23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
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SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
– What does it mean to describe God as a place of refuge?
– What do you need to renounce to follow Christ more closely?
– What cross have you put down that you need to take up again?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090422.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 Judy at communications@saintpolycarp.org.
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . BULLETIN OVERFLOW: Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE
THIS WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 3/4 (& week of September 4)
AGAPE: There will not be an Agape this Sunday due to Labor Day Holiday.
OFFICE CLOSED: The office will be closed on Monday, September 5th in observance of Labor Day.
REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 7! SAVE this Date—Sunday, September 11, 2022 for St. Polycarp’s 3rd Annual Parish Dinner and Golf Tournament at Links at St. Anne’s in Middletown, DE. Golf Tournament starts with lunch at 12:30 pm with Tee Off at 1 pm. Buffet dinner at 6 pm with golfers, friends, and parishioners from St. Polycarp. You don’t have to golf to join us for dinner! (Buffet dinner is $40.00 per person.) CLICK HERE for more information or contact: Dennis Skinner at papadskinz@yahoo.com (302) 981-8743 or Anna Skinner anna.skinz@gmail.com (302) 883-5647 Register online at https://bit.ly/3HckNKW
GRADE 3 CATECHIST NEEDED. IS GOD CALLING YOU? CAN YOU HELP? Parish School of Religion (PSR) We are still in need of a Grade 3 catechist on Sunday mornings. Are you able to dedicate some of your time to help us grow and complete our PSR team? We’d love to welcome you to our PSR family! If God is calling you, contact Erica Taylor, CRE at 653-4101 or at dre@saintpolycarp.org.
MATCHING GIFT PROGRAM – 2022 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: Read this weekend’s bulletin for an important announcement concerning matched giving by one of our parishioners! Please consider a gift to the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal if you have not already done so. Presently we, St. Polycarp Parish, need $4415 to reach our goal. Our diocese’s Faith and Charity ministries are essential to caring for our people and building up our church.
NEXT WEEKEND, SEPTEMBER 10/11 (& week of September 11)
BLESSINGS: The Blessing of EMT’s and First Responders will take place next Saturday, September 10th, at the 4 pm Mass.
PSR ENVELOPE FUNDRAISER: This fundraiser is to raise funds to help support the rising costs of running our program and to aide in tuition assistance for our families in need. We will kick this 
off next weekend, September 10 & 11. Keep an eye out for our display boards at all the entrances to church. Make sure to grab an envelope or two to help support religious education for our youth. No amount turned in will be too small. If everyone gives a little, it will add up to a lot!
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Next Sunday, September 11 at 10:30 am Mass – Trias Family, Please arrive 15 minutes before your mass time and pick up materials in the sacristy.
CHANGE THE WORLD: BECOME CATHOLIC! INQUIRY SESSIONS will take place NEXT MONDAY September 12. Is there someone you would like to invite to explore the Catholic faith— someone unbaptized, or baptized in a non-Catholic Christian tradition? Do you know someone who needs Confirmation and/or First Eucharist? Perhaps, the Catholic faith can fulfill their desires for a closer relationship with Our Lord. Then, the RCIA process is for them. Please invite them to one or all of our Inquiry Sessions that will take place on August 29 & September 12, 2022. Sessions take place in the Parish Library at 6:30 pm. Please contact Deacon Frank Weber for more information or to let him know that you will attend a session(s) You can reach him at DeaconFrank@saintpolycarp.org or leave a message with the Parish office at
(302) 653-8279.
UPCOMING/ONGOING
WEEKDAY MASSES: Tuesday and Wednesday at 8:30 am.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! All are welcome. The annual Saint Polycarp Parish Picnic will take place on Sunday, September 18, 2022, at 12:00 Noon on our campus. The Knights of Columbus will 
supply hot dogs and hamburgers. Bottled water will also be available. Please plan on bringing your own side dishes, other beverages, and folding chairs. The Pastoral Council has secured a bouncy house for the kids and the young-at-heart. Our fundraising committee will have a dunk tank to test your throwing accuracy. Try and dunk our council members! This is a great opportunity to socialize with your fellow parishioners.
