16th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME
July 22/23, 2023
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ How have you experienced God’s mercy in your life?
~ Have you ever felt like you didn’t have the words to pray? How can the Holy Spirit come to your aid at those time?
~ How can you imitate God’s patience this week?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072323.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
THIS WEEKEND, JULY 22/23 (& Monday, July 24th – Friday, July 28th)
The BLESSING OF GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY will take place at the 10:30 am Mass this Sunday, July 23rd.
2024 MASS INTENTION BOOK will open on Monday, July 24th. 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. 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 six per person since the availability of Mass intentions and offerings is limited. We are continuing with what we started last year, a maximum of three Intentions per Mass.
ATTENTION MINISTRY LEADERS! SAVE THE DATE! Our Annual Parish Leadership Organizational Meeting is this TUESDAY, July 25th, at 7 pm in Mother Drexel Hall. Leaders from these ministries are expected to attend this important meeting.
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
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! SAVE THE DATE! – SAINT POLYCARP ANNUAL PICNIC! The Saint Polycarp Annual Parish Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, September 17th, 2023, after the 10:30 am Mass. Our Pastoral Council and Parish Picnic Committee are once again planning a fun-filled event. The Knights of Columbus will be cooking up hot dogs, hamburgers and French fries, and there will be three flavors of Rita’s Water Ice. Kids and the young-at-heart will enjoy the inflatable obstacle course. We are looking for volunteers to help make this event a success. Our next planning meeting is Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 6 pm in the library. Please call Kathy Curlett at 302 222 9326, if interested in helping.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2023 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: We’re waiting for the latest up-to-date figures for our parish. As of the last report, our parish has pledged $59,019.03 and collected $40,403.16 toward our goal of $60,000. We are $980.97 from our goal!!! We’re getting there, but we still need your help! Remember – 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 work toward Shining the Light of Christ. If you have already donated to the appeal, Thank you! If you have yet to make a gift, please prayerfully consider a generous donation and help our parish achieve our goal. 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. 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.
FORMED: Recommended Video – WHAT IS A CHARISM? A Charism is a gift from God, freely given. Charisms are not rewards for good works or a proof of holiness but are unmerited gifts to be given away toward service to others, to help build up other members of the Body of Christ. These gifts may be newly given, or an enhancement of a natural gift that the Spirit elevates to a supernatural level. Some Charisms are leadership, teaching, acts of mercy, and hospitality, as well as, more recognized ones of prophecy, speaking in tongues, performing miracles, and healing. Check out the FORMED video “Evangelization and the Acts of the Apostles” – Dr. Mary Healy, Session 8-Charisms of the Spirit. www.formed.org
NEXT WEEKEND, JULY 29/30 (and Monday, July 31st – Friday, August 4th)
ST. DENNIS CHURCH BULL ROAST FUND RAISER – Saturday, July 29th – 153 N. Main Street, Galena, MD
Come One, Come All, Please! This year’s fund raiser will be a “Drive Thru” event with optional outdoor seating (weather permitting). We will also have a Corn Hole game.
MENU – Back by popular request – ½ a fried chicken, delicious PIT roasted beef, 2 ears of locally-grown corn on the cob, homemade potato salad plus 2 rolls with butter and bottled water for $25. The famed St Dennis Bake Sale will also be available for purchasing dessert as you exit the property. Advance ticket purchases are recommended as a limited number of meals will be prepared. Drive up ticket purchases on the day of the event are possible. Tickets may be purchased at St. Dennis Church before and after the weekend Sunday Masses (8am and 11am in Spanish) OR by calling Jim at 717-575-1235. Pick up of meals with curb-side service is on July 29th from 11am until 2pm. Please follow the directed traffic pattern.
SECOND COLLECTION next week is for Parish Maintenance.
TUESDAYS – EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: We are blessed to have had enough adorers step forward so that we can extend Adoration hours on Tuesdays. Beginning August 1st, Eucharistic Adoration will take place in the Chapel from 9 am to 8 pm, weekly on Tuesdays. We are still in need of people to fill in when others are ill or cannot attend. Do you have one hour to spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament on an occasional basis? Call Cheryl Thomas at (302) 363 – 0404 or email her at salcrest7@gmail.com.
PRIESTHOOD DISCERNMENT EVENT: Have you been thinking about the priesthood as a possibility for you? Do you need questions answered? Would it help to talk with other young men with the same questions? Then come to the Priesthood Discernment Event on Sunday, July 30th, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Peter the Apostle, Harmony Street in Historic New Castle, Delaware for a Holy Hour, Conversation and Hospitality with diocesan seminarians and Father Norm Carroll. Let us know to expect you at vocations@cdow.org or 302-573-3113.
UPCOMING
SATURDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION will take place monthly at the Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of the month. Our next Saturday Eucharistic Adoration will take place on Saturday, August 12th, following Communion at the 4 pm Mass.
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
Golfing at Garrison Lake Golf Club, 101 West Fairways Circle, Smyrna, DE. $130 per individual golfer includes lunch, Green fee, Golf Cart, on course beverages including beer, complimentary gift bags, prizes for best teams, long drive/closest to pin, followed by a buffet dinner.
Not interested in golfing? No problem! Join us for a delicious Buffet Dinner for just $40.00 per person in Mother Drexel Hall at Saint Polycarp Church. 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 the QR Code below or click on the following link https://saintpolycarp.org/st-polycarp-annual-golf-tournament-and-dinner-2023/
ONGOING
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.
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…
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Our Parish School of Religion (PSR) offers religious education classes for grade PK – 9. Now is the time to register!
Visit https://saintpolycarp.org/religious-education/ for more information or contact our Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE), Erica Taylor, at dre@saintpolycarp.org or (302) 653-4101.
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: 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
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. Learn about Fr. Vincent Capodanno in a special Catholic Forum program from the Air Mobility Command Museum on the July 22nd 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: Saints Anne and Joachim – July 26th
God of our fathers, you gave Saints Anne and Joachim the privilege of being the parents of Mary, the mother of your incarnate Son. May their prayers help us to attain the salvation you have promised to your people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.