ST. POLYCARP, OUR PATRON SAINT – FEAST DAY – FEBRUARY 23rd
Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal high priest himself, the Son of God Jesus Christ,
build you up in faith and truth and in all gentleness and in all freedom from anger and forbearance and steadfastness and patient endurance and purity.
(Polycarp)
ST. POLYCARP ON FORMED CLICK HERE
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ What does it mean to you that we have a God who “did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us” (Romans 8:32)?
~ How have you received strength from God to face future challenges or difficulties?
– How are you being invited to listen more carefully to Jesus this Lent?
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 and Benediction – at St. Polycarp
Fridays in Lent at 7 pm
ST. DENNIS CHURCH (GALENA, MD): Stations of the Cross – Fridays in Lent at 5 pm and 7 pm (Hispanic)
RECONCILIATION:
Saturdays, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm at St. Polycarp
Sundays, 7:00 am – 7:30 am at St. Dennis
Deanery Lenten Penance Service – Thursday, March 21st at 7 pm at Holy Cross, Dover (Several priests will be available to hear confessions)
Reconciliation Monday, March 25th – Monday of Holy Week
3 pm – 5 pm at St. Polycarp
6 pm – 8 pm at St. Polycarp
3 pm – 5 pm at St. Dennis
6 pm – 8 pm at St. Dennis – (Fr. Oscar – Hispanic & English)
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022524.cfm
LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays.
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 Bulletin – Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE
THIS WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 24/25 (and Monday, February 26th – Friday, March 1st)
NEW FAITH WITH FRIENDS – Join us this Sunday at 9am! Do you have the desire to dive into the divine but find yourself caught in the whirlwind of multitasking? Fear not, for the salvation of scheduling has arrived! Introducing a new time for “Faith with Friends” – on Sundays in the library, starting this Sunday, February 25th at 9:00 am. What’s in the holy mix? Sip on wisdom-infused coffee, donuts sent from the heavens, and sweet divine fellowship!
IT’S PRETZEL TIME THIS WEEKEND! The Knights of Columbus will be selling soft pretzels after Masses this weekend! Pretzels are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00.
THE RESPECT LIFE MINISTRY is collecting items for Easter Baskets for patients at DHCI. A box will be outside Mother Drexel Hall February 17th through March 17th. We were asked to go very easy on candy due to dietary issues. The patients cannot do actual jigsaw puzzles. However, items we can supply: Puzzle Books (Sudoku, Find a Word, etc.) stuffed animals, cookies, crackers, hand lotions, books, socks and handmade crafts.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY: March 17th at 2pm. Our Parish & Family Life Ministry would love to have you walk in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade with our banner and float to represent our Church, St. Polycarp. If you are not able to walk in the parade and have time to help decorate a float we would appreciate your assistance! Please contact Chairperson Deanna Lail at dlail14@comcast.net or 302-535-2957.
EASTER NOVENA MASS REMEMBRANCE: Living or deceased, the best gift you can give a loved one is the gift of the Mass. Please use the Easter Mass Remembrance envelope to enjoin your friends and family in our most holy celebration.
EATSER FLOWERS Proclaim that spring is upon us as they symbolize hope and new life. Add to the beauty of our church during the upcoming Easter season by using your Easter flower envelope to help us proclaim that Jesus has risen!
LENTEN RICE BOWLS: Please pick up a rice bowl as you leave Mass. Rice bowls are returned to Church at the end of Lent.
SYNOD DISCERNMENT LISTENING SESSIONS: Join Bishop Koenig in reflecting upon those things that encourage or hinder the Church’s mission and ways that we as a Church can be helped in our ability to live and proclaim the Gospel. Two listening sessions will be held in the diocese as part of the universal Church’s Synod of Synodality: RSVP today at cdow.org/synod.
Monday, March 4th, 6:30 pm at Saint Margaret of Scotland, Glasgow, Del. or Monday, March 18th, 6:30 pm at Saint Francis de Sales, Salisbury, Md.
THE DIALOG: Newspaper of the Diocese – The newest edition is a available at the doors of the Church.
NEXT WEEKEND, MARCH 2/3 (and Monday, March 4th – Friday, March 8th)
LENTEN RETREAT: Next Saturday, March 2nd, 2024 following an 8:30 am Mass. Brother Vincent Columbiettes will be sponsoring a Lenten Retreat right here at St Polycarp Church on Saturday, March 2nd, 2024. Everyone is invited to attend an 8:30 am Mass and then come to the retreat. It is entitled: FATIMA Miracle of the Sun Crossroads. It will identify two different paths that were taken after seeing the sun dance at Fatima. Our presenter, Alice Reis Israel, will once again bring her incredible remembrances of Fatima this time through Zoom. We will begin at the crossroads and identify two paths taken which will help all of us understand our own spiritual journey. There is no charge for this retreat, but we will be accepting donations. Coffee and danish will be provided before the retreat and a light lunch afterward. We welcome everyone to take this spiritual journey with us. Contact Anna Skinner anna.skinz@gmail.com for reservations 302 883 5647.
