4th Sunday of Lent
Laetare Sunday
This Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday and is a Sunday of joy. Lent is half over, and Easter will soon be here. Prepare!
Look to Him that you may be radiant with joy.
Visit our home page to view Reconciliation, Holy Week & Easter Schedules. www.saintpolycarp.org
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032722.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/.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
St. Polycarp – 7 pm on the Fridays in Lent in Church (and live streamed).
St. Dennis – 5 pm and 7 pm (Hispanic) on Fridays in Lent
Remember, Fridays in Lent are obligatory days of abstinence from meat for those age 14 onwards.
THIS WEEKEND, MARCH 26/27
THE SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is for the Rice Bowl. Please be as generous as your means allow. Thank you!
PSR GRADES P/K – 4, Sunday, March 27 at 9am. Remember to send in the assigned food item with your child for our Lenten Almsgiving Outreach. All food is donated to the Smyrna Clayton Ministerium Food Pantry. P/K – Pasta, Grade 1 – Cereal, Grade 2 – Canned Tuna, Grade 3 – Juice boxes
Grade 4 – Canned meat (Chili, sloppy joe, beef stew…)
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Sunday, March 27th at the 10:30 am pm Mass – G. Burns – Please arrive 15 minutes before your mass time and pick up (or drop off) materials in the sacristy.
HELP NEEDED – We are in need of front desk receptionists in the parish office. Could you possibly consider donating 3 hours of your time once a week? There are 2 shifts open. Wednesday and Friday afternoons from Noon till 3 pm. If you are interested, or would like more information, please call Kathy in the Parish Office, or send her an email. We appreciate the members of this Office Ministry immensely – the gift of your time is priceless!
WE NEED YOUR HELP! – Do you like posting on Social Media? Want to help people connect through this platform? We are looking for someone to take over posting to our Facebook page beginning in May. Do you know how to find appropriate material and schedule posts? We have from now until the beginning of May to help you get started! If interested, contact Judy at communications@saintpolycarp.org.
THE WEEK OF MARCH 27
PLEASE RSVP BY MONDAY, MARCH 28TH. The Brother Vincent Columbiettes invite the ladies in the parish to our 2022 LENTEN RETREAT being held on Saturday, April 2nd, from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. Mass at 8:30am with the Retreat following immediately after in Mother Drexel Hall. The topic of the retreat is Reflections on the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Come away from the busyness of life for a day of spiritual enlightenment and discover the voice of God who longs to speak to your heart. Sr. Miriam Catherine NEVINS O.P. will be our presenter this year. Contact: Maureen Robinson at (302) 653 – 4654 or send an email to bragh1@comcast.net
PSR GRADES 5-8, Tuesday, March 29 at 7pm. Remember to send in the assigned food item with your child for our Lenten Almsgiving Outreach. All food is donated to the Smyrna Clayton Ministerium Food Pantry. Grade 5 -Condiment (Mayonnaise/Ketchup/Mustard/Relish/Hot Sauce), Grade 6-Grape or Strawberry Jelly, Grade 7 – Pasta Sauce, Grade 8 – Meal Starters (Tuna Helper / Hamburger Helper)
NEXT WEEKEND, APRIL 2/3
MASS WILL BE CELEBRATED next Saturday, April 2nd at 8:30 am. The Columbiettes Lenten Retreat will follow immediately. The Mass is opened to all – you do not need to be signed up for the retreat to attend. If you are signing up for the retreat – RSVP by Monday, March 28th, see above.
APRIL AGAPE, hosted by our Pastoral Council – Come join us as we gather together with friends and family next Sunday, April 3rd, following the 10:30 Mass. Please join us to share a light lunch, desserts, and beverage. What a great opportunity to meet and chat with your council members.
3-G PROJECT – We’ll hear about this project at Masses on April 2nd and 3rd!
