4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ How do today’s readings help you consider that a humble disposition is central to the Christian Life?
~ Why would humility play a role in accepting your calling?
~ Which beatitude do you identify with the most?
(Pastoral Liturgy)
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012923.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 28/29 (& week of January 29th)
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: This Sunday, January 29th at the 10:30 am Mass – Stephanie Roch. Please arrive 15 minutes before your Mass time and pick up materials in the sacristy.
SOUP AND BAKE SALE – BVM Sodality will be holding their annual Soup & Bake Sale following Masses this weekend, January 28th & 29th. Please stop by Mother Drexel Hall to pick up some delicious soups & some tasty treats! Thank you for supporting the Sodality!
PSR CLASSES – IN PERSON CLASSES THIS WEEK .
PSR GRADE 5 & GRADE 6 students and their families will attend the 4pm Mass tomorrow, Saturday, January 28th. Please gather in the hall by 3:45 for attendance.
PSR WORLD’S FINEST CHOCOLATE SALE – ORDER BY FEBRUARY 5th. You can order through Faith Direct @ 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!
POLAR BEAR PLUNGE for SPECIAL OLYMPICS: If you missed the collection at the doors last weekend, it’s not too late to donate! Checks should be made out to Knights of Columbus-Brother Vincent Council. Please make all donations by Sunday, January 29th. 100% of all money collected goes to the Delaware Special Olympics. The Plunge takes place on February 5th at 1 pm in Rehoboth Beach. Thank you for your generous support.
We will be digging up the sewer pipe on the South Street side of the Church on Monday and Tuesday . We ask that you please avoid the area until the work is done.
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
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.
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.
THE DIALOG: Don’t forget to pick up the new edition of our Diocesan Newspaper as you leave Mass this weekend!
2022 TAX STATEMENTS: All statements have officially been emailed out. There was one final correction made to a handful of parishioners which was addressed. Please use the most recent emailed statement that you received. Thank you for your time and understanding in this matter. Questions? Contact Kathy in the Parish Office. (302)653-8279 or office@saintpolycarp.org.
ST. DENNIS: Masses for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Thursday, Feb. 2nd ) and the Feast of St. Blaise (Friday, Feb. 3rd) will take place at 8:30 am at St. Dennis, Galena MD. Candles will be blessed on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and throats will be blessed on the Feast of St. Blaise. Feb. 3rd is First Friday and St. Dennis will have Sacred Heart devotions at the close of Mass, as well as, Eucharistic Adoration until 10:00 am. All parishioners from St. Polycarp are invited to attend.
A Biblical Walk Through the Mass (video series) at St. Dennis Parish in Galena, MD each Sunday of Lent, beginning February 26th, 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 1st 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 410-648-5287.
NEXT WEEKEND WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 4/5 (& week of February 5th)
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD (CLOW) takes place next Sunday, February 5th during the 10:30 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.
COME ONE, COME ALL as we celebrate the first Agape of the new year on Sunday February 5th after the 10:30am Mass. Enjoy fellowship ,a light lunch, along with a variety of desserts and beverages.
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.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
BLESSINGS: Sunday, February 12th – Blessing of New Drivers; Saturday, February 18th – Blessing of Parish Ministries
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 5th 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 29th, 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 28th, tune-in to learn about Catholic Schools Week when Dr. Lou De Angelo, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Wilmington is the guest. 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: St. Blaise – February 3rd
O Blessed St Blaise, you received from God the power to protect men from throat diseases and other maladies. Take away the illness that afflicts me, keep my throat healthy and perfect so that I can talk correctly and be able to proclaim and sing praises to God.
I promise you, St Blaise, that the words coming from my mouth will always speak:
The truth and not lies; justice and not calumnies; goodness and not harshness; comprehension and not intransigence; forgiveness and not condemnation; pardon and not accusation; respect and not disparagement. Conciliation and not intrigue; calmness and not irritation; unselfishness and not egotism; edification and not scandal; enthusiasm and not defeatism; conformity and not complaint; love and not hate; joyfulness and not sadness; faith and not disbelief; hope and not despair.
St Blaise, keep my throat free from illness so that I can praise God, my Creator, and thank you, my protector.
Amen.