26th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
September 30/October 1
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE – QUESTIONS TO PONDER
~ Is there something that God has asked of you that you consider too difficult?
~ Why is the virtue of humility necessary to the Christian life?
~ When have the words or actions of another convinced you to turn toward God’s will?
READINGS FOR THE WEEKEND: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100123.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.
PARISH WEBSITE: Visit: www.saintpolycarp.org/.
WEEKLY PARISH BULLETIN: CLICK HERE . (New Bulletins are posted on Fridays.)
BULLETIN OVERFLOW: There’s always information that doesn’t fit in our Bulletin – Bulletin Overflow – CLICK HERE
THIS WEEKEND, September 30/October 1 (and Monday, October 2nd – Friday, October 6th)
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS, THIS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1st at 12:15 pm. Bring your cats, dogs, birds, turtles, goats, lizards, frogs, chickens, ducks, horses … All pets present will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for a beautiful 20“ statue of St. Francis of Assisi (patron saint of animals whose feast day is celebrated on October 4th). Meet outside on the lawn across from the front of the Church. (In case of rain, please meet under the portico.)
AGAPE: Join us for Agape this Sunday, October 1st following the 10:30am Mass as we welcome the Fall Season and the Blessings it brings. The PSR staff will be hosting with a lite lunch, deserts and beverages. We hope to see you there.
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. October 1st at the 10:30 Mass – Ashley Fletcher. For more information visit https://saintpolycarp.org/vocation-chalice/
RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY is this weekend, September 30th and October 1st The Respect Life Ministry is hosting a Rosary before the 4 pm Mass tomorrow, Saturday, September 30th, and before the 10:30 am Mass on Sunday, October 1st. Please come to Mass early and join in the Joyful Mysteries Rosary to kick off Respect Life Month. Anyone willing to volunteer to begin a decade of the Rosary or hand out prayer cards at the door, please contact Margie Eckard by email at eckard.margie@gmail.com or by phone (302) 505 – 6041.
BOSCOV DISCOUNT PASSES – Brother Vincent Columbiettes will be selling Boscov Passes after Masses this weekend, September 30th and October 1st. Profits from these sales help Brother Vincent Columbiettes support our many charitable activities. If you miss us on September 30th or October 1st, feel free to contact either Jill Mercer at (518) 795 –7579 or MaryLois Barnas at (302) 388 – 3332. The event is Tuesday, October 18th, at any Boscov store. Your $5 shopping pass buys a full day of 25% Off Discount Shopping and a chance to win fabulous door prizes!
NEWS FROM ST. POLYCARP GOLF TOURNAMENT: Thank you to everyone who supported our tournament and those 100 plus parishioners, friends and golfers who made our 4th Annual Parish Dinner such a great success. Unfortunately, the weather did not permit the golfers to golf that day, so they will be golfing this Sunday, October 1, at Garrisons Lake golf course. For them the prizes are still available, a free car if they get a hole in one on the specified hole, plus additional prizes for best golf. Please, let’s give them a prayer that they will have a drive that’s both long enough to reach their goals and yet straight enough to keep them out of trouble. We hope they have a great game and enjoy the day. This dinner and tournament would not be the successful fundraiser that it is without you; our supporters and our attendees. We thank you very much for all that you do and hope we can count on you in future events. ST POLYCARP PARISHIONERS ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!
SACRISTAN NEEDED: We are still in need of someone to step forward to serve as sacristan. Sacristans have the duty to arrive early to the Church in order to unlock the doors and prepare the Church for Mass. Becoming a sacristan would be a great way to learn more about our beautiful liturgy and become more involved in carrying it out. No previous knowledge is required. If you are interested, please contact the head sacristan Adam Bauer at ajpd.bauer@gmail.com.
RESTROOMS: Please remember that the old bathrooms are now single occupancy use (don’t forget to lock the door).
PURGATORIALSOCIETY: First Wednesday of the month, October 4th, we pray for those who are enrolled in our Purgatorial Society. Mass at 8:30 am.
FAITH WITH FRIENDS: Come learn more about your faith with friends. Thursday, October 5th, from 6 pm – 7 pm in Room 7. Looking forward to seeing you! Ashley Wilson (302) 535 – 4118. Join your friends for this Adult Faith Formation Opportunity.
