12th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME
June 24/25, 2023
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ How have you experienced God as your defender?
~ What does the word grace mean to you?
~ What gives you courage to proclaim Christ in difficult circumstances?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062523.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, JUNE 24/25 (& Monday, June 26th – Friday, June 30th)
SQUIRE’S LOCK-IN: Please remember our Squires in your prayers as they gather for their Annual Lock-In today and tomorrow. All are welcome to join the Squires as they lead the rosary tomorrow, at 3:20 pm before the 4 pm Mass. The Squire Circle would like to thank all parishioners that contributed to support their Lock In. The collection during the first weekend in June raised over $500 just from you. Funds are still coming in from the various Councils across the state.
BLESSINGS: The Blessing of the Pastoral and Finance Councils will take place tomorrow at the 4:00 pm Mass.
SECOND COLLECTION: The Second Collection this weekend will be for the Works of the Holy Father, also known as Peter’s Pence. Your donation will enable Pope
Francis to continue his ministry of helping others.
ST. DENNIS CHURCH – COME ONE COME ALL – to the ST. DENNIS PARISH FAMILY PICNIC! – THIS SUNDAY!
WHEN – Sunday June 25th at NOON until the fun is over!
WHERE – St Dennis School Building LAWN, (153 N Main St, Galena, MD 21635)
WHAT – Please pack your own/family’s picnic lunch
– Bring your lawn chairs or blanket for seating.
– St. Dennis parish will provide ice cream from a glorious ice cream truck, and beverages like sodas, water and juice boxes.
– There will be lawn games, zany races, face painting and fun for children/adults and whole families.
– If you have missed this picnic before, you missed a lot of fun
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2023 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: As of the last report, $58,249.03 (97.08%) of our $60,000 goal has been pledged. Thank you to those who have already contributed to this year’s campaign and to those parishioners who have signed pledge cards. We are $1750.97 from our goal!!! We’re getting there, but we still need your help! 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. 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. 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 can reach our goal!
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.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Our Parish School of Religion (PSR) offers religious education classes for grade PK – 9. Register before July 1st. Visit https://saintpolycarp.org/religious-education/
for more information.
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.
NOTE: The floors in the meeting/class rooms will be stripped, buffed, waxed this weekend. Please do not enter this area.
UPCOMING
FAITH WITH FRIENDS A new Catholic Formation Opportunity is available! Please join us to watch videos and learn about our faith with friends. Sessions will be on the first Thursday of the month from 6 pm to 8 pm. Our first session is on Thursday, July 6th, in Room 7. (Please use the Office/Chapel door under the portico.) Light refreshments will be provided. Please contact Ashley Wilson at (302)535 –4118 for more details! Looking forward to seeing you!
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION will take place on Saturday, July 8th following the 4 pm Mass. There will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction lasting for an hour after Mass. Please plan to attend these future Adorations in conjunction with the second year of the Eucharistic Revival.
ATTENTION MINISTRY LEADERS! SAVE THE DATE! Mark your calendar now for our Annual Leadership Organizational Meeting on TUESDAY, July 25th, at 7 pm in Mother Drexel Hall. Two representatives from each ministry are expected to attend this important meeting.
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
The Annual Golf Tournament and Buffet Dinner will be at Garrison Lake Golf Club, 101 West Fairways Circle, Smyrna, DE . 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 this QR Code found below.
ONGOING
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…
MEMORIAL BRICKS! Adding your MEMORIAL BRICK to the walkway of our Blessed Mother is a unique way to keep your memories alive. It is a way to remind us of all those special loved ones or occasions forever. If you would like to become a part of the walkway to our Blessed Mother, with your name or the name of a loved one, now is a good time to do so! There are several ways to order your bricks. You can order through Faith Direct at: Faith Direct MEMORIAL BRICK (you do not need to sign up for Faith Direct), use the QR code below or return your form* with payment of $80 to St. Polycarp Church. Envelopes marked with “Memorial Brick” may be placed in the Offertory collection, delivered to the Parish Office (place in black box), or mailed to the Parish Office.*Forms can be found on our parish website or at the entrances into the church.
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: Have you had the opportunity to dive into FORMED? 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!
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. Attorney and Deacon Matt Boyer will discuss Religious Freedom Week on the June 24th 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: Prayer for the Summer Solstice
Jesus, thank you for Summer. Thank you for light and warmth. Thank you for the sun. Thank you for the gifts of nature and for the annual cycles and seasons. Today, give us that grace again, to see you as the Creator, the One who lifts us up to be with you forever, even now. Amen.
– Source Unknown; Adapted by Bill Huebsch