Fifth Sunday of Easter
I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051522.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/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE
–Highlights in this weekend’s bulletin – Update on our landscaping project – Giving, Growing, Glorifying; Read “Getting to Know You” – Nick Taylor, Cantor; Learn about our newest Parish Ministry – our Digital Ministry; View St. Dennis’ Summer Mass Schedule…and more…
THIS WEEKEND, MAY 14/15
MINISTRY FAIR: Everyone is invited to the Ministry Fair in the Parish Hall this weekend following the 4 pm Mass on Saturday, May 14th, and following the 10:30 am Mass Sunday, May 15th. Stop in and see all of the wonderful things our ministries have been doing. Fellow parishioners will be present to share with you our ministries and the works that they do. As always, delicious snacks and drinks from our different ministries will be provided throughout the hall. COME! LOOK! Enjoy the fellowship!
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2022 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: Thank you to those who have already contributed to this year’s campaign and to those parishioners who have signed pledge cards. Your generosity in supporting this campaign enables the diocese to do the work of our Lord. Participants in the 2022 Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal can expect to receive their first payment reminder on or about May 31. Additional reminders will continue through December. Please mail all payments in the self-addressed, return envelope provided with your mailing. To learn more about the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal, visit www.cdow.org; click “Giving” then “Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal”, or simply scan this QR code with your cellphone.
APOSTLES’ CREED: We will continue praying the Apostles’ Creed instead of the Nicene Creed at Mass until Pentecost. (Page 10 in Breaking Bread)
DO YOU WANT TO BE HEARD? SYNOD 2021 – 2023 FOR A SYNODAL CHURCH: Catholics of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore who are not able to attend one of the in-person Synod listening sessions, now have the option to participate online. Individuals, couples, families, or small groups that would like to answer Pope Francis’ invitation to participate in Synod 2021 – 2023 for a Synodal Church, can watch a video – hosted by Father Brian Lewis, pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Lewes, Delaware – and then complete the online form. This option will be available until the end of May on the Diocese of Wilmington’s Synod website – www.cdow.org/Synod.
THE WEEK OF MAY 8
CONNECTED IN CHRIST – ADULT FAITH FORMATION: 8-WEEK VIDEO SERIES (2nd week – this Tuesday)
Many Catholics want to read the Bible because they know it is God’s Word, but they give up because it seems so complicated. In only eight video presentations, Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible will give you the “big picture” by showing how fourteen narrative books of the Bible tell the complete story from Adam and Eve to Christ and the Church. Discover the story of salvation history and understand how you fit into God’s plan. Join Connected in Christ on Tuesdays from 9:15 to 11:00 am in the Library to watch this series with friends. If you can’t attend in person, it is still possible to watch the videos online each week. Contact Peggy peggyo52@aol.com to register or for more information about how to share in this experience.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: ATTENTION – This coming Tuesday (for this week only), Adoration will begin at 1pm instead of noon. (May 17th 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm in Church )
UPCOMING/ONGOING
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. May 22 – K. Watts, June 4 – T. Bruno.
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.
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!
Thank you to our Bulletin advertisers! We appreciate your support! – Thank you to this week’s advertiser – Encompass Health, Rehabilitation Hospital of Middletown, DE.
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:
JOHN ENEMUO TO BE ORDAINED TO THE TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE ON MAY 14TH. The Most Reverend William E. Koenig, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, will ordain Mr. Onyedikachukwu Chibundu John Enemuo, a seminarian for the diocese, to the transitional diaconate on Saturday, May 14, 2022. The Mass of Ordination will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Bear, Delaware. The Mass of Ordination will be live-streamed on the diocesan YouTube channel – www.YouTube.com/DioceseofWilm.
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640. On tomorrow’s (May 14) episode of Catholic Forum, we will get to know John Enemuo, a seminarian for the Diocese of Wilmington, who will be ordained to the transitional diaconate the morning of May 14th. 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.
MARRIAGE MOMENTS: Remember that Jesus’ love for humanity brought him to the crucifixion. Ponder what each of you might sacrifice for the other this week.
PARENTING POINTERS: Say a genuine, unexpected “I love you.” Tell each one something they do that makes you proud. Recognize something that each one is good at.
LET US PRAY:
A Prayer for Seminarians
O Jesus, Eternal High Priest,
I offer You through Your Immaculate Mother Mary,
Your Own Precious Blood, in all the Masses throughout the world,
as petition for graces for all seminarians, Your future priests.
Give them humility, meekness, prudence, and a burning zeal for souls.
Fill their hearts with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Teach them to know and love the Church, that they may always and everywhere
speak, act, and think with her, the glorious spouse of Christ.
Teach them generosity and detachment from worldly goods; but above all,
teach them to know You and to love the One and Only Eternal Priest.
Good Shepherd of Souls, hear this my prayer for saintly priests.
Amen.
(from St. Benedict’s Abbey)