The summit of the Liturgical Year is the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. Though chronologically three days, they are liturgically one day unfolding for us the unity of Christ’s Paschal Mystery. The single celebration of the Triduum marks the end of the Lenten season, and leads to the Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord at the Easter Vigil.
The liturgical services that take place during the Triduum are:
Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion
Mass of the Resurrection of the Lord
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
(No Stations of the Cross at 7 pm)
Good Friday is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. For members of the Roman Catholic Church, 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.
(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.)
Holy Saturday – Saturday, March 30th
No Confessions either Parish
The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night at St. Polycarp – 7:30 pm
Please pray for our OCIA Catechumen and Candidates as they are fully initiated into the Catholic faith at the Easter Vigil.
Easter Sunday – Sunday, March 31st
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord – Masses
St. Polycarp at 8:00 am and 10:00 am
St. Dennis at 8 am, 9:30 am and 11 am (Spanish)
EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~How does your life bear witness to Jesus’ resurrection?
~What can you do to keep your mind and heart focused on heavenly things?
~What helps you to put your faith in Jesus even when you might not fully understand?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/033124.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 at St. Polycarp. Holy Thursday will be streamed from St. Dennis. CLICK HERE
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 Thursday, March 28th through Monday, April 1st . The Office will reopen at 9 am on Tuesday, April 2nd.
THIS WEEKEND, MARCH 30/31 (and Monday, March 25th – Friday, March 29th)
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend is the Easter Offering.
LENTEN RICE BOWLS: Rice bowls should now be returned to Church. Containers can be found near the doors of the Church.
NEXT WEEKEND, APRIL 6/7 (and Monday, April 8th – Friday, April 5th)
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.
AGAPE: Join us on Sunday, April 7th, following the 10:30am Mass to enjoy food, fun, and fellowship. All are invited. April’s Agape is hosted by the members of Liturgy Ministry.
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.
UPCOMING
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 this weekend’s bulletin.
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.”
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 – 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 30th episode of Catholic Forum, tune in to hear Bishop Koenig’s Easter message to the people of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. 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!:
SMYRNA-CLAYTON MINISTERIUM’S CROSS WALK: On Good Friday, March 29th
DELAWARE STATE COLUMBIETTES’ LADIES RETREAT AT ST. JUDE PARISH IN LEWES, 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:
Lord and Father of all,
help us rise each day to Easter.
Teach us to practice resurrection,
to seek love and forgiveness and new life
in our relationships,
in our work,
in our play,
in our busy, distracted, lonely world.
Lord and good Father to us all,
remind us as the earth re-blooms
that new life is available to us every day.
Our portion is abundant,
if we will but empty our hands
of the things that would distract us from You,
and open wide to receive your resurrection blessings
so that we may be your blessing to others.
Amen.
This prayer comes from Catholic Relief Services.