19th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
August 12/13, 2023
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ Where is it easiest for you to hear the whisperings of God?
~ What would you be willing to give up for others to come and to know Jesus?
~ What stormy sea is Jesus calling you to trust him in?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081323.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, August 12/13 (and Monday, August 14th – Friday, August 18th)
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION will take place tomorrow, Saturday, August 12th, following Communion at the 4 pm Mass. Staying for an hour may be difficult for some. You may want to start by staying 5 minutes. If you stayed for 5 minutes last month, try staying for 10 minutes this month. You will soon find out that 10 minutes isn’t long enough! (You should always stay for the Exposition and until Fr. Jim leaves. When you leave, please remember to do so quietly.)
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is to support the maintenance and ministry of the Cathedral of St. Peter (the Bishop’s own parish and the center of Catholicism in our Diocese).
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: This Sunday, August 13th, 10:30 am Mass – Cuttingham. (Please arrive 15 minutes before your Mass time to pick up, or drop off, materials in the sacristy.) Families and individuals are encouraged to 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/
CHEER ON THE GOLFERS! If you can’t make it to the St. Polycarp’s 4th Annual Golf Tournament, how about sending the golfers YOUR CHEERS! Donation is only $5 per square. Add your personal wish. Boards will be outside the Church this Sunday, August 13th, Saturday, August 19th and Sunday August 20th. Come with your $5 and wishes!
CHANGE THE WORLD: BECOME CATHOLIC! INQUIRY SESSIONS THIS MONDAY, AUGUST 14th! Is there someone you know who would like to explore the Catholic faith – someone unbaptized, or baptized in the Catholic or another Christian tradition? Do you know someone who needs First Eucharist and/or Confirmation? The Catholic faith can fulfill their desire for a closer relationship with Our Lord by participating in the RCIA process.
If interested, the parish will hold three Inquiry Sessions:
Monday, August 14th, at 6:30 pm,
Wednesday, August 23rd, at 10:30 am
Monday, August 28th, at 6:30 pm.
Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information: DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653 – 8279.
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (August 15th) – HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. Masses at St. Polycarp: 4 pm on Monday, August 14th, 8:30 am on Tuesday, August 15th, and 7 pm on Tuesday, August 15th. Mass at St. Dennis, Galena, MD: 7 pm on Tuesday, August 15th. The St. Polycarp Parish Office will be closed on Tuesday, August 15th. One of the fundamental teachings of the Roman Catholic Church – the belief that Mary was taken up, body and soul, into heaven.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Our Parish School of Religion (PSR) offers religious education classes for grade PK – 9. Now is the time to register to avoid additional late fees! Class lists are being prepared now. Register now! Visit https://saintpolycarp.org/religious-education/ for more information or contact our Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE), Erica Taylor, at dre@saintpolycarp.org or (302) 653-4101. Forms are also located in the black drop box under the portico, use the QR code below or you can register by visiting https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/org/831
PSR WISH LIST: It’s that time of year again! Our PSR catechists are preparing for the upcoming PSR school year. Our catechists are committed to teaching and helping
our children grow in love and faith by donating their time all year. Our catechists often use their own money for supplies throughout the year. Please consider helping them out by purchasing an item or two from their wish list below. Items can be dropped off Monday-Friday at the parish office between 9 am & 3 pm, anytime in the bins under the black drop box, or after Masses in the marked bins in the vestibule, and under the coat racks near the bathrooms, across from the hall. Thank you for your continued support of our PSR!
–Plastic Folders with pockets, Card Stock…white and color, White Poster Board (11×14), Crayola Crayons (8 ct.), Colored Pencils (12 ct.), Dry Erase Markers (Expo Brand),
Post It Notes, Small White Envelopes (6 3/4”), Disinfecting Wipes, Gallon Size Ziploc Bags, Boxed Tissues, AA & AAA Batteries, Linens for Prayer Tables (At least 5’ x 4’ – Liturgical Colors; green, purple, white), Monetary Donations & Gift Cards (Amazon, Walmart, Target) are always appreciated.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2023 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: Congratulations! We’ve reached our PLEDGED goal! Those who pledged and are making payments, receive reminders from the Diocese. If we are to reach our goal in collected donations, it is important that everyone follows through with payments on pledges. Please mail all payments in the self-addressed, return envelope provided with your payment reminder mailings. To date, our parish has pledged $62,660.88 (104.43% of our goal)! Total collected towards the pledge amount is $47,013.54. Remember – Once our parish exceeds the $60,000 goal in paid pledges , we will receive back half of the money collected above the goal for projects around our campus.
