Fourth Sunday of Easter
World Day of Prayer for Vocations
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ When have you been moved by the preaching at Mass?
~ How do you take time to hear the voice of God amid the noise of daily life?
~ How has God shepherded you through life?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/043023.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.
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . (New Bulletins are posted on Fridays.)
BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE
THIS WEEKEND, APRIL 29th & 30th (& Monday, May 1st – Friday, May 5th)
APOSTLES’ CREED: We will continue to pray the Apostles’ Creed during the Easter season. (Breaking Bread Hymnal on page 10.)
PSR CLASSES for all grades this week (in-person). Registration information for next year will be sent home with your child this week.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2023 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: The Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal, with its theme, Shining the Light of Christ reminds us to shine Christ’s light in all that we do and share that light with those around us. We are challenged to bring Christ’s healing, joy, love, and hope to all those we encounter, through acts of Christian Stewardship. This weekend you are invited to participate in the 2023 Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. Please respond by pledging a sacrificial gift to this important campaign. 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.
BROTHER VINCENT COLUMBIETTES FLOWER SALE: Order your generously filled colorful 11” hanging basket. Your choice of Petunias, Begonias or Geraniums. Baskets are $25.00 each. Orders need to be placed by April 30th. To place your order contact: Agatha Cotilletta: (302) 389-6374 or cagatha2017@gmail.com (Please note – This is the correct email for Agatha.) or Linda Montuori 302-270-5347 lindamontuori@yahoo.com
Did you admire this year’s Easter flowers in Church? This year we are offering the bulbs from our Easter flowers. After Masses this weekend, bulbs will be available in their pots under the portico.
DONATION DRIVE FOR HOMELESS SHELTERS: The Respect Life Ministry is hosting a donation drive for homeless shelters in Kent County. These are men, women and family shelters. Boxes will be placed outside the Mother Drexel Hall for the donations from May 5th through May 14th. Items needed include: cleaning wipes, dish detergent, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, paper towels, etc. Also personal hygiene items: shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrushes, tooth paste, q-tips, etc. Men, women and children’s socks are needed but no other clothes will be accepted at this time. Puzzles and board games in good condition may also be a good idea. Any questions? Email Margie Eckard at Eckard.margie@gmail.com. Thank you for your help and support.
UPCOMING
ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN-UP – Saturday, May 6th, 2023, 9 am – Noon. Come join us for the Annual Spring Cleanup. Please bring a rake, blowers, gloves and your friends. We need to clear fallen branches and limbs and pull weeds from flower beds and rock gardens. We appreciate any amount of time you are able to give. Light refreshments will be provided. 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.
MAY CROWNING – Sunday, May 7th following the 10:30 am Mass. Please join us outside, in front of the statue of Mary, on May 7, following the 10:30 a.m. Mass for a short ceremony to honor Mary “the Queen of Heaven”. Everyone is invited to gather around the statue of Mary for our May Crowning and then join us afterwards for lunch at our monthly Agape in the hall, hosted by Sodality.
ST. POLYCARP CHURCH FILIPINO – AMERICAN COMMUNITY cordially invites you to FILIPINO – AMERICAN INCULTURATION on May 21st following the 10:30 am Mass in the hall. Please RSVP no later than May 8th. Seating is limited! See this weekend’s Bulletin for more information. RSVP to Fatima Evangelista (302)214-1933 stpcfatima@gmail.com or Josie Cinco (302)653-4926 josie.a.cinco@gmail.com.
CONNECTED IN CHRIST/ADULT FAITH – PARISHIONER COFFEE: There will be a coffee for all available parishioners on Tuesday, May 9 after the 8:30 Mass in Mother Drexel Hall. Come and enjoy some coffee and delicious treats. Please let either Joyce Tolson (302-448-9678) or Cookie Ruane (302-540-6429) know if you plan to attend. And feel free to bring your favorite dessert.
MOTHER’S DAY NOVENA: We are part of this world today because our mothers have given us life. Every 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.
BIRTHRIGHT OF DELAWARE will host its Annual Mother’s Day Rose Sale at our parish. Please support Birthright’s crisis pregnancy services by purchasing roses after Masses on Mother’s Day weekend, May 13th – 14th.
BLESSING OF THE SAINT JOSEPH SHRINE – Saturday, May 13th following the 4 pm Mass. The Liturgy Committee, Sodality and Pastoral Council invite you to join us after the 4 pm Mass on Saturday, May 13, 2023, as Bishop Koenig and Father Jim bless our outdoor shrine to Saint Joseph. After the blessing, please join us in Mother Drexel Hall for refreshments and fellowship.
ONGOING
HELP WANTED: Individuals interested in becoming an active part of the Finance Council. The role of the Finance Council is to: Support all Parish ministries; Facilitate the achievement of the Parish mission, and; Provide ongoing financial guidance to Fr. Jim and Parish leadership If you have an interest in assisting in the financial success of St. Polycarp, please reach out to John Fcasni at (609) 529-1986 or john.fcasni@gmail.com
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from noon to 8pm in the Chapel. We need a few more people to sign up for a scheduled Adoration time slot so we can expand our Adoration hours. We need adorers for these timeslots on Tuesday: 12:00, 2:00 and 3:00. Call or email Cheryl Thomas salcrest7@gmail.com or 302) 363-0404.
MEMORIAL BRICKS! Adding your MEMORIAL BRICK to the walkway of our Blessed Mother is a unique way to keep your memories alive. It is a way to remind us of all those special loved ones or occasions forever. If you would like to become a part of the walkway to our Blessed Mother, with your name or the name of a loved one, now is a good time to do so! There are several ways to order your bricks. You can order through Faith Direct at: Faith Direct MEMORIAL BRICK (you do not need to sign up for Faith Direct), use the QR code below or return your form* with payment of $80 to St. Polycarp Church. Envelopes marked with “Memorial Brick” may be placed in the Offertory collection, delivered to the Parish Office (place in black box), or mailed to the Parish Office.*Forms can be found on our parish website or at the entrances into the church.
CHANGE THE WORLD: BECOME CATHOLIC! 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 contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information. DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653-8279.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD (CLOW) takes place on the first and third Sundays of the month during the 10:30 am Mass. All children ages PK – 4th grade are welcome to join us. Children will be called to come forward before the First Reading. They will return to you after the General Intercessions. All catechists and assistants have a cleared background check.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: 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/
CONNECTED IN CHRIST (ADULT FAITH FORMATION) meets every Tuesday at 9:30 AM in the Parish Library – ALL are welcome. Please join us. If you have any questions, please call Cookie Ruane at 302-540-6429.
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.
FORMED: 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!
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. Sr. Kathy Flood will discuss her work with the Catholic Charities’ Disaster Relief and Recovery Program, on the April 29th episode of Catholic Forum. 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.
LET US PRAY: Prayer for Vocations
God our Father,
we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, and consecrated persons.
Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond generously and courageously to your call.
May our community of faith support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth and young adults.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen