September 7, 2021

The next Information Bulletin is Monday, September 13, 2021.
Deadline for submissions is Thursday, September 9, 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.

Questions to deepen understanding of Bishop Persico’s pastoral letter in pandemic
“It is time for us to come together again as disciples of Christ and to ‘re-member’ our Sunday story,” Bishop Lawrence Persico says in his new pastoral letter written in time of pandemic. “By this I do not mean only a recalling of the teachings and legacy of Jesus Christ that deepen our faith; I also mean that we need to come together again as the Body of Christ…and to become in Christ the faith-filled disciples that we are called to be.” The letter, along with questions for reflection and discussion, can be found in its entirety on the Re-membering Our Sunday Story webpage at www.Eriercd.org/sundaystory.html.

St. Joseph Parish, Lucinda, to host next stop in diocesan virtual pilgrimage
The virtual pilgrimage to the seven churches named for St. Joseph in the Diocese of Erie continues Sept. 19 at St. Joseph Parish in Lucinda. A pre-recorded Mass with Father Mike Polinek, pastor, will be available through a link on the parish YouTube channel. (Search St. Joseph and St. Michael Parish, Lucinda, PA, on YouTube.) The pilgrimage was initiated to celebrate the Year of St. Joseph announced by Pope Francis. It will conclude on Dec. 8. An October date is being selected for the sixth stop in the pilgrimage at St. Joseph Church in Mount Jewett.

Respect Life Month 2021 resources available
Every October the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month. The first Sunday in October is observed as Respect Life Sunday. Materials for the 2021-22 program are now available and will focus on St. Joseph as a defender of life. The program is a nationwide effort to help Catholics understand, value and become engaged with building a culture that cherishes every human life. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) produces printed and digital tools and resources to help leaders integrate this message into their work or ministry. This year’s resources are available to order through the Respect Life Program Catalog or to download from the Respect Life Program website at https://www.respectlife.org/respect-life-month. Questions can be directed to Patrice Swick, director of the Social Justice and Life Office, at pswick@ErieRCD.org or 814-824-1254.

Novena and Mass resources are available
The Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Committees (FDLC) has prepared a simple novena (see attached) that may be used during the pandemic for communal or private prayer. Each of the nine days includes:

Scripture
Prayer
A petition
Lord’s Prayer
Intercession to a saint.

Also, when the liturgical day allows, there is a “Mass for Various Needs and Occasions: In Time of Pandemic.” This Mass was promulgated by the Vatican in 2020 and can be found at www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/votive-masses-and-various-needs/mass-in-time-of-pandemic.

St. Mark Seminary Auxiliary is looking for new members
The St. Mark Seminary Auxiliary was established in 1945 to support St. Mark Seminary in Erie and to work toward inspiring priests for the Catholic Church. With an abundance of hope, the auxiliary is moving forward with planning a year filled with opportunities for fellowship and support of our seminarians through monthly meetings and the annual card party. The auxiliary is seeking new members and parish directors for several area churches. All are welcome to attend the first meeting on Oct. 13 beginning with Mass at 7 p.m. in the chapel of St. Mark Catholic Center, 429 E. Grandview Blvd., Erie. A business meeting and fellowship will follow. For more information, contact Kathy Holland at 814-440-3406 or go to Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/272074481187224/.

Apply for REEF grant funding through Oct. 1
More than $151,0000 has been awarded this year by the Religious Education Enrichment Fund (REEF). One more grant cycle remains in 2021. Applications will be accepted until Oct. 1, 2021. Individuals, parishes, schools and other diocesan affiliated entities are encouraged to apply for one of the three types of grants: 1) Leadership Training Grant for professional education and training; 2) Creative Project Grant for religious formation start-up projects; and 3) Ministry Training Grant for conferences, workshops and non-degree certificate courses. Learn more and download the fillable applications at https://www.eriercd.org/schools/reefgrants.html. For any questions, contact Kathleen Robbinson, REEF administrator, at 814-824-1220.

International Catholic Stewardship Council newsletter
The Catholic Foundation is happy to share the September edition of the International Catholic Stewardship Council newsletter found at https://catholicstewardship.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ICSC-2021-September-Stewardship-eBulletin-English-8-26-21.pdf. 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.

Gannon inaugurates Orlando Lecture Series
Erie’s Gannon University proudly welcomes Dominican Father Nicanor Austriaco, Ph.D., S.Th.D., to deliver the inaugural Orlando Biomedical Ethics and Catholic Social Teaching Lecture on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at Gannon’s Yehl Ballroom. Father Austriaco’s address is titled, “COVID-19 Vaccines: Individual Freedom and the Common Good.” The lecture, which is free and open to the public, also will be available via livestream to those who register to attend. RSVP is required. For information and to register, go to www.Gannon.edu/Orlando.

Parishioners, employees: Use caution when sharing personal information
Parishioners at an Erie parish recently received an email from a scam artist claiming to be their pastor and requesting financial help. Please include the following notice in your weekly bulletin and forward it to employees and volunteers to keep everyone safe from fraud. Here is the suggested notice to be published:

In this age when personal data can be misused by scam artists, please be aware that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, its clergy, and entities such as parishes and schools will never solicit your personal or business information by any method unless initiated by you. Should you receive an unsolicited request for such information — including a request for gift cards of any type—exercise extreme caution. Contact the person or entity by using official contact information only. Do not use contact information provided in the potential fraudulent request.

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.

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Parishes to honor first responders
The Erie parishes of St. Mark the Evangelist and Mount Calvary invite all first responders from surrounding communities to a Mass at St. Mark the Evangelist Church, 695 Smithson Ave., on Sept. 11 at 10 a.m. RSVPs are not required but recommended, and may be made by calling the parish office at 814-899-3000 or emailing Stacey Badowski, director of lifelong faith formation, at sbadowski@smmc.church. Any first responders who have a dress uniform and would like to wear it for the Mass are welcome to do so.

Creative writing class offered at Our Lady of Mercy
Writing can be healing. It can assist with decision-making and offer clarity in times of transition. Our Lady of Mercy Church, 837 Bartlett Road, Harborcreek, is hosting a creative writing class on Tuesdays from Sept. 21 to Nov. 2. Suzanne Hudson, who holds a master’s in education, will be the facilitator. She studied with San Francisco poet Jane Hirshfield during writing conferences in the Los Padres National Forest. Classes will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. in the church conference room. A free will offering will be accepted. Just bring a writing journal and pen. RSVP by emailing secretary@ourladyofmercychurch.org.

Fundraiser for Women’s Care Center
Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Harborcreek, and the Knights of Columbus of St. Gregory Parish, North East, are co-hosting a spaghetti dinner fundraiser on Sept. 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. at the St. Gregory School gym, 136 West Main St., North East. There will be dine-in and take-out options. The dinner will benefit the Women’s Care Center of Erie County. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for kids 12 and under. Tickets are available at Our Lady of Mercy and St. Gregory parish offices and the Women’s Care Center, 4408 Peach St., Erie.

Blessed Sacrament celebrates fall with festival
Blessed Sacrament Parish, 1626 W. 26^th St., Erie, will hold its fall festival on Sept. 19 from noon to 5 p.m. The drawings for a $500 giveaway are at 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. The drawing for $1,500 is at 3:30 p.m., the drawing for $2,000 is at 4:30 p.m., and the grand prize drawing for $5,000 is at 5 p.m. Tickets are $5 each. The day also will include games on the football field, bouncy houses, theme basket raffle and a small appliance booth. Food and beverages will be available at the concession stand.

Founder of Homeboy Industries to speak at Mercyhurst University
Father Gregory Boyle, SJ, will draw on his experience working with gang members when he delivers a lecture at Mercyhurst University in Erie Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. As the founder of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, the largest gang-intervention, rehabilitation and reentry program in the world, Father Boyle will share a message of courage and hope. The lecture, titled “Be Fearless for Me: Courage and the Gospel of the Marginalized,” will be held at the renovated Mercyhurst Athletic Center and is free and open to the public. Father Boyle is a recipient of the California Peace Prize and has been inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

Knights of Columbus to sponsor March for Life trip to Harrisburg
The Knights of Columbus in the Diocese of Erie are sponsoring their first Pennsylvania March for Life trip to Harrisburg on Sept. 27. Thanks to a generous donor, a 56-passenger commercial bus is available to depart from a location to be determined in each of the 13 counties of the Diocese of Erie. There is no cost for a seat or to make the trip. Sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on the trip, departure times and locations, or to reserve a seat, contact Dave Spacht at 814-464-4477. The march includes a 9 a.m. Mass and Adoration at St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg, an 11 a.m. rally on the front steps of the state Capitol Building, and a noon march.

New prayer and formation ministry now available
Emmaus Encounter, a new prayer and formation ministry, is open to everyone and begins with weekly Gospel encounters starting Oct. 3. These gatherings will be held in the parish meeting room of St. George Church, 5145 Peach St., Erie, every Sunday (with a few exceptions) from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information, “like” the Facebook page “Emmaus Encounter † Erie” or contact Kathleen Peterson, emmausencounter.erie@gmail.com. More details are in the attached flier.

Preschool extended care supervisor needed
Mercy Center of the Arts in Erie is seeking an extended care supervisor for preschool. Hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 8. Send inquiries and/or resume to mercycenterofthearts@gmail.com.

Middle school English/language arts teacher needed
Seton Catholic School in Meadville is seeking a middle school English/language arts teacher. This is a permanent, full-time position starting in the 2021-22 school year. An elementary or secondary teaching degree with a specialty in ELA is required. Go to www.eriercd.org/employment.html for a complete job description and the application process. For questions, call 814-336-2320.

Free piano
A Baldwin Acrosonic piano (no bench included) is available free. Although the piano is old, it is in good shape and in tune. Dimensions are 5 feet wide, 27 inches deep and 36 inches high. For information, call Nick 814-881-5850.

Kneeler wanted
A kneeler for home use is needed. Please call Melissa Long at 814-490-2913.

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