14th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ What makes it difficult to accept a challenging word from God? How do you overcome this?
~ How has God’s grace been sufficient for you this week?
~ When have you been rejected for sharing a hard truth with others?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/070724.cfm
LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays.
We are experiencing some issues with our live streaming. We are trying to resolve these issues as soon as possible. The stream may not work for some Masses. Thank you for understanding. DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING https://www.youtube.com/user/DioceseofWilm
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . (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
FAITH AND CHARITY APPEAL – One Body, One Spirit in Christ: Congratulations! To date, our parish has pledged $64,118.52!! Total collected towards the pledge amount is $40,827.49. Once we reach our goal in collected donations, we will receive back half of the money collected above the goal for projects around our campus. It is important that everyone follows through with payments on pledges if we are to reach our goal in paid pledges. If your household has not participated, it’s not too late! Currently, only 173 households (21% of our active households) have participated. We encourage those households who have not participated to prayerfully consider participating in this annual event. Let’s see if we can reach at least 50%! Every gift counts, no matter how small. Pledge cards can be found at the doors of the Church. You can also give online at www.cdow.org; click “Giving” then “Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal”, or simply scan this QR code with your cellphone.
Happy 4th of July!
God bless the USA!
OFFICE CLOSED: The office will be closed on Thursday, July 4th and Friday, July 5th in observance of the 4th of July holiday. Happy 4th of July!
THIS WEEKEND, JULY 6/7 (and Monday, July 8th – Friday, July 12th)
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.
DO YOU HAVE FLOWERS FROM YOUR GARDEN THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING IN TO HELP DECORATE THE CHURCH? This would be a wonderful way to share your gardening talents in honor of God! Please call or email Dee Lim at 973-865-4203 or delial42@yahoo.com for details.
PARISH COFFEE – Tuesday, July 9th: The Adult Faith Formation group will be sponsoring a coffee for all parishioners of St. Polycarp and St. Dennis on Tuesday, July 9 after the 8:30 Mass in the Library. Come and enjoy some coffee and delicious treats. Bring your favorite dessert to share if you would like. We will end with prayer by 11 am.
FLOOR WAXING: The following areas will be closed to allow for the waxing of the floors.
Office area – Saturday, July 6
Classrooms – Sunday, July 7
Hallways near Church/Sacristy – Sunday, July 14, following Mass
Parish Hall – Sunday, July 21
Hallways near the classrooms – Saturday, July 27
ATTENTION MINISTRY LEADERS! SAVE THE DATE! Mark your calendar now for our Annual Leadership Organizational Meeting on TUESDAY, July 30th, at 7 pm in Mother Drexel Hall. Look for an email the week of July 7th.
NEXT WEEKEND, JULY 13/14 (and Monday, July 15th – Friday, July 19th)
SECOND COLLECTION next weekend (July 13/14) is for Parish Utilities.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Saturday, July 13th Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place at the end of the 4 pm Vigil Mass next Saturday. Please plan to stay and spend some time with Jesus.
2025 MASS INTENTION BOOK: Opening Monday, July 15, 2024. 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 Maximum number of Mass cards and/or offerings is six per person since the availability of Mass intentions and offerings is limited. There is a maximum of three Intentions per Mass.
– 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.
UPCOMING
THE 2024 St. DENNIS CHURCH BULL ROAST: Saturday, July 27th, 153 N. Main Street, Galena, MD. COME ONE, COME ALL, PLEASE! This “Drive Thru” Bull Roast Fund Raiser (optional outdoor seating – weather permitting) is scheduled for Saturday, July 27th.
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 a 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 27th from 11am until 2pm. Please follow the directed traffic pattern. ENJOY!
DELAWARE KNIGHTS OF COULMBUS RAFFLE: The Delaware Knights of Columbus is sponsoring a raffle to benefit the charitable works and programs of the State Council. Five raffle winners will receive a $200 gift certificate usable at any production at Sights and Sound plus a $100 Visa gift card. Tickets are $10.00 each. The drawing will be September 8th, 2024 at the KOC annual State picnic. The Winner need not be present. Contact Jack Barnas for raffle tickets (302) 383 – 4175.
NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS: The 10th National Eucharistic Congress at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN. From July 17th–21st, 2024, thousands of passionate Catholics will gather for a transformative experience on a scale this generation has never seen. Please keep all those who gather for this event in your prayers.
