FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ Who are the modern-day prophets that speak God’s Word to us?
~ How do we prevent our hearts from becoming hardened to God’s Word?
– What teaching of Jesus most astonishes you? How does it lead to a deeper awareness of who Jesus is?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012824.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, JANUARY 27/28 (and Monday, January 29th – Friday, February 2nd)
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is for Parish Utilities. Please be as generous as your means allow.
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE for SPECIAL OLYMPICS – Special Collection at the doors of the Church – This Weekend: Our Knights of Columbus will once again be collecting donations to support this annual plunge. The Polar Bear Plunge/Special Olympics collection will take place this weekend, January 27th and 28th. Please support the 4,200 Special Olympics Delaware athletes. 100% of all money collected goes to the Delaware Special Olympics.
Your generous donations should be placed in an envelope marked Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics and then placed in the collection basket or handed 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. Please make all donations by Sunday, January 28th. Thank you for your generous support. The Plunge will take place on Sunday, February 4th, at 1 pm in Rehoboth Beach. The Knights team that participates under the ‘Polar Knights’ include family members throughout the state, as well as, members from our local Brother Vincent Council.
BVM SODALITY SOUP & BAKE SALE:
This weekend after Masses in the Hall. Please support the ladies in their annual fundraiser with purchasing baked goods and 
homemade soups. Thank you!
WHO LOVES CHOCOLATE? Our PSR is selling the World’s Finest Chocolate Bars again! The last day to order is February 4th, so place your order soon. 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.
PALMS: 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.
2023 TAX STATEMENTS were sent via email this past Tuesday, January 23rd. If you did not receive one and would like one, please contact the office at (302) 653 – 8279 or email office@saintpolycarp.org. There were 2 emails sent out with your tax statement. Please use the most recent version and disregard the first. This pertains mainly to those who eGive. There was a small glitch and it has been fixed. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
PARISH APPRECIATION DINNER: This is your last chance to reserve online for our Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, February 10th, 2024, following our 4:00 pm Mass. Seating is limited, so place your reservations today. Deadline is January 28th, 2024. You may also call Kathy Curlett at (302) 222 – 9326 to reserve your seats. To reserve your seat online use the QR code below or visit https://forms.gle/TREWak6DL8JhndbA9
ANNUAL FORUM: Were you unable to attend last weekend’s 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.
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
NEXT WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 3/4 (and Monday, February 5th – Friday, February 9th)
BLESSING OF THROATS – Next weekend at both Masses. This will be a general blessing.
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.
UPCOMING
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, LENT BEGINS – February 14th
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!
SOCIAL CONCERNS: The DHCI* ministry is in need of assistance. 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/
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:
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640AM. Scott Wilson, principal of Saints Peter & Paul High School in Easton is the guest on the January 27th 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.
HAPPENING ELSEWHERE:
LET US PRAY: St. John Bosco – January 31
Friend of the young,
Teacher in the ways of God,
Your dedication to empowering the needy inspires us still.
Help me to work for a better world,
where the young are given the chance to flourish,
where the poor’s dream for justice can come true, and where God’s compassion is shown to be real.
Intercede for me as I bring my needs to you
and to our heavenly Mother, the Help of Christians.
Saint John Bosco,
Pray for us!