THE EXHALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
~ What have you complained to God about and then asked not to be punished for it?
~ Do you regard equality with God something to be grasped or do you empty yourself taking the form of a slave?
~ Do you believe that God sent his only Son not to condemn the world, but to save it?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091425.cfm
DAILY BIBLE READINGS: https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
LIVE-STREAMING FROM ST. POLYCARP: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream at 8:30 am, Tuesdays & Wednesdays and 4 pm on Saturdays. (Once at the site, click on “Live”.) Please note: At times the live-stream fails to work. This is especially true as our renovation of the kitchen continues. We apologize for the inconvenience. Live stream from the Cathedral of St. Peter can be viewed on the Diocesan YouTube channel (DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – LIVE STREAMING) at https://www.youtube.com/user/DioceseofWilm
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . or use this QR code. Previous bulletins can also be viewed. (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 or use this QR code
IMPORTANT REMINDERS: When receiving the Blessed Sacrament at Mass, please consume the Eucharist in front of the Priest, Deacon, or Eucharistic Minister prior to stepping away. It is not permitted to walk away with the Blessed Sacrament, take it back to your pew or leave Church with Jesus in your hand. When approaching the altar to receive Holy Communion, please approach with reverence (folding hands and being in a prayerful mode) and after receiving the Sacrament. Remember, it is the Body and Blood of Jesus that you just received.
2025 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL – Congratulations! We’ve reached our goal in PLEDGES!
TOGETHER IN HOPE
As of September 8, our parish has pledged $62,326.76! Our total amount collected towards the pledge amount has increased to $51,259.49. Once we reach our goal in collected donations, we will receive back half of the money collected above the goal for projects around our campus. It is important that everyone follows through with payments on pledges
Parishes throughout the Diocese, are striving for 35% participation in this appeal. Currently, here at St Polycarp, 30% of our parishioners have generously supported this annual event. This 35% goal isn’t just about numbers; it’s about all of us coming together as one family in Christ to support ministries that serve thousands across our Diocese.
If you haven’t yet made a gift, no matter the amount, please prayerfully consider doing so today. Pledge cards can be found at the doors of the Church. You can also give online at www.cdow.org or scan this QR code with your cellphone. Thank you for your generosity and support!
THIS WEEK: Friday, September 12th – Friday, September 19th
SECOND COLLECTION this weekend, September 13/14 is for Parish Utilities.
INSTALLATION OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF will take place tomorrow, September 13th, at the 4 pm Mass.
SUMMER BIBLE STUDY SERIES – FINISHING STRONG!
Return & Revolt (Ezra, Maccabees) and Messianic Fulfillment (Luke & Acts)
Join us for the last two topics of our Summer Bible Series this Sunday, September 14th, at 8:30 am in the Library.
PSR ENVELOPE FUNDRAISER: Your support is nothing short of Amazing! Envelopes were flying off the boards last weekend. If you missed the opportunity, envelopes are still available. Check out the boards after Mass. Thank you for your generous and kind support of our PSR Program!
PSR MEET & GREET: All PSR families are invited to join the PSR Team and meet your child’s catechists at the Parish Picnic next Sunday!
DO YOU ENJOY SHARING STORIES AND CAPTURING SPECIAL MOMENTS? Our parish is growing and there’s a lot of information we want to share with everyone! We’re looking for additional folks of any age with a knack for sharing to help bring our church’s message to life online and in print!
~ Could you spend some time taking photos at parish events?
~ Would you be able to take short video clips at church events?
~ Would you serve our parish by posting updates and inspiration on Facebook?
~ Do you have an hour on Tuesday mornings to help with the weekly bulletin? (Must be skilled in Microsoft Word and use of email)
Whether you’re a social media pro or just want to help our parish, we’d love to welcome you into our media team! It’s a fun way to stay connected and help others stay informed and encouraged.
Interested? Contact Judy at the Parish Office 302-653-8279 or email communications@saintpolycarp.org. (Pictures and videos can be emailed to submission@saintpolycarp.org.)
DO YOU PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT? WE NEED YOU! Saint Polycarp Parish’s Music Ministry needs skilled instrumentalists for liturgies.
Your talents can help us avoid a shortage of musicians.
Contact Kathy Curlett at 302-222-9326 for more information.
The SHARE THE HARVEST TABLE is now under the Portico. This allows our parishioners to share their abundant yield with their Church family. All are welcome to share and receive. Thank you to those who have shared their veggies!
PLEASE QUOTE ME! “To be always united with Jesus, this is my plan of life.” Any idea who said this? (See the end of this weekend Update!)
PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION (PSR) – Religious Education Classes Grades PK – 9
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN. STUDENTS MUST BE REGISTERED BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS!