GIRL SCOUTS: Girl Scouts is starting another year of Service, Skills, and Sisterhood. Do you know a girl (grade K through 12) who would enjoy Girl Scouts? We have troops that meet at St. Polycarp Church on Thursday nights beginning at 6 pm. Contact Tracie Bruno for more information by contacting her at GSCBSU31@gmail.com or calling (302) 242 – 4150
SHARE IN THE SPIRIT: Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the diocesan Share in the Spirit tuition assistance collection last week. For those of you who have not yet participated, you may still contribute to the Share in the Spirit collection for tuition assistance. Please drop your envelope in the collection basket or parish office or, visit the Share in the Spirit website at https://www.cdow.org/share-in-the-spirit and click on “Ways to Give.” This important collection supports the mission and ministry of our Catholic schools by assisting parents who seek a Catholic education for their children but who struggle to afford the full cost of tuition. Your support is gratefully appreciated.
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF WILMINGTON – 2023 FAITH AND CHARITY CATHOLIC APPEAL: We extend our heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you who have already contributed to our parish Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal. We invite those who haven’t yet had the opportunity to give to the Faith and Charity Catholic Appeal to join us in spreading the spirit of gratitude. Envelopes can be found in the pews and at the doors of the Church. Please remember to follow through on your pledges. 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. We’re waiting for updated amounts. 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.
NEXT WEEKEND, October 7/8
MARIAN PILGRIMAGE: If you would like information about attending the Marian Pilgrimage at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. on October 7. visit www.cdow.org/marianpilgrimage. (The bus leaving from our sister parish, St. Dennis, is FULL! )
SATURDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION will take place next Saturday, October 7th (the Vigil Mass before the 2nd Sunday of the month) at the 4 pm Mass. Following the prayer after Communion, Fr. Jim will place the Blessed Sacrament (Host) in the Monstrance. The Blessed Sacrament is then incensed while the “O Salutaris / O Saving Victim” is sung. (Found inside the back cover of Breaking Bread.) Silent prayer then begins. (At this point, Fr. Jim leaves the Church. Please do not leave before Fr. Jim exits the Church.) Silent prayer then continues until 6. Maybe this time you can only stay until after Fr. Jim leaves. Maybe last month you stayed for 5 minutes, Can you stay for 8 minutes this month? When you leave, please do so quietly as others are praying to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. .
SECOND COLLECTION next weekend is for Parish Maintenance.
UPCOMING
ROSARY RALLY: Saturday, October 14th at noon, outside at the Blessed Virgin Mary statue. Please join our parish as well as thousands of Catholics, to publicly pray the Rosary during this annual event. Mary asked us at Fatima to pray the Rosary daily for peace in our world and peace in our families. All are welcome as we publicly pray the Rosary at the Blessed Mother statue for our community to witness our faith.
QUARTER AUCTION: St. Polycarp’s Parish & Family Life Ministry will be holding its 1st Quarter Auction on Friday, October 27th, 2023. Doors will open at 5 pm, auction starts at 6 pm. Proceeds raised will benefit Parish operational expenses and Ministry needs. All-in Paddles are $45. If you have any questions or would like to purchase an All-in Paddle, contact Darlene Sanphy at (302) 270 – 3915.
ONGOING
SATURDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION at St. Polycarp will take place monthly at the Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of the month. October 7th, November 11th & December 9th. Eucharistic Adoration at St. Dennis Church (Galena MD) will take place on the Fourth Sunday of the month following the 8 am Sunday Mass. Sundays, October 22nd, & November 26th.
TUESDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Tuesdays from 9 am to 8pm in the Chapel. We are still in need of people to fill in when others are ill or cannot attend. Do you have one hour to spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament on an occasional basis? Call Cheryl Thomas at (302) 363 – 0404 or email her at salcrest7@gmail.com. All are welcome to stop in and adore Jesus between 9 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. October 1st at the 10:30 Mass – Ashley Fletcher, For more information visit https://saintpolycarp.org/vocation-chalice/
CONNECTED IN CHRIST (ADULT FAITH FORMATION) meets every Tuesday at 9:30 am in the Parish Library – ALL are welcome. Please join us. If you have any questions, please call Cookie Ruane at (302) 540 – 6429.
FAITH WITH FRIENDS (ADULT FAITH FORMATION) meets the first Thursday of every month at 6 pm in Room 7. Everyone is invited. Questions? Contact Ashley Wilson at 302.535.4118.
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.
FORMED: Thanks to a very generous and thoughtful parishioner, our FORMED Subscription has been RENEWED for another year! Please SIGN UP NOW and begin enjoying the abundant amount of Catholic content that FORMED has to offer! You won’t be disappointed! To gain full access to FORMED; follow these simple steps:
~Go to: www.formed.org or scan QR Code
~Enter our parish’s zip code (19977)
~Click on St. Polycarp Church
~Enter your name and your email address
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 Saturday, September 30th, learn about the upcoming Blue Mass and Marian Pilgrimage. Mike Connelly will talk about the Blue Mass and Fr. Brian Lewis will talk about the Marian Pilgrimage. 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:
October 2 – The Holy Guardian Angels