UPCOMING/ONGOING
RECONCILIATION
Has it been a long time since your last confession? “Bless me Father for I have sinned. I forget what to say and how long it’s been since my last confession!” Always remember that the priest will help you through this Great Sacrament of Mercy. Don’t stay away because you forget the “how to”. Just bring your desire to be forgiven. Come renew & strengthen your soul! (You can also visit https://saintpolycarp.org/reconciliation-refresher/ and Examine your conscience
CONFESSIONS AT ST. POLYCARP are Saturdays from 2:30 to 3:30 pm. (No confessions on Holy Saturday, April 16th.)
THE DEANERY LENTEN PENANCE SERVICE will take place at Holy Cross Church, Dover on Monday, April 4th, at 7 pm. Several priests will be present to hear confessions.
RECONCILIATION MONDAY – April 11th: Bishop Koenig, after consulting with the Priests’ Council, has decided to launch Reconciliation Monday in our diocese. Held on the Monday of Holy Week, every parish will offer Confessions from 3 to 8 pm. Pastors with multiple churches may not be able to have each church covered during that time. Here at St. Polycarp, on Monday, April 11th, Confessions will be heard from 3-5pm (Fr. Gerres) and then from 6-8pm (Fr. Jim). Visit our home page to view Reconciliation, Holy Week & Easter Schedules. www.saintpolycarp.org
CRS RICE BOWLS: Please pick-up a rice bowl as you leave Mass today. Rice bowls can be found on the tables at the doors of the church. Rice bowls are returned to Church at the end of Lent. Each Lent, Catholic families across the country unite to put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Through CRS Rice Bowl, families learn about how our sisters and brothers across the globe overcome hardships like hunger and malnutrition, and how through Lenten alms, we have the power to make the world a better place for all. For more information, visit crsricebowl.org.
EASTER MASS REMEMBRANCE: Easter is the greatest celebration in the Catholic Church because it is the completion of the Holy week that ends with the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus was raised from the dead, and by that He conquered sin and death. 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: The Easter Flowers, particularly the white lilies with their large white trumpet flowers, proclaim that spring is upon us and they symbolize hope and new life. Add to the beauty of our church during this joyful season by using your Easter flower envelope to help us proclaim that Jesus has risen!
EASTER EGG HUNT! Our Brother Vincent Knights of Columbus will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, April 10th, following the 10:30 am Mass. All children are invited to attend. There will be prizes! Children are asked to bring their own baskets!
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.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Please sign up to take home the Vocation Chalice for one week. Call or text Alice Gaston 302-670-7924 to sign up. Each week a family will receive the Vocation Chalice at Mass and take it home with the promise to “pray for vocations” during that week. The family should place the chalice in a prominent place in their home and gather together each day to pray for the awareness of vocations. At the end of the week, the family will bring the chalice back to church so the next family can take it home. A booklet will accompany the chalice that has prayers and instructions. We need your prayers and for you to sign up. See the Bulletin for schedule. Sunday, March 27th – G. Burns; Sunday, April 10th – Netz Family.
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 receipts months old in!
Thank you to our Bulletin advertisers! We appreciate your support! – Thank you to this week’s advertiser Smyrna Diner – 99 S. Cory Lane, Smyrna 302-653-9980
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
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 640. Dr. Jessica Coblentz will discuss her book, “Dust in the Blood: A Theology of Life with Depression” on the Mar. 26th Catholic Forum podcast. Listen online anytime at cdow.org/CatholicForum, or by searching “Catholic Forum” on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or Amazon Music podcasts.
LET US PRAY:
Loving Creator of mine,
I feel the pace quicken, the time draw near.
I am filled with joy as I move toward Easter
and the promised reconciliation with you.
Teach me to follow the example of your Son,
to be worthy of being called one his people:
a Christian.
Help me to live each day as he did
turning hatred to love and conflict to peace.
I await the new life with eagerness, faith
and a deep gratitude. Amen.
(Taken from Creighton*University’s*Online*Ministries)