6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~When have the laws of God guided you to make life-giving choices?
~ How has faith been a source of wisdom in your life?
~ How do the commandments call you to deeper conversion?
(Pastoral Liturgy)
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021223.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 . BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE
THIS WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 11/12 (& Monday, February 13th – Friday, February 17th)
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: February 11th at the 4pm Mass – Mary Halsey. Please arrive 15 minutes before your Mass time and pick up materials in the sacristy.
SOFT PRETZEL SALE THIS WEEKEND: The Knights of Columbus will be selling pretzels after both Masses this weekend. Pretzels are now $2 each or 3 pretzels for $5.00.
PSR WORLD’S FINEST CHOCOLATE : The PSR Candy Sale was a success!!! Thank you so much to those who supported us! GOOD NEWS!!! The chocolate bars have arrived!!! If you placed an order, your chocolate may be picked up in the hall on Saturday, February 11th after 4 pm Mass until 5:30 or Sunday, February 12th after 10:30 am Mass until 12:00 pm. If you donated candy bars to our local frontline workers, we will be delivering them for you.
PSR – NO CLASSES THIS WEEK (Grades P/K – 8) NO ONLINE CLASSES, NO IN-PERSON CLASSES.
BLESSINGS: Sunday, February 12th – Blessing of New Drivers of any age will take place at the 10:30 am Mass this Sunday, February 12th.
THE DIALOG: Don’t forget to pick up the new edition of our Diocesan Newspaper as you leave Mass this weekend!
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesday 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. Please consider this devotion. You can come to the adoration chapel and in the peacefulness there He will speak to your heart, and you will return eagerly because He has so much to share with you. There are hours available on Tuesday, Call or Email Cheryl Thomas; salcrest7@gmail.com, 659-3388
FINANCE COUNCIL: The Finance Council is looking to increase its membership. If you would like to be a part of the Finance Council, please reach out to John Fcasni at (609) 529-1986 or john.fcasni@gmail.com.
THE PARISH OFFICE is in need of volunteers to help out at the front desk on Wednesday mornings from 9 am to noon. Other morning and afternoon time slots are also available. If you are willing and able we would greatly appreciate your assistance in this ministry. Please contact Kathy Watts at the church office 302-653-8279 or via email office@saintpolycarp.org for further information.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE: The Parish & Family Life would love to have your participation by representing our Parish by either walking with our Banner or helping/making a Parade Float. Please contact Chairperson Deanna Lail at dlail14@comcast.net or (302) 535 – 2957. The Parade is March 12, 2023. Line-up at St. Polycarp. Parade begins at 2:00 pm
NEXT WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 18/19 (& Monday, February 20th – Friday, February 24th)
PARISH APPRECIATION DINNER: Due to limited seating for our Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, February 18th, 2023, we are no longer taking reservations. However, we will maintain a waiting list, so please call Kathy Curlett at (302) 222 – 9326 if you would like to be put on the waiting list. If, for some reason, you have reservations but are unable to attend, even if you find out on the day of the dinner, please call Kathy to let her know so that someone on the waiting list will be able to attend in your place.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD (CLOW) Next Sunday, February 19th at 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.
PARISHIONER COFFEE: Parishioners are welcome to share a morning of light food and conversation after the 8:30 am Mass on Tuesday, February 21st. This invitation is open to all parishioners who would like to enjoy some coffee and good company. Feel free to bring snacks or anything else you would like to share. Let us know if you plan to come, so that we will have plenty of coffee or juice. Call Cookie Ruane at (302) 540 – 6429 or Joyce Tolson at (302) 448 – 9678.
PANCAKES! Shrove Tuesday is fast approaching. The Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring a pancake and sausage dinner in Mother Drexel Hall, on Tuesday, February 21st from 5:00 pm until 6:30 pm prior to the Palms to Ashes Service. All are welcome to join us. No cost to you but donations are greatly appreciated!
PALMS TO ASHES: It is tradition here at St. Polycarp to burn some of the palm during our Palms to Ashes Service on the eve of Ash Wednesday. We will continue this tradition again this year. We hope you will join us. Service begins in the Church at 7 pm on Tuesday, February 21st.
ASH WEDNESDAY: Ash Wednesday Masses & Distribution of Ashes – February 22nd
St. Polycarp – 8:30 am and 7 pm
St. Dennis – 5:30 pm (Hispanic) & 7 pm
STATIONS OF THE CROSS & BENEDICTION: Fridays in Lent beginning February 24th at 7pm in the Church.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
You are invited to a Parish Baby Shower: Sponsored by Brother Vincent Columbiettes on March 5th from 12-2 pm at St. Polycarp Mother Drexel Hall. Supporting the Wilmington Pregnancy Center and the families the center serves. Please bring your gift unwrapped. RSVP to LindaMontouri at 302-270-5347 or lindamontouri@yahoo.com by February 25th
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. If you are interested in helping with this ministry, please contact Erica Taylor at (302) 653-4101. Next CLOW – Sunday, February 19th at the 10:30 am Mass.
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/ February 11th at the 4pm Mass – Mary Halsey; February 25th at the 4 pm Mass – Penny Gugliuzzo
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. On Saturday, February 11th, Learn about the work of Magdala Ministries when Rachael Killackey is the guest on the Feb. 11th 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: February 11 is World Day of the Sick, an observation introduced by Pope John Paul II (now, St. John Paul II) as a way for believers to offer prayers for those suffering from illnesses.
God of all goodness, look with mercy on all who suffer any kind of infirmity, sickness or injury, that they may be comforted. Let your hand of healing and protection be upon them. When they are fearful, ease their fear and anxieties. When they are afraid, give them strength and courage. When they feel alone, send them someone to listen and to care. When they are confused, provide reassurance and direction. When they are in pain, ease their suffering. When they despair, give them hope. May they experience your healing presence in the comfort of a caregiver’s calm gaze and tender touch. We ask this in your holy name. Amen.
www.catholiccharitiesusa.org