About St. Polycarp · Smyrna, Delaware
St. Polycarp Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Smyrna, Delaware, in the Diocese of Wilmington, named after the 2nd-century Bishop and Martyr of Smyrna (feast day February 23). The parish community traces its beginnings to 1868, when Catholics in Smyrna rented a room in the Odd Fellows' Hall for Sunday worship and a Sunday school for 75 children; the Diocesan Directory formally dates the parish to 1883. Today's church, located on Ransom Lane, was dedicated on May 26, 1968. The parish is currently shepherded by Rev. James D. Hreha (Pastor since June 2015), who also serves as Pastor of St. Dennis in Galena, Maryland, with Deacon Frank Weber assisting. Its mission statement describes a welcoming community sent forth from the Eucharist to embrace the poor, the suffering, and the lost through prayer, formation, evangelization, and stewardship.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- Saint Polycarp of Smyrna (Bishop and Martyr, c. AD 69–155)
- Rector
- Rev. James D. Hreha
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wilmington (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Polycarp is a small but active Catholic community in central Delaware with deep roots going back to 1868, where you can know your pastor (Fr. Jim Hreha) and deacon by name and be missed if you're away. The parish offers religious education from Pre-K through Grade 9 with First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation preparation, plus RCIA-style adult faith formation through Deacon Frank. Its nine parish ministries — including St. Vincent de Paul, a Food Pantry, Pro-Life, Bereavement, Prayer Chain, Homebound/Nursing Home ministry, the Giving Tree, the Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality, and Our Lady's Rosary Makers — make it easy to put faith into action, and its live-streamed Masses keep homebound parishioners connected.
Mass times at St. Polycarp
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm (or by appointment)
Parish History
St. Polycarp's story stretches back to 1868, when Jesuit missionaries and traveling priests from New Castle and Dover first brought the Mass to Smyrna Catholics. Father John Daley's rented room at the Odd Fellows' Hall on November 7, 1868 — with its 75-child Sunday school — is considered the parish's true beginning, though the Diocesan Directory dates formal establishment to 1883, when the first St. Polycarp church was dedicated by Bishop Becker. The parish weathered major changes over the next century: the 1918 sale of the original building to the Methodist church, decades of worship at the Josephite-run St. Joseph's Industrial School in Clayton, the arrival of the first diocesan pastor (Fr. Francis J. Tierney) in 1963, and the construction and dedication of the present Ransom Lane church in 1968. A new Parish School of Religion and offices building followed in 2002 under Fr. Thomas Flowers and Fr. Ralph Martin.
- 1868 — First Catholic worship in Smyrna at the Odd Fellows' Hall (Father Daley)
- 1883 — First St. Polycarp church dedicated (former Presbyterian building)
- 1918 — Original church sold to Centennial Methodist Episcopal Church
- 1963 — Fr. Francis J. Tierney named first diocesan pastor
- 1964 — Bishop Hyle announces plans for new church on South Street & Ransom Lane
- 1968 (Jan 20) — New church opens for worship; dedicated May 26, 1968 by Bishop Mardaga
- 2002 — PSR / parish offices building dedicated by Bishop Saltarelli
- 2015 (June) — Fr. James D. Hreha appointed pastor
Clergy
St. Polycarp is currently served by Pastor Rev. James D. Hreha and Deacon Frank Weber. Fr. Jim was ordained on November 7, 1987 by Bishop Robert E. Mulvee, served in associate-pastor and chaplain roles across the Diocese of Wilmington, and was the founding pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Parish (2002–2015) before being assigned to St. Polycarp in June 2015. In September 2017 he was additionally appointed Pastor of St. Dennis in Galena, Maryland. Deacon Frank Weber, now retired and residing in Middletown, Delaware, continues his diaconate ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Charity at St. Polycarp and assists with adult faith formation and RCIA inquiries.
- Rev. James D. Hreha — Pastor (since June 2015)
- Deacon Frank Weber
- Contact: [email protected]
Parish Staff
A small team of lay staff supports the parish's day-to-day ministry, religious education, finances, facilities, and communications. The parish office can be reached at (302) 653-8279.
