The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie, Pa.

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Read the following stories to be informed about the latest diocesan news and to enjoy regular features, columns, as well as articles from Faith magazine, all generated in our parishes, schools and various ministries.

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	ST. BERNARD ELEMENTARY MIDDLE SCHOOL TO CLOSE AT END OF 2018-19 SCHOOL YEAR 01/22/2019 Decision follows recommendation of the parish finance council and ad-hoc committee
	SEX ABUSE CRISIS PROMPTS YEAR OF ACTION, REFLECTION 01/18/2019 Bishop Persico maintains focus on victims
	DIOCESE RANKED NO. 1 IN PA FOR ONLINE FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY 01/18/2019 Annual survey took on urgency as dioceses face sexual abuse crisis
	SOME DIOCESAN PARISHES SERVE AS OVERFLOW HOMELESS SHELTERS 01/14/2019 Part of broader 'Our Neighbors' Place' effort at various Erie-area churches
	41st ANNUAL PRO-LIFE BREAKFAST DRAWS 500 01/13/2019 Speaker Obianuju Ekeocha discusses 'ideological colonialism'
	'SERIOUS BUT POSITIVE,' BISHOP PERSICO RETURNS FROM RETREAT 01/11/2019 “It was important to be reminded of our role as shepherds and being open to the Word of God."
	HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF ERIE PURCHASES BETTER HOUSING FOR ERIE 01/11/2019 Discussions between H.A.C.E. and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Erie began several months ago
	VOCATIONS CRUCIFIX TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT DIOCESE 01/10/2019 The crucifix serves as a reminder and provides a place to pray for the young men and women who are discerning their vocations
	CATHEDRAL PREP, VILLA MARIA ANNOUNCE 'GAME-CHANGING' TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 01/10/2019 Graduates of diocesan Catholic elementary schools would receive $3,000 per year
	POPE TO U.S. BISHOPS: COMBATING ABUSE CRISIS DEMANDS A 'RENEWED AND DECISIVE APPROACH' 01/03/2019 Letter comes as bishops gather for weeklong retreat
	ERIE COUNTY CHURCHES OPEN FOR SPECIAL NIGHT OF CONFESSION 12/07/2018 Event aimed at encouraging people to return to the sacrament of reconciliation.
	BISHOP PERSICO, REPORTER MEET FOR 'UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS' 12/06/2018 Discussion centered on sexual abuse crisis
	VENANGO REGION CATHOLIC SCHOOL ASSOCIATION APPOINTS FULL BOARD 11/30/2018 Newly created Venango Region Catholic School moves forward
	Faith magazine feature: CHANT: EVER ANCIENT, EVER NEW 11/28/2018 Mystical sounds of 1,440-year-old Catholic tradition still fill churches in diocese
	WARREN PARISHIONERS TAKE ALTERNATIVE TOUR OF MIDDLE EAST 11/21/2018 Gaining understanding through encounter
	BISHOP PERSICO REFLECTS ON BALTIMORE GATHERING 11/18/2018 Believes bishops are moving in the right direction
	DIOCESE OF ERIE EARNS NIAGARA AWARDS 11/16/2018 Collaboration yields honors
	PARISHIONERS GIVE GENEROUSLY TO PRIEST, SISTER RETIREMENT FUNDS 11/09/2018 This month’s Retirement Fund for Religious collection is scheduled for Dec. 8-9
	BISHOP PERSICO PARTICIPATES IN SILENT PEACE WALK 11/09/2018 Prayers offered for victims of sexual abuse
	AMERICAN BISHOPS BEGIN EFFORTS OF FASTING, PRAYER 11/04/2018 Efforts in response to sexual abuse crisis in the church
	DIOCESE PREPARES TO CELEBRATE 500th CURSILLO 11/02/2018 Three-day retreat helps participants deepen their relationship with Christ
	PASTORAL PLAN UPDATE: 'WELCOMING AND BELONGING' PARISH PROJECT INTRODUCED 10/29/2018 Plan focuses on four key areas of encountering Christ
	BISHOP PERSICO MEETS, TALKS WITH AREA COLLEGE STUDENTS 10/28/2018 Discussion centered on Grand Jury Report
	DIOCESAN FIFTH-GRADERS GET CLOSE TO NATURE 10/26/2018 Event inspired by Pope Francis’ Laudato Si´ encyclical
	PASTORAL PLANNING CONTINUES AS FAITH FORMATION THEMES INTRODUCED 10/21/2018 Bishop Lawrence Persico to hold vicariate meetings this week
	DOROTHY DAY'S GRANDDAUGHTER SHARES LESSONS LEARNED 10/12/2018 Kate Hennessy's new book gives intimate view of this 'Servant of God'
