August 17, 2020
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, August 24, 2020.Deadline for submissions is Thursday, August 20, at 4:30 p.m.
Email your Information Bulletin items to the editor.
Confirmation planning process
Pastors, administrators and religious education leaders are asked to review the revised confirmation planning process in the attached document. Please note that, except for the Eastern Vicariate, the process works through the dean. The due date for a parish’s response to the dean is Sept. 28, 2020. The due date for the dean’s submission is Oct. 12, 2020. For further questions, please contact the Office of Worship at 814-824-1270.
September priests’ retreat
Registration is open for the diocesan sponsored priests’ retreat to be held Sept. 14-18, 2020, at Good Shepherd Parish in West Middlesex. Please see the attached retreat document for more information. For questions, call Maria Caulfield in the Chancery at 814-824-1135.
Love My Neighbor: Civility in Dialogue
Join the Social Justice & Life Office of the Diocese of Erie via Zoom on Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. as Bishop Lawrence Persico and a representative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development explore civil dialogue. As followers of Christ, we are called to bring the best of ourselves and our faith to the public square — and yet, many conversations have become filled with vitriol and harsh language. This presentation offers suggestions and insight on how to love our neighbors with whom we might disagree. Register for this event by Aug. 28 at https://form.jotform.com/202113804687049. Questions may be directed to Patrice Swick, director of the Social Justice & Life Office, at pswick@ErieRCD.org.
Samuel Group: a new initiative for young adults discerning any vocation
Just because everyone else seems to think you are prepared for life as an adult doesn’t mean you aren’t wrestling with the big questions. Not to worry — you are not alone! The Vocations Office and the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry are collaborating on a new initiative called Samuel Group. Are you contemplating marriage? Wondering if you are being called to the priesthood or religious life? Samuel Group may be just what you need. Young adults ages 20 to 30 are encouraged to participate in a seven-month journey that includes monthly gatherings at St. Mark Catholic Center, spiritual direction, prayer, talks, small group discussion and accompaniment. The goal is for each participant to grow in self-knowledge and to hear and respond to God’s call with an open heart. Space is limited.
Please visit www.eriercd.org/youth/samuelgroup.html for an informational video, directions on how to apply and a downloadable flier. For convenience, the Samuel Group flier is attached and may be shared. For further information, contact Father Mike Polinek, director of Vocations, at mpolinek@ErieRCD.org or Jillian Zaczyk, director of Young Adult and Youth Ministry, at jzaczyk@ErieRCD.org.
#iGiveCatholic registration now open
In service to the Catholic community in northwest Pennsylvania, the Catholic Foundation is again facilitating the annual #iGiveCatholic giving day campaign in the Diocese of Erie on #GivingTuesday. This year, #GivingTuesday takes place on Dec. 1, with the advanced giving phase opening for donations beginning at midnight on Monday, Nov. 16. Eligible parishes, schools and Catholic ministries will receive a registration email from Michelle Basista today. Registration deadline is Oct. 30. The Catholic Foundation is ready to help your organization be successful with #iGiveCatholic! For further information, please contact Michelle Basista at 814-824-1192 or mbasista@cfnwpa.org.
Online parish offertory giving
Is your parish looking for ways to promote the online giving option provided by the Catholic Foundation? See the attached guide, which includes sample print and digital messages. Also, for parishes wanting to promote it on Facebook, see the attached sample Facebook posts that can be copied and distributed. For more information, contact Lisa Louis, executive director, at 814-824-1237 or llouis@cfnwpa.org.
Catholic Foundation 2020 fall education grant cycle now open
Catholic parishes, Catholic schools and departments of the Diocese of Erie are eligible to apply for an education grant from the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania. Grants are available for funding toward religious education projects, parish faith formation and school technology projects, as well as ministry training/spiritual formation opportunities that benefit people within the 13 counties of the Diocese of Erie. Applications are being accepted online through Sept. 26. Review the attached document or go to the following link to learn more: https://www.cfnwpa.org/grant-seekers/education-grant-guidelines.
Plan now to participate in the Erie CROP Walk
Feeding the hungry is a work of mercy. Millions of people are hungry throughout our world, our country, our city. You can help ease this hunger, made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, by participating in the 45th annual Erie CROP Walk on Sept. 27. CROP is a community-wide effort of many local religious groups and other organizations that walk, donate and invite their families and friends to donate to end hunger both locally and globally. Because of the pandemic, each team will have a choice as to when and where they want to walk, or whether they would prefer to do a virtual walk. Many food pantries and soup kitchens receive grants to aid their work, among them Emmaus Soup Kitchen, St. Patrick’s Food Pantry, and the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network. For information, or to contribute, please call Barbara Roseborough at 814-882-5972. For complete diocesan guidelines regarding CROP Walk participation, see the attached document.
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.
PW Protected Attachments:Clergy and Department Heads click here to login.Confirmation Online offertory giving messages Online offertory FB post #1 Online offertory FB post #2 Online offertory FB post #3 Education grant guidelines CROP Walk Zabawa Samuel Group Priests’ retreat |
Zabawa Polish Festival offers to-go format
Holy Trinity Parish’s annual Zabawa Polish Festival in Erie on Aug. 21-22 will be in a to-go format. See the attachment for complete details.
Parish to hold fall festival
Immaculate Conception Parish will hold its annual fall festival Sept. 11-13 on the school grounds at 82 Summit St., Brookville. Hours on Sept. 11 and 12 will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The festival offers a money raffle (top prize is $1,000), gift auction, a flea market, bake shop, craft and Christmas room, theme basket room, food at the outdoor stand and a roast beef dinner on Sunday. John Eric McNeil will provide entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings. Homemade vegetable or wedding soup and a variety of Polish food will be available for pre-order and pick-up on Friday, Sept. 11. Order forms are available at www.icbrookville.com.
Positions available at Venango Region Catholic School
Venango Region Catholic School in Oil City is seeking to fill the following positions:
- Full-time English and social studies teachers (grades 7-12 duel certification preferred)
- Part-time Spanish teacher (grades 7-12 certification)
- Substitute teachers.
For more details on the application process, go to https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.
Two jobs available at St. Martin Center in Erie
St. Martin Center in Erie has two immediate openings for a donor relations coordinator and a food pantry and volunteer coordinator. Information about both positions can be found at https://www.stmartincenter.org/who-we-are/careers.html.
Administrative assistant needed at Diocese of Erie
The Diocese of Erie’s Clergy Personnel Office is seeking a full-time administrative assistant. For details on the position and how to apply, go to https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.
Chastity education director needed
The Office of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Erie is seeking a part-time director of chastity education. For details about the position and how to apply, go to https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.
Music director needed at St. Joseph/Bread of Life Community
St. Joseph/Bread of Life Community Parish in Erie is seeking a part-time music director who would be responsible for the development, promotion and growth of the music program of the parish community. Qualified candidates must have the experience and ability to lead both traditional and contemporary styles of worship within the Catholic liturgy. Mostly flexible hours and duties primarily on Saturday and Sunday. The position is under the supervision of the pastor. If interested, call the parish office at 814-452-2982.
Erie Catholic School System seeking principal
The Erie Catholic School System is seeking a full-time principal for a preschool to grade 8 school. Go to http://ErieCatholic.org/careers for further details. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
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.