January 3/4, 2026
THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
~ How can your parish reach out in service with fellow Christians in your community?
~ During Advent and Christmas Time, has your faith journey led you to see places where Christ’s light is shining?
~ During these seasons, have you found ways to be Christ’s light to others?
BLESSINGS IN THE NEW YEAR!
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010426.cfm
DAILY BIBLE READINGS: https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
LIVE-STREAMING FROM ST. POLYCARP: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays. (Once at the site, click on “Live”.) Live stream from the Cathedral of St. Peter can be viewed on the Diocesan YouTube channel (DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING) at https://www.youtube.com/user/DioceseofWilm
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . or use this QR code. Previous bulletins can also be viewed. (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 or use this QR code
IMPORTANT REMINDERS: When receiving the Blessed Sacrament at Mass, please consume the Eucharist in front of the Priest, Deacon, or Eucharistic Minister prior to stepping away. It is not permitted to walk away with the Blessed Sacrament, take it back to your pew or leave Church with Jesus in your hand. When approaching the altar to receive Holy Communion, please approach with reverence (folding hands and being in a prayerful mode) and after receiving the Sacrament. Remember, it is the Body and Blood of Jesus that you just received.
Wednesday, December 31 – Friday, January 9
THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY, HOLY MOTHER OF GOD: A Holy Day of Obligation (and New Year’s Day).
Masses will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 31st, at 4 pm and Thursday, January 1st, at 10 am
This Holy Day of Obligation is a celebration of Mary’s motherhood of Jesus. It is fitting to honor Mary as the Mother of Jesus following the celebration of the birth of Christ. It is a reminder of the role she played in the salvation of humankind. The Blessing of Church calendars will take place at both Masses. Thank you to Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services for providing our calendars.
THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED on Thursday, January 1, and Friday, January 2, 2026.
THE SECOND COLLECTION this weekend, January 3/4 is for the Black and Indian Missions and Home Missions. Thank you for your generosity.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4: The Christian Formation Committee and PSR will be sponsoring the January Agape on January 4 following the 10:30 am Mass. Please join us for food & fellowship as we kick off the New Year! Come learn more about what the Christian Formation Office offers and how you can get involved! We are always looking for new people to join us. We can do great things with more parishioner involvement!
THE VOCATION CHALICE : January 4 – Louise Peters will receive the Vocation Chalice for a week of prayer for vocations.
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS: Thank you for your support and for helping us decorate the hall during the Christmas Season. Ornaments will be available for you to pick-up and take home anytime after the Agape on the Epiphany.
NEWLY RENOVATED KITCHEN: As we kick off our new kitchen we want to make sure that those who utilize the kitchen are properly trained on the new equipment. We are having a training session for this specific reason on January 6th, at 6:30 pm for any and all member’s of our vast committee’s/ministries that intend on using the kitchen. Additionally, each committee should be sending at least one member. Please join us during this time.
GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! WILD, WILD WEST CELEBRATION hosted by Brother Vincent Knights of Columbus & Columbiettes. January 17, 2026. 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm DINNER & DANCE – Featuring Cowboy Charisma. Join us for a fun filled night! Tickets $45 Contact Mike Cunningham: mikec923@yahoo.com or 302-379-8952.
UPCOMING:
FAITH WITH FRIENDS: Start the New Year with fellowship and faith! Faith with Friends gathers Sunday, January 11, at 9 am in the Library. Invite a friend to grow in faith together!
ADULT FAITH FORMATION – A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO GROW IN FAITH: Make 2026 a year of renewal! If you are seeking something meaningful for the New Year, come study the Source and Summit with us. It’s on FORMED and is about the Eucharist. Let’s uncover the richness of the Mass that so many are now finding. We meet every Tuesday in the Library after the 8:30 am Mass. We will begin on January 13. Any questions, call Cookie Ruane 302-540-6429
MONTHLY BREAKFAST: On January 25th, the Brother Vincent Knights of Columbus will be hosting a Pancake breakfast following the 10:30 Mass.
Menu: Pancakes (3), Scrambled eggs, sausage patty, toast, coffee, tea, orange juice, water. (Menu subject to change each month.)
