For unto Us a Child is born…
May the joy and promise of Jesus’ birth fill you with the spirit of hope and peace.
Merry Christmas.
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE:
Christmas Eve – Friday, December 24th at 4 pm and 9 pm,
Christmas Day – Saturday, December 25th at 10 am.
There are still a few bags of Blessed Straw at the doors of the Church for parishioners to take home for their Nativities.
LIVE STREAM: Christmas Eve – Friday, December 24th at 4 pm and 9pm. (Can also be viewed at a later time.) https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE
(We are still experiencing some issues with our live stream, so please say a prayer that all goes well!)
Calendar notes: Reconciliation will not take place on Saturday, December 25th. There is no 4pm Vigil Mass (for Sunday the 26th) on December 25th.
THE PARISH OFFICE will close at noon on Wednesday, December 22nd and remain closed until 9 am on Tuesday, December 28th. The office will also be closed on Friday, December 31st.
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph – Sunday, December 26th – 10:30 am Mass (No 4pm Vigil Mass on Saturday, the 25th)
The shepherds went in haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the Infant lying in a manger.
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/12262021.cfm
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY, Sunday, December 26th: Mass at 10:30 am only on Sunday the 26th. There is no Saturday, 4 pm Vigil Mass on December 25th.
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. Please bear with us as we work through the challenges with our live streaming. If you are interested in being involved in this ministry, please email Lisa at lisa.titus@saintpolycarp.org or Judy at communications@saintpolycarp.org.
DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING https://www.youtube.com/user/DioceseofWilm
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
THIS WEEKEND, DECEMBER 26 – 10:30 am Mass only
CHRISTMAS NOVENA REMEMBRANCE AND CHRISTMAS FLOWER OFFERING: Christmas is a time to reflect on the blessings of family and shared togetherness. We exchange gifts as an act of love and appreciation. Find the peace that only God can provide by enrolling all your loved loves, living and deceased, in the most powerful of all prayers, the gift of Holy Mass, or through a contribution towards the beautiful Christmas flowers. Please use the Christmas Novena Remembrance and Christmas Flower Offering envelopes as gifts to show your loved ones they have not been forgotten. Envelopes can be found at the doors of the Church.
WEEK of DECEMBER 26TH
DECEMBER 26TH: Don’t put those decorations away yet! The joy and wonder of Christmas is not limited to just Christmas Day but lasts for a period of time. The Christmas Season begins with the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas – December 25th) and ends with the Baptism of the Lord, this year, January 9th. Celebrate the true Christmas Season!
DIVINE MERCY: We will not gather to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet on Friday, December 24th or Friday, December 31st.
RECONCILIATION: Confessions will not take place here at St. Polycarp on Saturday, December 25th. There will be confessions on January 1st.
THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD (New Year’s): Masses will be celebrated on Friday, December 31st at 4pm and Saturday, January 1st at 10am. Our Church calendars will be blessed and available at these Masses.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
CHANGE THE WORLD: BECOME CATHOLIC! If you know someone who is looking for a new beginning and wants to learn more about the Catholic Church, “personally invite” them to our RCIA sessions, taking place at the Parish campus on Monday evenings at 6:30pm. The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is for individuals who are unbaptized, baptized in other faith traditions or Catholic adults wishing to receive Confirmation and Holy Eucharist and seeking full membership in the Catholic Church. We are all called to share the “Good News” and you can make a difference by simply asking! Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information at DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653-8279.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Each week a family will receive the Vocation Chalice at Mass and take it home with the promise to “pray for vocations” during that week. The family should place the chalice in a prominent place in their home and gather together each day to pray for the awareness of vocations. At the end of the week, the family will bring the chalice back to church so the next family can take it home. A booklet will accompany the chalice that has prayers and instructions. We need your prayers and for you to sign up. Call or text Alice Gaston 302-670-7924 to sign up. See the Bulletin for schedule. January 2nd – The Ruane Family
LONG TERM PLANNING: The Finance Council here at Saint Polycarp Parish is looking towards the future with the development of a long-range plan. While we have always had an annual plan, the long-range plan will help steer and direct the parish for the next 3 – 5 years and longer. To help make this endeavor a success, we want to have several parishioners who would bring different viewpoints and perspectives and would be willing to actively participate in the 3 sessions we are anticipating. The sessions would take place on weekends for 2 – 3 hours. There will also be some prayer, reading and thinking to take place in between sessions. If you would like to participate or to learn more, please reach out to John Fcasni. He can be reached at john.fcasni@gmail.com or call or text him at (609) 529-1986.
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 receipts months old in!
Thank you to our Bulletin advertisers! We appreciate your support!
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
THE DIALOG: http://thedialog.org/ Newspaper of the Diocese, copies available as you leave Church or online
FROM THE DIOCESE:
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640. Listen anytime at cdow.org/CatholicForum or search Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify or iHeartRadio podcasts.
LET US PRAY:
Blessing of a Crèche
God of every nation and people,
From the very beginning of creation
You have made manifest your love:
When our need for a Savior was great
You sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary.
To our lives He brings joy and peace, justice, mercy and love.
Lord,
Bless all who look upon this manger;
May it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus,
And raise up our thoughts to him,
Who is God-with-us and Savior of all,
And who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.