Bulletin Announcement: Clearfield
Give your loved ones the gift of Engagement Encounter 12/10/2023
Use this in your 12/10/2023 bulletin
What better way to show your support of an upcoming marriage than with a gift that lasts a lifetime: Engagement Encounter. The next EE will be held on January 19-21 in Erie at St. Mark Catholic Center. Space is limited and early registrations are encouraged. Call the Family Life Office for details at 814-824-1261 or email familylife@erieRCD.org. To register, visit https://www.eriercd.org/familylifeoffice/. Remember, “A wedding is one day, but marriage is for a lifetime.”
Marriage Moment 12-10-2023
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December 12 is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. One thing that is important about Mary’s appearance is that she took on the look of a Mexican peasant. What is your beloved’s national heritage? How do you think Mary would look in that culture? How might she look if she appeared to you today?
Parenting Pointers 12-10-2023
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December 12 is the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe – Patroness of the Americas. Tell your children the story of Juan Diego. Don’t know it? Click here. (http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2013-12-12)
Child Protection
Use this in your 12/10/2023 bulletin
Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments- Teaching Kids to Be Smart About Social Media: There are plenty of good things about social media – but also many risks and things kids and teens should avoid. To help your child find the balance, it’s important to talk with your kids about how to use social media wisely. Emphasis to your child that it’s important to: 1.) Be nice. Mean behavior is not OK. 2.) Think twice before hitting “enter”. Remind them that what they post can be used against them. 3.) Use privacy settings. 4.) Don’t “friend” strangers. If you don’t know them, don’t friend them. 5.) Teach kids not to share anything on social medial that they wouldn’t want their teachers, college admissions officers, future bosses – and even gramma – to see. For additional resources visit www.eriercd.org/childprotection/
Looking for the Perfect Christmas Gift? 12/17/2023
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If your family is planning a wedding in 2024, consider giving a gift that helps couples plan for lifelong marriage. Give your children the gift of Engagement Encounter. The next EE weekend will be held on January 19-21 at St. Mark Catholic Center in Erie. Space is limited and early registrations are encouraged. Contact the Family Life Office at 814-824-1261 or email familylife@erieRCD.org. Visit https://www.eriercd.org/familylifeoffice/ for more information and registration. Remember, “A wedding is one day, but marriage is for a lifetime.”
Marriage Moment 12-17-2023
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As we get closer to Christmas it may be hard to continue to wait. OR, you may be feeling that there’s just not enough time to do all the shopping, cooking, decorating, etc. Let go of the non-essentials and focus on unconditionally loving each other. If necessary, forgive.
Parenting Pointers 12-17-2023
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Are your children getting tired of waiting…for Christmas? Our human personalities aren’t geared to wait happily. Instant gratification seems more attractive. But learning to wait for treats is a good habit to cultivate in your child. If every day was your birthday, your birthday would not feel very special.
Engaged? Congratulations! 12/24/2023
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Planning your wedding in 2024? Consider attending Engagement Encounter on January 19-21 at St. Mark Catholic Center in Erie. Call the Family Life Office at 814-824-1261 or email familylife@erieRCD.org. Visit https://www.eriercd.org/familylifeoffice/ to register. EE satisfies diocesan requirements for marriage preparation. Catholic and Interfaith couples are encouraged to attend. Remember, “A wedding is one day, but marriage is for a lifetime”.
Parenting Pointers 12-24-2023
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Christmas Eve is here. If your child is old enough to remember past Christmases, talk about favorite customs and perhaps even a snafu that might have happened. Remember and laugh together.
Marriage Moment 12-24-2023
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“On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree.” What’s the silliest, most creative, or most romantic gift your true love has given you? Be a humble human today. That’s what Jesus did by becoming human
Openings remain for Engagement Encounter 12/31/2023
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Next to your own wedding day, Engagement Encounter is a weekend you will never forget! EE still has a few openings for its January 19-21 weekend at St. Mark Catholic Center in Erie. Call the Family Life Office at 814-824-1261 or email familylife@erieRCD.org. Visit https://www.eriercd.org/familylifeoffice/ to register. Space is limited; register today! Interfaith couples are encouraged to attend.
Parenting Pointers 12-31-2023
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The days between Christmas and New Years can be a happy but also hectic family time. Perhaps you’re hosting relatives or traveling to visit them. Ask your child which Christmas routines they like and which they don’t? What would they substitute?
It’s not too late to register for EE… 1/7/2024
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Engagement Encounter still has openings for its January 19-21 weekend at St. Mark Catholic Center in Erie. Prepare your wedding with a weekend you’ll never forget. For information call 814-824-1261 or email familylife@erieRCD.org. Visit https://www.eriercd.org/familylifeoffice/ to register. Remember, “A wedding is one day, but marriage is for a lifetime”.
