7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“To you I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022022.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 Lisa at lisa.titus@saintpolycarp.org or Judy at communications@saintpolycarp.org.
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
UPDATE: In light of the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in our Diocese and both Delaware and Maryland, here at St. Polycarp, we will still encourage safety measures that include a consistent sanitizing of common areas and hand sanitizer available at all entrances. We will support a welcoming environment for those members in our parish who wish to continue to wear masks. In person events and meetings may resume. During PSR classes/events, our PSR students, catechists, assistants and all those visiting, are required to wear masks until further notice.
ATTENTION MINISTRY LEADERS: If your ministry is remaining virtual, please send Kathy an email at office@saintpolycarp.org. If we do not here from you, the room you requested will be on the calendar.
THIS WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 19/20
THE BLESSING OF PARISH MINISTRIES will take place this weekend – Saturday, February 19th at the 4pm Mass and Sunday, February 20th at the 10:30am Mass.
PSR GRADES P/K – 4, Sunday, February 20th at 9am. IN PERSON CLASSES RESUME. Remember to bring books back and return Mission Advent Boxes. Masks will still be worn by everyone! Important!!! ALL Online Lessons MUST be completed before your child’s NEXT CLASS. If they are not completed, your child will be marked absent for that class.
THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 20
OFFICE CLOSED – Monday, February 21st.
PSR GRADES 5-8, Tuesday, February 22nd at 7pm. IN PERSON CLASSES RESUME. Remember to bring books back and return Mission Advent Boxes. Masks will still be worn by everyone! Important!!! ALL Online Lessons MUST be completed before your child’s NEXT CLASS. If they are not completed, your child will be marked absent for that class.
ST. POLYCARP – Feast Day, February 23rd. How much do you know about St. Polycarp. “POLYCARP” (the movie) can be viewed free on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njp3WNVQ9O4
DELAWARE STATE COLUMBIETTES VIRTUAL BASKET AUCTION FUNDRAISER – TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED BY THIS COMING WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd. Auction takes place on Sunday, February 27, 2022 at 1 pm on Zoom. There will be dozens of wonderful baskets to take a chance on. Tickets may be purchased by sending a check made payable to Delaware State Columbiettes with your name, email and phone number, to Arlene Brown, 87 Paige Place, Felton, DE 19943 (amb550@hotmail.com). We will email you your ticket number and the Zoom information prior to the event if you would like to attend. If you cannot attend, we will contact you if you win! We look forward to having you join us for a fun filled afternoon.
NEXT WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 26/27:
RCIA RITE OF SENDING at the 4pm Mass.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: February 27th – L. Sanez – Please arrive 15 minutes before your mass time and pick up (or drop off) materials in the sacristy.
THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 27:
The Knights of Columbus and Columbiettes will be hosting a SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE AND SAUSAGE DINNER on Tuesday March 1st from 4pm-6pm in the parish hall. (Palms to Ashes service to follow at 7pm in the church.) Come join us as we enter the Lenten season. To help get a count for attendance please rsvp to Angela Gibson via phone or text at 302-270-4100 or Darlene Sanphy via email Darpete87@comcast.net
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR LENT?
PALMS TO ASHES
St. Polycarp – 7 pm (in Church) on Tuesday, March 1st
St. Dennis – 5 pm on Tuesday, March 1st
ASH WEDNESDAY MASSES with distribution of ashes (Day of Fast & Abstinence)
St. Polycarp – 8:30 am and 7 pm on Wednesday, March 2nd
St. Dennis – 7 pm on Wednesday, March 2nd
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
St. Polycarp – 7 pm on the Fridays in Lent beginning March 4th
St. Dennis – 5 pm and 7 pm (Hispanic) on Fridays in Lent beginning March 4th
CONNECTED IN CHRIST ADULT FORMATION: The gospel stories of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus are at the core of Christian faith. Connected in Christ will explore these essential stories in the unique accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, on six consecutive Tuesdays, beginning March 1st in Mother Drexel Hall. We will begin at 9:30 am and each session will be about 90 minutes. To enroll and receive a book in advance, please contact Peggy O’Connor – peggyo52@aol.com; 302-514-9913. A suggested donation of $10 for the book would be appreciated, though not required, to defray the cost of materials to the parish.
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, 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: Please sign up to take home the Vocation Chalice for one week. Call or text Alice Gaston 302-670-7924 to sign up. 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. See the Bulletin for schedule. February 27th – L. Sanez, March 12 – B & J Watson
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
DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING https://www.youtube.com/user/DioceseofWilm
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. Learn about persecuted Christians when author, Casey Chalk is the guest on the Feb. 19th edition of the Catholic Forum program/podcast. Listen online anytime at cdow.org/CatholicForum, or by searching “Catholic Forum” on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or Amazon Music podcasts.
LET US PRAY: Collect Prayer of St. Polycarp
God of all creation, who were pleased to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp a place in the company of the Martyrs, grant, through his intercession, that sharing with him in the chalice of Christ, we may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen