PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ Both the opening Gospel and the reading of the Passion refer to Jesus’ kingship. What does today’s celebration reveal about his kingdom?
~ How are you being called to imitate the self-emptying love of Jesus?
– What part of the Passion of Jesus most speaks to you today and why?
FASTING AND ABSTINENCE: Good Friday is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. The norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Roman Catholic Church from age 14 onwards. ~USCCB
Stations of the Cross and Benediction – at St. Polycarp
Tonight at 7 pm (No Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.)
ST. DENNIS CHURCH (GALENA, MD): Stations of the Cross – Tonight at 5 pm and 7 pm-Spanish. (There are 7 pm Stations in Spanish on Good Friday)
RECONCILIATION:
Saturdays, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm at St. Polycarp (No Confessions on Saturday, March 30th, Holy Saturday.)
Sundays, following 10:30 am Mass through March 24th at St. Polycarp
Sundays, 7:00 am – 7:30 am at St. Dennis (No Confessions on Easter Sunday.)
Reconciliation Monday, March 25th, – Monday of Holy Week To listen to a message from Bishop Koenig CLICK HERE
3 pm – 5 pm at St. Polycarp (Fr. Herring)
6 pm – 8 pm at St. Polycarp (Fr. Jim & Fr. Hynes)
3 pm – 5 pm at St. Dennis (Fr. Jim)
6 pm – 8 pm at St. Dennis (Fr. Oscar – Spanish & English)
Holy Thursday – Thursday, March 28th
Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St. Dennis – 7 pm
(No Mass at St. Polycarp)
Good Friday – Friday, March 29th
Passion of the Lord at St. Polycarp – 3 pm
Holy Saturday – Saturday, March 30th
No Confessions either Parish
Easter Vigil at St. Polycarp – 7:30 pm
Easter Sunday – Sunday, March 31st
St. Polycarp at 8:00 am and 10:00 am
St. Dennis at 8 am, 9:30 am and 11 am (Spanish)
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032424.cfm
LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays. The live stream will be scheduled for the 3pm Good Friday Service at St. Polycarp and for the 8 am Mass on Easter Sunday.
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
THE OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED on Holy Thursday, March 28th, through Monday, April 1st . The Office will reopen at 9 am on Tuesday, April 2nd.
THIS WEEKEND, MARCH 23/24 (and Monday, March 25th – Friday, March 29th)
PLEASE PRAY for our Confirmandi as they and hundreds of other young people and families will witness to our faith and the Passion of our Lord by carrying the Pilgrimage Cross throughout the city of Wilmington tomorrow, with stops for prayer, Reconciliation, Stations of the Cross, Adoration, and concluding with Palm Sunday Mass. At this time, it looks like it will be quite the rainy day. As our Confirmandi walk through the rain, they will be reminded that Jesus’ walk through the streets of Jerusalem on His way to His crucifixion wasn’t an easy journey. Feeling a little discomfort during their journey is the least they can do to appreciate all that Jesus did for each one of us!
PLEASE PRAY for our OCIA Catechumen and Candidates as they move closer to full initiation in the Catholic Faith at the Easter Vigil. They will gather for their retreat this Saturday in the Parish Hall at 8 am.
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
March 24th is Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week, the holiest week in the Church’s calendar.
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is for our PSR – Parish School of Religion.
COLLECTION ON GOOD FRIDAY is for the support of the Franciscans working in the Holy Land. The Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land have the unique responsibility to care for the Holy Places as well for the “Living Stones,” the Christians living there.
EASTER EGG HUNT & AGAPE – This Sunday, Palm Sunday, March 24th – Brother Vincent Knights of Columbus will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for our youngsters and the March Agape, following the 10:30 am Mass this Sunday. All children are invited to participate in the egg hunt. There will be prizes!
Children are asked to bring their own baskets!
CALLING ALL CHOCOLATE LOVERS! This Weekend, March 23rd & 24th, are your lucky days!!! We have a “Limited Supply” of bars we will be selling after both Masses.. Look for us at all the doors. Bars are $1 each. Don’t miss out!!! Once they are gone…they are GONE. All proceeds benefit PSR.
SODALITY’S RAFFLE AT PALM SUNDAY’S AGAPE: Sodality is having a raffle this Sunday, March 24th, at the AGAPE after the 10:30 am Mass in Mother Drexel Hall. Enhance your Easter Season celebration with a beautiful sculpted piece of art depicting the religious events from Palm Sunday (the 1st day of Holy Week) through the Ascension of Jesus (the 40th day after the Resurrection). This piece of art can be viewed on the table in the hallway near the Sacristy. The raffle tickets are 3 for $5.00 and will be sold only at the Palm Sunday Agape.
