7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~How should you respond to someone who has wronged you?
~ Have you ever had to let go of a grudge? What helped you?
~ What does Jesus mean by “be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect”?
(Pastoral Liturgy)
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021923.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 18/19 (& Monday, February 20th – Friday, February 24th)
BLESSINGS: Saturday, February 18th – Blessing of Parish Ministries will take place tomorrow, Saturday, February 18th, at the 4 pm Mass
PARISH APPRECIATION DINNER takes place tomorrow, Saturday, February 18th, 2023, following the 4:00 pm Mass. Reservations required. 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 at 302-222-9326 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): Cancelled for this Sunday, February 19th. If you are interested in helping with this ministry, please contact Erica Taylor at (302) 653-4101.
PSR WORLD’S FINEST CHOCOLATE : The PSR Candy Sale was a success!!! Thank you so much to those who supported us! If you missed picking up your ordered CHOCOLATE BARS after Masses last weekend, bars may be picked up at the Parish Office between 9 am and 3 pm, Mondays to Fridays; or contact Erica Taylor, CRE at (302) 653-8279 or dre@saintpolycarp.org ; or at your child’s next in-person PSR class
PSR GRADE 7 STUDENTS AND FAMILIES – This Saturday, February 18th, attend 4pm Mass.
PSR – GRADES P/K – 4, February 19th, – ONLINE LESSONS posted, No in-person classes.
PSR – GRADES 5 – 8, February 21st, – IN Person classes this week. ARRIVE BY 6:45 pm.
PARISHIONER COFFEE: Parishioners are welcome to share a morning of light food and conversation after the 8:30 am Mass this coming 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 almost here! The Knights of Columbus will be sponsoring a pancake and sausage dinner in Mother Drexel Hall, this coming 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 this coming Tuesday, February 21st.
LENT BEGINS!
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
FASTING AND ABSTINENCE: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. For members of the Roman Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Roman Catholic Church from age 14 onwards. ~USCCB
STATIONS OF THE CROSS & BENEDICTION: Fridays in Lent beginning February 24th at 7 pm in the Church.
VESTMENTS MAINTENANCE COORDIANTOR:
Are you looking for a way to help the Parish? Do you have a few hours to spare on a limited basis? Well, we have just the opportunity for you! The vestments worn by Father Jim and Deacon Frank are routinely dry cleaned and we need a volunteer to help facilitate this vital duty. If interested, please call Kathy Curlett at 302 222 9326 for more information.
NEXT WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 25/26 (& Monday, February 27th – Friday, March 4th)
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.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Next Saturday, February 25th at the 4 pm Mass – Penny Gugliuzzo
UPCOMING/ONGOING
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 12th, 2023. Line-up at St. Polycarp. Parade begins at 2:00 pm
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.
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, March 5th 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 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 18th, Learn about the best new books for Lent when Therese Brown from the Association of Catholic Publishers 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.
LET US PRAY:
The Fast Life
Fast from judging others; Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from fear of illness; Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute; Feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; Feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; Feast on hope.
Fast from negatives; Feast on encouragement.
Fast from bitterness; Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; Feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion; Feast on truth.
Fast from gossip; Feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm; Feast on prayer that sustains.
Fast from anxiety; Feast on faith.
– Author Unknown