ANNUAL FORUM: This years’ annual forum is taking place Sunday, September 25th, in the Mother Drexel Hall, following the 10:30 am Mass. All are invited. The forum is presented by the Pastoral Council and Finance Council. The forum offers parishioners valuable information regarding the different committees of Saint Polycarp, and a brief synopsis of each committee. This will be an open forum where parishioners can voice their ideas, concerns and dreams. Coffee and pastries will be available for all those who attend.
PSR REGISTRATION: We offer religious education classes for children in Pre-K through Grade 9, Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation. We also offer Intermediate Sacramental Prep (ISP) for older children who have not yet received sacraments. Students must be registered prior to the beginning of classes. To register visit https://membership.faithdirect.net/events/org/831 For information on how to register or to print a paper form CLICK HERE
PSR CALENDAR: First class for Grades P/K to 4 will be held on Sunday, September 25th at 9 am. Students and at least 1 parent/guardian will meet in the Church. First class for Grades 5 – 8 will be held on Tuesday, September 27th at 7pm in the Church. Students and at least one parent/guardian will meet in the Church. To view the calendar, visit https://saintpolycarp.org/religious-education/
GIRL SCOUTS is about so much more than the cookie. This program provides girls with opportunities to learn new skills in art, science, sports, and leadership. Our girls are active in community service projects, striving to make the world a better place. Girls in grades K-12 are welcome to join. Meeting times for our troops that meet at St. Polycarp will be Thursdays, from 6-7, starting in October. For more information, please contact Tracie Bruno at Tracie.Bruno@comcast.net
BROTHER VINCENT COLUMBIETTES are selling Boscov Passes again this year. Profits from these sales help Brother Vincent Columbiettes support our many charitable activities. This event is Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at any Boscov store. YOUR $5.00 SHOPPING PASS BUYS A FULL DAY OF
~ 25% Off Discount Shopping Pass
~ A Chance to Win Fabulous Door Prizes
Contact Beth Bishop at (845) 443-1799 or BishopLBV@aol.com; or ask any Brother Vincent Columbiette.
UPCOMING BLESSINGS: Installation and Blessing of the Pastoral and Finance Councils will take place on Saturday, September 17th, at the 4:00 pm Mass. The Blessing of Catechists will take place on Sunday, September 18th, at the 10:30 am Mass.
Have you had the opportunity to dive into FORMED? To sign up visit www.formed.org. Type in our Parish zip code (19977) and follow the steps to sign up or you can use the QR code below. Take advantage of your free subscription to FORMED! Enjoy thousands of hours of quality Catholic content! 
SHARE THE HARVEST: The Share The Harvest table is now under the Portico. This allows our parishioners to share their abundant yield from their gardens with their Church family. All are welcome to share and receive. Thank you to those who have shared their veggies!
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 process down the aisle to the priest who will have the pyx in his hand and let him know you need a gluten-free host
THE VOCATION CHALICE MINISTRY: Please consider signing up to host the vocation chalice in your home for a week. Text or call Alice Gaston at (302) 670 – 7924. For more information visit https://saintpolycarp.org/vocation-chalice/
September 11 at 10:30 am Mass – Trias Family, September 25th at 10:30 am Mass – Ndione Family
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!
BULLETIN SPONSORS: 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!
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
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
EWTN: ewtn.com
FROM THE DIOCESE:
CATHOLIC FORUM/RELEVANT RADIO: Saturdays at 1:30 pm on Relevant Radio 640AM. On tomorrow’s episode, Saturday, September 3rd, tune-in to learn about Into Life: Love Changes Everything, an original 12-part video series about the work of the Sisters of Life. CLICK HERE 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: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary September 8
Happy Birthday Mother Mary!
Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.