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April 6, 2020

The next Information Bulletin is Tuesday, April 14, 2020, due to the observance of Easter. 
Deadline for submissions is Thursday, April 9, at 4:30 p.m.

Email your Information Bulletin items to the editor.


#HolyWeekAtHome initiative
In an effort to create a sense of unity and to help Christians appropriately observe the holiest days of the year during the ongoing pandemic, the Diocese of Erie has launched a #HolyWeekAtHome initiative. It began on April 5, Palm Sunday, by asking people to hang greens on their front doors. It also includes the following:

  • The diocese has published its first digital-only edition of Faith magazine, designed to provide helpful articles to inspire our faith despite home isolation during Holy Week and the Easter season. It is available at http://faithdigital.org/Erie/Easter-at-home/. Individual articles suitable for downloading are available in PDF format at ErieRCD.org/inspiration.html. Articles feature ideas ranging from a recipe for “Resurrection Rolls” to staying close to God and others during this pandemic. This special edition also includes an Easter message from Bishop Lawrence Persico.

Bishop Persico’s liturgies during Holy Week
All liturgies during Holy Week will be livestreamed at www.ErieRCD.org and on the Diocese of Erie’s Facebook page. The following are the dates and times of livestreamed Holy Week liturgies celebrated by Bishop Lawrence Persico in the Diocese of Erie:

  • Chrism Mass — Monday, April 6, at 1 p.m.
  • Stations of the Cross — Wednesday, April 8, at noon
  • Holy Thursday Mass — Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m.
  • Good Friday Service — Friday, April 10, at 3 p.m.
  • Easter Vigil — Saturday, April 11, at 8:30 p.m.

Pandemic forces closing of St. Mark Catholic Center through April 30
The Diocese of Erie has extended the closure of St. Mark Catholic Center in Erie through at least April 30, in response to the COVID-19 lockdown in Pennsylvania through that date. This action will be reassessed in the coming days. The diocese is committed to monitoring the latest information available from reliable sources regarding the pandemic. Go to the diocesan website at www.ErieRCD.org for all of the most up-to-date information on the pandemic and its impact on the diocese.

In addition, the diocese will connect to the livestream of the Most Rev. José Gomez, archbishop of Los Angeles and president of the USCCB, to pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the intention of an end to the pandemic. This event is scheduled for Good Friday at noon, EDT.

COVID-19 emergency relief effort launched
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Diocese of Erie is collaborating with the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Erie, Inc., to broadly offer and promote Catholic giving for immediate needs. The intent is to encourage local Catholic giving with the ease of three online platforms:

  • A Community Relief Fund has been established through Catholic Charities, Inc., to support specific emergency outreach efforts through agencies, diocesan ministries and parishes.
  • A Parish Offertory Support effort is being made with the assistance of the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania. This will give parishioners an opportunity to make their offertory donations online if they are not already set up to do so.
  • The #iGiveCatholic program in which our diocese participated last fall has been activated to facilitate online emergency fundraising. Many Catholic schools, parishes and ministries throughout the Diocese of Erie used this as a successful platform for a one-day online fundraising effort on Giving Tuesday 2019.

All three platforms can be accessed easily through the banner on the diocesan homepage, www.ErieRCD.org. Everyone is encouraged to share this information broadly through whatever channels of communication are available to them. Questions about these initiatives may be directed to the following:

  1. Parish Offertory

Catholic Foundation, Lisa Louis at llouis@cfnwpa.org or 814-824-1237

  1. Community Relief Fund

Catholic Charities, Ann Badach at abadach@ErieRCD.org or 814-824-1252

  1. #iGiveCatholic

Catholic Foundation, Michelle Basista at mbasista@cfnwpa.org or 814-824-1192.

Catholic Foundation grant application deadline extended
The Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania has extended the deadline for Catholic parishes, schools and diocesan departments to apply for the first education grant cycle in 2020. The new deadline is April 13. Click https://www.cfnwpa.org/grant-seekers/education-grant-guidelines to learn more.

Resources available to parishioners during pandemic
In an effort to help parishioners who may not have access to the internet stay connected to their parishes during this time of pandemic and social distancing, the Faith Formation Office and the Social Justice and Life Office of the Diocese of Erie have created multiple resources for parishes. Parishes could print and place copies of some of these resources in their bulletins or have them available at the back of churches. See the attachments for the following:

  • a ready-made bulletin announcement that can be personalized
  • a printable guide for instructions on how to make Spiritual Communion
  • instructions for livestreaming.

For complete information on livestreamed Sunday and daily Masses in the Diocese of Erie, as well as additional inspirational resources, visit www.eriercd.org/inspiration.html. For questions or concerns, contact Deacon Steve Washek, executive director of the Faith Formation Office, at 814-814-1215.

Stop malicious individuals from joining video meetings
Zoom is being widely used by schools, churches and even families during the pandemic. There are steps Zoom users should take to stop bad actors from negatively affecting Zoom meetings. For details, go to https://blog.zoom.us/wordpress/2020/03/20/keep-uninvited-guests-out-of-your-zoom-event/.

Job openings in the diocese
See the classified section below for current position openings. Here’s a quick link to diocesan, school and parish jobs: https://www.ErieRCD.org/employment.html.



Attachments

Sample bulletin announcement
Instructions for livestreaming
Spiritual Communion

Parish Bulletin Announcements


PW Protected Attachments:

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Sample bulletin announcement
Instructions for livestreaming
Spiritual Communion


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Good Friday Pilgrimage for Peace offered online
The 40th annual Good Friday Pilgrimage for Peace, sponsored by the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, will be offered as an online experience on April 10 at https://www.eriebenedictines.org/bfp. The theme of this year’s event is “The Way of the Cross; The Way of the Migrant.” Virtual stops will include St. Peter Cathedral, Emmaus Grove, St. Benedict Education Center, the Social Security Office, the Federal Building, State Street fishing platform, the governor’s regional office, the Intermodal Center and Mount St. Benedict Monastery. A downloadable PDF of the text of the readings at each station is included on the online site.



Church items available
Religious items from the former St. Joseph Church in DuBois are available to ecclesiastical entities, such as parishes, schools and religious communities. Pictures can be found at www.eriercd.org/mydioerie-cat.php. Scroll down to “3a Clergy” and log in.

Teacher, principal and president positions available
The following are job openings in education in the Diocese of Erie. For details, go to https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.

  • Full-time high school English teacher, Kennedy Catholic Family of Schools, Hermitage
  • Principal, St. Michael Elementary School, Greenville
  • President, Shenango Valley Catholic School System
  • Principal, St. Gregory School, North East

Director of liturgy and music/elementary music teacher
Immaculate Conception Parish in Clarion is seeking a full-time director of liturgy and music/elementary music teacher. Competitive compensation package. For complete details, go to https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html. Interested candidates should e-mail a resume and letter of interest to Kim Kroh of the Liturgy and Music Task Force at KimKroh@comcast.net.

McKean parish hiring director/coordinator of parish evangelization
St. Francis Xavier Parish in McKean is hiring a full-time director/coordinator of parish evangelization. For a detailed description of the position and the application process, go to https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.

Oil City parish hiring director/coordinator of faith formation
St. Joseph Parish in Oil City is seeking a director/coordinator of faith formation. This is a full-time, exempt position that reports directly to the pastor and supervises numerous volunteer catechists and parent volunteers. For information about the position and how to apply, go to https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.