1st Sunday of Lent
“You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
Visit our home page to view Reconciliation, Holy Week & Easter Schedules. www.saintpolycarp.org
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030622.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 beginning March 4th
St. Dennis – 5 pm and 7 pm (Hispanic) on Fridays in Lent beginning March 4th
Remember, Fridays in Lent are obligatory days of abstinence from meat for those age 14 onwards.
THIS WEEKEND, MARCH 5/6
PSR GRADES P/K – 4, Sunday, March 6 at 9am, in person classes.
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.
OFFERTORY REFLECTION: CALL TO GIVING: Lent is the time where we are called to consider how we are making personal and spiritual sacrifices to renew our faith and thank God for the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Almsgiving is one way that we can honor Christ’s sacrifice while providing our parish the financial means to continue our work in the community to share the Gospel. We have been blessed at St. Polycarp parish by the support we have received during the pandemic. You should have received The Offertory Reflection Letter this past week. If not, expect to see it soon!
NO MARCH AGAPE: Agape will return next month on the first Sunday of April following the 10:30 am Mass. Hope to see you then! Thank you to the Knights of Columbus, Columbiettes and all those who attended the Shrove Tuesday Breakfast!
THE WEEK OF MARCH 6
CONNECTED IN CHRIST ADULT FORMATION: The gospel stories of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus are at the core of Christian faith. Connected in Christ will explore these essential stories in the unique accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, on six consecutive Tuesdays, beginning March 1st in the library. We will begin at 9:30 am and each session will be about 90 minutes. To enroll and receive a book in advance, please contact Peggy O’Connor – peggyo52@aol.com; 302-514-9913. A suggested donation of $10 for the book would be appreciated, though not required, to defray the cost of materials to the parish.
PSR GRADES 5-8, Tuesday, March 8th at 7pm, in person classes.
NEXT WEEKEND, MARCH 12/13
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Saturday, March 12 at the 4:00 pm Mass – B. & J. Watson – Please arrive 15 minutes before your mass time and pick up (or drop off) materials in the sacristy.
THE BLESSING OF ALTAR SERVERS AND SACRISTANS will take place next Sunday, March 13th, at the 10:30 am Mass.
COOKIES! Girl Scout Troop 547 will be selling Girl Scout Cookies outside the Church doors after both Masses next weekend. (If it rains, they will be in the hall.)
UPCOMING/ONGOING
DO YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE BUT CRAVE A LITTLE TIME FOR YOURSELF? 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 Please RSVP by Monday, March 28th.
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!
PASTORAL COUNCIL – The annual Pastoral Council elections are approaching. We are seeking candidates to fill open positions for the new term. The Pastoral Council meets monthly. This is a wonderful opportunity to work with and for our parish community. If you or someone you know would like additional information please contact Angela Gibson (302) 270 – 4100 or starrinhaven@yahoo.com.
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. March 12 – B & J Watson
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!
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.Married couples can learn how to increase their emotional intimacy on the March 5th Catholic Forum program/podcast. Listen online anytime at cdow.org/CatholicForum, or by searching “Catholic Forum” on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or Amazon Music podcasts.
LET US PRAY:
God of infinite mercy and goodness, with grateful hearts we pray to you today for Peace. You offer us your peace continually (Jn.14:27) and constantly remind us that peacemakers are blessed, “for they shall be called children of God” (Mt.5:9). May your voice resound in the hearts of all, as you call us to follow the path of reconciliation and peace, and to be merciful as you are merciful.
We pray to you for the people of the Ukraine who are experiencing conflicts and deaths. Bless the leaders with wisdom, vision and perseverance needed to build together a world of justice and solidarity, and to break down walls of hostility and division.
To you we entrust all families and pray that they may never yield to discouragement and despair, but become heralds of new hope to one another in this challenging time.
May you continue to inspire all of us to oneness of heart and mind, to work generously for the common good, to respect the dignity of every person and the fundamental rights which have their origin in the image and likeness of God impressed upon every human being.
Grant eternal rest to the dead and quick recovery to the wounded, we pray through Christ our Lord, Amen!
Prayer adapted from: Pope JPII’s Prayer for Peace, shared by St. Stephen Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church, Calgary