St. Polycarp Church 55 Ransom Lane, Smyrna, DE 19977-1617

Office Hours: 9 am - 3 pm weekdays (302) 653-8279

office@saintpolycarp.org www.saintpolycarp.org

diocesan website: www.cdow.org

The Academy at St. Polycarp (Pre-School)

499 W. South Street Smyrna, DE 19977

Nancy Koska, Director, 653-1496

Rev. James D. Hreha, Pastor Deacon Mike Boyd, Sr. Deacon Charles Robinson Judy Lamborn, Assistant to DRE /

Communications Director Lisa Titus, Business Manager Teresa Cariello, Parish Secretary Jack Molyneaux, Finance Council Jack Barnas, Pastoral Council

WE CELEBRATE THE EUCHARIST - MASS Saturday, 4pm

Sunday, 10:30 am Daily, Monday-Saturday, 8:30 am

DE Home for Chronically Ill –

First Tuesday of the Month at 10:30am

WE FORM ADULTS & YOUTH IN FAITH Christian Formation Office/Religious Education -

(302)653-4101, dre@saintpolycarp.org Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults -

deacon.Mike.Boyd@gmail.com

Baptism classes are held on the 1st Saturday each month. Please call Deacon Charlie at (302) 653-4654

to register. Baptisms are held on the 2nd Sunday during Mass and on the 4th Sunday after Mass.

WE CELEBRATE FORGIVENESS - RECONCILIATION

Confessions: Saturday, 2:30-3:30 pm or by appointment. No matter how long you may have been

away, you are always welcome back!

WE GATHER FOR PRAYER

Eucharistic Adoration in St. Ann Chapel - 9 am – 9 pm Tuesdays

Sacred Heart Devotions – 9 am 1st Fridays

Novena to the Miraculous Medal – 9 am 1st Saturdays

Flame of Love – 7 pm Thursdays Divine Mercy Devotions, 3 pm Fridays

Rosary before Daily Mass

WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

We will be happy to meet with you in our office or register you over the phone. Working adult children living with parents should register separately. You must attend Mass weekly for us to certify you to stand as a godparent for Baptism or a sponsor for Confirmation.

Our Parish Mission We, are a welcoming Roman Catholic family of faith, a thankful, holy people sent forth from our celebration of the Eucharist to walk in faith, live in hope, and act with love for God and one another. Through our ministry we embrace the poor, the suffering, and the lost. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are committed to justice and peace through prayer, Christian formation the New Evangelization, and stewardship.

1883

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU BECAUSE WE SEE CHRIST IN YOU

St. Polycarp Church 55 Ransom Lane, Smyrna, DE 19977-1617

Office Hours: 9 am - 3 pm weekdays (302) 653-8279

office@saintpolycarp.org www.saintpolycarp.org

diocesan website: www.cdow.org

The Academy at St. Polycarp (Pre-School)

499 W. South Street Smyrna, DE 19977

Nancy Koska, Director, 653-1496

Rev. James D. Hreha, Pastor Deacon Mike Boyd, Sr. Deacon Charles Robinson Judy Lamborn, Assistant to DRE /

Communications Director Lisa Titus, Business Manager Teresa Cariello, Parish Secretary Jack Molyneaux, Finance Council Jack Barnas, Pastoral Council

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday, 4pm

Sunday, 10:30 am Daily, Monday-Saturday, 8:30 am

DE Home for Chronically Ill –

First Tuesday of the Month at 10:30am

WE FORM ADULTS & YOUTH IN FAITH Christian Formation Office/Religious Education -

(302)653-4101, dre@saintpolycarp.org Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults -

deacon.Mike.Boyd@gmail.com

Baptism classes are held on the 1st Saturday each month. Please call Deacon Charlie at (302) 653-4654

to register. Baptisms are held on the 2nd Sunday during Mass and on the 4th Sunday after Mass.

RECONCILIATION Confessions: Saturday, 2:30-3:30 pm or by

appointment. No matter how long you may have been away, you are always welcome back!

WE GATHER FOR PRAYER

Eucharistic Adoration in St. Ann Chapel - 9 am – 9 pm Tuesdays

Sacred Heart Devotions – 9 am 1st Fridays

Novena to the Miraculous Medal – 9 am 1st Saturdays

Flame of Love – 7 pm Thursdays Divine Mercy Devotions, 3 pm Fridays

Rosary before Daily Mass

WE WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

We will be happy to meet with you in our office or register you over the phone. Working adult children living with parents should register separately. You must attend Mass weekly for us to certify you to stand as a godparent for Baptism or a sponsor for Confirmation.

Our Parish Mission We, are a welcoming Roman Catholic family of faith, a thankful, holy people sent forth from our celebration of the Eucharist to walk in faith, live in hope, and act with love for God and one another. Through our ministry we embrace the poor, the suffering, and the lost. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are committed to justice and peace through prayer, Christian formation the New Evangelization, and stewardship.

1883

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU BECAUSE WE SEE CHRIST IN YOU

TThe Ascension of The Lord May 13, 2018

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION

May 12, 2018

I will pour out My Spirit

Jenna MONICA Carroll Sponsor: Donna Barnes

Sophia GEMMA DeMarco

Sponsor: Kathleen Haddock

Andre ANDREW Domingo Sponsor: Charmaine Sloven

Serenity CATHERINE Henderson

Sponsor: Thomas Mietus

Savannah JESSICA Jones Sponsor: Donna Jones

Megan CECILIA Keller

Sponsor: Richard Seewald

Kyle PATRICK McVey Sponsor: William McVey, III

Nicholas FRANCIS Pesce

Sponsor: Paolo Pesce

Andrew PIER GEORGIO Seewald Sponsor: Pauline Beshore

Stephen MICHAEL Seewald Sponsor: Jessica Heffernan

Emily CHRISTINA Spohr Sponsor: Camille Kriska

Briar BENEDICT VanBuskirk Sponsor: Andrew Romano

CONFIRMATION For the past several years, Bishop Malooly sought advice from his priests and DREs about our Diocese moving to deanery-wide celebrations of Confirmation. The move, necessitated by the priest shortage and ever-increasing demands of bishops and priests, became a reality this weekend as our 12 candidates for Confirmation were Confirmed at Holy Cross along with candidates from three other parishes.

Although the move from Confirmation in our parish to the deanery-wide celebration is a paradigm shift, there are further spiritual benefits. Our teens now have a sense of the universal reality of the Church, and that St. Polycarp Church is a part of something much bigger!

More than ever, our wonderful young people are in special need of the grace to live their lives in witness to the faith they received at Baptism. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit, to move powerfully in the lives of all our newly Confirmed!

50TH JUBILEE DEDICATION OF OUR CHURCH

Since the Jubilee Dedication of our Church falls on Pentecost Sunday, May 20th, we would like to ask all of our parishioners to wear something red in honor of Pentecost. We hope that you will be able to attend the 10:30 am Mass and festivities afterwards. Please join us as we celebrate this very special occasion in our parish life!

CAN YOU FEEL THE SPIRIT? – MAY 20TH

? ? ? ? MYSTERY RAFFLE ? ? ? ? - What is in the mystery box? Are you willing to buy a ticket to find out? Tickets for the mystery raffle will be available May 20th. The cost per ticket is $5.00. If you are the lucky winner -- you will not be disappointed. Proceeds benefit the anniversary celebration!

TODAY

Roses are being sold to hhelp Birthright of Delaware support Mothers and their babies after Mass today. 1 Rose ~ $2.00 12 Roses ~ $18.00

3 Roses ~ $5.00 25 Roses ~ $35.00

www.saintpolycarp.org PAGE ONE – 301

LLET US PRAY

Bread & Wine for the Eucharist are given in prayer for our PSR students who were recently confirmed.

Our Sanctuary Lamp in Church burns in prayer for all mothers in our parish.

Our Sanctuary Lamp in St. Ann Chapel burns in prayer for women who are unable to conceive.

Mon. May 14 Saint Matthias 8:30 Novena Tues. May 15 Saint Isidore 8:30 Novena 9 am – 9 pm Adoration 10:30 DHCI Communion Service

Wed. May 16 8:30 Novena

Thurs. May 17 8:30 Novena 7 pm Flame of Love Rosary

Fri. May 18 Saint John I, Pope 8:30 Novena 3:00 pm Divine Mercy

Sat. May 19 8:30 Novena 2:30 pm Confession 4:00 pm Novena

Sun. May 20 Pentecost Sunday 10:30 Novena

We Pray for our Sick & Deceased Our Sick ~ Week I Donald & Geraldine Hreha, Sophia Wilson,

Deirdre Moor, Lorraine Macasevich, Bruce Mandarano, Kevin Patterson Week II Austin Dean, Dylan Dean, Tom Dempsey, Laura Saporito, Gwen & Joe Houdart Week III Linda Blow, Florence Lepkowski, Olivia Billert, Michelle Collier, Danny Andress Week IV Samantha Lane, Jimmy Callahan, Patti Benson, Janet Girello, Gerald Mood, Pat Ballard Week V Marie Nardone, Betty Campbell, Frances Abernathy, Father Tom Flowers, Charlotte Kenton, Lucinda Buxton Week VI David DeVincentes, Gayle Doughten, Betty Hodukavich, Dottie McCracken, Brad Ganson, Barbara McLaughlin, Courtney M. Russum

Our Deceased ~

LITURGY

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD!

This Sunday, the Seventh Sunday of Easter (the final week of the Easter season), we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord! On this day we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven after commissioning the disciples to spread the message of God’s Love and Mercy for all and His sacrifice of love on the cross to the ends of the world.

In Need of a Last Minute Gift for Mother’s Day . . .

How About Prayer for Nine Days (i.e. the Mother’s Day Novena)?

Envelopes and Mother’s Day Novena cards are available at all of the Church entrances.

Prayer makes a great gift for every occasion! The gift of being prayed for, whether nine days or a whole year, is a great treasure. Prayer never goes out of style.

Almighty God, Father of us all, through the love You have for Mary, the Mother of Christ, Your only-begotten Son, we ask You to bless and to reward the lives of sacrifice and service lived by mothers in imitation of Mary, the model of all Mothers. In Your justice, enrich their lives with the graces and blessings You reserve for those who, in this world, reflect the faith, the humility, the selflessness of Mary, Queen of Mothers. May Your gift to them be eternal happiness with You, Your Son, and the Holy Spirit in the company of Mary and all the Saints. Amen.

For all mothers, living and deceased, Lord, we give you thanks.

VOCATIONS Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, strengthening our hope of being with God for eternity. Priests and religious bear witness to that hope through vows and promises of consecration. Is God calling you to live your life that way? If you think so, call or write Father Norm Carroll, the Diocesan Director of Priestly and Religious Vocations (302) 573 - 3113; vocations@cdow.org. Be sure to visit our website: www.cdow.org/Vocations.

The Mass for Vocations is in Saturday, May 26th, at the Cathedral of St. Peter (500 N. West., Wilmingtin, DE 19801) at 11 am. Come and pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you discern your vocation.

www.saintpolycarp.org PAGE TWO – 301

SSOCIAL CONCERNS

The Smyrna/Clayton FFood Pantry is asking for baked beans, canned potatoes, canned pasta, rice, and dried milk. Do not forget to bring in your coupons (no need to clip). The boxes are located near all of the

Church doors. Please no expired food.

The Food Pantry is in need of extra help on Monday, May 14th, through Thursday, May 17th. On Monday, May 14th, help is needed to pickup, unpack, sort, and shelve the food items collected by the Post Office over Mother's Day weekend. If anyone has a truck or SUV we need help picking up the collection from the Post Office on Monday morning. We will meet at the Pantry at Asbury Methodist Church in Smyrna on Mt. Vernon Street at approximately 9 am on Monday. We will be sorting throughout the week until all the food is put away. Any amount of time you can give us on Monday or throughout the week until completion will be greatly appreciated.

If you can help or if you have questions, contact Patti Tigani (302) 222 – 4671 or Brenda Russillo (302) 359 – 8488 for further information.

PARISH & FAMILY LIFE

MEMORIAL BRICKS

It may not be a star on Hollywood’s “Walk of Fame” BUT… it’s probably as close as it gets in Smyrna, DE.

Whether you desire to commemorate a loved one, a special occasion, or simply your family name, the choice is yours. In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of our parish, we are offering the opportunity to purchase a memorial brick for our walkway to the outdoor Blessed Mother statue. Bricks can be inscribed with uup to 3 lines, 15 spaces per line.

If you would like to participate, we will be accepting orders throughout the entire month of May. Order forms can be found on our parish website or at all Church doors.

FOLLOW-UP REPORT FROM FATHER MAST

THE LENTEN INTERGENERATIONAL RETREAT &

LOOKING AHEAD – FUN & FAITH!

Survey data indicates that fewer younger generations of Catholics are attending church. In the middle of our 50th anniversary year, an intergenerational retreat team was formed to help reverse this trend at St. Polycarp. Three Saturday retreat sessions were held in March. The attendance included people from the Greatest Generation, Baby Boomers, Millenials, Gen X’ers and youth from Generation Z.

The first two retreats included a lively participation in a Catholic version of “Jeopardy” and two faith sharing stories. The final retreat included Baby Boomers sharing family traditions and devotions that “passed on” Catholic faith in the home.

The retreat team is committed to conducting three “Fun & Faith” nights during the summer. The dates are on Saturdays: June 9th, July 14th, and August 11th. They begin after the 4 pm Mass with a lite dinner at 5 pm, a “fun” intergenerational activity, followed by a faith-sharing session.

The program for Saturday, June 9th, will feature a new version of Catholic Jeopardy. The menu includes a salad bar presented by DiMeo Pizzeria, a variety of Chili’s cooked by members of the retreat team, and a dessert table. Dinner begins at 5 pm, the “Fun” piece at 5:30 pm, “Faith Sharing” at 6 pm, dessert at 6:30 pm and departure at 7 pm. This summer activity invites all generations to engage each other and pass on both faith stories and traditions that will inspire them to continue sowing and nurturing seeds of faith in preparation for the 100th anniversary of the parish in 2068.

PARISH SCHOOL OF RELIGION – PSR

It is time to register for 2018 – 2019 religious education classes. Registration forms are available in the black drop box located outside the office/chapel doors, at the parish office and on our website: saintpolycarp.org/religious-education/. Thank you to all the families who have already registered! Call the Christian Formation Office at (302) 653-4101 or email assistdre@saintpolycarp.org for more information!

Classes begin for 2018-2019 in September. Grades Pre-school/Kindergarten:

Sundays 9:00 – 10:15 am Grades 5 – 7: Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:15 pm Grade 8: Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:30 pm Grade 9: Sundays – 5:30 – 7:00 pm www.saintpolycarp.org PAGE THREE - 301

TTHE ACADEMY at ST. POLYCARP

THE ACADEMY AT ST. POLYCARP is a faith based, state certified preschool for children ages 3 & 4.

For more information or to register, contact Nancy Koska at (302) 653 – 1496 or (302) 653 – 8279 or email theacademy@saintpolycarp.org. Information can be found by visiting saintpolycarp.org/preschool/.

Children in our pre-school recently visited the Delaware State University farm. This is an annual field trip that is not only a wonderful learning experience but is also fun!

HAPPENING IN OUR DIOCESE

POPE FRANCIS IS COMING! SPREAD THE WORD! Let’s go to the movies…

A one-of-a-kind new Focus Features movie co-produced and endorsed by The Vatican, Pope Francis: A Man Of His Word, opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, May 18th. Wim Wenders’ new documentary is intended to be a personal journey with Pope Francis. From his deep concern for the poor and wealth inequality, to his involvement in environmental issues and social justice, Pope Francis engages the audience face-to-face and calls for peace as he points people to Jesus. (See our website, “Bulletin Overflow” for more information.)

STEWARDSHIP

May 6 Offertory

Poor Box

Mother’s Day Remembrance

Collections $77,555 $3301.15 $433

eGiving figures are reported twice a month. Budget figures will now be reported monthly.

Proceeds benefit PSR Envelopes available at the doors.

Place $1 in the envelope and complete the information. The prize is split 50/50

between the winner and our PSR (Parish School of Religion). Thank you for your support!

Date Number DDrawn

Winner Next Week’s Prize

May 6 205 No WWinner $76.00

ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL

Please remember to complete and return your pledge cards!

Our parish target for the 2018 Annual Catholic Appeal is $48,000. To date, we have received $26,580* in pledges, just over ½ of our goal of $48,000. If you have not made your pledge, please fill out and return your pledge cards to ensure we meet our parish goal. It is extremely important that we reach this goal. If we do not reach our goal, St. Polycarp Church will have to pay the difference to the Diocese of Wilmington. If we exceed that goal, we will receive back half of the money made above the goal.

It was the generosity of our parishioners in 2017 who made it possible for St. Polycarp Church to exceed the goal in the 2017 Annual Catholic Appeal. This money assisted us in improving our campus. *This figure does not include pledges mailed directly to the Diocese.

This Week in Our Parish

Sun. May 13 The Ascension of The Lord 10:30 am Children’s Liturgy of the Word (Hall)

Mon. May 14 12:30 pm Academy 4’s

Tues. May 15 9 am – 9 pm – Adoration (Chapel) 10:30 am DHCI Communion Service 12:30 pm Academy 4’s 6:30 pm Finance Council (Room 7)

Wed. May 16 9 am Academy 3’s 9:30 am Pastoral Staff Meeting 12:30 pm Academy 4’s 7 pm Facilities Planning Committee Meeting (Library)

Thurs. May 17 9 am Academy 3’s 10 am Seasons of Hope (Library) 12:30 pm Academy 4’s 6:30 pm Respect Life (Room 4) 7 pm Flame of Love Rosary (Chapel) 7 pm Knights of Columbus – Social (Hall) 7 pm RCIA (Library)

Fri. May 18 9 am Academy 3’s 9:15 am Altar Guild III (Church) 12:30 pm Academy 4’s 3 pm Divine Mercy (Chapel)

Sat. May 19 12 pm Convalidation 2:30 pm Confession www.saintpolycarp.org PAGE FOUR- 301

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