Child Protection
Use this in your 01/14/2024 bulletin
Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments – January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Child Sex Trafficking is a form of child abuse that occurs when any child under age 18 is advertised, solicited, or exploited through a commercial sex act where sex is traded for money, food, shelter, drugs, or anything of value. Traffickers can be anyone including friends, gangs, family members, foster parents, perceived trusted adults or boyfriends. Talk to your child openly about this reality and build resiliency. Address the myths and misconceptions that glamorize the commercial sex industry. Social media and gaming platforms are increasingly becoming the tool traffickers and other predators use to target, groom, and recruit victims. At some point your child will likely be confronted with inappropriate messages or see things online that they know are wrong. Teach your child how to handle these situations. You can report suspected child sex trafficking or make a tip at 1-800-843-5678 or CyberTipline.org. For additional resources visit www.eriercd.org/childprotection/
Lent is Coming!
Use this in your 02/11/2024 bulletin
Lent is Coming!
Join our faith community in a transformative Lenten journey through CRS Rice Bowl to meet people in Uganda, El Salvador and Indonesia who are working hard to overcome the challenges of hunger and the impact of climate change. Pick up your family’s CRS Rice Bowl from [LOCATION] on [DATE]. During the 40 days of Lent, we will reflect on our connectedness as one family in Christ and work together to ensure our sisters and brothers worldwide can thrive. Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more.
Child Protection 2-11-2024
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Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments- Beware of Grooming Behavior. Children and young people can be groomed online or in the real world, by a stranger or by someone they know. This could be a family member, a friend or someone who has targeted them – like a teacher, faith leader or sports coach. Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit, or abuse them. Grooming can take place over a short or long period of time. Some common tactics are pretending to be younger, giving advice or showing understanding, buying gifts, giving attention, taking them on trips, outings, or holidays. To prevent your child from grooming behavior, teach them about healthy relationships, how to stay safe online, and who are the trusted adults they can go to for help. For additional resources visit www.eriercd.org/childprotection/
A Season for Reflection
Use this in your 02/18/2024 bulletin
A Season for Reflection
During this holy time, we are called to pause and pay closer attention to our relationship with God and our neighbors. Reflect on how the Lenten pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving can guide your journey and how the Eucharist helps us to live in solidarity with our sisters and brothers around the world. Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more and read this week’s Story of Hope.
Overcoming Hunger
Use this in your 02/25/2024 bulletin
Overcoming Hunger
In Akwangagwel, Uganda, the climate is very hot and dry. Farmers in this region depend heavily on the rainy season for a successful harvest. But lately—due to the changing climate—the rain has been coming later than it used to and is more inconsistent. Sometimes, when it does rain, it causes flooding and ruins the crops. Learn how Adolf and Florence have taken the matter into their own hands, implementing new farming techniques they learned from a Catholic Relief Services program to improve their farm and fight against hunger in their community. Visit crsricebowl.org to read this week’s Story of Hope.
Raising Chickens to Support Her Family
Use this in your 03/03/2024 bulletin
Raising Chickens to Support Her Family
Nowadays, in Morazán, El Salvador, it is very difficult to know when the rainy or dry seasons will be. The unpredictable weather puts the livelihood of Sandra's family in jeopardy. Despite the challenges, Sandra and her husband, Santos, remain dedicated to ensuring their children grow healthy and succeed in school. Learn how their strong family dynamic enabled Sandra to participate in a Catholic Relief Services’ project on raising chickens and how her determination has helped her
family and community. Visit crsricebowl.org to read this week’s Story of Hope.
Child Protection 3-10-2024
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Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments- Pledge to Heal: The Diocese of Erie remains committed to helping survivors of clergy sexual abuse heal and recover. The diocese will provide counseling assistance for those who have been abused by a member of the clergy. For more information, please contact Dr. Gerard Tobin, our Victim Assistance Coordinator, at 814-451-1521. The diocese encourages anyone who has experienced abuse or misconduct by a member of the clergy or any employee or volunteer of the church to contact their local law enforcement. To report abuse to the independent investigators retained by the diocese, email ErieRCD@KLGates.com. To report abuse directly to the diocese call 814-451-1543.
Increasing Disasters, Increasing Resilience
Use this in your 03/10/2024 bulletin
Increasing Disasters, Increasing Resilience
Located in Southeast Asia between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Indonesia has beautiful beaches, diverse cultures and the world’s fourth largest population. Many of the country’s more than 17,000 islands are in the Ring of Fire, where volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are common. Climate-related disasters such as cyclones are also becoming more frequent and destructive. Find out how—with the support of Catholic Relief Services and generous communities like yours—Evita and her disaster preparedness group are working to keep their community safe. Visit crsricebowl.org to read this week’s Story of Hope.
Embodying the Love of Christ by Caring for One Another
Use this in your 03/17/2024 bulletin
Embodying the Love of Christ by Caring for One Another
Reflect on your Lenten journey thus far: What have you learned from our global family members in Uganda, El Salvador and Indonesia? How does the Eucharist
unite us with our sisters and brothers around the world? Consider how Christ is present in Adolf and Florence, Sandra and Santos, and Evita. Visit crsricebowl.org to read this week’s Story of Hope
Modern Day Simon of Cyrene
Use this in your 03/24/2024 bulletin
Modern Day Simon of Cyrene
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. As we walk with Jesus this week, we remember the countless women, children and men who carry heavy crosses even today: crosses of hunger, of vulnerability to climate change, or of a lack of resources. How—like Simon of Cyrene—can you help to carry the crosses of our sisters and brothers in your local community and around the world? Visit crsricebowl.org/holy-week to learn more.
Happy Easter!
Use this in your 03/31/2024 bulletin
HAPPY EASTER!
As our CRS Rice Bowl journey comes to an end, may the Eucharist continue to transform our lives and help us respond to God’s call to serve our global family. Let us commit to sharing the joy of the Resurrection with people in our local community and around the world. Don’t forget to turn in your CRS Rice Bowl at [LOCATION] on [DATE].
Child Protection 4-7-2024
Use this in your 04/07/2024 bulletin
Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments
Child Abuse Prevention Month- Reporting Child Abuse: It is every adult’s moral responsibility to report known or suspected abuse or neglect of a minor to the responsible authorities. Physical and sexual abuse of minors are pervasive societal problems, and only concerted and sustained efforts by all adults in every segment of society can help to protect children and youth. In the 2022 Pennsylvania statewide report there were 4,992 substantiated reports of child abuse and 440 more cases in the court system. 2,056 or 38.2% of the substantiated reports were for sexual abuse, 1,501 were physical abuse. 62.2% of the victims were female. Parents remain the persons most responsible for abuse of their children. To report child abuse, call Childline at 1-800-932-0323 (anytime 24/7). For particular questions on reporting abuse in the Diocese of Erie, you may call the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth at 814-824-1195.
Thank You!
Use this in your 04/07/2024 bulletin
THANK YOU!
Together, we changed lives this Lent through CRS Rice Bowl. THANK YOU for being a part of this effort! Don’t forget to turn in your CRS Rice Bowl at [LOCATION] on [DATE].
Child Protection 4-14-2024
Use this in your 04/14/2024 bulletin
Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments
Child Abuse Prevention Month: Throughout the Gospel, Christ calls upon His followers to care for the most vulnerable among us, especially children. Mandated Reporters in the Diocese of Erie are people who hold positions of trust in our schools, parishes, agencies, and institutions and are mandated by Pennsylvania law and the diocesan Policy for the Protection of Children to report child abuse. All clergy, employees and volunteers working/serving for the Diocese of Erie, in our parishes, schools or agencies are mandated both legally and morally to report any reasonably suspected or known child abuse to ChildLine, the local police, or other appropriate agency. Visit www.eriercd.org/childprotection/ to learn the specific reporting procedures required by the diocese.
Child Protection 4-21-2024
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Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments
Child Abuse Prevention Month: National CyberTipline: The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline is the nation’s centralized reporting system for the online exploitation of children. Anyone can make reports of suspected online enticement of children for sexual acts, molestation, child pornography, child sex tourism, child sex trafficking (includes prostitution), child sextortion and unsolicited obscene materials sent to a child. Misleading domain names, misleading words or digital images on the internet can also be reported to the CyberTipline. All tips are reviewed to find a potential location for the reported incident. It is then made available to the appropriate law-enforcement agency for possible investigation. NCMEC provides resources/help in removing an online image. Reports can be made 24/7 online at www.cybertipline.org or by calling (800) 843-5678.
Child Protection 4-28-2024
Use this in your 04/28/2024 bulletin
Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments
Child Abuse Prevention Month: Recent statistics tell us one out of every ten children will be abused before they turn 18. 91% of sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone the child or the child’s family knows. This means that on every Sunday in our congregation there are people who have been abused and may continue to experience the pain of that abuse. Reaching out to those who have suffered from abuse is critical in bringing hope and the love of Christ to them. Assistance is available for victims/survivors of clergy sexual abuse by contacting the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator, Dr. Gerard Tobin at 814-451-1521.
