5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ How do you care for those in need?
~ When was the last time you shared your faith with others?
~ Does the light of your faith shine dimly or brightly? Why?
(Pastoral Liturgy)
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020523.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 4/5 (& week of February 5th)
SOUTH STREET DOORS: Please use caution when entering/exiting the South Street Doors. A portion of the sidewalk is missing due to the problem with the sewer drains. Please avoid if possible.
RESTROOMS: The bathrooms nearest to the Church are once again open! The pipe that was full of roots, has now been replaced. Thank you for your patience.
SECOND COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND: Black & Indian Missions and Home Missions
PSR IN-PERSON CLASSES THIS WEEK for all grades. This Sunday, February 5th, – Sacramental Prep Meeting for parents of Grade 2 & ISP students begins at 9am, followed by Rite of Enrollment.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD (CLOW) for this Sunday, February 5th at the 10:30 am Mass has been cancelled.
COME ONE, COME ALL as we celebrate the first Agape of the new year this Sunday February 5th after the 10:30am Mass. Enjoy fellowship ,a light lunch, along with a variety of desserts and beverages.
MASS INTENTION FOR LAST SUNDAY’S 10:30 am MASS: The Mass Intention for Fr. Tom Flowers was a LIVING INTENTION.
PSR WORLD’S FINEST CHOCOLATE SALE – LAST CHANCE TO ORDER, THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5th. You can order through Faith Direct at faith.direct/DE831(click on EVENTS) beginning Sunday, or fill out an order form (available at the doors of the Church or CLICK HERE) and place the order form along with payment in the collection basket or drop box, or simply use the QR Code below. All orders & money must be turned in by February 5th. You will be notified when chocolate arrives. All proceeds benefit PSR! Thank you for your support!
RESPECT LIFE: Due to lack of interest, the Respect Life Ministry has cancelled the guest speaker from New Day Pregnancy Center on Tuesday, February 7th, meeting. The Respect Life Ministry meetings will no longer meet on the 1st Tuesday of the month but will be joining the Social Concerns Meetings on the 3rd Tuesdays of the month. All are invited to attend. Questions? Email: eckard.margie@gmail.com. Thank you.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: 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: Please read this weekend’s Bulletin for information from our 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
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.
NEXT WEEKEND WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 11/12 (& week of February 12th)
SOFT PRETZEL SALE NEXT WEEKEND: The Knights of Columbus will be selling pretzels after both Masses next weekend. Like everything else, costs have increased. Pretzels are now $2 each or 3 pretzels for $5.00.
BLESSINGS: Sunday, February 12th – Blessing of New Drivers of any age will take place at the 10:30 am Mass next Sunday, February 12th.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
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 21 from 5:00 pm until 6:30 pm prior to the Palms to Ashes Service. All are welcome to join us.
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 21.
ASH WEDNESDAY: Ash Wednesday Masses – February 22nd
St. Polycarp – 8:30 am and 7 pm
St. Dennis – 5:30 pm (Hispanic) & 7 pm
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/
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! Recommendation from Deacon Frank: Heart of Camden (New Jersey): The Story of Fr. Michael J. Doyle. CLICK HERE
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 4th, the book, “How I Became a Man: A Life with Communists, Atheists, and Other Nice People”, by Father Alexander Krylov, will be discussed. on the Feb. A 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: Serenity Prayer
Lord God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.