St. Polycarp Church 55 Ransom Lane, Smyrna, Delaware 19977 www.saintpolycarp.org Rev. James D. Hreha, Pastor 5th Sunday of Lent Deacon Charles Robinson (Retired) Deacon Frank Weber WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE Saturday 4:00 pm & Sunday 10:30 am (Reservations, Social Distancing & Face Coverings required.) WEEKDAY MASS Tuesday - Friday at 8:30 am (Social Distancing & Face Coverings required.) RECONCILIATION Saturday 2:30 - 3:30 pm (Social Distancing & Face Coverings required.) LIVE STREAM MASS: All Masses are live streamed on our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE PARISH OFFICE: (302) 653-8279 The office remains closed until further notice. Our staff continues to work remotely and is answering email. Bapsm: Pre-Bapsmal class is required. Arrangements Our Parish answering service is taking phone messages. In the event of a Sacramental emergency, are to be made in advance by contacng the parish office. the service will contact the appropriate person. Marriage: Arrangements must be made at least one Group meetings inside of our facilities remain year prior to the date. Contact the parish office. cancelled until further notice. Outside events will be considered on an individual basis. Contact the office. Anoinng of the Sick: Contact the parish office. Covid guidelines will be followed. Vocaons: For Priestly and Religious vocaons contact Parish Secretary, Teresa Cariello Rev. Norman Carroll at (302) 573 – 3113. [email protected] Coordinator of Religious Education, Erica Taylor RCIA (Rite of Chrisan Iniaon of Adults): RCIA is for [email protected] adults who are in need of Bapsm, who were bapzed in another Chrisan tradion who desire to become Catho- Communications Director, Judy Lamborn lic, or who were bapzed Catholic and desire First Eucha- [email protected] rist and /or Confirmaon. For more informaon contact Bulletin Submissions (10 days in advance) [email protected] Deacon Frank at (302) 653-8279 or [email protected] Business Manager, Lisa Titus [email protected] WELCOME VISITORS & NEW PARISHIONERS! We’re glad you’re here! Pastoral Council – Angela Gibson Finance Council – John Fcasni Please contact the office or visit our website St. Vincent de Paul Society - to register in our Parish. (302) 264-6630 5th Sunday of Lent The thought of assisting in our streaming ministry may be intimidating. It should not be! The March 21, 2021 technology is even very similar to online gaming. This is a gift that many people have developed. PASTOR’S PEN (Interesting that God taught a skill that He needed by letting us have fun and play games!) Dear People of God, If you feel that God can use you to help in I hope and pray that all is well with you our streaming ministry, please email our and your loved ones as we continue our journey in Communications Director, Judy Lamborn at this holy season of Lent! [email protected]. The true spirit of Laetare Sunday has been I have been privileged to witness over the wonderfully exemplified in the excitement of our years, as Father of this family of faith, how our folks in discerning how God has worked in their community responds to such a call. Members lives during the pandemic. As various families, sacrificing and sharing their gifts is the proud parish groups, committees, councils and ministries heritage of our beloved St. Polycarp since its have shared their preparation for their stones for foundation. The whole community’s gratitude goes our Faith Garden, I have seen God at work. Many out to all those who will come forward to continue people are realizing more fully the special gifts they this heritage. have in forming the Body of Christ in our parish. May God continue to bless us as we continue to This type of reflection is how the Holy follow Him! Spirit has formed the Church anew in every age. Certainly the pandemic has given us the gift of digital technology in spreading the Gospel. Virtual meetings, screen sharing, and most importantly, live streaming, all are now part of our evangelization in THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD cyberspace. Thursday, March 25th Through their firmness of resolve, many On the Solemnity of The Annunciation of the Lord, the Church celebrates the Angel Gabriel’s visit to Mary and folks have laid the foundation for our streaming Mary’s YES to be a part of God’s plan. Mary is to bear a ministry. They have truly been God’s instruments child – Jesus – who will restore humanity to a relationship with God. On this date there are nine and allowed the Holy Spirit to guide them! Now months before Christmas – the birth of Jesus! we come to the next step in the growth process of a new ministry. The vision must be shared. New How are you saying “Yes” to God’s plan modern day disciples must share