Home » Announcements » Weekend Update February 1/2

Mass Schedule

St. Polycarp, Smyrna DE
(302) 653-8279
Saturday – 4:00 pm
Sunday – 10:30 am
Weekday Mass – 8:30 am, Tuesday & Wednesday
Confessions – Saturdays, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE

 

St. Dennis, Galena MD
https://www.stdennischurch.org/
(410) 648-5145
Sunday – 8:00 am
Sunday – 11:00 am (Spanish)
Weekday Mass – 8:30 am, Thursday & Friday
Confessions – Sundays, 7:00-7:30 am
Live Stream:
https://www.youtube.com/@stdennisparish_galenamd/streams

 

DE Home for the Chronically Ill (DHCI):
Communion Service – 3rd Tuesday at 10:30 am
Pinnacle:
Communion Service – 1st Wednesday at 1:15 pm

Parish Contact

55 Ransom Lane,
Smyrna, Delaware 19977

Parish Office : (302) 653-8279
Email: office@saintpolycarp.org

Religious Education: (302)653-4101
Email: dre@saintpolycarp.org

Weekend Update February 1/2

THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER

~ On this day the Church traditionally blesses the candles used in the Liturgy and in Christian homes, reminding us that Christ is the light of the world.
~ Do we see Jesus drawing people together to encounter Him through our own Church community? How can we make this encounter more alive?
~ Even the preaching of John the Baptist pointed to someone greater than he. Could this infant (Jesus) really be the promised one? What are your thoughts?


READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND:  https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020225.cfm

LIVE-STREAMING FROM ST. POLYCARP: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays.  Please note: At times the live-stream fails to work. We apologize for the inconvenience. Live stream from the Cathedral of St. Peter can be viewed on the Diocesan YouTube channel (DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING) at 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 BulletinBulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE or use this QR code


THIS WEEKEND, February 1/2 (and Monday, February 3rd – Friday, February 7th)

CONGRATULATIONS!  Please join us in Mother Drexel Hall for a special celebration tomorrow, Saturday, February 1st, after the 4pm Mass, as we recognize our CRE, Erica Taylor, on the completion of her Bachelor of Arts in Theology.  All are welcome to join us for this special celebration.
Refreshments will be served.

 

THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: This Sunday, February 2nd , at the 10:30 am Mass, Betty Sloven will receive the Vocation Chalice. 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/

 

When receiving the Blessed Sacrament at Mass, please consume the Eucharist in front of the Priest, Deacon or Eucharistic Minister prior to stepping away. It is not permitted to walk away with the Blessed Sacrament, take it back to your pew or leave Church with Jesus in your hand. Please just keep Him in your heart.

 

PSR’s WORLD’S FINEST CHOCOLATE SALE IS UNDERWAY!  This weekend is your last chance to order! Don’t miss out!! All orders and money must be turned in by this Sunday, February 2nd. Orders can be placed through our PSR students, through Faith Direct at faith.direct/DE831 (click EVENTS), or simply scan the QR code below. Order forms can also be found at the doors of the Church. Order forms can be placed in the collection basket or dropped off in the drop box or at the office. You will be notified when the chocolate arrives. All proceeds benefit PSR!  Thank you for your support! Chocolate is scheduled to arrive before Valentine’s Day! 

 

OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE ASSEMBLY – LADIES NIGHT OUT: Our Lady Queen of Peace Assembly is hosting our annual and free “Ladies Night Out” next Friday, February 7th, at 6:30 pm, here at St Polycarp Church.  All wives and widows of our Sir Knights are invited to join us for a delicious dinner served by our Sir Knights. This year, our Brother Knights who are interested in joining our Assembly, along with their wives, are invited to join us for the dinner. Please contact Tom Boscher (302-740-9217) or Jack Barnas (302-383-4175) for your reservation.

 

PARISH APPRECIATION DINNER: DON’T FORGET TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT! Time again for our Parish to say “thank you” to its many volunteers. If you are active in a church organization or serve in any ministry, the parish would like to invite you to the Parish Appreciation Dinner in the Parish Hall on Saturday, February 22nd, following the 4 pm Mass. The appreciation committee has been working to plan a wonderful, enjoyable evening. Seating is limited, so reserve your seats today using the link below or simply scan the QR code. Not a fan of online formats?  Call Kathy Curlett at 302-222-9326 to reserve your seats.
CLICK HERE or use this QR code:

 

 

 

 

DO YOU KNOW YOUR FAITH?
What is the 2nd Commandment?  (See the end of this update.)


NEXT WEEKEND, February 8/9 (and Monday, February 10th – Friday, February 14th)

THE BLESSING OF NEW DRIVERS (of ANY age) will take place next Saturday, February 8th, at the 4 pm Mass and on Sunday, February 9th, at the 10:30 am Mass.

 

SUNDAE ON SUNDAY: The Christian Formation Committee is kicking off the new year with monthly Youth Group socials. All children in our parish are invited to enjoy a Sundae on Sunday, February 9th following the 10:30am Mass in the hall. A parent must attend with child. Come enjoy a Sundae on Sunday with us and play a game of bingo too! See you soon! Keep an eye out for monthly social themes! If anyone is interested in joining our Youth Group Team to help plan socials, contact Kathy Ursitti at ursitti@verizon.net.

