Fourth Sunday of Easter
My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050822.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
An urgent message from your Pastoral Council:
Pastoral Council is the opportunity for the laity to have input into the governing of our Parish by advising our Pastor in fulfilling the Parish Mission and providing vision and strategic planning to the parish community. Standing committees that fall under our Pastoral Council are Liturgy, Christian Formation, Parish and Family Life, Social Concerns, and Building and Maintenance. According to the Pastoral Council bylaws- no more than 18, no less than 12 registered parish members, 16 years or older, are elected to the council to serve a three-year term. One-third of council members each year, along with any unfilled positions, need to be elected by the last weekend in May.
At this present time, Pastoral Council does not have enough members to remain viable. Five additional members would put us at minimum membership, and eleven would allow for a vibrant council. If Pastoral Council does not obtain these new members, all committees under the Pastoral Council will also cease to exist. Our next monthly Pastoral Council meeting is Wednesday, May 11th at 7:00 pm. We urge interested parties to contact the outgoing Executive Officer, Angela Gibson, at 302-270-4100 no later than Monday, May 9th, at 5:00 pm if you are called to fulfill this ministry.
TODAY – Friday, May 6: HANGING BASKETS: Did you order a hanging basket of Petunias or Begonias from our Brother Vincent Columbiettes? Pick up is Friday, May, 6th from 3pm – 5pm. Due to the rain, pick-up will be under the portico, off the back parking lot, near the parish office/chapel doors.
THIS WEEKEND, MAY 7/8
FIRST HOLY EUCHARIST: Please pray for our five parish children who will receive Jesus for the first time in the Sacrament of the Eucharist tomorrow, Saturday, May 7th at the 4:00 pm Mass.
THE BLESSING OF MOTHERS will take place at both Masses this weekend (Saturday, May 7th at the 4:00 pm Mass and Sunday, May 8th at the 10:30 am Mass).
BIRTHRIGHT OF DELAWARE WILL HOST ITS ANNUAL MOTHER’S DAY ROSE SALE at our parish next weekend. Please support Birthright’s crisis pregnancy services by purchasing roses after Masses on Mother’s Day weekend, this weekend, May 7th & 8th. Cost: $2/one Rose, $5/three Roses, $20/Dozen Roses, $40/Twenty-five Roses Bouquet. 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!
CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD will be offered this Sunday, May 8th during the 10:30 am Mass. Following the opening prayer, all children in Grades Pre-K through Grade 4, are invited to be dismissed to the hall to share the Word using their own images and words. The children return following the intercessions.
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Sunday, May 8th at the 10:30 am pm Mass – J. Compton – Please arrive 15 minutes before your mass time and pick up (or drop off) materials in the sacristy.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2022 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: In today’s Gospel Jesus tell us, “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me”. It is important to listen. When we listen to Jesus and follow Him, we are Walking By Faith. Everyone is welcome to walk with Jesus and follow Him in faith. As followers of Christ, we must act faithfully to reach out to others as Jesus does. As Christ committed His life to being the “one shepherd”, we too must commit ourselves to providing service to all.
Thank you to everyone who “Walking By Faith”, made a pledge to the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. If you have not yet participated, please consider doing so today. Your gift makes a real difference in the lives of thousands of individuals and families who reside within our 12-county diocese. Pledge envelopes are available in the pews and/or at the doors of the Church and can be placed in the offertory basket. Thank you for your generosity and support.
Listen to Fr. Jim’s message on Commitment Weekend (April 30/May 1) at https://youtu.be/0Ub2z-VkjZw Listen to Bishop Keonig’s message at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDoG-D7YhII&t=122s
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)
MAY CROWNING: To view pictures CLICK HERE
MOTHER’S DAY NOVENA: We are part of this world today because our mothers have given us life. Every one of us has several special women who have enriched our lives: Grandmothers, Aunts, Cousins, Caregivers, Godmothers, Friends and others. Living or deceased, the best gift you can give a loved one is the gift of the Mass. Please use the Mother’s Day Mass Remembrance envelopes to enlist these special women in the masses offered by our parish.
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: NEW 8-WEEK VIDEO SERIES BEGINS MAY 10TH
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: Tuesday 12:00 -8:00 in the Church. When Jesus called His apostles from their work to follow Him, He knew they heard Him, not only with their ears, but within their hearts. They heard Him. They listened to Him. They followed 
Him. They loved Him. They spread His word. Jesus calls to us today and every day, “Come to Me!” He wants us to draw closer to Him. Hear Him with our hearts. Come closer to Him. Find One Hour when you can share in the peace and quiet of His abiding love. Are you listening? Will you follow? There are hours available on Tuesday, CALL or EMAIL; Cheryl Thomas salcrest7@gmail.com, (302) 363-0404
Our PARISH AND FAMILY LIFE Ministry will be participating in the Town 4th of July Parade and we need your help! Please join us to start planning this event on Tuesday, May 10th at 7 pm in Room 7. Reach out to Deanna Lail at dlail14@comcast.net or 302-535-2957. We look forward to having as many volunteers present at this meeting so we can represent St. Polycarp on the 4th!
NEXT WEEKEND, MAY 14/15
MINISTRY FAIR: The Pastoral Council is pleased to announce that we will be hosting our annual Ministry Fair once again. Everyone is invited to stop in and see all of the wonderful things our ministries have been doing. Please visit the Parish Hall on Saturday, May 14th, following the 4 pm Mass and Sunday, May 15th, following the 10:30 am Mass. 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!
UNITY IN THE PARK: On Sunday, May 15th at 6pm at the Smyrna Municipal Park (near the gazebo – bring a lawn chair), the Smyrna-Clayton Ministerium is hosting a celebration of Christian Faith and Unity called Unity in the Park. It starts at 5pm with time for fellowship and food (hot dogs, chips, drinks). At 6pm, gather for prayer, music and preaching. In a world that is so divided let us come together to celebrate our Lord as one body. The park is located at 325 N. Main St., Smyrna.
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 8 – J. Compton, 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 – Diamond State Pest Control, 302-734-1983 www.diamondstatepestcontrol.com
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. On the May 7, 2022 (tomorrow’s) episode of Catholic Forum, we are joined by Megan Gilbert, Communications Officer for Catholic Relief Services, who will give us an update on CRS’ work to help Ukrainians in the wake of the Russian invasion. 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.
LET US PRAY:
All loving God,
We give you thanks for mothers young and old. We pray for all mothers of every kind…those women who have loved us and helped us with motherly care and compassion. We ask you to bless them and and keep them in your care.
We remember mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers who are no longer with us but whose love is in our heart forever. Amen.
