14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you, says the Lord.
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
– How can you incorporate praise for God in your daily prayer?
– Paul states that he will only boast in the cross of Christ. How is humility a necessity for the spiritual life?
– In the gospel, Christ sends his disciples out with only the peace of Christ. As a disciple, how can you emanate Christ’s peace?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070322.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.
If you are interested in being involved in this ministry, please email Lisa at lisa.titus@saintpolycarp.org or Judy at communications@saintpolycarp.org.
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE
THIS WEEKEND, JULY 2/3 (& week of July 3)
SECOND COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND: Church in Africa / Eastern Europe.
THE PARISH OFFICE will be closed on Monday, July 4, and Tuesday, July 5. We will reopen on Wednesday, July 6th at 9am. May God watch over and guide our country.
ADULT FAITH FORMATION – CONNECTED IN CHRIST: NEW STUDY TO BEGIN JULY 6TH. Connected in Christ is an adult faith sharing group that meets weekly, on Tuesdays, after Mass, at 9:15 in the Parish Library. Come join us on July 6 to begin our next study from our new FORMED platform. For more information, please contact Cookie Ruane at 302-540-6429.
2023 MASS INTENTION BOOK – Opening this coming Thursday. It is a beautiful part of our Catholic tradition to have Masses celebrated for the repose of the soul of a departed loved one or for the living intention of an individual. The 2023 Mass Intention Book will open on Thursday, July 7th. You can reserve a Mass or Offering by calling the parish office between the hours of 9 am – 3 pm, or anytime via email at office@saintpolycarp.org.
– The Mass Intention is $10.00
– The Sanctuary Lamp may be lit for an entire week (Sunday through Saturday) either in the Church or Chapel for $10.00
– Bread and Wine Offering for daily Mass is $10.00
– Purgatorial Society Enrollment is $25.00 for Mass Intentions every 1st Wednesday for one year.
The Maximum number of mass cards and/or offerings is 6 per person since the availability of mass intentions and offerings is limited.
BUSINESS MANAGER: We trust that God will touch the heart of someone to respond to our need for a Business Manager. Please spread the word, or perhaps it is you who He is calling! Interested candidates should have Business Management, Accounting and Bookkeeping experience with the appropriate educational credentials. Facilities management, or a willingness to learn, is also a necessary component of the position. Above all, the person must be willing to work collaboratively with our team of Professional ministries to build God’s Kingdom here at St. Polycarp. Inquiries should be sent to office@saintpolycarp.org.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2022 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: WE’RE GETTING THERE…but we need your help! As of the latest report from the diocese, 90.34% of our goal has been pledged. We are $5795 from our goal of $60,000. 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. Thank you to those who have already contributed to this year’s campaign and to those parishioners who have signed pledge cards. Participants who pledged to the campaign will receive monthly payment reminders mailed directly from the diocesan Development Office. Please mail all payments in the self-addressed, return envelope provided with your pledge reminder. Do not make payments to the parish office or through the Offertory collection. 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.
Your generosity in supporting this campaign enables the diocese to do the work of our Lord.
When our parish collects its goal amount, a percentage of the excess will be returned to our parish to foster our charitable and ministerial work.
NEXT WEEKEND, JULY 9/10 (& week of July 10)
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Sunday, July 10 at the 10:30 am Mass – Bell Family – Please arrive 15 minutes before your mass time and pick up materials in the sacristy.
SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND: Parish Utilities
FORMED is coming to our Parish! Watch, listen and read. Anywhere, anytime. FORMED provides the very best Catholic content from more than 60 organizations to help parishes, families and individuals explore their faith anywhere. Supporting thousands of movies, children’s programs, eBooks, audio, parish programs and studies direct to your browser, mobile or connected device. Have your phone ready at Mass on the weekend of July 9 & 10 to sign up for free!
UPCOMING/ONGOING
SUMMER WEEKDAY MASSES: Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 am.
ATTENTION MINISTRY LEADERS! Mark your calendar now for our Annual Leadership Organizational Meeting on TUESDAY, July 26th, at 7 pm in Mother Drexel Hall.
PSR REGISTRATION: Registration is now open for 2022-2023 religious education classes. We offer religious education classes for children in Pre-K through Grade 9, Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation. We also offer Intermediate Sacramental Prep (ISP) for older children who have not yet received sacraments. Please register early to help us plan for next year & registering early helps you save money! (See form for tuition rates. For information on how to register CLICK HERE
Homeschool parents or those who have children in Catholic school – If you have a child old enough to receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Eucharist or Confirmation and are interested in information about our Parish School of Religion program, please contact our office at (302) 653 – 4101 or e-mail dre@saintpolycarp.org
EVERY YEAR our PSR looks to our parishioners to help us fill open positions and grow our PSR team. PSR is currently in need of
– Assistants for Grades 6 & 8 (Tuesday evenings)
-Two Desk Assistants & a Greeter/Hall Monitor needed for Tuesday evening
We need you to build God’s Kingdom! If you feel God calling you toward this ministry, please contact Erica Taylor, CRE at 302-653 – 4101 or dre@saintpolycarp.org. There’s no greater joy than giving back and being a part of something bigger than yourself!!!
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 process down the aisle to the priest who will have the pyx in his hand and let him know you need a gluten-free host
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: There is no summer break for the need to pray for vocations. 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, July 10 – Bell Family; Sunday, July 31 – Moss Family Please arrive 15 minutes before your mass time and pick up materials in the sacristy.
CHANGE THE WORLD: BECOME CATHOLIC! If you know someone who is looking for a new beginning and wants to learn more about the Catholic Church, “personally invite” them to our RCIA sessions, Monday evenings at 6:30pm. The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is for individuals who are unbaptized, baptized in other faith traditions or Catholic adults wishing to receive Confirmation and Holy Eucharist and seeking full membership in the Catholic Church. We are all called to share the “Good News” and you can make a difference by simply asking! Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information at DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653-8279.
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. Historian Kevin Schmiesing will discuss his book, “A Catholic Pilgrimage Through American History,” on tomorrow’s (July 2) Catholic Forum program. 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.
MARRIAGE MOMENTS: Sunday July 3: What does Independence Day look like in marriage? Does it mean being free to do whatever you want? Of course not. Perhaps it’s closer to being “interdependent” – knowing your strengths and weaknesses and helping each other out.
PARENTING POINTERS: Sunday July 3: For many people, summer is a good time to do recreational reading. What was your favorite book as a child? If your child is old enough you’ve probably already read it together. Talk about why it was your favorite.
LET US PRAY:
Father of all nations and ages,
we recall the day when our country claimed its place among the family of nations;
for what has been achieved we give you thanks,
for the work that still remains we ask your help,
and as you have called us from many peoples to be one nation,
grant that, under your providence, our country may share your blessings
with all the peoples of the earth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.