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.