SAVE THE DATE: DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS IN OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND: Join us for the Diocese of Wilmington’s Eucharistic Congress to be held on Saturday, October 5th, at the Ocean City (MD) Convention Center. This year’s theme, “The Eucharist: The Source and Summit,” invites us to deepen our understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist in our lives. The day will feature a keynote address by Bishop Richard Henning of the Diocese of Providence and will include faith-based vendors, a ministry fair, and breakout sessions tailored to various interests and age groups. There will also be opportunities for Adoration and Reconciliation. Mark your calendars for this spiritually enriching event! More details will follow. We look forward to seeing you there!
BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Visit Bulletin Overflow https://saintpolycarp.org/overflow/ for details on the following and more!:
SUMMER MASS SCHEDULE for the Diocese of Wilmington: To easily find locations and times, go to thedialog.org/our-diocese/2024-diocese-of-wilmington-summer-weekend-mass-guide/
RETREAT ON ST. PADRE PIO – July 6 at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Hockessin is hosting Father John Aurilia O.F.M. PhD.
THE DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF DELAWARE is hosting summer camps this year in Magnolia and Wilmington. The camps run July 15-19 and July 29-Aug.
SUMMERFEST: Holy Family Parish is hosting the annual Summerfest from July 10-14.
RETROUVAILLE: The Retrouvaille Program is for married couples facing challenges in their relationship. Upcoming programs: August 9th – 11th and October 4th – 6th, 2024 at the Family Life Center in Malvern, PA
WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER: The next weekend is November 1-3, 2024 at the Brighton Suites in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. For information or to register visit our website http://www.wwme.org or call Tony and Linda Massino at 302-648-2228.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON (CDOW) EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS: On October 5th, our Diocese of Wilmington will be hosting the Eucharistic Congress at the Ocean City MD Convention Center.
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
FORMED FOR KIDS – Your whole family will enjoy this show! At the end of each episode, take some time to talk with each other about what the parable of the Good Sower means and why it is important to sow seeds of faith with the people you know!
A Pocketful of Seeds | Episode 5 | Benjamin Cello – Season 1 – FORMED
This week, watch Benjamin Cello and his friends learn about the parable of the Good Sower and its important lesson of growing in faith in the smallest ways. This episode will inspire creativity for your children with all its musicality and fun while effectively communicating the Gospel truths.
ONGOING
THREE YEARS OF ABUNDANT GRACE AND TRANSFORMATION – EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL
MISSION: To renew the church by enkindling a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
VISION: To inspire a movement of Catholics across the United States who are healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist—and who are then sent out on mission “for the life of the world.”
PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION (PSR) Religious Education Classes, Grades PK – 9
Registration is now open for 2024-2025. (Registering early helps us plan for the year ahead.)
Visit https://saintpolycarp.org/religious-education/ for information and/or to print the registration form or you can use this QR code.
First Grade Children – In order to be eligible for 2nd Grade First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, your child must complete 1st Grade PSR (or in another parish religious education program) or Catholic School. Register your first grader now!
7th and 8th Grade Children – In order to be eligible for Confirmation in Grade 9, your child must complete 7th and 8th Grade PSR (or in another parish religious education program) or Catholic School. If you have a 7th grader, now is the time to register!
Do you have an older child who missed receiving the sacraments? It’s never too late!
For more information, contact Mrs. Erica Taylor, Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) at (302) 653 – 4101 or dre@saintpolycarp.org
CHURCH ENVIRONMENT: The Liturgy Committee is looking for new members to join the Environment team, which is currently being led by Delia Lim. If you are interested, please call Kathy Curlett at (302) 222 – 9326.
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 13th, August 10th, September 7th, October 12th, November 9th and December 13th.
TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 9 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 9 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/
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 11am. 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.
MEMORIAL BRICKS: Adding your MEMORIAL BRICK to the walkway of our Blessed Mother is a unique way to keep your memories alive. Honor family and friends! Share a favorite quote, and more! You can order through Faith Direct at: https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/org/831 
Scroll down until you see “Memorial Bricks” (you do not need to sign up for Faith Direct), or use this QR code or return your form with payment of $100 to St. Polycarp Church. Envelopes marked with “Memorial Brick” may be placed in the Offertory collection, mailed or delivered to the Parish Office (place in black box).
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: 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
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
FROM THE DIOCESE:
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Listen to Catholic Forum each week. On Saturday, July 6th, Fr. Donald VanAlstyne discusses his ministry as a military and VA chaplain on this week’s Catholic Forum podcast. The Catholic Forum podcast on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music podcasts and YouTube.com/DioceseofWilm debuts every Wednesday at 12:00 p.m.; and on Relevant Radio 640 every Saturday afternoon at 1:30 on Relevant Radio 640. More information is available at cdow.org/CatholicForum and FaceBook.com/CatholicForum. CLICK HERE
LET US PRAY: God bless America.