, May 11th, Saturday, June 8th, Saturday, July 13th, Saturday, August 10th
TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 9 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 9 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, May 12th – Donna Adams; Sunday May 26th – Garrity 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 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month during the 10:30 am Mass. This is a wonderful opportunity for children in PreK-4th 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.
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 thru 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 Boy Ardee 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!
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
FROM THE DIOCESE:
BE THERE WHEN GOD MOVES: The 10th National Eucharistic Congress at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN. From July 17th–21st, 2024, thousands of passionate Catholics will gather for a transformative experience on a scale this generation has never seen. Whether you join us for one day or all five, the grace you receive will spill out into our community when you return home—deeply in love with the Eucharist and excited about the future of the Church in America. Visit EucharisticCongress.org to learn more about the event and explore the full schedule for each day.
BISHOP KOENIG INVITES YOU TO THE NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON JULY 17th-21st, 2024, IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN. To read the letter of invitation, CLICK HERE
FOR TRAVEL INFORMATION FLYER CLICK HERE
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640AM. On Saturday, April 27th, Catholic Christian music legend, John Michael Talbot, is the guest on this week’s Catholic Forum podcast. 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.
BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Visit Bulletin Overflow https://saintpolycarp.org/overflow/ for details on the following and more!:
UNITY IN THE PARK: Sunday, May 19th sponsored by Smyrna Wesleyan Church
ST. THOMAS MORE SOCIETY ANNUAL DINNER– Sunday, May 5th
RETREAT FOR CATHOLICS AFFECTED BY DIVORCE AND SEPARATION – Saturday, June 15th
RETROUVAILLE: The Retrouvaille Program is for married couples facing challenges in their relationship. Upcoming programs: August 9 – 11 and October 4 -6 , 2024 at the Family Life Center in Malver, PA
LET US PRAY: Prayer for Vocations
Loving and Generous God,
it is You who call us by name and ask us to follow You.
Help us to grow in the Love and Service of our Church
as we experience it today.
Give us the energy and courage of Your Spirit
to shape its future
Grant us faith-filled leaders who will embrace Christ’s Mission
of love and justice.
Bless the Church of St. Polycarp
by raising up dedicated and generous leaders
from our families and friends
who will serve Your people as Sisters,
Priests, Brothers, Deacons and Lay Ministers.
Inspire us to know You better
and open our hearts
to hear Your call.
We ask this through our Lord. Amen.