15th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
~ Have you ever considered God’s law as something that is within your heart?
~ In light of today’s Gospel, should you reconsider your openness to granting mercy to others?
~ Why is it not enough to just obey the law?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071325.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”.) Please note: At times the live-stream fails to work. We apologize for the inconvenience. 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.
2025 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL – PARISH GOAL NOT MET
This year we are having trouble meeting our goal for the Annual Catholic Appeal. Unfortunately, in the months since this year’s appeal began, we have not yet reached our goal of $61,500. Presently, we are $5533.34 (9%) short of our responsibility to support our Diocesan ministries to those who are in need.
We ask that all families participate in this year’s appeal. EVERY GIFT, no matter how small, makes a difference. With only 158 donors participating (out of 700+ families), we ask that those who have not participated prayerfully consider making a donation in support of all the ministries that serve thousands in need. Imagine if every family contributed to this appeal, how we could make a difference in our Diocese.
If you have not participated in this year’s appeal, envelopes can be found at the doors of the Church.
You can also give online at https://www.givecentral.org/appeals-form-registration/acp67610f75825c4/user/guest or use this QR code.
THIS WEEK: Friday, July 12th, 2025 – Friday, July 18th, 2025
SECOND COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND: The Second Collection this weekend, July 12th and 13th, is for our Parish Utilities. As you can imagine, with the recent heat waves, we are expecting high utility bills due to the air conditioning. Please be as generous as your means allow. Thank you for your support.
FRIDAY OFFICE HOURS FOR JULY: The office will close at noon on Fridays during the month July.
POPE LEO XIV PRAYER CARDS: Pope Leo XIV Prayer Cards are available at all the entrances into Church. Please pick one up and take home to pray for our Pope on a daily basis.
2026 MASS INTENTION BOOK: The New 2026 Mass Intention Book will open on Monday, July 14th. If you would like to have a Mass said, candle lit or bread and wine offered for someone, you can stop by the parish office or call Kathy, our parish secretary, Monday – Friday from 9 am to 3 pm or email Kathy at office@saintpolycarp.org. See this weekend’s bulletin for details.
YOUTH GROUP SOCIAL**: We are going on a field trip and everyone is invited! Our next Youth Group Social will be at 3 Palms Zoo! Come out and join us!
Where: 3 Palms Zoo
When: July 19th, 2025
Time: 10:00am – 12 noon
Cost: $5.00 p/p …
includes food to feed the animals.
Everyone will meet at the Zoo! 1060 Vandyke Greenspring Rd., Townsend, DE 19734
Child MUST be accompanied by an adult the entire time.
** You must let Erica Taylor know by July 14th if you are interested. Send an email to dre@saintpolycarp.org with names of people attending. Payment can be made in cash on the day of the event. After we explore, we will gather for snacks and playtime. Snacks provided.
** The 3 Palms Zoo is a Rescue Sanctuary. Many of these animals have been abandoned and now call 3 Palms Zoo HOME. This Zoo depends on donations of all kinds to feed and take care of the animals.
** If you plan on joining us, I will send you a list of items the Zoo animals could benefit from. Even animals can benefit from us participating in Works of Mercy! Hope to see you at the Zoo!!
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 soemone 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. If interested, the parish will hold Inquiry Sessions in the parish library beginning this week:
Session #1: Monday, July 14th, at 6:30 pm or Wednesday, July 16th at 1:00 pm
Session #2: Monday, July 28th, at 6:30 pm or Wednesday, July 30th at 1:00 pm
Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information: DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653 – 8279.
DO YOU PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT? 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.
ATTENTION ALL MINISTRY LEADERS: Our Annual Parish Ministry Leadership Organizational Meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 29th at 7 pm. Email invitations were sent this past week. If you are a current Ministry Leader and did not receive one, please contact Judy at communications@saintpolycarp.org. Please RSVP by July 24th. Thank you.
DO YOU KNOW YOUR FAITH? Who was the first Native American to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church?
NEXT WEEK: SATURDAY, JULY 19th, 2025 – FRIDAY, JULY 25th, 2025
SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND: The Second Collection next weekend, July 19th and 20th, is for the Church in Africa and Eastern Europe. Thank you for your support.
MOVIE NIGHT: The Christian Formation Committee has scheduled its next movie night tomorrow, Saturday, July 19th after the 4 pm Mass. We will be meeting in the library. Upon arrival, go to the office door under the Portico. Ring the bell or someone will be there to greet you. We received several requests for longer videos. Our recent videos have been very short, so this video is a little longer. This video is of a talk given by an astronaut at last summer’s National Eucharistic Congress! Come join us for the movie, refreshments and conversation.
SUMMER SERIES: FAITH ON FILM: Join us for the fourth session of Faith on Film: Egypt in Exodus! Come explore this powerful story through film and discussion. July 20th at 9 am in the library. Bring a friend! We hope to see you there!
UPCOMING:
D
EVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
On Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025 at 6:30 pm, St. Polycarp Church and Brother Vincent Council Knights of Columbus will be hosting the Sacred Heart of Jesus Icon. Join us in a Eucharistic Holy Hour and Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. The Sacred Heart Icon, depicting its flaming heart shining divine light, will be on display in our parish from July 23rd through August 9th, 2025.
FORMED FOR KIDS: Learn with your little one about different animals and how they can teach us important values that are also talked about in the Bible, like patience, kindness, and peacefulness. Join in with games, enjoy a story, make a craft, and sing, roar, waddle, and dance together— with Awesome Animals & Mini Me! WATCH NOW!
Make this summer one for heaven. Sign up for SUMMER WITH THE SAINTS to get to know 12 saints better and honor them on their feast days. You’ll get a weekly email with a featured saint and titles for accompanying content on FORMED. These titles range from 20-minute episodes to feature-length, acclaimed dramas that bring the saints to life. Join Summer with the Saints and get weekly emails to reflect on the lives of the saints delivered right to your inbox. Take advantage of your free subscription to FORMED.
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.
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, July 12th, August 9th, September 13th, October 12th, November 8th, December 13th.
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
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.
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 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. For more information and to sign up for online giving, visit faith.direct/DE831
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. This week, tune in to learn about the new book, “St. Hildegard’s Garden Recipes and Remedies for Healing Body and Soul.” 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/
Are you a Jeopardy watcher? Do you participate in Trivia Challenges?
Will you be able to answer the questions on religion?
Check this spot each week!
DO YOU KNOW YOUR FAITH? Who was the first Native American to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church?
ANSWER: St. Kateri Tekakwitha was the first Native American to be recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. She was born in 1656, in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon. Her mother was an Algonquin, who was captured by the Mohawks and who took a Mohawk chief for her husband. St. Kateri Tekakwitha was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 21st, 2012. She is the patroness of ecology and the environment, people in exile and Native Americans.