3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ If the Lord is our salvation, why does anxiety sometimes absorb you?
~ When there are disagreements in your parish, how can seeking to be united in the same mind and the same purpose make a difference?
~ Why is it important that James and John left their work and their father “immediately”?
(Pastoral Liturgy)
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012223.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, JANUARY 21/22 (& week of January 22)
The BLESSING OF LECTORS will take place tomorrow, January 21, at the 4 pm Mass.
SECOND COLLECTION this week is for Parish Utilities.
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE for SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Our Knights of Columbus will once again be collecting donations to support this annual plunge for Special Olympics. Collection to support this event will take place outside the Church doors THIS weekend, January 21st and 22nd after both Masses. Your generous donations should be placed in an envelope marked Polar Bear Plunge or Special Olympics and then placed in the collection basket or given to one of the Knights and their families on your way out the door. (Checks should be made out to Knights of Columbus-Brother Vincent Council.) The Plunge will occur on February 5th at 1 pm in Rehoboth Beach.
PSR CLASSES – IN PERSON CLASSES THIS WEEK
PSR WORLD’S FINEST CHOCOLATE SALE BEGINS THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 23! You can order through Faith Direct @ faith.direct/DE831(click on EVENTS) beginning Sunday, or fill out an order form (see this weekend’s Bulletin insert 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 5. You will be notified when chocolate arrives. All proceeds benefit PSR! Thank you for your support!
PARISH APPRECIATION DINNER: This is your last chance to reserve your place at our Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, February 18, 2023, following our 4:00 pm Mass. RSVP REQUIRED. Seating is limited, so place your reservations today. using this QR code, the link below or by calling Kathy Curlett at 302-222-9326. https://forms.gle/kvRVfNUABkEVu4nj9 Deadline is Sunday, January 22, 2023.
CHURCH CALENDARS are available at the doors of the Church.
2022 Tax Statements were emailed this past week. If you did not receive one and would like one, please contact Kathy in the Parish Office. (302)653-8279.
RESPECT LIFE: The Respect Life Ministry will have a guest speaker from New Day Pregnancy Center at our Tuesday, February 7th, meeting. If you are interested in attending, please email: eckard.margie@gmail.com. We need a head count by Friday, January 27th. Thank you.
The parish office is in need of volunteers to help out at the front desk on Wednesday mornings from 9 am to noon, and Friday afternoons from noon to 3 pm. 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.
STUFF THE TRUCK: January 21, 2023 10 am – 4pm at the First Presbyterian Church. Collecting: Supplies for Code Purple – hats, sweaters, long underwear, new socks in bags, gloves, sleeping bags, backpacks, etc.; Non-Perishable Food for the Smyrna-Clayton Food Pantry – Hot & cold cereals, Peanut Butter, Canned fruits, canned meats, canned vegetables, spaghetti sauce, etc.; Used Eyeglasses for re-use. CLICK HERE to see flyer
NEXT WEEKEND WEEKEND, JANUARY 28/29 (& week of January 29)
SOUP AND BAKE SALE – BVM Sodality will be holding their annual Soup & Bake Sale following Masses the weekend of January 28 & 29. Please stop by Mother Drexel Hall to pick up some delicious soups & some tasty treats! Thank you for supporting the Sodality!
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Sunday, January 29 at the 10:30 am Mass – Stephanie Roch. Please arrive 15 minutes before your Mass time and pick up materials in the sacristy.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
A Biblical Walk Through the Mass (video series) at St. Dennis Parish in Galena, MD each Sunday of Lent, beginning February 26, from 9:15-10:45 am and continuing every Sunday for 6 weeks. Thanks to a generous benefactor the study will be free, but please register by February 1 to allow time for the materials to arrive. For more information or to register for the study, email Jennifer Hinton at stdennisreled@gmail.com or call 410-648-5287ST.
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 5 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/ Sunday January 29, 10:30 am – Stephanie Roch
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!
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 January 21st, Dan Pin from the Diocese of Wilmington Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry will discuss the upcoming “Jesus Night,” a celebration of fellowship, fun, witness and worship for students in graded 6 through 12, plus parent and ministry leaders. 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:
“When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God himself speaks to his people, and Christ, present in his word, proclaims the Gospel” (GIRM, no. 29).
Tracing of the Cross before the Gospel is proclaimed: “May the Lord be in my mind, on my lips, and in my heart.” When we make such a gesture at Mass, it is truly a profound prayer, opening ourselves up to the words of Jesus Christ.