THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ 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?
(Pastoral Liturgy)
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010823.cfm
LIVE-STREAMING: PLEASE NOTE: We are experiencing some technical issues with our live streaming. We hope to live stream at 4pm on Saturday. Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays. (Mass from the Cathedral of St. Peter in Wilmington may be viewed on live stream at 9:30 am on Sunday at www.cdow.org.)
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE
THIS WEEKEND, JANUARY 7/8 (& week of January 8)
CHURCH CALENDARS are available at the doors of the Church.
SECOND COLLECTION this week is for our Parish School of Religion (PSR). Thank you for your continued generosity in supporting the religious education of our youth.
THE CHRISTMAS SEASON will end on Monday, January 9th with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. May the joy and peace of Christmas remain with you all year long!
CHURCH ENVELOPES – We have been notified that due to the winter storm there has been a delay in the delivery of the offering envelopes. If you could temporarily please place your offering in a regular envelope and put your full name and address (if you know your envelope number, please add that as well) on the front of the envelope until they arrive, we would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your patience and understanding in this matter.
NEXT WEEKEND WEEKEND, JANUARY 14/15 (& week of January 15)
COME TO THE BROTHER VINCENT CHUCK WAGON! January 14th Dinner and Show (5:30-9 pm in the hall), sponsored by the Brother Vincent Knights of Columbus and the Columbiettes. The show features The Legends of Country Music – Sean Jamison and Jenna Young with Country Music. Tickets are $40.00 each. Tickets may be purchased by check (made payable to Brother Vincent Council), by credit card through Faith Direct CLICK HERE, or by using the QR code. Have questions? Contact: Dennis Skinner papaskinz@yahoo.com or (302) 981 – 8743.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD (CLOW) takes place next Sunday, January 15 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.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Next Sunday, January 15 at the 10:30 am Mass – Hogrebe Family. Please arrive 15 minutes before your Mass time and pick up materials in the sacristy.
THE PARISH APPRECIATION DINNER IS BACK! If you are active in a church organization or serve in any ministry at Saint Polycarp Parish, the parish would like to show their appreciation by inviting you to the Parish Appreciation Dinner. This year the event will take place on Saturday, February 18, 2023, following the 4 pm Mass. Seating will be limited, so reserve your spot today. You may make your reservations 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 seats. https://forms.gle/kvRVfNUABkEVu4nj9
2022 Tax Statements will be sent out via email during the third week of January.
If you do not receive one within a reasonable timeframe, then please contact the office.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
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 this Sunday 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. 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, January 15th 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 15, 10:30 am Mass – Hogrebe Family; 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 7th. tune-in to hear an interview with Allison Gingras, author of the new book, “Encountering Signs of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints, and the Abundant Grace of God.: 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: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, 265th Pope of the Catholic Church.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927 passed into eternal life on December 31, 2022
Pope Benedict’s election as Pope occurred in the 2005 papal conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict chose to be known by the title “pope emeritus” upon his resignation on February 28, 2013.
If you would like to learn more about Pope Benedict XVI, you will want to watch “Benedict XVI – A Love Affair with the Truth” on FORMED. This video explores Joseph Ratzinger’s early life in war-torn Germany, his early friendship and collaboration with Pope John Paul II, his rise to the Papacy, and his philosophy and life as a leader of the Catholic Church.