THE SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND (February 8th and 9th) is for Black and Indian Missions and Home Missions. Today, nearly 40% of dioceses in the United States and its current and former territories are unable to fund essential pastoral work their communities need. Your support for this collection helps them meet their faith formation and sacramental needs.  Please prayerfully consider how you can support this appeal. For more information visit www.usccb.org/home-missions.


UPCOMING:

CHRISTIAN FORMATION COMMITTEE will be showing a very good short video, What Does My Personal Prayer Have to Do with Mass? Come to the hall immediately after the 4 pm Mass on Saturday, February 15th.  We will be watching a short video (about 7 minutes) and serving snacks. Some parishioners have already viewed this video and highly recommend it. We don’t think you will be disappointed. This video is approved for all ages.

 

SOFT PRETZEL SALE: The Knights of Columbus will again be selling soft pretzels after Mass on February 15th and 16th.
Pretzels are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00. 


ONGOING:

THE FACILITIES PLANNING COMMITTEE meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm in the hall.  We are looking for parishioners with backgrounds in electrical, plumbing, carpentry, painting and other construction expertise needed for our project.  If God has blessed you with a gift you can share, please contact John Irwin, Executive Officer of Facilities Planning at 740-317-3617.

 

PLANNING PRAYER: Please join our Facilities Planning Committee in prayer as we seek God’s guidance for updating our Parish kitchen.  We will be praying the “Planning Prayer” immediately following the Prayer of the Faithful.  Prayer cards will be available in the pews. We would encourage you to take one home and pray it there also. Do you know who is pictured on these prayer cards?

 

SATURDAY AFTERNOON BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP: The evening “Pathway to Peace” bereavement support group will no longer meet Thursdays at 7 pm in Classroom 8. They will now meet Saturday afternoons at 1 pm in Room 8. Please contact the parish office if you are considering joining us. 302-653-8279 or office@saintpolycarp.org

 

VIDEOGRAPHERS NEEDED: Are you interested in helping to promote Saint Polycarp Parish? Do you have videography skills? The Pastoral Council is looking for someone to help us make a video to showcase our parish campus. Please contact our Executive Officer, Ken Eckard at kennetheckard9@gmail.com.

 


VISIT BULLETIN OVERFLOW https://saintpolycarp.org/this-weeks-bulletin/
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON:

ANNUAL WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS with Bishop Koenig – Reserve your place by Tuesday, February 4
RETROUVAILLE – Rediscover the love in your marriage – Next program is February 14-16
HOLY CROSS HIGH SCHOOL – Information session for prospective families on Wednesday, February 12th, at 6:30 pm at the Clayton Fire Hall meeting room.
BASKET AUCTION – The Delaware State Columbiettes will be hosting a Basket Auction on Sunday, March 2nd, from 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm at St. Joseph Parish Hall, 371 E. Main St. in Middletown, DE.
WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER – Learn tools to revitalize romance and deepen communication in your marriage.  The next weekend is March 7-9, 2025 at the Brighton Suites in Rehoboth Beach.
RACHEL’S VINEYARD CATHOLIC RETREAT – Rachel’s Vineyard Catholic Retreat will be held the weekend of May 2nd – 4th. This retreat offers emotional and spiritual healing for anyone who has struggled with grief and loss from an abortion.


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


EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL – THREE YEARS OF ABUNDANT GRACE AND TRANSFORMATION – 2022-2025
National Year of Mission: July 17, 2024–Pentecost 2025
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 HOMEBOUNDDo 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: Saturdays, February 8th, March 8th, April 12th, May 10th.

TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 11 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 11 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/  Betty Sloven – February 2, 10:30 am Mass, Matt Garrity – February 16  10:30 am Mass, Barbara Kaczorowski  – March 2 10:30 am Mass

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.

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.

MEMORIAL BRICKS: Adding your MEMORIAL BRICK to the walkway of our Blessed Mother is a unique way to keep your memories alive. Honor family and friends! Share a favorite quote, and more!  You can order through Faith Direct at: https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/org/831  Scroll down until you see “Memorial Bricks” (you do not need to sign up for Faith Direct) or use this QR code or return your form with payment of $100 to St. Polycarp Church.  Envelopes marked with “Memorial Brick” may be placed in the Offertory collection, mailed or delivered to the Parish Office (place in black box).

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 through 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 Boyardee 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.
BULLETINhttps://www.jppc.net/onlinebulletins/301template.pdf
BULLETIN OVERFLOW
https://saintpolycarp.org/this-weeks-bulletin/
YOUTUBE CHANNEL/LIVE STREAMhttps://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
ST DENNIS CHURCH LIVE STREAM: https://www.youtube.com/@stdennisparish_galenamd/streams
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:

CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Listen to Catholic Forum each week. This week, tune in to hear an interview with popular speaker, podcaster and writer, Sister Josephine Garrett, CSFN, about her new book, “Wilderness Within:  A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation.  The Catholic Forum podcast on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music podcasts and YouTube.com/DioceseofWilm debuts every Wednesday at 12:00 pm and on Relevant Radio 640 every Saturday afternoon at 1:30 pm.  More information is available at https://cdow.org/ministries/catholic-forum-podcast-radio-program/


Are you a Jeopardy watcher? Do you participate in Trivia Challenges?
Will you be able to answer the questions on religion? 

We’ll begin with something we hope you all know! Check this spot each week!


THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

  1. I am the Lord your God: You shall not have strange Gods before me.
  2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
  3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
  4. Honor your father and mother.
  5. You shall not kill.
  6. You shall not commit adultery.
  7. You shall not steal.
  8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Catechism of the Catholic Church