Of our 715 households at St. Polycarp, 193 have participated in the campaign to date. Our parish participation rate is 26.99%. Every gift is valued and appreciated. Thank you to the 26.99% of households who have participated in this year’s Appeal. If your household has not participated, it’s not too late! As a parish community, we are asked to assist our brothers and sisters in overcoming obstacles, guided by the light of Christ and the strength of our unity. Please prayerfully consider a donation and help Shine the Light of Christ throughout our Diocese.(Pledge cards can be found in the pews and at the doors of the Church.)
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.
UPCOMING
ST. POLYCARP PARISH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT AND BUFFET DINNER – Sunday, September 10th
Golfing at 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.
Not interested in golfing? No problem! Join us for a delicious Buffet Dinner for just $40.00 per person in Mother Drexel Hall at Saint Polycarp Church. For more information and registration, contact Dennis Skinner at papadskinz@yahoo.com or (302) 981 – 8743 and Anna Skinner at ANNA.SKINZ@gmail.com or (302) 883 – 5647. You can also scan the QR Code below or click on the following link https://saintpolycarp.org/st-polycarp-annual-golf-tournament-and-dinner-2023/
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! SAVE THE DATE! – SAINT POLYCARP ANNUAL PICNIC! The Saint Polycarp Annual Parish Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, September 17th, 2023, after the 10:30 am Mass. Our Pastoral Council and Parish Picnic Committee are once again planning a fun-filled event. The Knights of Columbus will be cooking up hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries, and there will be three flavors of Rita’s Water Ice. Kids and the young-at-heart will enjoy the inflatable obstacle course. We are looking for volunteers to help make this event a success. Please call Kathy Curlett at (302) 222-9326, if interested in helping.
QUARTER AUCTION: St. Polycarp’s Parish & Family Life Ministry will be holding its 1st Quarter Auction on Friday, October 27, 2023. Doors will open at 5 pm, auction starts at 6 pm. Proceeds raised will benefit Parish operational expenses and Ministry needs. Discounted advanced purchase of All-in Paddles will be $40 through Friday, September 15th. All-in Paddles will be $45 after Friday, September 15th. If you have any questions or would like to purchase an All-in Paddle, contact Darlene Sanphy (at (302) 270 – 3915 or darpete87@comcast.net) or Linda Montuori (at (302) 270 – 5347 or lindamontuori@yahoo.com). More information will be posted in future bulletins.
ONGOING
The SHARE THE HARVEST TABLE is now under the Portico. This allows our parishioners to share their abundant garden yield with their Church family.
All are welcome to share and receive.
SATURDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION at St. Polycarp will take place monthly at the Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of the month. September 9th, October 7th, November 11th & December 9th. Eucharistic Adoration at St. Dennis Church (Galena MD) will take place on the Fourth Sunday of the month following the 8 am Sunday Mass. Sundays, August 27th, September 24th, October 22nd, & November 26th.
TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 9 am to 8pm in the Chapel. We are still in need of people to fill in when others are ill or cannot attend. Do you have one hour to spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament on an occasional basis? 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/ August 13th, 10:30 am Mass – Cuttingham; August 20th, 10:30 am Mass – Sanphy; September 3rd, 10:30 am Mass – Irwin.
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.
FAITH WITH FRIENDS (ADULT FAITH FORMATION) meets the first Thursday of every month at 6 pm in Room 3. Everyone is invited. Questions? Contact Ashley Wilson at 302.535.4118.
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: 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
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 Saturday, August 12th, Sr. Margaret Cunniffe and Dr. Maria Finamore in part-two of a two-part remembrance of the life of Fr. Roberto Balducelli. 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: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death and given the hope of eternal life for body and soul. You granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did not allow decay to touch her body. As we rejoice in the Assumption of Mary, grant us renewed confidence in the victory of life over death. Amen
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