St. Polycarp Church ͷͷǡͳͻͻ͹͹ ȋ͵ͲʹȌ͸ͷ͵Ǧͺʹ͹ͻ www.saintpolycarp.org Rev. James D. Hreha, Pastor THE ASCENSION Deacon Charles Robinson (Retired) OF THE LORD Deacon Frank Weber As we continue to monitor the coronavirus, we will update our Parish website www.saintpolycarp.org and send email updates as they become available. CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: All Public Masses, Adoration, Flame of Love, Divine Mercy, Gatherings on our campus, PSR, The Academy, all meetings and events. The office is closed until further notice. Our staff is working remotely and will be answering email. Our Parish answering service will be taking phone messages. The messages will be checked daily by staff on weekdays. Thank you for your patience. In the event of a Sacramental emergency, the service will contact the appropriate person. Parish Office (302) 653-8279 Parish Secretary, Teresa Cariello [email protected] Coordinator of Religious Education, Erica Taylor [email protected] Communications Director, Judy Lamborn [email protected] Bulletin Submissions (10 days in advance) [email protected] ST. POLYCARP, PRAY FOR US! Business Manager, Lisa Titus [email protected] The Pres-School Academy (302) 653-1496 Welcome Visitors & Parishioners! Director, Nancy Koska Amid all the changes that are taking place because [email protected] of COVID-19, we are so glad that you are joining us Finance Council – John Fcasni in new ways. Perhaps you are reading our Bulletin Pastoral Council – Cindy Kennedy online for the first time, watching our videos on St. Vincent de Paul Society (302) 264-6630 YouTube, joining us on Zoom Friday mornings for prayer or celebrating the Mass on TV or through the *Note – The cover design of this Bulletin is temporary. internet, we are blessed with the gift of our faith We are finding new ways to work remotely. and one another. Let us pray for each other! our community to be prepared to follow the The Ascension Bishop’s direction regarding the public celebration of the Lord of the Sacraments. May 24, 2020 How appropriate it is that our activity parallels the journey through the Easter Season. Today the Church celebrates the Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord. Ascension of Jesus – the “going up” Our Scriptures remind us of the promise of the into heaven of the Risen Christ. Paraclete as Jesus is physically removed from the disciples’ midst. Thankfully, we know the next chapter of the never-ending story…but it will be PASTOR’S PEN interesting to see how the 2020 version unfolds! Dear People of God, May God continue to give us His grace as I hope and pray that all is well with you we witness by our actions our belief that all life is and your loved ones as we celebrate the new life sacred and a gift from God. of the Resurrection! This weekend as our country celebrates Memorial Day, we begin the start of the summer Join us for Mass, season. Beaches, retail establishments and even restaurants have begun to re-open. Excitement and Live stream, Sundays at 8am anxiety blend together for a unique combination of emotions as we travel the next part of Pandemic Road. All want to know when our churches will welcome their family of faith to come home. In this, we must remember it was not the Governor who locked our doors. No civil power in the Live streamed from St. Polycarp at 8am on Sundays. history of the world has ever been able to stop the Mass can also be viewed at later times. celebration of the Sacraments. Nor will they ever be able to do so! Go to our website www.saintpolycarp.org and click on the picture of the altar. The reason why our church doors were locked is a reflection of one of the most basic LET US PRAY beliefs. All life is sacred and a gift from God. This Pro-life mantra has often caused conflict with the Priests are celebrating Masses privately following the Bishop’s directions that there ways of the world around us. This experience of are to be no public Masses. All Intentions the Annual Paschal Mystery is part of the journey are being honored. Please join spiritually. of faith. Bread & Wine for the Eucharist are given in prayer for an increase in religious vocations. In order for our country to hold sacred the life of all who come home to our Church, we have Our Sanctuary Lamp in Church burns for in memory for those who have died during this time of the pandemic. begun to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in ways PRAYER CHAIN – THE PRAYER CHAIN IS ALWAYS OPEN! of new life. Some of our Medical Professionals, The Prayer Chain is still available to receive your Prayer Ministry Leaders and knowledgeable parishioners request even though the office is closed. To request have begun to discern how to follow the prayers or to be part of our Prayer