RECONCILIATION MONDAY: Our third annual Reconciliation Monday will take place this Monday, March 25th, from 3 – 5 pm and 6 – 8 pm, here at St. Polycarp and at St. Dennis. Not only will we have confession here in our church during that time, but all parishes in the diocese will be holding confessions. So if it is more convenient for you to go to another church closer to work, feel free to do so. Please invite those friends and family members who have been away from the Sacraments to take advantage of this opportunity. Visit cdow.org/ReconciliationMonday for more information.
EASTER NOVENA MASS REMEMBRANCE: Living or deceased, the best gift you can give a loved one is the gift of the Mass. Please use the Easter Mass Remembrance envelope to enjoin your friends and family in our most holy celebration.
EASTER FLOWERS Proclaim that spring is upon us as they symbolize hope and new life. Add to the beauty of our church during the upcoming Easter season by using your Easter flower envelope to help us proclaim that Jesus has risen!
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
LENTEN RICE BOWLS: Rice bowls are returned to Church at the end of Lent.
NEXT WEEKEND, MARCH 30/31
Holy Saturday – Saturday, March 30th
No Confessions either Parish
Easter Vigil at St. Polycarp – 7:30 pm
Easter Sunday – Sunday, March 31st
St. Polycarp at 8:00 am and 10:00 am
St. Dennis at 8 am, 9:30 am and 11 am (Spanish)
UPCOMING
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY: On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 7th and the vigil on Saturday, April 6th, please stay for about 10 minutes after Mass to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Literature will be provided so that you can follow along. See this weekend’s bulletin to learn about the Graces of Divine Mercy.
Our next AGAPE will be on April 7th, following the 10:30 am Mass. Come join us as we enjoy food, fun, and fellowship. All are invited. April’s Agape is hosted by the members of Liturgy.
ADULT FAITH FORMATION CONNECTED IN CHRIST: Come have coffee and refreshments with fellow parishioners on Tuesday, April 9th, following the 8:30 am Mass. This is an open invitation to all St. Polycarp and St. Dennis parishioners. We will be meeting in the library. Bring a treat to share if you would like. Find out what is going on every other Tuesday morning in the Adult Faith Formation CIC (Connected in Christ) group. If you have questions or would like to let us know that you will be there, call Cookie Ruane at (302) 540 – 6429.
ST. POLYCARP’S 5th ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT & DINNER:
Save the date! Sunday, June 30th 2024 at Garrisons Lake Golf Club, Smyrna & Dinner at St. Polycarp Church
Look for more information in next weekend’s bulletin.
FORMED: 
Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage https://watch.formed.org/videos/triduum
or use this QR code for Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage
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
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.”
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 – no Adoration on Palm Sunday.
Upcoming Saturday Eucharistic Adoration at St. Polycarp: Saturday, April 13th, Saturday, May 11th, Saturday, June 8th, Saturday, July 13th, Saturday, August 10th
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.
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 thru 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 Boy Ardee 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:
BE THERE WHEN GOD MOVES: 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. Whether you join us for one day or all five, the grace you receive will spill out into our community when you return home—deeply in love with the Eucharist and excited about the future of the Church in America. Visit EucharisticCongress.org to learn more about the event and explore the full schedule for each day.
BISHOP KOENIG INVITES YOU TO THE NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON JULY 17th-21st, 2024, IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN. To read the letter of invitation, CLICK HERE
FOR TRAVEL INFORMATION FLYER CLICK HERE
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640AM. On the March 23rd episode of Catholic Forum, Fr. Joe McQuaide will discuss the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Reconciliation Monday. 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.
BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Visit Bulletin Overflow https://saintpolycarp.org/overflow/ for details on the following and more!:
EUCHARIST ENCOUNTER WEEKEND: St. Elizabeth Parish and School are honored to host the Eucharistic Miracles of the World Exhibit, collected and designed by +Blessed Carlo Acutis, from Friday, March 22nd through Sunday, March 24th. For updates about the event, the full schedule and video, please visit https://steparish.org/.
SMYRNA-CLAYTON MINISTERIUM CROSS WALK: Good Friday, March 29th
DELAWARE STATE COLUMBIETTES’ LADIES RETREAT AT ST. JUDE PARISH IN LEWIS, DE on Saturday, April 13th.
MINI RETREAT on PADRE PIO at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Wilmington, on April 16th.
A RACHEL’S VINEYARD CATHOLIC RETREAT Friday, April 19th – Sunday, 21st, 2024. This retreat offers emotional and spiritual healing for anyone who has struggled with the pain of abortion.
LET US PRAY: PRAYER FOR HOLY WEEK
Almighty Father, who sent your only Son Jesus Christ to save us from our sin, show me how I can honor you and bring glory to your name, by walking in the way of Jesus. Give me grace and mercy as I try and fail, guidance when I’m not sure which way to go, and wisdom to trust you in all things. For your love brings light and life to all who seek it. May I seek you evermore as I walk with you through this Holy Week and beyond. Amen.
(Kathryn Shirey)