Price: Adults $7.00, Children 6 years and older $5.00, Children 5 years old and under eat for free! Family of 4 or more $20.00
Please help the Knights help others by supporting our monthly breakfasts!
ANNUAL FORUM: SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2026 The Saint Polycarp Annual Forum will take place on Sunday, January 25, 2026, following the 10:30 am Mass. Join us in Mother Drexel Hall to discuss our accomplishments and share your dreams for our Parish community. The Knights of Columbus will be serving breakfast.
PARISH APPRECIATION DINNER: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2026: Reserve your spot for the Parish Appreciation Dinner. If you are active in a church organization or serve in any ministry at St. Polycarp Parish, the Parish would like to show their appreciation by inviting you to the appreciation dinner. This year the event will take place on Saturday, February 21, following the 4:00 pm Mass. Seating will be limited so reserve your spot today. You may make your reservation using the link below or simply scan the QR code. Not a fan of online formats? Call Kathy Curlett at 302-222-9326 to reserve your seat. https://forms.gle/9eTWfTFaksEHHnWC8
Visit www.formed.org.
Type in our Parish zip code (19977),
Click on St. Polycarp Church then enter your name and email address!
You can also scan this QR code.
Is there someone you know who would like to explore the Catholic faith – someone unbaptized, or baptized in the Catholic or another Christian tradition? Do you or someone you know need the Sacraments of First Eucharist and/or Confirmation? The Catholic faith can fulfill their desire for a closer relationship with Our Lord by participating in the OCIA process. Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information: DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653 – 8279.
HOLY COMMUNION TO THE SICK AND HOMEBOUND – Do you know someone who is sick or homebound and not able to make it to Mass? We would love to give them the opportunity to receive Holy Communion in their homes. Please contact April Corrales at 302-220–9616 or Lori Ostrowski at 302-540–6522.
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.
Upcoming Saturday Eucharistic Adoration at St. Polycarp: Saturdays: January 10, February 7, March 7, April 11 and May 9.
TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 11 am to 8 pm 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 11 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. January 4 – Louise Peters; January 18 – Sabrina Paulino
WE NEED YOU AND YOUR TALENT! DO YOU PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT? WE NEED INSTRUMENTALISTS!
Saint Polycarp Parish’s Music Ministry needs skilled instrumentalists for liturgies. Your talents can help us avoid a shortage of musicians. Contact Kathy Curlett at 302-222-9326 for more information.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP (Pathway to Peace) meets on most Fridays at 5:30 pm. Please contact the parish office if you are considering joining us. 302-653-8279 or office@saintpolycarp.org.
CONNECTED IN CHRIST (ADULT FAITH FORMATION) meets every Tuesday after the 8:30 am Mass in the Parish Library – ALL are welcome. We begin with prayer, then watch a video, usually from FORMED and follow up with a discussion. We close with prayer by 11 am. Come and share your faith with us. Any questions, call Cookie Ruane, 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.
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!
SCAM: If you receive emails or texts from Fr. Jim asking for favors, gift cards or gifts or asking you to return his email because he has a favor to ask of you, please ignore and delete. They are not from Fr. Jim. If an email looks suspicious and you’re not sure, give the office a call. Fr. Jim has never/will never solicit donations or favors in this manner. He will not ask you to email Church directories.
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 through 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 Boyardee 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 CHANNEL/LIVE STREAM: 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.
ST DENNIS CHURCH: http://www.stdennischurch.org 153 N. Main St. Galena, MD 21635 410-648-5145
ST DENNIS CHURCH LIVE STREAM: https://www.youtube.com/@stdennisparish_galenamd/streams
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. Published every other week.
EWTN: ewtn.com
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Listen to Catholic Forum each week. Tune-in this week to meet Salesianum High School students, Anthony Morgan and Shaun Hahn, and learn how they are helping Catholic Charities’ Bayard House. The Catholic Forum podcast on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music podcasts and YouTube.com/DioceseofWilm debuts every Wednesday at 12:00 pm and on Relevant Radio 640 every Saturday afternoon at 1:30 pm. More information is available at https://cdow.org/ministries/catholic-forum-podcast-radio-program/.
January 3/4
THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said,“Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.