November 15, 2021
Due to an early deadline for parish bulletins over Thanksgiving, the next Information Bulletin is Friday, November 19, 2021.
Deadline for submissions is Thursday, November 18, 2021, at noon.
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 submission
Email your Information Bulletin items to the editor.
Pastors are asked to share information about Communion Rite change
The Office of Worship asks all pastors to publish in their parish bulletins the attached announcement regarding the change in posture during the Communion Rite at Mass. Sharing this announcement will help spread the word about the important change.
Parishes, schools advised about Boy Scout correspondence
Any parishes or schools receiving correspondence connected to the Boy Scout bankruptcy settlement program should contact the vicar general, Msgr. Edward Lohse, for further information. He can be reached at elohse@ErieRCD.org or at 814-824-1130.
#iGiveCatholic advanced giving starts today, runs through Giving Tuesday
Starting today and running through Nov. 30, #iGiveCatholic donations can be made online at www.erie.igivecatholic.org or directly to a parish, school or ministry by cash or check. Organizations, meanwhile, may consider sending an email to supporters, posting a flier at building entrances, or inserting a notice in bulletins or newsletters. It is also time to post #iGiveCatholic yard signs. A few signs are still available. For assistance, contact Kathy Grisier at 814-824-1236 or kgrisier@cfnwpa.org.
Official Catholic Directory updates due
Every parish, school system and Catholic organization needs to submit their updates by Nov. 22 to the 2022 Official Catholic (Kenedy) Directory. The update website will shut down after that date. Instructions for accessing the online system are attached. Please contact Maria Caulfield at 814-824-1130 or mcaulfield@eriercd.org with any questions.
Special appeal for retired priests, sisters
There will be a special appeal featured in the December edition of Faith magazine that supports retired diocesan priests and retired religious sisters of the Diocese of Erie. Bishop Lawrence Persico has given permission to the Good Shepherd Fund for retired diocesan priests and to the Office for Religious to promote this joint appeal. Due to the pandemic, contributions to retired priests and sisters have declined. Donations to this special appeal will support the faithful servants who have impacted the lives of so many people in the Diocese of Erie and beyond.
To donate, please make a check payable to the Diocese of Erie and place it in the envelope provided in Faith magazine. Individual donations may be made to one or split between both the sisters and priests. Mail the envelope or drop it in the offertory collection at your parish. If you wish to use a credit or debit card, go to https://www.eriercd.org/RetiredSistersAndPriests.html. Pastors are asked to return envelopes, unopened, to Sister Nancy Fischer, SSJ, Office for Religious, St. Mark Catholic Center, 429 E. Grandview Blvd., Erie, PA 16504.
Note: This special appeal is in addition to the Retirement Fund for Religious Collection and the Good Shepherd Collection, both of which will be held separately.
Interested in discovering your vocation or learning about the priesthood?
The Vocations Office of the Diocese of Erie and The Epiphany of the Lord Parish in Meadville are hosting a St. Andrew Dinner on Dec. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the social hall of St. Brigid Parish, 967 Chancery Lane, Meadville. Young men who are seeking their vocation or who are interested in learning more about the priesthood are welcome to attend. Please see the attached flier for complete information. There is no cost to attend.
Update on former Oil City parish
The Diocese of Erie has received word that the first level of appeal presented by a procurator for multiple parishioners of the former St. Stephen Parish in Oil City has been denied at the Signatura, the highest court at the Vatican. This ruling upholds the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy decision in favor of the decree issued by Bishop Lawrence Persico on Nov. 15, 2019, that St. Stephen Parish be merged and subsumed into St. Joseph Parish. A further appeal is still possible, so the matter remains ongoing.
Catholic schools seeking teachers and substitutes
Unexpected challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continue to emerge. Catholic schools across the Diocese of Erie are in need of both teachers and substitutes. The Catholic Schools Office encourages people with four-year college degrees to reach out to their local Catholic schools to learn more about the need and to consider applying to work on a short- or long-term basis. A teaching certificate is not required to serve as a substitute, but clearances are necessary for both teachers and substitutes. School leaders will provide the necessary support for completing the mandatory clearances. To learn about Catholic schools in the Diocese of Erie, go to www.eriercd.org/schools/.
Engagement Encounter retreat scheduled for January
Engaged couples are invited to attend an Engagement Encounter (EE) marriage preparation weekend on Jan. 28-30, 2022, at St. Mark Catholic Center, 429 E. Grandview Blvd., Erie. Engagement Encounter is designed to provide a meaningful environment for deepening the conversations and habits necessary in a happy, holy and lasting marriage. Learn more and register at https://www.eriercd.org/familylifeoffice/ee.html.
Attention, Windows 7 and Windows 8 users
It is very dangerous to continue using Windows 7 since Microsoft stopped providing security updates on Jan. 14, 2020. Please upgrade or replace your Windows 7 device immediately to avoid being breached by hackers. Regarding Windows 8/8.1, these operating systems will no longer receive security updates after Jan. 20, 2023. After that date, your Windows 8/8.1 computer will become a target for hackers.
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.Bulletin announcement regarding Communion Rite change Official Catholic (Kenedy) Directory St. Andrew Dinner Holy Trinity Christmas Market Prince of Peace Christmas raffle |
Falls Creek parish offers evening of inspirational music
All are welcome to attend an evening of inspirational music, featuring Bart Foradora and Charlie Prescott, on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. at St. Bernard Church in Falls Creek.
Christmas garage sale scheduled in December
Plan now to contribute to and/or attend the Boy Scout Christmas garage sale at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Erie. To contribute Christmas decoration items for the sale, go to the Our Lady of Peace Scout House, W. 38th and Pacific, Erie, on Nov. 22 and Nov. 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. The sale will be held at the Our Lady of Peace School cafeteria on Dec. 4 from 8 a.m. to noon and 4 to 7 p.m., and Dec. 5 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. All proceeds from the sale will benefit Scout Troop 59. For more information, contact Alyson Dana at 814-490-3493 or Alysondana81@gmail.com.
Check out Blessed Sacrament’s craft show
Blessed Sacrament Parish, 1626 W. 26th St., Erie, is hosting its second annual craft show Nov. 26-28 in the Blessed Sacrament School gymnasium. Parking is available in the lot next to the gym on W. 26th Street. Hours are Friday from noon to 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $3 per day for ages 12 and up. Those under 12 are admitted free. A family of four pass (must live in the same household) is $5 per day. Due to COVID-19, masks/face shields are required.
Order Christmas foods and more from the Holy Trinity Christmas Market
See the attached flier for complete details about the Holy Trinity annual Christmas Market, scheduled Dec. 17-18 at the Holy Trinity Social Center, E. 23rd and Reed streets, Erie. Order your Christmas food and more no later than Dec. 6 for pick-up during the market.
Prince of Peace Center to hold Christmas raffle
The Prince of Peace Center in Farrell is having a Christmas raffle on Dec. 8. Proceeds will support the agency’s programs that serve people in need in Mercer County. See the attached flier for complete details, including a grand prize giveaway and two other prizes. To purchase raffle tickets, go to popc@princeofpeacecenter.org or call 724-346-5777.
Advent weekend retreat offered at Stella Niagara
Stella Niagara's Center of Renewal retreat center in the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, announces its Advent silent guided weekend retreat from Friday evening dinner through Sunday lunch, Dec. 3-5. Sister Marcella Kiesel, OSF, will be the presenter. The weekend includes extended periods of silence with moments of reflective and contemplative time along with scheduled conferences, group sharing and Advent prayer chants. Pre-registration is due by Nov. 19, with late reservation options possible if space is still available. Early check-ins and/or extended retreat days may also be arranged as available. Limited COVID protocols will be followed. Contact the Center of Renewal at 716-754-7376, ext. 1 or 2, to pre-register or request more information.
There are no classifieds 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.