- Erica Taylor — Coordinator of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Judy Lamborn — Assistant to DRE; Communications Director ([email protected] / [email protected])
- Kathy Watts — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Frank Coletta — Financial Manager ([email protected])
- Pete Sanphy — Facilities Manager ([email protected])
- Bud Whitlock — Custodian
- Annabelle Pennell — Housekeeper (Church, Chapel, Library, Offices)
Faith Formation & Religious Education (PSR)
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) serves children from pre-kindergarten through ninth grade, with Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (2nd grade) and Confirmation (9th grade). An Intermediate Sacramental Preparation (ISP) track is offered for older children who have not yet received the sacraments. The program emphasizes parents as the primary educators of their children and provides a safe-environment catechetical program consistent with the Diocese of Wilmington's 'For the Sake of God's Children' policies. Adult faith formation — including inquiries about becoming Catholic or completing sacraments — is coordinated through Deacon Frank Weber.
- PSR for Pre-K through Grade 9
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist (2nd grade)
- Confirmation (9th grade)
- Intermediate Sacramental Preparation (ISP) for older children
- Adult faith formation / RCIA inquiries via Deacon Frank Weber
- Christian Formation Office: (302) 653-4101 / [email protected]
Parish Ministries
Nine parish ministries give parishioners of every age and talent a way to live out the parish's mission of embracing 'the poor, the suffering, and the lost.' Together they cover spiritual life, comfort for the grieving, advocacy for life, corporal works of mercy, and Marian devotion.
- Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality
- Bereavement Ministry
- Prayer Chain
- Pro-Life Ministry
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Food Pantry
- Special Ministers to the Homebound / Nursing Home
- The Giving Tree
- Our Lady's Rosary Makers
Becoming Catholic (RCIA & Adult Sacraments)
Adults interested in becoming Catholic or in need of completing their Sacraments are invited to contact Deacon Frank Weber at [email protected] or leave a message at (302) 653-8279 for information about the parish's adult faith formation pathway.
- Contact: Deacon Frank Weber — [email protected]
- Phone: (302) 653-8279
Outreach & Charity
St. Polycarp's outreach centers on supporting the vulnerable and promoting the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. The parish's ministry mission statement names three goals: enhancing human well-being and meeting the basic needs of the vulnerable and those living in poverty; promoting the sanctity of human life through education, legislative advocacy, and direct support to women in crisis; and strengthening the relationship with God for the well-being of individuals, families, community, nation, and world.
- Food Pantry
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Special Ministers to the Homebound/Nursing Home
- Pro-Life Ministry
- The Giving Tree (parish giving program)
Prayer & Devotional Life
Beyond the sacraments, the parish supports Marian devotion and a network of continuous prayer for parishioners' intentions.
- Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality
- Prayer Chain
- Our Lady's Rosary Makers
Sacraments
Information on the parish website covers Reconciliation (Confession — Saturdays 2:30–3:30 pm or by appointment), Sacramental Preparation for children, and regular pastoral visits with Communion to residents of DHCI and Evergreen. Other sacraments are arranged through the parish office.
- Confession — Saturdays 2:30–3:30 pm or by appointment
- Baptism — contact parish office
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — 2nd grade PSR
- Confirmation — 9th grade PSR
- Intermediate Sacramental Preparation (ISP) for older children
- Matrimony — contact parish office
- Pastoral visits / Communion to DHCI and Evergreen
Live Stream & Communications
St. Polycarp live-streams its Masses on its YouTube channel for parishioners who are homebound or otherwise unable to attend in person. The parish also publishes a weekly bulletin and a 'May Schedule' of liturgical ministries.
- Live Stream: youtube.com/@StPolycarpSmyrnaDE
- Saturday 4:00 pm, Sunday 10:30 am, Tuesday & Wednesday 8:30 am
- Weekly Bulletin and Liturgical Ministries Schedule linked from the parish website
Visit & Contact
New parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. Registration forms are available on the parish website (or at the parish office).
- Address: 55 Ransom Lane, Smyrna, DE 19977
- Parish Office: (302) 653-8279 — [email protected]
- Religious Education: (302) 653-4101 — [email protected]
- Website: saintpolycarp.org
- Live Stream: youtube.com/@StPolycarpSmyrnaDE
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis J. Tierney1963–
First diocesan pastor; oversaw planning of the new Ransom Lane church.
- Rev. Chris PappJune–November 1987
Brief residence at St. Polycarp.
- Rev. Russel Perkins1987–1992
- Rev. Ralph Martin1992–2002
Co-led construction of the PSR/offices building (dedicated Oct. 2002).
- Rev. Thomas FlowersSpring 2002–
Continued and completed the new Parish School of Religion / offices building.
- Rev. James D. HrehaJune 2015–present
Also appointed Pastor of St. Dennis, Galena, MD, in September 2017; founding pastor of St. Jude the Apostle, 2002–2015.