Third Sunday of Lent March 15, 2020

Third Sunday LET US PRAY

of Lent Bread & Wine for the Eucharist are given in prayer for an March 15, 2020 increase in vocations. Our Sanctuary Lamp in Church burns in prayer for the healing intention of Deacon Charlie Robinson at the request of Mary Grace & George Hutchinson.

Our Sanctuary Lamp in St. Ann Chapel burns in prayer for Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Columbiettes. members of the Roman Catholic Church from age 14 Eucharistic Adoration – 9 am–9 pm Tuesdays, Chapel Flame of Love Rosary - 7 pm Thursdays, St. Ann Chapel onwards. ~USCCB Divine Mercy Chaplet - 3 pm Fridays, St. Ann Chapel Rosary before 8:30 am Mass PRAYER CHAIN - To request prayers or to be part of our Stations of the Cross will take place on Fridays Prayer Chain, email Laverne at [email protected] or during Lent at 7 pm in the Church. Come join call her at (302) 653 – 8064 the parish community as we reflect on Jesus’ passion and suffering as His immense love for Mass Intentions for the Week each one of us. Monday, March 16 8:30 am John P. O’Connell Sr. The O’Connell Family Stations at St. Dennis Fridays at 4 pm (English) and 7pm (Spanish) 8:30 am Donald W. Hreha - Joan & Tom O’Drain

10:30 am DHCI Communion Service

8:30 am Bill Czachorowski - Living Intention

8:30 am Ruth Lewis - Stephen & Kathy Chambers Friday, March 20 Several Priests will be available to hear confessions. 8:30 am James Jackson Stephen & Kathy Chambers 7 pm Stations of the Cross RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS Saturday, March 21 Please pray for our R.C.I.A. Candidates as they 4 pm Joseph Finelli Dieter & Joyce Raczkowski

continue on their journey of faith. 10:30 am Parishioners

We Pray for Our Sick Week I Austin & Dylan Dean, Theresa Devine, Mary Agnes Kennedy, Laura Gilmore, Angela Gilson Week II Dawn Stachow, Margaret Saporito, Robert Stomczer Week III Sophia Wilson, Deirdre Moor, Lorraine Macasevich, Jimmy Callahan, Kevin Liselli, Denis Callahan, Allen Huttick, Evelyn Phillips, Christine & Dale Masten, Francis Joyce Week IV Linda Blow, Ron Pleasanton, April Doyle Week V Michelle Collier, Terry Mance, George Davidson, Edward Ryan, Marty Kingston, James Caruso Week VI Jay Schuman, Deacon Charlie Robinson, Congratulations and our parish community's continued Ed Stachow, Andy Kloepfer prayers for our six RCIA candidates, Neda Biggs, Ken We Pray for Our Deceased Eckard, Ava Knighton, Cindy Laird, Jeff Phillips & Virginia Rohman Michelle Reed (not pictured), who will be received into Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord Full Communion in the Catholic Church at the Easter And let perpetual light shine upon them. Vigil, Saturday, April 11. Their faith journey was officially May the souls of all the faithful departed acknowledged by Bishop Malooly at the Rite of Election, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. at Church of the Holy Cross, Dover on February 29. www.saintpolycarp.org PAGE ONE – 301 The SMYRNA – CLAYTON FOOD LITURGY PANTRY is in need of the following items: beef stew, tuna, individual peanut HOLY WEEK / EASTER SCHEDULE butter, jelly, and small bags sugar. Do not HOLY WEEK forget to bring in your coupons (no need to The Chrism Mass will be at Holy Cross on Monday, April clip). The boxes are located in the vestibule and under the 6th, at 7 pm. coat rack in the hallway. Please no expired food. THE SACRED TRIDUUM Holy Thursday: April 9th THE FOOD PANTRY NEEDS YOU! No 8:30 Mass either parish Here at St. Polycarp Church food is collected 7 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St. Polycarp, only, in the boxes located in the vestibule and under followed by Adoration until 11 pm. the coat rack in the hallway for the local Smyrna- Clayton Food Pantry. Good Friday: April 10th No 8:30 am Mass either parish Each Monday morning, one of our 3 pm Passion of the Lord at St. Dennis only parishioners picks up the collected food and transports it to the food pantry located at Asbury United th Holy Saturday: April 11 Methodist Church on Mount Vernon Street. No 8:30 am Mass either parish No Confessions either parish After many, many, many years, Margie Fox is stepping 8 pm Easter Vigil at St. Polycarp only down from this ministry. If you are interested in this ministry or have any questions, please contact Lil EASTER SUNDAY Fambach at (302) 653 – 7086 or send an email to th Easter Sunday: April 12 [email protected]. You don’t need to be available 8 am at St. Polycarp every Monday. 10 am at St. Polycarp Thank you Margie for your dedication to this 8 am at St. Dennis ministry! 9:30 am at St. Dennis 11 am at St. Dennis (Spanish) CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER "Amid the growing concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus, VOCATION CHALICE - PRAY FOR VOCATIONS it is important to be mindful of common sense practices Nothing is more powerful than prayer and your prayers are that should be observed at all times. very much needed! If you can take home the Vocation The faithful of the Diocese of Wilmington are urged to Chalice for a week to pray for vocations, call or text Alice observe standard precautions, including practicing good Gaston at (302) 670 – 7924 or sign up from the website. hygiene, washing hands frequently and covering your Everything you need is provided. mouth when sneezing or coughing. Family Weekend Mass time Catherine Okpara March 15 10:30 Parishioners are also reminded that if they are sick, Michelle Crowley March 29 10:30 especially with flu-like symptoms, they should stay home Gonzalez April 12 10:30 for their own well-being and that of others. If parishioners Arrive 15 minutes before your mass time and pick up (or are sick or suspect they are sick with drop off) materials in the sacristy. a contagious illness, they are not bound by the Sunday Mass obligation. CREATING A CULTURE OF VOCATIONS The faithful should also be reminded PRAYING FOR VOCATIONS IS EVERYONE’S DUTY that they should not receive from the Prayer is a moving force in vocation development. Prayer chalice if they are feeling ill." is effective; prayer is powerful; prayer is essential. Not all are called to priesthood or religious life, but all are called The Diocese of Wilmington will continue to monitor all to pray for vocations. “Lord, your Church is in need. Call information and updates provided by federal, state and forth from this community sisters, brothers, deacons, local government officials. Please remember that if you priests and lay leaders. May this parish be a source of cannot come to Mass because of illness, EWTN airs hope and a source of ministers for your Church, your Masses on TV. We care about you. Stay home and rest, people and your world. Amen.” read Scripture, meditate, pray. We will keep you in our prayers!