the gifts that God has given them. In so doing they become God’s this Lent? instruments in continuing to proclaim the Gospel. STATIONS OF THE CROSS - FRIDAYS AT 7pm Live-streamed I ask all of our parishioners to pray about Stations of the Cross will take place on Fridays how God may be calling you to assist our digital during Lent at 7 pm in the Church. Come join the parish community as we reflect on Jesus’ ministries to grow. For our Church to offer more passion and suffering as His immense love for live streaming opportunities to the world, more each one of us. (Stations at St. Dennis Fridays at 5 pm.) people are needed. RECONCILIATION Saturdays - 2:30 to 3:30 No confessions will be heard on Saturday, April 3rd S P Saturday, March 20 Sundays - following 10:30 am Mass on 4 pm Monsignor Martin - Judy Lamborn March 21 & 28 Sunday, March 21 5th Sunday of Lent 10:30 Rico Evangelista - April Corrales Need a refresher? Monday, March 22 https://saintpolycarp.org/reconciliation-refresher/ NO MASS Tuesday, March 23 St. Turbius 8:30 am Guillermo Alday - William & Jessica Burke Wednesday, March 24 8:30 am Larry Thompson - Judy Lamborn Thursday, March 25 The Annunciation of the Lord 8:30 am Genevieve Rapone - Richard Pajerowski Friday, March 26 8:30 am Anthony Orlandini - The Marvian Family Saturday, March 27 4 pm Bruce Johnston - Rev. Paul Mast Sunday, March 28 Palm Sunday Palm Sunday – March 27th & 28th 10:30 Parishioners Mass (Saturday) St. Polycarp Church, 4 pm Bread & Wine for the Eucharist are given in prayer for an Mass (Sunday) St. Polycarp Church, 10:30 am increase in religious vocations. Tuesday & Wednesday of Holy Week Our Sanctuary Lamp in Church burns in prayer for those Mass St. Polycarp Church, 8:30 am who are residents of nursing homes. Holy Thursday - April 1st No morning Mass Mass of the Lord’s Supper St. Polycarp Church, 7 pm We Pray for Our Sick and Those in Need of our Prayers nd *Good Friday - April 2 No morning Mass To have someone’s name added to the Bulletin for prayers, Liturgy of the Passion & Death of Our Lord please email [email protected] or call the St. Dennis ONLY, 3 pm office and leave a message. Holy Saturday - April 3rd The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night St. Polycarp, 7:30 pm Patty Moon, Christie Moon, Carol Donahue, Bishop Malooly, Mark Kennedy, Ben Walters, Angel Street, Bill Stuart, Sue Easter Sunday – April 4th Orlando, Violet Farkas, Michelle Dean, Austin & Dylan Dean, Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord - Mass Theresa Devine, Kenny Bullins, Deirdre Moor, Linda Blow, St. Polycarp Church, 8 am & 10 am Deacon Charlie Robinson, Mariann Pierson, Kevin Patterson, Ron Ivy, Ruth Staub and all those suffering from ALL MASSES AND SERVICES FROM ST. POLYCARP Covid-19. WILL BE LIVE-STREAMED. We Pray for our Deceased https://www.youtube.com/c/StPolycarpSmyrnaDE Richard Razzano Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord *Good Friday: Passion of the Lord (St. Dennis only) And let the perpetual light shine upon them. For information on how to make a reservation at St. May the souls of all the faithful departed, Dennis Church, visit https://www.stdennischurch.org/ through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen To view live stream from St. Dennis: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_Dl3AJWCXaPXy Prayer Chain – To request prayers or to be part of our 7Fqhkg2yg Prayer Chain,, contact Laverne at [email protected] or (302) 653 – 8064 RESERVATIONS Rosary by Telephone: Tuesday mornings at 10am. Contact Reservations for Palm Sunday Masses, Holy Thursday, Jill at (302)653-3836 or [email protected] for more Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday Masses will be information. accepted by phone on Wednesday, March 24th from 9am Flame of Love Rosary by Telephone: Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. – 2:00 pm. Email Roxanne at [email protected] or leave a message or text (302)242-6484 for details. Online reservations will be accepted March 24th beginning at 12:01 am to March 31st at 12:00pm, noon Connected in Christ: Join us on Zoom every Friday at 11:00 or until capacity is reached. Visit www.saintpolycarp.org am to discuss various topics of faith. Contact Peggy at for the reservation links. [email protected] for information and links to the sessions. A DEACON’S THOUGHTS In these times, as the Church is under attack by a secular society, defined by its increasingly worldly way of life and Year of St. Joseph: A Patron for Our Times determined to push God out of the very fiber and being of its life, St. Joseph our patron, keeps directing us Greetings, sister & brothers in Christ, through the land mines & pitfalls that are set out to discredit the truth found in our Catholic faith.