FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ When have you experienced Jesus’ healing touch in your life?
~ Why do you think Jesus prevented the demons he cast out from speaking about him?
– In the midst of the busyness of his ministry, Jesus took time to pray. How do you make space for prayer in your life?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020424.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 3/4 (and Monday, February 5th – Friday, February 9th)
BLESSING OF THROATS – This weekend at both Masses. This will be a general blessing.
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is for Black, Indian and Home Missions. Please be as generous as your means allow.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Sunday, February 4th at the 10:30 am Mass – Lelito Family. 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/
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD will take place this Sunday during the 10:30 am Mass. This is a wonderful opportunity for children in PreK-4th grade. Children will be called forward before the First Reading and will return to you after the General Intercessions. Our leaders and assistants have cleared background checks.
AGAPE – THIS SUNDAY: Come join us! All are welcome as we come together to celebrate God’s love for us this Sunday, February 4th , following the 10:30 Mass. This month’s Agape is hosted by the Finance Council and Social Concerns Ministry.
WHO LOVES CHOCOLATE? LAST DAY TO ORDER IS FEBRUARY 4th! PSR is selling the World’s Finest Chocolate Bars again! You can order through Faith Direct @
faith.direct/DE831 (click on EVENTS), fill out an order form (found at the doors of the Church or at the office) and place it in the collection basket or drop box, or simply use this QR Code. HURRY! PLACE YOUR ORDER TODAY!
COLLECTING PALMS / PALMS TO ASHES SERVICE: Palms from previous years are being collected! Please place your old palms in the baskets in the vestibule or under the coat rack in the hallway. The burning of the old palms (Palms to Ashes) will take place on Tuesday, February 13th. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, falls on Wednesday, February 14th. (See below for Mass times.)
FROM THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: The Knights of Columbus, Our Lady Queen of Peace Assembly, is inviting the wives, including widows, of our 3rd and 4th degree Knights to enjoy dinner on Tuesday February 6th at 6:30 pm. The dinner will be held at St Polycarp, Mother Drexel Hall. Please notify Tom Boscher or Jack Barnas if you are able to attend.
PARISH APPRECIATION DINNER: Due to limited seating for our Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, February 10th, , we are no longer taking online reservations. Please call Kathy Curlett at 302 222 9326 to check availability. We look forward to seeing everyone who has reserved their seats. Doors will open after the 4 pm Mass on February 10, 2024. Catering by the Smyrna Diner. IMPORTANT: Please be aware that Adoration will be in the church after Mass on February 10th. We ask that you maintain a respectful silence in the hallway
ANNUAL FORUM: Were you unable to attend the Annual Forum? Visit www.saintpolycarp.org/pastoral-council
to view the information that was shared by our Pastoral and Finance Councils. While you’re visiting the Pastoral Council webpage, you can also view bios of the members of the Pastoral Council.
NEXT WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 10/11 (and Monday, February 12th – Friday, February 16th)
ASH WEDNESDAY, LENT BEGINS – FEBRUARY 14th
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Saturday, February 10th Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place at the end of the 4pm Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of the month, next Saturday, February 10th. Please plan to stay and spend some time with Jesus.
BLESSING OF NEW DRIVERS OF ANY AGE: Saturday, February 10th, during the 4pm Mass.
SHROVE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13th – The Knights of Columbus will be serving pancakes and sausage in Mother Drexel Hall from 5 pm – 6:30 pm. All are welcome. (Donations accepted.)
PALMS TO ASHES – Will take place on Tuesday, February 13th.
The service begins in Church and ends with the burning of palms outside, weather permitting.
ASH WEDNESDAY IS FEBRUARY 14th LENT BEGINS – a time of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer
ST. POLYCARP CHURCH:
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner – Tuesday, February 13th 5 – 6:30 pm
Palms to Ashes Service – Tuesday, February 13th, at 7 pm
Ash Wednesday Mass with Distribution of Ashes
Wednesday, February 14th, at 8:30 am and 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 and Benediction
Fridays in Lent, beginning February 16th, at 7 pm
ST. DENNIS CHURCH (GALENA, MD):
Ash Wednesday Mass & Distribution of Ashes – Wednesday, February 14th at 5:30 pm (Hispanic) and 7 pm
Stations of the Cross – Fridays in Lent, beginning on February 16th at 5 pm and 7 pm (Hispanic)
UPCOMING
A NEW CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN KENT COUNTY – Bishop Koenig has given permission for a Catholic High School in Kent County. Please come for coffee, donuts and a short briefing about this exciting and important opportunity for our students following Mass on Saturday and Sunday February 17th and 18th.
NEW FAITH WITH FRIENDS! 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 on February 25th at 9:00. What’s in the holy mix? Sip on wisdom-infused coffee, donuts sent from the heavens, and sweet divine fellowship!
LENTEN RETREAT: Save the date for Columbiettes Lenten retreat. Saturday, March 2, 2024 right after 8:30 am Mass. FATIMA : MIRACLE OF THE SUN
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
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. 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
THE MASS SETTING FOR ORDINARY TIME will be the Mass of Spirit and Grace (#925) and the Memorial Acclamation will be “When We Eat This Bread”.
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. The next Saturday Adoration is February 10th, 2024.
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/ February 4th at the 10:30 am Mass – Lelito Family, Saturday, February 18th at the 4 pm Mass – Dee Lim.
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: 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:
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. Tune-in to hear an interview with Lisa Ritchie, Program Manager of Catholic Charities’ Behavioral Health Services. on the February 3rd Catholic Forum podcast. 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:
WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS: RESERVATION REQUIRED BY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2: Sunday (February 11th) at 1 pm at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Newark, DE. For all couples celebrating their 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, 50th, wedding anniversary, or any anniversary beyond 50th.
WORLD DAY OF CONSECRATED LIFE: Saturday February 3, 2024 at 5:00 pm Mass at Holy Family Parish, 15 Gender Road, Newark, Delaware.
RETROUVAILLE: REDISCOVER THE LOVE IN YOUR MARRIAGE – February 16 – 18th (Friday – Sunday) at the Family Life Center in Malvern, PA.Tens of thousands of couples have healed their marriages through Retrouvaille.
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH (MIDDLETOWN) PRESENTS – “WAY OF THE CROSS” Sunday, February 18, 2024, 4:00 pm
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER – March 1-3, 2024 at the Brighton Suites in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Learn tools to revitalize romance and deepen communication in your marriage!!!
25th ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE OF THE CATHOLIC MENS’S FELLOWSHIP OF MARYLAND Saturday, March 9, at Saint Philip Neri Church in Linthicum (Maryland)
A RACHEL’S VINEYARD CATHOLIC RETREAT Friday, April 19 – Sunday, 21, 2024. This retreat offers emotional and spiritual healing for anyone who has struggled with the pain of abortion.
LET US PRAY: St. Blaise – February 3 – Blessing of Throats