Loving God,
We greet this Fourth of July with grateful hearts as we call to mind the vision of freedom and justice for all upon which our country was built.
We give thanks for those who imagined this vision.
We are grateful to those who continue advocating for and pursuing a land of peace, liberty and equity for all.
We realize it is still being created, however, as we witness the divisions, prejudices and injustices that plague us.
May we hold fast to the dream and vision of unity within our country.
May we dedicate ourselves to living as brothers and sisters respectful of one another’s dignity and need for equity.
May we also realize the importance of reverencing our earth which provides for and sustains much of our lives.
We give glory and praise to our God and pray that we may always live in harmony as one family.
Amen.
(~Sr. Rita Ostry, ND)
Happy 4th of July! ~ God bless the USA!
13th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME
July 1/2, 2023
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ How have you experienced God’s blessing this week?
~ How are you being invited to die to the old self to live more fully in union with Christ?
~ What helps you to receive the Gospel message with joy, even when you find it challenging?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070223.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 . (New Bulletins are posted on Fridays.)
BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE
TODAY:
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Our Parish School of Religion (PSR) offers religious education classes for grade PK – 9. Register TODAY. Late fees begin tomorrow, July 1.
Visit https://saintpolycarp.org/religious-education/ for more information. Thank you to all those families who have registered early. Early registration assists us in planning and saves us money on ordering and preparing for the year ahead.
THIS WEEKEND, JULY 1/2 (& Monday, July 3rd – Friday, July 7th)
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD will be offered this Sunday, July 2nd at the 10:30 am Mass. Children ages P/K-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. Questions? Please contact Erica Taylor at (302) 653 – 4101 or dre@saintpolycarp.org.
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
THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED on Monday, July 3rd and Tuesday, July 4th in observance of the 4th of July holiday.
FAITH WITH FRIENDS A new Catholic Formation Opportunity is available! Please join us to watch videos and learn about our faith with friends. Sessions will be on the first Thursday of the month from 6 pm to 8 pm. Our first session is on Thursday, July 6th, in Room 7. (Please use the Office/Chapel door under the portico.) Light refreshments will be provided. Please contact Ashley Wilson at (302)535 –4118 for more details! Looking forward to seeing you!
SACRISTANS: We are looking for more people to serve as sacristans! Sacristans have the duty to arrive early to the Church in order to unlock it and set up for Mass. Becoming a sacristan would be a great way to learn more about our beautiful liturgy and become more involved in carrying it out. No previous knowledge is required. If you are interested, please contact the head sacristan Adam Bauer at the email ajpd.bauer@gmail.com.
IS GOD CALLING YOU! Join our PSR family and share your gifts and talents with us. We need YOU to help US spread God’s message to our youth. Where is God calling you to serve?
We currently need to fill the following positions:
3rd grade: Catechist (Sunday mornings)
5th grade: Catechist (Tuesday evenings)
Please contact our CRE, Erica Taylor, at (302) 653 – 4101 or dre@saintpolycarp.org for more information
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2023 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: As of the last report, $58,249.03 (97.08%) of our $60,000 goal has been pledged. Thank you to those who have already contributed to this year’s campaign and to those parishioners who have signed pledge cards. We are $1750.97 from our goal!!! We’re getting there, but we still need your help! If you haven’t already done so, please consider supporting this year’s appeal, no matter the amount. Pledge cards can be found in the pews and at the doors of the church. It is important that everyone follows through with payments on pledges. Please mail all payments in the self-addressed, return envelope provided with your payment reminder mailings. If our parish exceeds the $60,000 goal in paid pledges , we will receive back half of the money collected above the goal for projects around our campus. Together we can reach our goal!
To learn more about the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal, visit www.cdow.org; click “Giving” then “Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal,” or simply scan this QR code with your cellphone.
NEXT WEEKEND, JULY 8/9
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION will take place next Saturday, July 8th following Communion at the 4 pm Mass. There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction lasting for an hour after Mass. Please plan to attend next Saturday and future Adorations in conjunction with the second year of the Eucharistic Revival.
UPCOMING
ATTENTION MINISTRY LEADERS! SAVE THE DATE! Mark your calendar now for our Annual Leadership Organizational Meeting on TUESDAY, July 25th, at 7 pm in Mother Drexel Hall. Two representatives from each ministry are expected to attend this important meeting.
CHANGE THE WORLD: BECOME CATHOLIC! 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 know someone who needs First Eucharist and/or Confirmation? The Catholic faith can fulfill their desire
for a closer relationship with Our Lord by participating in the RCIA process.
If interested, the parish will hold three Inquiry Sessions:
Monday, August 14th, at 6:30 pm,
Wednesday, August 23rd, at 10:30 am
Monday, August 28th, at 6:30 pm.
Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information: DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653 – 8279.
ST. POLYCARP PARISH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT AND BUFFET DINNER – Sunday, September 10th
The Annual Golf Tournament and Buffet Dinner will be at Garrison Lake Golf Club, 101 West Fairways Circle, Smyrna, DE . For more information and registration, contact Dennis Skinner at papadskinz@yahoo.com or (302) 981 – 8743 and Anna Skinner at ANNA.SKINZ@gmail.com or(302) 883 – 5647. You can also scan this QR Code found below.
ONGOING
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from noon to 8pm in the Chapel. We need a few more people to sign up for a scheduled Adoration time slot so we can expand our Adoration hours. We need adorers for these timeslots on Tuesday: 9:30 am, 12:30 and 3:00 pm. Call or email Cheryl Thomas salcrest7@gmail.com or (302) 363 – 0404.
All are welcome to stop in and adore Jesus between 12 pm 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. 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 9:30 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. Deacon Matt Newsome will discuss his new book “The Devout Life,” on the July 1st episode of Catholic Forum. 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:
Dear Father,
I am so thankful for this nation. For all the sacrifices others have made to build and defend this country, I am grateful. Thank you for the opportunities and freedoms we have in the United States of America. Help me never to take these blessings for granted. Help me to live my life in a way that glorifies you, Lord. Give me the strength to be a blessing in someone’s life today, and grant me the opportunity to lead others into the freedom that can be found in knowing Jesus Christ. In your name, I pray. Amen.
(learnreligions.com)