May 18, 2020
The next Information Bulletin is Tuesday, May 26, 2020, due to Memorial Day.Deadline for submissions is Thursday, May 21, at 4:30 p.m.
Email your Information Bulletin items to the editor.
Pastors are asked to take note of changes in special collections
Due to the pandemic, the International Needs Collection, which was scheduled May 24, will not be taken up in the Diocese of Erie this year. If any parishioners send in their envelopes with a donation to this collection, please simply forward the donation, as usual, to the Finance Office at St. Mark Catholic Center, 429 E. Grandview Blvd, Erie, PA 16504. These donations will be applied to next year’s collection.
In addition, pastors are asked to inform parishioners that, likewise due to the pandemic, Pope Francis has moved the Peter’s Pence Collection, from June 27-28 to Oct. 3-4. If any parishioners submit donations earlier, please send those donations to the Finance Office at St. Mark Catholic Center (see address above), and those funds will be applied to the collection monies contributed in October. Pastors will be notified of any more changes in special collections this year.
Reminder for pastors and administrators
Pastors and administrators are reminded that a chronological listing of COVID-19 parish and liturgical directives from the Chancery can be found at https://www.eriercd.org/bishop/recent.html.
Clearance renewal update from the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth
PA Act 18 of 2020, signed into law on May 8, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, extends the deadline for renewing the FBI fingerprint-based clearance until Dec. 31, 2020. All parishes, schools, agencies and institutions should read the attachment for important information concerning the fingerprint-based clearance for new hires and the renewal of required clearances for clergy, employees and volunteers in the Diocese of Erie.
Bishop Persico to hold town hall as diocese moves toward restoring public worship
Now that all 13 counties of the Diocese of Erie are in the yellow phase for reopening, Bishop Lawrence Persico has announced the diocese will take a gradual approach to restoring public worship in northwest Pennsylvania. General protocols, including the suspension of public Masses, remain in effect, but permission has been restored for pastors to schedule periods of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as well as times for confessions.
Bishop Persico will address the gradual return to other forms of public worship by hosting a virtual town hall via Zoom on Thursday, May 21, at 7 p.m. Parishioners are invited to participate in the event and/or submit a question in advance. There are three options to submit questions before the event:
- Through a prompt during registration at http://www.eriercd.org/townhall.htm
- At eriercd.org/townhallquestion.htm
- Email townhall@eriercd.org before May 21.
For those who are not able to watch the event live, a recording will be posted on the diocesan website at www.ErieRCD.org on May 22.
St. Mark Catholic Center to remain closed at least through May 26
St. Mark Catholic Center in Erie will remain closed at least through May 26 and possibly beyond, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of employees who work at SMCC continue to work remotely and are able to respond to email and voicemail messages. 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.
This week’s fundraising best practices during the pandemic
Improving your approach to fundraising can be done with a few key best practices. The Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania offers these suggestions for fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Communicate regularly with parishioners through mail, email, etc.
- Build relationships with parishioners through phone calls and birthday and anniversary cards.
- Thank parishioners for their gifts.
Everyone likes being thanked. A simple phone call or note of appreciation can make a huge difference. Consider sending a thank-you letter right away to all parishioners for their continued support during the COVID-19 pandemic. For your convenience, a sample thank-you letter is attached.
Important notes from the Good for You Wellness Initiative
In the midst of staying at home, you still have time to participate in the Good for You Wellness Initiative for full-time employees covered by the Diocese of Erie’s wellness plan. Just complete four easy steps to earn a $150 reward. Learn more at https://www.eriercd.org/wellness.html.
Also, did you know that 143 million people in the U.S. work on a computer every day and more than 70 percent of computer users experience some computer-related eye discomfort? Attached is information regarding Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) and some practical tips on how to protect your eyes.
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.Clearance update Wellness Initiative, eye strain Case manager position, Prince of Peace Maintenance position, Prince of Peace Young People Who Care program director Sample thank-you letter |
There are no activities to announce this week.
Two positions available at Prince of Peace Center
The Prince of Peace Center in Farrell is seeking applicants for two part-time positions: a case manager with its Family and Emergency Supportive Services program and a maintenance worker. See the attachments for more information on the positions and the application process.
Erie Catholic School System seeking principal
The Erie Catholic School System is seeking a full-time principal for a preschool to grade 8 school. Appointment to this position will begin effective July 1, 2020. Go to http://ErieCatholic.org/careers for further details. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Young People Who Care, Inc. hiring program director
Young People Who Care, Inc., (YPWC), a Clearfield County nonprofit organization, is seeking a program director. See the attachment for full details.
Director of liturgical music/organist
St. Peter Cathedral in Erie is seeking a full-time director of liturgical music/organist. For complete details on the position and how to apply, go to https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.
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.
Principal position available at Mother Teresa Academy
Applications are being accepted for the position of principal at Erie’s Mother Teresa Academy. For complete information, go to https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.
Teacher position available
A full-time high school English teacher is needed at Kennedy Catholic Family of Schools, Hermitage. For details, go to https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.
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.
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.