FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Deacon Charlie who went home to God on Saturday, April 24th. A viewing will be held 7-9 pm on Friday, April 30 (tonight) at Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St, Smyrna, DE 19977 (302) 653-2900. Please follow Covid-19 guidelines for masks and distancing. Contact the Funeral Home for any questions regarding covid guidelines. The family of Deacon Charlie have decided, that due to covid restrictions and given the large number of family members who will be attending the Mass of Christian Burial, the Mass will be private. The Mass will be live-streamed on our YouTube Channel at 12:00pm (noon) on Saturday, May 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgVD44piM-0 or https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE Please keep Deacon Charlie’s family in your prayers and ask God to comfort them and give them peace during these difficult days ahead. Deacon Charlie – Thank you for sharing your faith with us. Loving memories will live on in our hearts.
BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON: Today, Friday, April 30, 2021, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, named the Reverend Monsignor William Edward Koenig, Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington. He will succeed the Most Reverend W. Francis Malooly, who has served as the leader of the Catholic Church in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore since 2008. In accordance with canon law, Bishop Malooly offered his resignation to the Holy Father when he turned 75 years of age on January 18, 2019. Please keep Bishop-elect Koenig in your prayers. To read more visit www.cdow.org/newbishop
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050221.cfm
LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for all live stream. (or visit our webpage www.saintpolycarp.org and click on the picture of the altar ) All Masses are live- streamed. Masses may also be viewed at a later time.
URGENT: WE NEED HELP WITH LIVE STREAMING as soon as possible. Please prayerfully discern the gifts God has given you and consider being part of this ministry. In order to be able to maintain our live streaming of Masses, we are in need of individuals with a technological background, a good understanding of network communication, online social media and a desire to help grow our online presence with live streaming. Please contact our Communications Office at communications@saintpolycarp.org or call the office at 302-653-8279.
CAPACITY HAS BEEN REACHED (through reservations) for both Masses this weekend.
ONLINE BULLETIN: https://www.jppc.net/onlinebulletins/301template.pdf
PSR: Our End-of-the Year celebration will be live-streamed this Sunday, May 2, for Grades P/K to Grade 4 at 9am, and Tuesday, May 4, for Grades 5-8 at 7pm.
MAY CROWNING: Please join us outside, in front of the statue of Mary, this Sunday, May 2, following the 10:30 a.m. Mass for a short ceremony to crown Mary. We ask that everyone practice social distancing and wear masks. There will not be a procession, nor will we bring flowers to Mary like we normally would. Please join us in honoring Mary on May 2. All are welcome!
HANGING FLOWER BASKETS: TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ORDER! The Brother Vincent Columbiettes are selling 10″ hanging baskets. Your choice of Petunias or Begonias. Orders must be placed by April 30th. Contact: Linda at 302-270-5347, Angela at 302-270-4100 or Darlene at darpete87@comcast.net. Pick-up or delivery (if needed) May 7th & 8th.
MOTHER’S DAY NOVENA OF MASSES: Express your love for a special mother, grandmother, godmother, mother-in-law, an expectant mother, or any woman who has played a motherly role in your life by enrolling them in the Mother’s Day Novena of Masses. You can remember any dear woman, living or deceased. It is proper to remember those who have died and to honor those who are still living. This is a wonderful way to show your love for the mothers and special women in your life.
BLESSING OF MOTHERS will take place next weekend, May 8th and 9th at both the 4:00 pm Mass and the 10:30 am Mass.
NEXT WEEKEND – Birthright of Delaware will host its ANNUAL MOTHER’S DAY ROSE SALE at our parish. Please support Birthright’s crisis pregnancy services by purchasing roses after Masses on Mother’s Day weekend, May 7th – 9th. $2/one Rose, $5/three Roses, $18/Dozen Roses, $35/Twenty five Roses Your help will truly make a difference! Thank you. We deeply appreciate your support!! You can also make a donation to Birthright of Delaware in lieu of roses!
2021 ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL : Please visit our online Bulletin or visit www.cdow.org/annualcatholicappeal to find out how you can help provide pastoral, charitable, and educational programs and services to tens of thousands of people in our 12 county Diocese. St. Polycarp’s ongoing example of stewardship has been the epitome of generosity in years past.
USHERS AND GREETERS: Please consider volunteering for this simple but important ministry to welcome people to Church and/or to help seat them. Contact Cindy at (302)653-7525 or kennedy-078@msn.com or Tom at (302)659-5317, odrain709@comcast.net.
STONES FAITH GARDEN: Stones are being collected during the Easter Season. Each stone has a special message! Please place your painted stone in the basket under the portico. Haven’t heard about our Stones Faith Garden? Check out our video at https://youtu.be/7rB7atK3ohQ
INTERESTED IN MAKING NOTE CARDS? Our Columbiettes are inviting you to join in the fun on Wednesday, May 19th, to create note/greeting cards via Zoom class. The cost is $15 for the kit, which includes all the supplies necessary to make 3 note/greeting cards. Instructions will be given via Zoom. Contact: Anna Skinner at 302-508-5369 anna.skinz@gmail.com or Judy Lahey 302-535-3481 judithlahey@gmail.com to order or for more information.
PHONES: Our Parish Office phone is now being answered by Teresa, our Parish Secretary, on Friday mornings from 9:30 am to noon. (302)653-8279. The answering service will take messages at other times. (Phone reservations for Mass are accepted on Wednesday mornings only.)
USEFUL LINKS:
RESERVATION INFORMATION FOR WEEKEND MASSES: To view information on how to make a reservation visit https://saintpolycarp.org/rservation-information/
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
THE DIALOG: http://thedialog.org/ Newspaper of the Diocese, copies available as you leave Church or online
MASSES DURING THE PANDEMIC: The dispensation of the obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation issued March 12, 2020 remains in effect for the Diocese of Wilmington.
FROM THE DIOCESE:
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640. Tune in tomorrow to hear an interview with Fr. Edward Looney about his new book, “Meditations after Holy Communion”. Listen anytime at cdow.org/CatholicForum or search Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify or iHeartRadio podcasts.
LET US PRAY for the repose of the soul of Deacon Charlie:
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord
And let the perpetual light shine upon him.
May the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen