March 15, 2021
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, March 22, 2021.
Deadline for submissions is Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 4:30 p.m.
The Diocese of Erie Information Bulletin advertises and promotes activities and events sponsored by diocesan entities such as parishes, schools, religious communities and groups. The IB is unable to advertise or promote activities or events not sponsored by such entities. Submissions may run a maximum of two editions. The administrative offices of the diocese reserve the right to edit submissions.
Email your Information Bulletin items to the editor.
Chrism Mass scheduled for March 29
Priests are asked to return Chrism Mass RSVP cards to the Chancery by Monday, March 22. Unfortunately, due to ongoing renovations at St. Peter Cathedral and COVID restrictions, only priests may attend the Chrism Mass in person. Everyone is encouraged to view the livestreamed Mass on St. Peter Cathedral’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzM0RUeDBD67qz4-PSm8gVw or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SaintPeterCathedral.
Good Shepherd Sunday/Diocesan Priest Retirement Collection
The annual Good Shepherd Collection for retired priests of the Diocese of Erie will be taken up at all parishes as a second collection the weekend of April 24-25. A promotion kit has been prepared by Msgr. Daniel Magraw, director of the Good Shepherd Collection, and should help pastors and their office staff to effectively promote the collection. The more priests promote this collection, the more successful it will be. The kit and other resources, including a letter from Bishop Lawrence Persico, are available at https://www.eriercd.org/Good-Shepherd-Collection-materials.html. For questions or assistance with promoting this collection, contact Msgr. Magraw at 814-456-0671 or dmagraw@ErieRCD.org.
Communications Office requests parish Easter Vigil and Easter Mass times for microsite
Having Easter Vigil and Easter Mass times, as well as livestream information, all in one place on the diocesan website makes it easy for the public to access this important information. Therefore, the Communications Office asks you to provide the following information by Monday, March 22:
- Parish name
- Parish town
- Parish contact
- Parish contact email
- Easter Vigil Mass time
- Easter Mass time(s)
- Indication of which Masses will be livestreamed
- Where the livestreams can be accessed online. Providing the actual URL, rather than just listing “parish Facebook site” will help people find you most efficiently.
- Any restrictions or accommodations in place, such as the need for reservations or the plan for an overflow location with livestream availability
- If reservations are required, please indicate how they can be made.
The goal is to be as welcoming as possible for those who have not been attending Mass regularly or who do not belong to the parish. Please submit the information to Anne-Marie Welsh in the Communications Office at amwelsh@ErieRCD.org by Monday, March 22.
Solemn intercessions added for Good Friday
Clergy are reminded that there are two additional intercessions on Good Friday: one added by Bishop Persico regarding abuse, and one added by the Holy See regarding COVID-19. The abuse intercession should precede the pandemic intercession. Please find both intercessions attached for inclusion at the end of the solemn intercessions prescribed in the Roman Missal.
Holy Week at Home
The Office of Faith Formation of the Diocese of Erie has prepared resources for families that still have not returned to public Mass and will be observing Holy Week from their homes again this year. Parishes are asked to consider running the attached announcement and image in bulletins to promote these resources to homebound parishioners. If a parish livestreams its liturgies, it may want to acknowledge and invite parishioners watching at home to take note of this announcement in the parish bulletin. This is an opportunity to let your homebound parishioners know that you are still connected, even if not in person. For questions, contact Jessie Hubert, director of Faith Formation for Parish Support, at jhubert@ErieRCD.org.
Deadline is March 19 for faith formation grant opportunity
Are you involved in planning or implementing a faith formation project for your parish or diocesan department? Have you realized a need in the past year for increased online or digital resources for faith formation? Consider applying for a faith formation grant from the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania. This is the only opportunity to apply for a faith formation grant in 2021.
Catholic parishes and departments of the Diocese of Erie can apply for grants for parish and/or diocesan based faith formation projects that focus on the following:
- Projects that promote life-long faith formation activities
- Projects that welcome absentee and/or non-Catholics into the church
- Projects that promote faith formation through technology
- Projects that provide spiritual support to families, singles, youth and young adults
Grant requests ranging from $500 to $5,000 are being accepted through March 19. Review the attached document outlining guidelines and criteria or go to the following link to learn more: https://www.cfnwpa.org/grant-seekers/faith-formation-endowment-guidelines. Questions? Contact Julia Cooney at 814-824-1253 or jcooney@cfnwpa.org.
Toolkit available for increasing parish Easter offertory giving
Realm is providing a free parish toolkit to help promote increased giving during the Easter season. Suggestions for bulletin announcements and inserts, pew cards, email messages, social media posts and mailings are all included. To preview everything that is included in the toolkit, see the attached document. To sign up for the complete toolkit, go to https://www.acstechnologies.com/guides/increase-your-giving-this-easter/.
The staff of the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania is on call to offer additional guidance in fundraising. Reach out at any time to Lisa Louis at 814-824-1237 or llouis@cfnwpa.org.
