17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
– Take time this week to slowly pray the Our Father to realize what each phrase means.
– What does it mean to ask God to forgive our sins as we forgive others?
– Are you able to extend forgiveness to the degree you ask to be forgiven?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072422.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 23/24 (& week of July 24)
PASTOR’S PEN: Please make sure to read Fr. Jim’s “Pastor’s Pen” in this week’s bulletin. This week’s bulletin CLICK HERE
BLESSINGS: The Blessing of Grandparents will take place tomorrow at the 4pm Mass.
SHARE THE HARVEST: Would you like to share vegetables from your bountiful garden, garden plants or house plants that need to go to a loving home, flowers that could brighten up someone’s day or your harvest with others? The Share The Harvest table is now under the Portico. This allows our parishioners to share their abundant yield from their gardens with their Church family. All are welcome to share and receive.
BUSINESS MANAGER: Please see this week’s Bulletin for update on this position.
ATTENTION MINISTRY LEADERS! Annual Leadership Organizational Meeting is THIS TUESDAY, July 26th, at 7 pm in Mother Drexel Hall. Leaders (or leader representative) of all ministries need to be present at this meeting.
“DRIVE-THRU” BULL ROAST FUNDRAISER at St. DENNIS CHURCH – Next, Saturday, July 30th
156 N. Main Street, Galena, MD
MENU – Delicious PIT roasted beef, ½ a fried chicken, 2 locally grown ears of corn on the cob, homemade potato salad, and 2 rolls with butter and a beverage for $25 per meal. St Dennis Bake Sale will also be available for purchasing your dessert as you exit the property. Advance ticket purchases are recommended as a limited number of meals will be prepared. Tickets may be purchased at St. Dennis before and after the weekend Masses OR By calling Jim Bricker at 717-575-1235. Pick up of meals with curbside service is on July 30th from 11am until 2pm. Please follow the directed traffic pattern.
CHRISTMAS IN JULY:
You may be wondering what Christmas in July refers to. Well, the Liturgy Committee has come up with a Wish Book List for the following items to be purchased. They are as follows:
(2) 7.5 ft. Christmas trees w/bag Cost: $156.00
(2) 9.0 ft Christmas trees w/bag Cost: $209.00
(1) Silver Oxidized Ciborium Cost: $555.00
(1) 3 ft. x 5 ft. Papal Flag Cost: $73.50
If you would like to purchase or donate towards one of the above items, please make your check out to St. Polycarp Church and in the memo area, please indicate what your money is going towards. Thank you in advance for your purchase or donation! It is greatly appreciated!! The Liturgy Committee
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2022 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: We continue to need your help. The Diocese relies on the people in each parish to support the Diocese. Through the generosity of our parishioners, we have received pledges in the amount of $54,330! We are $5670 from our goal of $60,000.. We are hoping that those who have not contributed will consider giving and perhaps those who have given could possibly help us a bit more toward reaching our goal. Even the smallest donations will help those in need. 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. 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. 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, we will receive 50% of contributions over the assigned target.
In the past, the generosity of our folks has enabled us to do many projects around the campus.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
SUMMER WEEKDAY MASSES: Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 am.
SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEK: July 31 – Parish Maintenance
“DRIVE-THRU” BULL ROAST FUNDRAISER at St. DENNIS CHURCH – Saturday, July 30th
156 N. Main Street, Galena, MD
MENU – Delicious PIT roasted beef, ½ a fried chicken, 2 locally grown ears of corn on the cob, homemade potato salad, and 2 rolls with butter and a beverage for $25 per meal. St Dennis Bake Sale will also be available for purchasing your dessert as you exit the property. Advance ticket purchases are recommended as a limited number of meals will be prepared. Tickets may be purchased at St. Dennis before and after the weekend Masses OR By calling Jim Bricker at 717-575-1235. Pick up of meals with curbside service is on July 30th from 11am until 2pm. Please follow the directed traffic pattern.
Have you had the opportunity to dive into FORMED? If not, take some time to do so. You won’t be disappointed!! 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! This week’s suggestion: Presence-Episode1
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR SATURDAY, AUGUST 20TH.
The Giving, Growing and Glorifying Landscaping Project will be dedicated after the 4 PM Mass on August 20, 2022. The Pastoral Council and Liturgy Committee invite you to join us as Father Jim blesses our beautiful new plantings. Photographers will be on hand to take photos and Mr. Softee will provide ice cream cones and cups. We look forward l to seeing you there.
SAVE this Date—Sunday, September 11, 2022 for St. Polycarp’s 3rd Annual Parish Dinner and Golf Tournament at Links at St. Anne’s in Middletown, DE. Golf Tournament starts with lunch at 12:30 pm with Tee Off at 1 pm. Buffet dinner at 6 pm with golfers, friends, and parishioners from St. Polycarp. You don’t have to golf to join us for dinner! (Buffet dinner is $40.00 per person.) CLICK HERE for more information or contact: Dennis Skinner at papadskinz@yahoo.com (302) 981-8743 or Anna Skinner anna.skinz@gmail.com (302) 883-5647 Register online at https://bit.ly/3HckNKW
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
CAN YOU HELP? Parish School of Religion (PSR) With PSR plans underway for the Fall, we need your help in filling a few positions. Are you able to dedicate some of your time to help us grow and complete our PSR team? We’d love to welcome you to our PSR family! If God is calling you, contact Erica Taylor, CRE at 653-4101 or at dre@saintpolycarp.org.
Currently we need:
–Catechist & Assistant for Grade 3 (Sunday morning)
–Assistant for Grade 8 (Tuesday Evening)
–Desk Assistant (Tuesday Evening)
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 31 – Moss Family, August 14 – Powell 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. * Author, Dan DeMatte, will discuss his new book, “Dream Bigger,” on the July 23rd 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 24: What worries and burdens are you carrying today? (Money? Children? Health? Job? Let your beloved (your spouse and God) be a comfort to you. Be present to who is most important to you today.
PARENTING POINTERS: Sunday July 24: Take a moment this weekend to remember why you so wanted a child. Cherish each of your children in thought and words today.
LET US PRAY: Saints Joachim & Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary – July 26
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us Saints Joachim and Anne as examples of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue they showed in continuing to hope despite many years of suffering.
Saints Joachim and Anne, you longed to serve God through parenthood in your marriage. Despite years of childlessness, you continued to ask God for a child and persevered in hope.
Please persevere in bringing my petitions before the throne of God!
Even though you grew to be very old, you did not waver in your hope that God would answer your prayers. He eventually rewarded your faithfulness by making you the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pray for me, that I may grow in the virtue of hope. Pray that I may never give in to despair, no matter how much I might suffer. Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us! (praymorenovenas)