SOCIAL CONCERNS Lent is great time to make space for the Word of The Catholic Relief Service (CRS) Rice God. It is time to turn off the TV and open the Bowl Box are available for pickup in the Bible. It is time to pull ourselves away from cell phones vestibule and at all Church exits. and connect ourselves to the Gospel. Please return your CRS Rice Bowl box to the Church by Pope Francis

April 12th (Easter Sunday). www.saintpolycarp.org PAGE TWO – 301 THE PRE-SCHOOL ACADEMY PARISH AND FAMILY LIFE Our Preschool Academy is now accepting registration for ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE - THIS SUNDAY fall 2020. Our state certified pre-school accepts children Come support our St. Polycarp Parade ages 3 and 4. Morning and afternoon sessions are Ministry in honoring St. Patrick as they available. For information, contact Nancy at parade through the streets of Smyrna this [email protected] or (302)653-1496. Sunday, March 15th!

The parade begins at St. Polycarp at 2pm, goes over to Commerce Street, left onto Main Street and ends at North Smyrna Elementary School! Don’t forget to wear green and cheer extra loud as St. Polycarp marches past!

PASTROAL COUNCIL

PASTORAL COUNCIL MEMBERS NEEDED Are you a good listener? Do you love our parish? Are you ready to investigate, reflect, and recommend goals for

Weeklong celebration of Dr. Seuss! our parish? The Pastoral Council advises our Pastor in matters CHRISTIAN FORMATION affecting the mission of our parish, while providing vision and guidance to the committees and parish community. 11TH ANNUAL CYM PILGRIMAGE The Council works to improve the community spirit and “I Want to See/Quiero Ver” faith life of our parish, under the guidance of the Holy Bishop Malooly invites youth, young adults, Spirit. and families from all parishes and schools to If you are, then we invite you to become a candidate for join him as we come together for the eleventh our Pastoral Council. New members are needed. We annual Pilgrimage on Saturday, April 4th. meet monthly with our Pastor. Please contact any Pilgrims from across the diocese will carry the diocesan member of Pastoral Council or email Cindy Kennedy at pilgrimage cross through the streets of Wilmington with [email protected]. the Bishop as a representation of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem and His journey on Good Friday to Calvary. The day begins at St. Elizabeth parish with opening prayer and MINISTRY FAIR – NEXT WEEKEND! a concert featuring Out of Darkness at 10:30 am. We The Pastoral Council is hosting a conclude with the 5pm Mass at St. Elizabeth. Do not miss ministry expo and everyone is invited. this great opportunity to wrap up your Lenten journey with Please visit the Parish Hall on Saturday, hundreds of your peers. Cost for the day is $15 per person March 21st, following the 4 pm Mass, or $45 max per family (bring your own lunch). and Sunday, March 22nd, following the 10:30 am Mass. Come! Look! Enjoy the fellowship! As For more information, visit www.cdowcym.org. To register always from the past, delicious snacks and drinks from online visit https://www.cdowcym.org/forms/Pilgrimage- our different ministries is shared throughout the hall. Registration-2020/. Registration deadline is March 27. Fellow parishioners will be present to share with you our THANK YOU FROM GIRL SCOUT TROOP #547 wonderful ministries and the works that they do. Let us We extend a huge THANK YOU to everyone who supported celebrate the life of our parish by sharing our gifts to build us during our Cookie Season. Thanks to your generosity, up and foster each other, our Church and each mission. the proceeds will help the girls renew their membership, Let us invest our time and talents by working together to go camping this summer, and pursue their leadership build up the body of Christ, our Church for we are His projects. A portion of our proceeds are put aside each hands and feet. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. year for our service projects, like the flower gardens by the front entrance of St. Polycarp, mailing used crayons to be HAPPENING IN OUR DIOCESE recycled, and helping families in need during the holiday season. Our girls have also decided to take a trip to Don’t forget to read “BULLETIN OVERFLOW” at London/Paris in 2022, and will put some of their cookie https://saintpolycarp.org/this-weeks-bulletin/ for more money towards that goal. Your prayers and support information on events happening at St. Polycarp and at continue to provide the girls with confidence to step other parishes. outside their comfort zone and make a difference. www.saintpolycarp.org PAGE THREE – 301

SAINT THOMAS MORE ACADEMY March 8 Latin Easter Parish Rice Bowl St. Thomas More Academy, after America Novenas Utilities educating more than 800 students eGiving $137 $202 $192 $167 since 1998, will be permanently closing Note: eGiving figures are reported twice a month. its door at the conclusion of this school year. The Class of 2020 will be its final Support our Parish School of Religion (PSR) graduating class. Please keep the 50/50 RAFFLE STMA staff, parents, and students in 50/50 envelopes are available at the doors. your prayers. Pick one up as you come in. Place $1 in the envelope and complete the information on the front. Drop it in the collection basket. The prize is split

50-50 between the winner and our PSR! (If you don’t know CATHOLIC MEN’S FELLOWSHIP OF DELMARVA your number – please call or email the office! The Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Delmarva will hold their Date Number Winner Next Week’s Drawn Prize 1st annual conference on Saturday, March 21st, at the March 8 1040 none $158.50 Church of the Holy Cross in Dover from 8 am to 3:30 pm.

The featured speakers include Jesse Romero and Father Ed Meeks via live-stream from Baltimore, and Kevin Wells, who will be speaking on-location in Dover. The conference THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH theme is “The Holy Family/Your Holy Family.” Bring your Sunday, March 15 son. Bring your dad. Bring your buddy. The tickets are 9 am Adoration PSR Grades P/K-4 (Chapel) $35.00 per person or $65.00 for a father and son going 9 am PSR Grades P/K-4 (Rooms 1-8, Library) together. For more information and registration visit 10:30 am Children’s Liturgy of the Word (Hall) facebook.com/CatholicMensFellowshipofDelmarva. 2 pm Parade Monday, March 16

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 12:30 pm Academy Afternoon Class

St. Jude Parish in Lewes, DE - Full-time office director 6:30 pm K of C 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Degrees (Hall) position to oversee the daily needs of the parish. 6:30 pm Columbiettes (Library)

Interested candidates should email their resume to 6:30 pm RCIA Sessions (Room 4) [email protected] by Monday, March 16th. A full Tuesday, March 17 job description is available upon request. 9 am Adoration 9 am to 9 pm (Chapel)

FINANCE COUNCIL 10:30 am DHCI Communion Service

12:30 pm Academy Afternoon Class FINANCE COUNCIL 6:30 pm Finance Council (Room 7) The Finance Council meets at 6:30 pm on the third 7 pm PSR Grades 5-8 (Rooms 3-6, 8, Library, Hall) Tuesday of every month in Room 7. Some of the primary 7 pm Adoration Grades 6 & 8 (Chapel) items of discussion from our most recent meeting Wednesday, March 18 included: 9 am Academy Morning Class -- The parish is looking for a person to be in charge of the 9 am St. Vincent de Paul (Library) Signage around the church campus. Please contact any 9:30 am Pastoral Staff Meeting member of Pastoral or Finance Council if you are interested. 12:30 pm Academy Afternoon Class -- The Ministry Fair is Saturday, March 21st, and Sunday, 6 pm K of C Officers Meeting (Hall) March 22nd, after Mass. Please be sure to come visit our 7 pm Facility Planning (Library) table and learn what our group is about. 7 pm K of C Social (Hall) -- In the near future you will be receiving an Offertory Thursday, March 19 Reflection letter with information about eGiving. In this 9 am Academy Morning Class season of Lent, please reflect on what you can offer. 12:30 pm Academy Afternoon Class 6:30 pm Parish & Family Life (Room 4) 7 pm Flame of Love Rosary (Chapel) COLLECTIONS Friday, March 20 The Second collection this Week (March 15th) is for Parish 9 am Academy Morning Class Untilites. Please be as generous as possible. Thank you! 9:15 am Altar Guild III (Church) 12:30 pm Academy Afternoon Class The Second Collection for next week (March 22nd) is for the Rice Bowl. Please be as generous as possible in 3 pm Divine Mercy (Chapel) helping our poor brothers and the sisters. 7 pm Stations of the Cross Saturday, March 21 March 8 Offertory Poor Box 2:30 pm Confession Collections $4,916 $235.38 5 pm Parish Ministry Fair (Hall/Kitchen) eGiving $6,744 $117.50 Total $11,660 $352.88 www.saintpolycarp.org PAGE FOUR – 301