22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
“When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 14:12-14
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
– When have you been drawn to another’s act of humility?
– Are you able to give without expecting something in return?
– How is God’s love exemplified by a person who does not expect reciprocity?
Pastoral Liturgy: July/August 2022
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082822.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 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 27/28 (& week of August 28)
BLESSINGS: The Blessing of Athletes will take place this Sunday, August 28th at the 10:30 am Mass.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Sunday, August 28 at the 10:30 am Mass – Irwin Family – Please arrive 15 minutes before your mass time and pick up materials in the sacristy.
FACILITIES MANAGER: Read the Pastor’s Pen in this weekend’s Bulletin for an important announcement about the Facilities Manager position. (This announcement was also emailed separately earlier today.)
CHEER ON THE GOLFERS! If you can’t come to St. Polycarp’s 3rd Annual Golf Tournament, how about sending the golfers your cheers? We’ll be back this weekend at the doors of the church. Donation is only $5 per square. Come with your wishes!
LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY! 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.) Register by September 7! 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
BROTHER VINCENT COUNCIL 7517 meets in St Polycarp Library at 7:30 PM on the Thursday Sept 1st. The Rosary begins at 7:00 PM and is followed by the meeting at 7:30 PM. The Rosary and 
meeting proceedings are zoomed for those who cannot attend in person. A meeting reminder with zoom instructions will be sent by KofC.org email. Brothers, your attendance at Council meetings is encouraged so that we may fulfill our mission.
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 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.
IS GOD CALLING YOU? CAN YOU HELP? Parish School of Religion (PSR) We are still in need of a Grade 3 catechist on Sunday mornings. 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.
PSR WISH LIST: 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. 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 Masses in the marked bins under the coat racks near the bathrooms, across from the hall.
Small First Aid Kits, latex free gloves, Card Stock…white and color, White Poster Board (11×14), Colored Pencils, Small Paper Clips, Boxed Tissues, AA Batteries,
-Monetary Donations & Gift Cards (Walmart, Target, Staples) are always appreciated
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2022 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: Now more than ever, people in our communities need help and guidance in growing closer to Christ. Our diocese’s Faith and Charity ministries are essential to caring for our people and building up our church. Please consider a gift to the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal if you have not already. Help our parish to achieve our goal and support those in need throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Once we have collected our goal, our parish is eligible for a rebate to assist with our needs right here. We continue to need your help. Presently we, St. Polycarp Parish, need $4415 to reach our goal. 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. 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.
NEXT WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 3/4 (& week of September 4)
OFFICE CLOSED: The office will be closed on Monday, September 5th in observance of Labor Day.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
SUMMER WEEKDAY MASSES: Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 am.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! All are welcome. The annual Saint Polycarp Parish Picnic will take place on Sunday, September 18, 2022, at 12:00 Noon on our campus. The Knights of Columbus will 
supply hot dogs and hamburgers. Bottled water will also be available. Please plan on bringing your own side dishes, other beverages, and folding chairs. The Pastoral Council has secured a bouncy house for the kids and the young-at-heart. Our fundraising committee will have a dunk tank to test your throwing accuracy. Try and dunk our council members! This is a great opportunity to socialize with your fellow parishioners.
PSR REGISTRATION: 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. Students must be registered prior to the beginning of classes. To register visit https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/org/831 For information on how to register or to print a paper form CLICK HERE
PSR ENVELOPE FUNDRAISER: This fundraiser is to raise funds to help support the rising costs of running our program and to aide in tuition assistance for our families in need. We will kick this 
off the weekend of September 10 & 11. Keep an eye out for our display boards at all the entrances to church. Make sure to grab an envelope or two to help support religious education for our youth. No amount turned in will be too small. If everyone gives a little, it will add up to a lot!
GIRL SCOUTS is about so much more than the cookie. This program provides girls with opportunities to learn new skills in art, science, sports, and leadership. Our girls are active in community service projects, striving to make the world a better place. Girls in grades K-12 are welcome to join. Meeting times for our troops that meet at St. Polycarp will be Thursdays, from 6-7, starting in October. For more information, please contact Tracie Bruno at Tracie.Bruno@comcast.net
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! 
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. Thank you to those who have shared their veggies!
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/
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 27th, get ready to go back to school when Diocese of Wilmington School Superintendent, Dr. Lou De Angelo, is the guest. 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 28: Dare you share with your beloved a foolish thing you’ve done during your life? More importantly, share one way that you see your beloved as wise (other than marrying you.)
PARENTING POINTERS: Sunday, August 28: Phones, technology, TVs are part of modern life. They are helpful. (It would take me a lot longer to drive places without a GPS.) But how much is too much? Ask your family which piece of modern technology is most important to them and which is least?
LET US PRAY: A prayer on the Passion of St. John the Baptist – August 29
O God, You raised up St John the Baptist to prepare a perfect person for Christ.
We call upon St John’s intercession to properly prepare us with a true sense
of repentance to receive Your grace and salvation.
Make us faithful to truth and justice, as You did Your servant,
John the Baptist, herald of Your Son’s birth and death.
Lord, may You increase Your life within us.
Amen.
mycatholicprayers.com