Visit https://saintpolycarp.org/religious-education/ for information and/or to print the registration form or you can use this QR Code.
For more information, contact Mrs. Erica
Taylor, Coordinator of Religious Education
(CRE) at 302-653-4101 or dre@saintpolycarp.org
To view calendars for the upcoming year visit https://saintpolycarp.org/religious-education/
PSR – FIRST CLASS INFORMATION
At least one parent must attend the first class with the student.
PSR classes begin
Sunday, September 14th at 5 pm for our Confirmation Class (Library)
Sunday, September 28th at 9 am for Grades PK-4 (Church)
Tuesday, September 30th at 7 pm, for grades 5-8 (Church)
Sunday, October 5th at 9 am for our Holy Innocent Students (HIS)
NEXT WEEK: Friday, September 19th – Friday, September 26th
THE SECOND COLLECTION next weekend, September 20th and 21st, is for our Parish School of Religion.
ANNUAL PARISH PICNIC: NEXT Sunday, September 21st, after the 10:30 am Mass: Calling all cooks! Have you decided yet what side dish you will be bringing to our Annual Parish Picnic next Sunday, September 21st, after the 10:30 AM Mass? Your food should be pre-cooked and brought to the picnic in disposable containers. We can provide serving utensils.
We will gather outside, behind the rectory, for Fellowship, Food, and Fun. Do not forget to bring a chair to relax on. Tell the kids there is a Bounce House, games, Arts and Crafts by the Girl Scouts, and a visit from Spiderman. Our PSR Catechists will be there to meet with students and parents. We will be selling 50/50 tickets so bring some cash. 1 ticket–$1 or 25 tickets for $20.
UPCOMING:
BROTHER VINCENT COLUMBIETTES FALL MUM SALE: Choose from a variety of vibrant, beautiful mums in different colors to enhance your fall decor while supporting Brother Vincent Columbiettes’ many charities. Mums will be available for purchase after Masses the weekend of September 27th – 28th. $13 per pot – 3 for $35. 11 inch pots. For pre-orders contact Darlene Sanphy at 302-270-3915 or darpete87@comcast.net
SAVE THE DATE – Blood Drive – October 3rd, 2025 – 12 pm to 5 pm: Please consider donating your blood to help family, parish and community members. The Knights of Columbus Brother Vincent Council #7517 and Brother Vincent Council, Columbiettes, are hosting this wonderful way to give! A mobile unit will be outside, off the side parking lot. Look for more information in future bulletins! Contact: Mike Cunningham with questions at 302- 379-8952 or mikec923@yahoo.com.
SILVER ROSE PILGRIMAGE: October 25th, 2025, immediately after 4 pm Mass. Please join the Knights of Columbus, in this Rosary centered devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. This ceremony honors the sanctity of life, promoting the dignity of all human life. Contact: Mike Cunningham with questions at (302) 379-8952 or mikec923@yahoo.com
ST POLYCARP 3rd QUARTER AUCTION – SAVE THE DATE!
When: Sunday, November 16th
Time: Doors open at 3 pm
Where: Mother Drexel Hall
Visit www.formed.org.
Type in our Parish zip code (19977),
Click on St. Polycarp Church then enter your name and email address!
You can also scan this QR code.
Is there someone you know who would like to explore the Catholic faith – someone unbaptized, or baptized in the Catholic or another Christian tradition? Do you or someone you know need the Sacraments of First Eucharist and/or Confirmation? The Catholic faith can fulfill their desire for a closer relationship with Our Lord by participating in the OCIA process. Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information: DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653 – 8279.
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.
Upcoming Saturday Eucharistic Adoration at St. Polycarp: Saturdays, September 13th, October 12th, November 8th, December 13th.
TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 11 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 11 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.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP (Pathway to Peace) meets on most Fridays at 5:30 pm. Please contact the parish office if you are considering joining us. 302-653-8279 or office@saintpolycarp.org.
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 11 am. 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. FR. Jim has never/will never solicit donations in this manner.
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 through 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 Boyardee 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 CHANNEL/LIVE STREAM: 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
ST DENNIS CHURCH LIVE STREAM: https://www.youtube.com/@stdennisparish_galenamd/streams
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
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Listen to Catholic Forum each week. This week, Father Brian Lewis, Pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Lewes, Delaware and Coordinator of the Annual Diocesan Marian Pilgrimage will give us a preview of this year’s pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. which is being held on October 11th 2025. The Catholic Forum podcast on Apple, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music podcasts and YouTube.com/DioceseofWilm debuts every Wednesday at 12:00 pm and on Relevant Radio 640 every Saturday afternoon at 1:30 pm. More information is available at https://cdow.org/ministries/catholic-forum-podcast-radio-program/.
“To be always united with Jesus, this is my plan of life.”
~ Saint Carlo Acutis