25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Lord upholds my life.
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091921.cfm
LIVE-STREAMING: Visit https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE for live stream. (or visit our webpage www.saintpolycarp.org and click on the picture of the altar ) Masses may also be viewed at a later time. As you may have noticed, our live streaming is not always working. If you have expertise in this area, please contact us immediately at the office. communications@saintpolycarp.org or 302.653.8279. We apologize for this inconvenience.
ONLINE BULLETIN: https://www.jppc.net/onlinebulletins/301template.pdf
THIS WEEKEND, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH
WELCOME BACK MASS: We welcome back all of our parish families on Sunday, Sept. 19th at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. There will be a Welcome Back Blessing for our parish families. Then, afterwards, join us for food and festivities at our Annual Parish Picnic.
CATECHETICAL SUNDAY: a blessing for all of our catechists and those who assist them, will take place this Sunday, Sept. 19th at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. We are hoping all of our catechists and those who assist them plan on attending!
OUR ANNUAL PARISH PICNIC! Our annual Parish Picnic will take place this Sunday, September 19th following the 10:30 am Mass. We invite all parishioners to join us! Hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries and bottled water will be provided. We ask that you bring your own sides and any additional beverages for you and your family. An inflatable obstacle course will be set up for you to enjoy. Hope to see you there.
SECOND COLLECTION: This week, the Second Collection will be for our Parish School of Religion (PSR). Thank you for your continued generosity in supporting the religious education of our youth. We are most appreciative for all you do to support our program!
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 19TH
The RCIA is the process by which such individuals become full members of the Catholic Church. You can make a difference! If you are aware of someone who is looking for new direction in their life, perhaps they will find their way in the Catholic Church. You can… change a life by “personally inviting” them to our upcoming RCIA Inquiry session on Monday evening, September 20th. Other sessions will take place on successive Monday evenings, for all you wish to commit to the RCIA process. These sessions take place in the Parish Library at 6:30 PM. Again, these sessions are for those unbaptized, those baptized in other Christian traditions, or adult Catholics who have not been confirmed. You can make a difference in someone’s life… by simply asking! For information, please contact Deacon Frank Weber at DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at (302) 653 – 8279.
JOIN THE GIRL SCOUTS: Girl Scout Sign up night is this Wednesday, September 22nd at St. Polycarp. Stop by the Mother Drexel Hall between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm to learn more about Girl Scouts and how to join. Contact Tracie Bruno for more information: gscbSU31@gmail.com.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON MARIAN PILGRIMAGE with Bishop William Koenig at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. September 25, 2021, 10AM-4PM https://saintpolycarp.org/marian-pilgrimage/
NEXT WEEKEND, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH
PRIESTHOOD SUNDAY: Next, Sunday, September 26th is Priesthood Sunday. Please bring the “Prayer for our Priests” (that is an insert in this week’s Bulletin) to Mass with you next weekend. Remember to pray for vocations to the Priesthood as well as prayers of thanksgiving for all Priests. A great day to say thank you to Priests & Deacons!
HAPPY 
RETIREMENT FR. MAST! Father Mast will be celebrating his last Mass at Saint Polycarp before he retires to Florida, on Sunday, September 26, 2021, at 10:30 am. Please join us after Mass in Mother Drexel Hall for food and fellowship. If you have any questions or would like to assist in the planning, please call Kathy Curlett at 302 222 9326.
PSR FIRST CLASSES: PSR classes begin on Sunday, September 26th for Grades P/K – 4 and on Tuesday, September 28th for Grades 5-8. Make sure you keep an eye on your email for information and calendars from Mrs. Taylor. (We are having some issues with families not receiving our emails. Please check your spam/junk folder.)
Our PSR offers religious education for children in pre-kindergarten through ninth grade. Students must be registered BEFORE the first class. Sacramental preparation is offered for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. Visit https://saintpolycarp.org/religious-education/ for more information and to register. Registration Forms are also available in the black drop box under the portico. Questions? Contact our Coordinator of Religious Education, Erica Taylor at 302-653-4101 or dre@saintpolycarp.org
SHARE IN THE SPIRIT: Next weekend, parishioners throughout the diocese will be asked to help make the dream of a Catholic education a reality for many struggling Catholic families. Monies raised through this collection coupled with the diocese’s tuition assistance endowment provides financial assistance to hundreds of deserving families who seek a Catholic education for their children but who cannot afford the full cost of tuition. Pease generously support next week’s Share in the Spirit collection. God bless you for your ongoing goodness. To learn more about the Share in the Spirit collection and its importance, go to the diocesan website at www.cdow.org/sharespirit.html.
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 26TH
WEEKDAY MASSES: Beginning Thursday, September 30th and Friday, October 1st, there will be no 8:30 am Daily Mass on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. There will be 8:30 am Mass on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Weekend Masses will remain the same: 4 pm on Saturdays and 10:30 am on Sundays.
ONGOING/UPCOMING
THE ANNUAL BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS will take place on Sunday, October 3rd, at 12:15 pm. Meet outside across from the front of the Church on the front lawn.
MEMORIAL BRICKS: Before you know it, the leaves will begin falling the kaleidoscope of colors will be here, and then, in no time at all, Winter will arrive. Now is a perfect time to add your Memorial Brick to the walkway of our outdoor Blessed Mother Shrine. We are truly blessed to have the opportunity to have our Blessed Mother looking down upon a memory of our loved one, a special occasion or just your family name. You can order through Faith Direct at https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/details/5644, (you do not need to sign up for Faith Direct), or return your form (forms may be found at the Church doors) with payment to St. Polycarp Church in an envelope labeled “Memorial Brick”. You can also CLICK HERE FOR ORDER FORM
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
THE DIALOG: http://thedialog.org/ Newspaper of the Diocese, copies available as you leave Church or online
FROM THE DIOCESE:
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640. On tomorrow’s episode tune in to meet Ms. Sheila McGirl, new development director of the Diocese of Wilmington, and learn about the upcoming Share in the Spirit campaign to help Catholic school families. Listen anytime at cdow.org/CatholicForum or search Catholic Forum on Apple, Spotify or iHeartRadio podcasts.
LET US PRAY:
A Prayer for the Family
Composed by St. Mother Teresa
Heavenly Father,
You have given us the model of life in the Holy Family of Nazareth. Help us, O Loving Father, to make our family another Nazareth where love, peace and joy reign. May it be deeply contemplative, intensely eucharistic, revived with joy.
Help us to stay together in joy and sorrow in family prayer. Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families, especially in their distressing disguise. May the eucharistic heart of Jesus make our hearts humble like his and help us to carry out our family duties in a holy way.
May we love one another as God loves each one of us, more and more each day, and forgive each other’s faults as you forgive our sins. Help us, O Loving Father, to take whatever you give and give whatever you take with a big smile.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, cause of our joy, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Holy Guardian Angels, be always with us, guide and protect us.
Amen.