Child Protection 5-12-2024
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Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments- Digital Safety and Your Child: If your child gives out personal information while online, it is easy to track and tough to completely remove. Teach your child to never share personal information such as full name, address, phone number, email, school, or birthday on any social media site. Teach them to never give anyone their passwords. Help your child set up strong passwords and do a yearly checkup on them. Adjust privacy settings for online games, apps, social media sites and your child’s electronic devices. Don’t forget to check the GPS settings ability to unintentionally share your child’s location. Avoid using pubic wi-fi when sharing personal information. For additional resources visit www.eriercd.org/childprotection/
Child Protection 6-9-2024
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Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments- Stay Safe While Gaming Online. Online gaming can be lots of fun and pretty cool to compete against people from every corner of the world. Gaming can also expose your child to dangers such as cyber bullying, online harassment, and online predators. Here are some helpful tips to teach your children to ensure they are being safe while gaming. 1. Never give your identity. When creating an account, use a nickname. When creating an avatar, don’t use your real picture. 2. Do not give out any personal information including phone numbers, addresses, where you go to school, and especially your age. Predators pretend to be teenagers and will talk to your child until your child feels they are safe to talk to about personal stuff. 3. Have your child mute conversations. People say mean things to one another and it’s best to prevent the risk of bullying or trash talking online. 4. Block anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable. 5. Set appropriate parental controls and use parental controls to facilitate online safety and time management. For additional resources visit www.eriercd.org/childprotection/
Child Protection 8-11-2024
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Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments- Diocesan Requirements for working with children: Working alongside the Bishop, the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth reinforces the ongoing implementation of policies and procedures that protect children. All clergy, employees, and volunteers in the Diocese of Erie who work with children must undergo criminal record checks. The diocesan Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth screening guidelines and abuse prevention training programs emphasize the importance of knowing the employees and volunteers who have access to children in our schools and parishes. Parents should remain vigilant in insisting that those with access to their children have gone through an application process and obtained the required clearances and trainings before being granted access to their children. Visit www.eriercd.org/childprotection/ to see what is required for those who work with children and youth in our parishes/schools/agencies.
Child Protection 9-8-2024
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**Note: Please mail/email the September Parish Bulletin containing the September announcement to the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth.
Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments- Diocesan Child Protection Policies: The Diocese of Erie, is committed to protecting minors who are entrusted to our care. The Diocese has policies and procedures in place to address the national problem of child abuse, to aid in the prevention of abuse and to develop and maintain safe environments. All those who minister to minors are screened, trained, and agree to a Code of Conduct. To read the Policy that includes the Code of Conduct, go to: https://www.eriercd.org/childprotection/policies-1.html For more information, contact the diocesan Office for the Protection of Children and Youth at 814-824-1195.
Child Protection 10-13-2024
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Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments – Is Your Child Street Smart? Being street smart means knowing how to keep yourself safe from strangers when you’re alone or with other kids. When your street smart you know your way around, you know how to handle yourself in tough situations and you can “read” people. Teach your child who are strangers - (-anyone they do not know or kind of know- and to never approach a strangers vehicle. Teach to your child to always tell you where they are. Teach your child to always go with a friend or two whether walking to school, bike riding or going to the store. Pick out safe spots where your child can go and get help. Places like police stations, stores, restaurants. Teach them how to spot safe places on their route and to avoid places that aren’t safe. Finally, teach your child to trust their instincts and to make a lot of noise if they are scared. For more information visit www.kidshealth.org. For additional resources visit www.eriercd.org/childprotection
Child Protection 11-10-2024
Use this in your 11/10/2024 bulletin
Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments- Bullying is defined as any unwanted aggressive behavior by another youth or group of youths that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated. 20% of youth ages 12-18 experience bullying. When adults respond quickly to bullying behavior, they send the message that bullying is not acceptable. There are ways parents can make a positive difference. Parents can educate themselves on the signs that a child is being bullied or is a bully. Parents should keep the lines of communication open with their child and model for their child how to treat others. Encourage your child to be inclusive by welcoming others to join their activities and groups. For more information on how to prevent bullying in your community visit www.stopbullying.org.
For additional resources visit www.eriercd.org/childprotection
Child Protection 12-8-2024
Use this in your 12/08/2024 bulletin
Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments- Be Vigilant: It is vitally important that we are constantly vigilant concerning the behaviors of those who interact with children and communicating our concerns to the appropriate parties. Each one of us can play an important role in strengthening this culture of prevention. For example, we can better prevent abuse by ensuring that the signs of abuse are identified and reported. Noticing these warning signs, taking them seriously, and reporting them could prevent abuse in the future. When we witness inappropriate behavior or something that just doesn’t seem quite right, we must report our concerns through the appropriate channels. For particular questions in the Diocese of Erie, you may call the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth at 814-824-1195.