May 12, 2025
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, May 19, 2025.The deadline for submissions is Thursday, May 15, 2025, 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.
Habemus Papam! Information and Resources
The Office of Communications has been actively preparing resources related to the election of the new pope. We would like to share the following with you to use for your parish communication needs:
- A landing page dedicated to informing our diocese about relevant information about our new Holy Father can be found here: https://www.eriercd.org/PopeLeoXIV.html
- There, you can also download the following:
- An invitation and social media post for the special Mass for Pope Leo XIV
- Please also find the following to assist in announcing the new pope:
- A webpage banner
- A social media graphic
- A Facebook cover photo
- A high-resolution digital photo of Pope Leo to print and frame can be found here: eriercd.org/pope-portrait.html.
Thank you for helping us extend this information to our diocesan community.
Church office and finance personnel 2025-26 budget resources
Per the email you received from Pat Barron in Finance, you can access the following attached budget and assessment documents found in this link: https://www.eriercd.org/finance/.
- 2025-2026 Parish Budget Cover Memo
- 2025-2026 Budget File (EXCEL VERSION)
- 2025-2026 Budget File (PDF VERSION)
- 2025-2026 Priests' Salary Scale, effective July 1, 2025
- 2025-2026 Assessments Cover Letter
- 2025-2026 Information Bulletin, containing assessment amounts for the Diocesan Fund, Priest Retirement and Benefits, and Catholic School Support
2025 International Needs Collection
Please find attached Bishop Persico’s letter introducing the 2025 International Needs Collection, taken the weekend of May 24-25. Parishes are asked to publicize this collection in a significant way on the weekend of May 17-18.
Priesthood Ordination
All are warmly invited to attend the presbyteral ordination of Rev. Mr. Michael Scanga and Rev. Mr. Brandon Feikles on Friday, May 23. Please see the attached formal invitation from Bishop Persico for additional details. A graphic is also included and may be used to help share this joyful occasion through bulletins, newsletters or social media.
May edition of Jubilee Journey: Pilgrims of Hope available now
The May edition of the Jubilee Journey: Pilgrims of Hope newsletter is now available. To recognize the Jubilee Year 2025, this newsletter – suitable for printing in parish bulletins – provides both informative and interactive elements for children and adults. Each edition celebrates the monthly jubilee events recognized by the Vatican and brings readers along for a spiritual pilgrimage. The May edition is attached.
Knight News- 2025 Baby Bottle Fundraiser
The Knights of Columbus in Erie and Crawford Counties are conducting their 4th annual Baby Bottle Fundraiser. Your support helped provide five ultrasound machines and a mobile clinic to the Women’s Care Center of Erie. Since 2018, 702 women chose life after seeing their ultrasounds. Now facing a funding crisis, the Center relies on our help to continue offering pregnancy, parenting and adoption support.
Baby bottles will be available at church entrances on Mother’s Day weekend, May 10–11. Please take one and fill it with spare change, cash or a check. Envelopes will also be provided. Return bottles and envelopes by June 21–22, the weekend after Father’s Day. Thank you for supporting our mission to save unborn lives.
Help your parish stay engaged online – New graphics available!
The Diocese of Erie Communications Office has created a new set of social media graphics and website banners to support your parish’s outreach. These ready-to-use images can be posted on your social media platforms, websites, bulletins or Ministry Platform.
Graphics are already available for upcoming events like Memorial Day and Father’s Day. Additional designs for feast days and holidays will be added throughout the year. This resource is designed to help you engage your parishioners and share the Good News easily and consistently. Bookmark and revisit: www.eriercd.org/social-media-graphics.html and www.eriercd.org/ParishPlaceGraphics.html.
Parishioners, employees: Be cautious about sharing personal information
Scammers have been contacting parish staff and some parishioners posing as the pastor. This is a scam being perpetrated on parishes across the country. The only way to protect your co-workers and your parishioners from these kinds of scams is through education. Please include the attached notice in your next bulletin and forward it to your employees and volunteers to keep everyone safe from fraud.
International Catholic Stewardship Council May newsletter
The Catholic Foundation is happy to share the attached May edition of the International Catholic Stewardship Council newsletter (English and Spanish versions are available). Pastors and parish staff are encouraged to read and share this publication with their parishioners, using all or parts of it for their parish bulletin, with credit to the author/source.
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 https://www.eriecatholic.org/about/careers.
PW Protected Attachments:Clergy and Department Heads click here to login.International Needs Collection Ordination Invitation Ordination Graphic May Edition of Jubilee Newsletter Avoiding Scams and Fraud ICSC May Newsletter (English and Spanish) Retrouvaille for Marriage Embracing Hope and Healing St. Bartholomew VBS |
Rediscover Your Marriage
Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long i) simply means 'rediscovery.' The program offers the chance to rediscover yourself, your spouse and a loving relationship in your marriage. Thousands headed for divorce have successfully saved their marriages by attending. Retrouvaille is a not spiritual retreat, not a sensitivity group, not a seminar, not a social gathering. For confidential information about or to register for an upcoming weekend visit our web site at www.HelpOurMarriage.org or call 412-277-3434 or email us at 3041R@HelpOurMarriage.org.
Embracing Hope and Healing
The Virtue and Integrity Education Office invites you to view an important flyer available for Mother’s Day weekend. It offers guidance and support for parents navigating infertility or grieving the loss of a child during pregnancy or shortly after birth.
While this topic is always relevant, we are sharing it especially in May—a time when many families may feel the weight of these struggles more deeply. We hope this resource brings comfort and connection to those in need.
St. Stanislaus Women’s Society B-I-N-G-O!
Join us for a fun-filled afternoon on Sunday, May 18 at St. Stanislaus Parish Hall, 516 E. 13th St., Erie. Doors open at 12 p.m. Games begin at 1 p.m. The $30 admission includes one booklet of bingo cards and a picnic lunch. Additional booklets are available for $5. Enjoy a basket raffle, 50/50 and special auctions throughout the event! Reserve your spot by calling: Jackie at 814-860-3208 or Alice at 814-825-0724.
St. Bartholomew VBS
Come to the Table Vacation Bible School is being held June 3-5 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the St. Bartholomew Social Center, 311 W. Ridge Ave., Sharpsville. The cost is $20 for one student, $25 for two students and $30 for three students and includes lunch. This is open to any students entering first-fifth grades in the 2025-2026 school year. See attached flyer for more information. Space is limited.
Men’s Retreat: To the Heights
Adult men (18+ and out of high school) are invited to a powerful 3-day, 2-night backpacking retreat in the Quehanna Wild area (near Parker Dam State Park) from Thursday, June 19 to Saturday, June 21. Retreat leaders - Father Ben Daghir, Father Luke Daghir and Ryan Sayers - wish to share their inspiration from Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati who loved hiking and the outdoors. The cost is $50, which includes meals, a retreat t-shirt and a Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati medal. Register by June 9 by visiting the Facebook page “To The Heights - Diocese of Erie” or online: To the Heights. Please email any questions to: totheheightserie@gmail.com.
There are no classified ads for this week.
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 www.ErieRCD.org and click on Information Bulletin under the News and Information drop-down menu. As with the email version, pastors and department heads will still need to enter 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.