March’s Agape will be held Sunday March 24th (not March 3rd) in conjunction with the Easter Egg Hunt by the Knights of Columbus. (See information below in the “Upcoming” section.) No Agape on March 3rd.
UPCOMING
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES are coming! On March 9th and 10th our Girl Scouts will have cookies available for purchase after Mass. You can order them in advance, and we will deliver them to your doorstep! Money raised from Cookie sales help fund the activities that the girls do, such as camping, earning skills badges, and service projects. Donated cookies from St. Polycarp parishioners will brought to the Seaman’s Center of Wilmington, the same organization that we support with the Christmas at Sea program. We thank you in advance for your support and prayers for our girls. Cookie Link: https://bit.ly/49oRT78 Contact Tracie Bruno: Tracie.Bruno@comcast.net.
BROTHER VINCENT KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION – Saturday, March 17th, 5 pm in Mother Drexel Hall. Corned Beef & Cabbage or Ham & Cabbage, Potatoes, Green Beans, Salad. $15 per person or $25 per family, 4 max. (Children under 12 free) Take outs available.
EASTER EGG HUNT & AGAPE – Palm Sunday, March 24th – Brother Vincent Knights of Columbus will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for our youngsters and the March Agape, following the 10:30 am Mass on March 24th. All children are invited to participate in the egg hunt. There will be prizes!
Children are asked to bring their own baskets!
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
Don’t miss our video series Daily Bread: Discover the Eucharist in Scripture, on FORMED this Lent! Based on Dr. Brant Pitre’s acclaimed book Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, this video series will radically transform your love for the Blessed Sacrament. Daily Bread: Discover the Eucharist in Scripture demonstrates that our understanding of the Eucharist dates back to the earliest Jewish Christians. Far from being a later invention of the Catholic Church, the Eucharist is the fulfillment of many Old Testament promises.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! ARE YOU BEING CALLED TO SERVE?
SOCIAL CONCERNS: The DHCI* ministry is in need of assistance to help Deacon Frank with the 10:30 am Communion Service on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Type of assistance needed: help with bringing residents to the prayer area and set up. If interested, contact Pablo Resto at pabloresto@msn.com or Anne Marie at theaterowl@yahoo.com . (*Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill, located in Smyrna)
BULLETIN BOARDS: We are looking for someone who will keep our Church bulletin boards up-to-date and add a few decorations to keep them eye-catching. The office will give you the up-to-date flyers to be posted. If you are interested, call or email Judy at the office: (302 )653 – 8279 or communications@saintpolycarp.org
ONGOING
THREE YEARS OF ABUNDANT GRACE AND TRANSFORMATION – EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL
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.”
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: March 9th, Saturday, April 13th, Saturday, May 11th, Saturday, June 8th, Saturday, July 13th, Saturday, August 10th
TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 9am to 8pm 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 9 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/
CONNECTED IN CHRIST (ADULT FAITH FORMATION) meets every Tuesday at 9:00 am in the Parish Library – ALL are welcome. Please join us. If you have any questions, please call Cookie Ruane at (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.
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 thru 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 Boy Ardee 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.
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 CHURCH: http://www.stdennischurch.org 153 N. Main St. Galena, MD 21635 (410) 648-5145
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:
BE THERE WHEN GOD MOVES: From July 17th–21st, 2024, thousands of passionate Catholics will gather for a transformative experience on a scale this generation has never seen. Whether you join us for one day or all five, the grace you receive will spill out into our community when you return home—deeply in love with the Eucharist and excited about the future of the Church in America. Visit EucharisticCongress.org to learn more about the event and explore the full schedule for each day.
What: 10th National Eucharistic Congress
When: July 17–21, 2024
Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
BISHOP KOENIG INVITES YOU TO THE NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON JULY 17th-21st, 2024, IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN. To read the letter of invitation, CLICK HERE
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640AM. On the February 24th, episode Author, Joe McGivney will discuss his book, “You’re a Miracle!: My Story of Alcoholism, Miraculous Healing, and God’s Infinite Power and Love. 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.
BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Visit Bulletin Overflow https://saintpolycarp.org/overflow/ for details on the following:
25th ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE OF THE CATHOLIC MENS’S FELLOWSHIP OF MARYLAND Saturday, March 9th, at Saint Philip Neri Church in Linthicum (Maryland)
A RACHEL’S VINEYARD CATHOLIC RETREAT Friday, April 19th – Sunday, 21st, 2024. This retreat offers emotional and spiritual healing for anyone who has struggled with the pain of abortion.
“THE CHAIR”: The series tells the story of the Catholic Church in America today. It highlights each bishop, his cathedral, and important aspects of the diocesan history. You can access the series here – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPu38Ui5dTDIXL2dAlmSBBROUBx6DMGVK. To view the episode about our Diocese visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEjo2GtH-dM&t=51s
LET US PRAY: TRANSFIGURATION
You were transfigured on the Mountain, O Christ God, showing Your Disciples as much of Your glory as they could hold. Let Your eternal light shine also upon us sinners, through the prayers of the Mother of God, O Giver of Light, glory to You.
Amen.