Parishes asked to promote St. Mark Seminary Auxiliary fundraiser
As space and time permits, parishes are asked to promote the upcoming fundraiser for St. Mark Seminary Auxiliary. This is the only fundraiser for seminarians. Please advertise in your bulletins on March 20-21 and March 27-28 the following information:
The annual St. Mark Seminary Auxiliary Card Party was interrupted last year due to COVID-19. To avoid another year without the needed fundraising for our seminarians, the people of the Diocese of Erie are asked to support this fundraiser. There will be a raffle of three cash prizes (one $250 award, one $500 award and the grand prize of $1,000). A donation of $25 will be your chance to win. You will receive an additional chance for every additional $25 donated. No tickets will be issued. Your check is your entry. A live drawing will be held on the St. Mark Seminary Auxiliary Facebook page on April 15 at 7 p.m. Enter by mail before April 5, 2021, by mailing your donation to: St. Mark Seminary Auxiliary, c/o Marjorie Adamus, 3414 Eliot Road, Erie, PA 16508. Please include your phone number or email so we can notify you if you win!
Possible ways to help with the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine
Attached please find a resource sheet on ways that individuals and parishes can help with the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. This resource sheet is courtesy of the Chancery of the Diocese of Erie. For more information, however, please refer to the links given on the attachment.
Is your organization having a festival late this summer or fall?
Faith magazine’s June 2021 edition will publish a listing of festivals or events occurring later in the summer. Some space also may be available for display ads. The listing will be made available in the magazine, online and through social media. To advertise parish or school festivals or other events, contact Brenda Williams, advertising manager, at 814-824-1161 or 1-800-374-3723, ext. 161, or email bwilliams@ErieRCD.org. Space must be reserved by March 31. Please provide the details, date(s), time, place and cost for the event and, if needed, a phone number and/or website for questions. The cost is $45 per listing.
Diocese of Erie’s Good For You Wellness Initiative
The temperatures are breaking records around town. Are you breaking any records by getting into shape? Now is the time to spring into wellness. There is still time to take advantage of the Diocese of Erie’s Good For You Wellness Initiative. This program is for full-time employees covered by the Diocese of Erie’s wellness plan. Just complete four easy steps to earn your $150 reward. Learn more at https://www.eriercd.org/wellness.html. And remember, when you label foods as off limits, it only increases your probability of binging. For that reason, enjoy everything in moderation. Go to https://www.eriercd.org/images/pdf/wellness/PortionControl.pdf to learn how to eat in controlled portions.
Job openings in the diocese
See the classified section below for the latest position openings. Here’s a quick link to diocesan, school and parish jobs: https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html. For Erie Catholic School System jobs only, go to http://ErieCatholic.org/careers.
PW Protected Attachments:Clergy and Department Heads click here to login.Abuse intercession, Good Friday Pandemic intercession, Good Friday Holy Week at Home image Holy Week at Home bulletin announcement template 2021 faith formation grant guidelines Easter giving toolkit Vaccine distribution 2021 |
Take a break at Bethany
The Bethany Retreat Center in Frenchville invites people to take a day or days of personal retreat to focus on self-care. Days of renewal are offered for those who want to come for a day, overnight or a few days to join the Sisters of Anawim for prayer and daily Mass, reconciliation, home-cooked meals and walks on the grounds. COVID-19 safety precautions are in full force. If you do not reside in a COVID “hot spot,” are not experiencing any symptoms, or have not been around anyone exposed to the virus, you are welcome to come. Remaining available dates are April 27 to May 1, May 18-22 and June 15-19. Space is limited. For further details, go to www.bethanyretreatcenter.org.
World Labyrinth Day 2021
Celebrate World Labyrinth Day at Bethany Retreat Center in Frenchville on May 1. Spend the day learning about and walking the labyrinth, as well as visiting other stations of prayer and reflection, all while focusing on the theme of world peace, healing and restoration. Carmel Stabley, an advanced certified labyrinth facilitator, will lead the retreat. It begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 5 p.m.; lunch is included. For more information or to register, visit www.bethanyretreatcenter.org.
Position open for director of curriculum, instruction and assessment
The Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Erie is seeking a collaborative, dedicated and organized curriculum leader to join the Catholic Schools Office team as the director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (DOC). For the position profile and instructions on how to apply, go to https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.
If I.B. attachments do not open, click here to download the latest Acrobat Reader. If problems persist, email Kathy Papalia or call 814.824.1184.
If your email address or your status for receiving the Information Bulletin changes, please notify the Office of Communications so that we can update our mailing list.
To access the Information Bulletin online, visit https://www.eriercd.org/list-informationalbulletin.php. As with the email version, pastors will still need to input their password to access secure information.
If you would like to unsubscribe to the Information Bulletin, please notify the Office of Communications and type “unsubscribe” in the subject line.