Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God – Holy Day of Obligation (see below*)
(New Year’s Day)
MASSES: Friday, December 31st at 4pm and Saturday, January 1st at 10:00am.
Our Church Calendars will be blessed at these Masses.
*The obligation to attend Mass has been removed but this day remains a Holy Day.
This Solemnity has been deemed important enough to be recognized as “Holy” and remains an important day to attend Mass. A great way to start a new year!
Blessings in the New Year!
The Epiphany of the Lord
MASSES: Saturday, January 1st at 4pm and Sunday, January 2nd at 10:30 am.
We have seen His star in the East, and have come with gifts to adore the Lord.
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010222.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. Please bear with us as we work through the challenges with our live streaming. 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/.
DIVINE MERCY: We will not gather to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet tomorrow, Friday, December 31st.
THIS WEEKEND, JANUARY 1/2
Don’t put those decorations away yet! The joy and wonder of Christmas is not limited to just Christmas Day but lasts for a period of time.
The Christmas Season begins with the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas – December 25th) and ends with the Baptism of the Lord, this year, January 9th.
Celebrate the true Christmas Season!
RECONCILIATION: There will be confessions on January 1st from 2:30-3:30pm.
VOCATION CHALICE: January 2nd – The Ruane Family
AGAPE: Due to the recent uptick in COVID cases in Delaware, the January 2nd Agape has been canceled. This decision was made with input from the leaders of both the Liturgy Committee and the Parish and Family Life Committee. We look forward to being able to gather safely with our parish family.
THE WEEK OF JANUARY 2
NO PSR JANUARY 2nd or JANUARY 4th. PSR CLASSES resume for Grades P/K – 4 on Sunday, January 9th at 9am (in-person). Classes for Grades 5-8 resume Tuesday, January 11th at 7pm (in-person).
NEXT WEEKEND, JANUARY 8/9
SECOND COLLECTION next week is for our Parish School of Religion. Thank you for your continued generosity in supporting the religious education of our parish youth
Bishop Robert Barron’s series “THE CREED”. Please join Connected in Christ on Tuesday mornings beginning January 11, 2022, at 9:15 am in Mother Drexel Hall to watch and reflect on Bishop Robert Barron’s series “The Creed”. Explore the meaning of “belief” and whether it contradicts reason, the creative love of God the Father, the shocking mystery of his Son’s Incarnation and the great drama of his Crucifixion and Resurrection, the life-giving power of the Spiritus Sanctus, or “Holy Breath,” shared between them, and the mystical reality of the Church, which calls all of humanity out of the world of sin to receive forgiveness and participate in Christ’s divinity—not only in the next world, but here and now. Bring your own coffee!
UPCOMING/ONGOING
LONG TERM PLANNING: The Finance Council here at Saint Polycarp Parish is looking towards the future with the development of a long-range plan. While we have always had an annual plan, the long-range plan will help steer and direct the parish for the next 3 – 5 years and longer. To help make this endeavor a success, we want to have several parishioners who would bring different viewpoints and perspectives and would be willing to actively participate in the 3 sessions we are anticipating. The sessions would take place on weekends for 2 – 3 hours. There will also be some prayer, reading and thinking to take place in between sessions. If you would like to participate or to learn more, please reach out to John Fcasni. He can be reached at john.fcasni@gmail.com or call or text him at (609) 529-1986.
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, taking place at the Parish campus on 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: 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. Call or text Alice Gaston 302-670-7924 to sign up. See the Bulletin for schedule. January 2nd – The Ruane Family
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. Listen anytime at cdow.org/CatholicForum or search Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify or iHeartRadio podcasts. Listen anytime to the Annual Christmas Program. On the Christmas episode of Catholic Forum, after news from The Dialog, we will hear Bishop William E. Koenig’s first Christmas message to the people of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Christmas greetings from some of the great priests and deacons of the Diocese of Wilmington, a report from The Vatican, and some great Christmas music. https://catholicforumradio.libsyn.com/catholic-forum-dec-18-2021-annual-christmas-program
LET US PRAY:
Prayer for the New Year
Let us live each day in the most loving ways, the God-conscious way. Let us serve all who are in need, regardless of race, color or creed. May our year be filled with peace, prosperity and love. May God’s blessings shower us and bestow upon each of us a bright, healthy and peaceful new year. (adapted xavier.edu)