11th SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME
June 17/18, 2023
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ How do we live out our baptismal call to be God’s priestly people?
~ What does unconditional love mean to you?
~ How do you witness to Christ’s care and compassion for others in your daily life?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061823.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 17/18 (& Monday, June 19th – Friday, June 23rd) Wishing all Fathers a Blessed and Happy Father’s Day!
The BLESSING OF FATHERS will take place at both Masses this weekend, June 17th and 18th.
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is for Parish Maintenance.
Please remember to pick up the newest edition of the Dialog as you leave Mass this weekend. Our local Catholic newspaper is dedicated to news, features and more of interest to those of us here in the Diocese of Wilmington. This week’s issue includes complete coverage of graduations from our seven Catholic high schools in the annual graduation section.
FATHER’S DAY NOVENA MASS: Honor the Fathers, Grandfathers, Uncles, Father-figures and other special men in your life on their special day. Whether they are living or deceased, the gift of prayer is a beautiful way to show your deep appreciation for their sacrificial love. Please use the Father’s Day Mass Remembrance envelopes to inscribe the names you wish to be remembered in the Masses offered by our parish beginning tomorrow afternoon at the 4 pm Mass.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2023 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: As of the last report, $57,149.03 (95.25%) 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 $2850.97 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.
THE PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED on Monday, June 19th, in observance of Juneteenth
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.
NEXT WEEKEND, JUNE 24/25
SQUIRE’S LOCK-IN: Please remember our Squires in your prayers as they gather for their Annual Lock-In next Friday & Saturday. The Squires will lead the rosary before the 4 pm Mass next Saturday, June 24th, for our parishioners intentions. All are welcome to join them at 3:20 pm next Saturday.
Our Squire Circle will soon celebrate its 15th year!!!
BLESSINGS: The Blessing of the Pastoral and Finance Councils will be next Saturday, June 24th, at the 4:00 pm Mass.
SECOND COLLECTION: The Second Collection next weekend (June 24th and 25th) will be for 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!
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
Summer Carnivals & Festivals around the Diocese:
June 11-18: Italian Festival at St. Anthony of Padua, 901 N. DuPont Street, Wilmington. For more information sapde.org/italianfestival
June 13-17: St. Joseph Carnival, 319 E. Main Street, Middletown. For more information www.stjosephmiddletown.com/news/the-st-joseph-parish-carnival
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!
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. Paula Kousin, author of “Grieving: A Spiritual Process for Catholics,” will be the guest on the June 17th 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: Happy Father’s Day! Remember to pray for all fathers living and deceased. Remember to also pray for Father Jim and all priests, living and deceased.
Praise Those Fathers
Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice.
Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a worthy and virtuous father.
Let us praise those fathers who, by their own account, were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. As well, let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by words and actions of their children.
Let us praise those fathers who, despite marital discord, have remained in their children’s lives.
Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has nurtured a thriving life.
Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children’s love and respect.
Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.
Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.
Let us praise those men who have “fathered” us in their role as mentors and guides.
Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children.
And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.
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