Chain,, email Laverne guidelines of the CDC and other resources to best at [email protected] or call her at (302) 653 – ensure the safety of God’s people. This will allow 8064. LITURGY PENTECOST SUNDAY - NEXT SUNDAY! BE WITH THE SPIRIT - CHURCH SYMBOLS – PART 3 WEAR RED! I hope everyone is enjoying the definitions of our Remember to wear red next precious symbols of the Church. We continue on starting weekend as we celebrate the gift of with the letter E: the Holy Spirit from our own homes! Flames of the Holy Spirit rested upon EUCHARISTIC SPECIES: This is the consecrated Body and each Apostle and they received the gifts of the Holy Blood of Christ or also called the sacred species. Spirit. EXPOSITION: The rite in which a consecrated host is “exposed”, that is, displayed, for public veneration in a Mass Intentions for the Week monstrance. Saturday, May 23 Edward Rayburn - Danny & Lorraine Marshalewski EXTRAORDINARY MINISTER OF HOLY COMMUNION: This Sunday, May 24 The Ascension of the Lord is a non-ordained person who is deputed to distribute the Parishioners Body and Blood of Christ for either a single Mass or on Monday, May 25 St. Bede the Venerable, multiple occasions. St. Gregory VII, St. Mary Magdalene de”Pazzi Memorial Day FONT: A vessel containing holy water used for the John & Margaret Nevins - Robinson Family celebration of the sacrament of Baptism. Tuesday, May 26 St. Philip Neri Donald W. Hreha – Nancy Koska & India Wilson FRONTAL : A cloth that hangs down the front of the altar, Wednesday, May 27 St. Augustine of Canterbury often in liturgical color, also known as an antependium. Donald W. Hreha - St. Vincent de Paul Society Thursday, May 28 GIFTS : The bread and the wine, as well as the collection 60th Wedding Anniversary of Rich & Eleanor Schauer of money or donations for the poor. - Schauer Family INSTITUTED ACOLYTE: A ministry of service to assist at Friday, May 29 St. Paul VI, Pope Donald W. Hreha - Andres & Phyllis Ortiz the altar primarily by preparing the altar and sacred Saturday, May 30 vessels for Mass. The acolyte may carry the cross in Ann & Peter Weber - Jeff & Marcia Johnson procession, present the book to and assist the priest or Sunday, May 31 Pentecost Sunday the deacon in the Preparation of the Altar and the Gifts Joseph Saber - BVM Sodality and throughout the Mass as needed, serve as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion if necessary, We Pray for Our Sick and assist with the purification of the sacred vessels. Week II Michelle Collier, Terry Mance, George Only men may be formally instituted acolytes. Although Davidson, Edward Ryan, Marty Kingston, this ministry may exist on its own, most often it is a James Caruso transitional ministry conferred on candidates for Week III Jay Schuman, Deacon Charlie Robinson, ordination as deacon or priest. Andy Kloepfer, Dawn Stachow, Amber Dean Week IV Austin & Dylan Dean, Theresa Devine, INTINCTION: A method of receiving Holy Communion in Laura Gilmore, Angela Gilson which the priest dips the consecrated host into the Week V Robert Stomczer Precious Blood, says “The Body and Blood of Christ”, and Week VI Sophia Wilson, Deirdre Moor, Lorraine places it directly on the tongue of the communicant. Only Macasevich, Jimmy Callahan, Kevin Liselli, a priest or bishop may distribute Holy Communion in this Denis Callahan, Allen Huttick, Evelyn Phillips, manner. Christine & Dale Masten, Francis Joyce (The Liturgical Ministry Series) We Pray for Our Deceased Eileen Benfer THE ACADEMY (Weekday Pre-school) Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord And let the perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen REGISTRATION NOW OPEN for 2020 - 2021 BULLETIN PRAYER REQUESTS To have someone's name added to the Bulletin for The Academy at St. Polycarp is a faith based, state prayers, please email [email protected]. certified, weekday preschool for children ages 3 & 4. These names will be listed in the Bulletin for six weeks Please contact Nancy Koska at (302) 897 – 9012 or after which time they will be removed unless we receive (302) 653 – 8279 (our parish office) or email [email protected] for more information or another request. Thank you. to register. www.saintpolycarp.org/preschool/ CHRISTIAN FORMATION GREETINGS FROM THE CRE… The Christian Formation Committee Executive Board met “Count your Blessings” …you have all heard this virtually on Monday, May 11. We had a chance to saying before. Perhaps you have even said it to discuss the modifications that our PSR program used for someone. What does it really mean? In general, it finishing out this school year. The stay-at-home means we should think about how lucky we are restrictions required major changes to be made to the instead of finding things to complain about.