	Faith magazine feature: BODY AND SPIRIT: STUDENT ATHLETES COMPETE AT THE INTERSECTION OF SPORTS AND SPIRITUALITY 10/04/2018 New Vatican document encourages development of 'apostolate for sports'
	DIOCESE STUDIES GENDER IDENTITY ISSUES 10/04/2018 More than 200 attend study days on gender identity
	Faith magazine column: DRAWING CONNECTIONS IN A WIDE, WIDE WORLD 10/03/2018 Column: From the editor of Faith magazine
	Faith magazine feature: TEENS ON THE PERIPHERIES: BUSTING BOUNDARIES TO BRING HOPE TO NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS 10/03/2018 Nearly 100 teens travel from diocese to help the marginalized
	BISHOP REQUESTS ROSARY RECITATION IN OCTOBER 10/01/2018 Letter follows request from Pope Francis
	DIOCESE TO CELEBRATE WORLD MISSION MONTH IN OCTOBER 09/30/2018 Bishop Persico to celebrate Oct. 7 Mass
	FORMER NFL STAR McCOY VISITS ERIE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 09/28/2018 Erie native delivers message of faith, hope, encouragement
	ST. PATRICK SCHOOL, ST. STEPHEN SCHOOL AND VENANGO CATHOLIC SCHOOL FORM ASSOCIATION 09/27/2018 Catholic schools in the Venango region signed an agreement Sept. 14 to form an association called the Venango Region Catholic School.
	BISHOP PERSICO ASSUMES NEW ADMINISTRATIVE POST WITH USCCB 09/21/2018 USCCB grapples with sex abuse crisis; calls for help from laity
	PA BISHOPS PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT COMPENSATION PROGRAM 09/21/2018 Statement released in unison Sept. 21
	ALTAR SERVERS RECOGNIZED 09/20/2018 Servers represented seven Erie-area parishes
	PARISHIONERS ACROSS DIOCESE TAKE PART IN DAY OF PRAYER 09/18/2018 Bishop Lawrence Persico set aside the day for anyone to visit churches and make a personal, prayerful response to the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church
	ERIE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANT FOR SCHOOL SAFETY 09/14/2018 For the first time, the Erie Community Foundation is financially supporting a school safety project.
	NFP FAMILY CAMPOUT AND PICNIC BRINGS TOGETHER FAITH, FAMILY AND FUN 09/05/2018 Weekend event includes Mass, picnic and hike
	Faith Magazine Feature: A VICTIM, A BISHOP AND A PASTOR: THREE PERSPECTIVES 09/04/2018 Chaz Muth of Catholic News Service followed a victim of clergy sex abuse across the commonwealth as he met with his bishop and the pastor of his former parish
	BISHOP PERSICO CALLS FOR CREATION OF COMPENSATION FUND 08/30/2018 Committed to working towards justice for victims
	NEW SCHOOL YEAR BRINGS CHANGES TO DIOCESAN SCHOOLS 08/28/2018 Students will see new leadership, added security at some schools
	NEW ACADEMIC YEAR BEGINS FOR HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS THROUGHOUT DIOCESE 08/27/2018 Day filled with laughs, prayer and homework
	CLERICAL SEX ABUSE AND ONE VICTIM'S JOURNEY 08/24/2018 Videos feature interview with Bishop Lawrence Persico
	'HUMBLED AND SORROWFUL,’ BISHOP WELCOMES RELEASE OF GRAND JURY REPORT Bishop Persico pledges continued transparency in child abuse crisis 08/14/2018 PA Attorney General's Office releases grand jury report; Erie bishop pledges continued vigilance
	BISHOP PERSICO WORKS TO PREPARE HIS PEOPLE FOR GRAND JURY REPORT 08/13/2018 All pastors in the 13-county diocese were asked to read a letter at Mass
	DIOCESE NAMES FAITH FORMATION DIRECTOR 08/07/2018 Deacon Stephen Washek accepts post
	ST. PETER CATHEDRAL MARKS 125th ANNIVERSARY 08/06/2018 Bells ring in celebration of the mother church
	MASS HONORS 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF RESTORATION OF PERMANENT DIACONATE 08/06/2018 More than 65 men currently serving in the active permanent diaconate in Diocese of Erie
	MASSES CELEBRATE MILESTONE WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES 08/06/2018 More than 80 couples attend a special Mass at St. George Parish in Erie
	BISHOP PERSICO CELEBRATES MASS AT SCI MERCER 08/03/2018 Two men baptized, four confirmed
	USCCB PRESIDENT ISSUES STATEMENT CONCERNING MORAL FAILURES 08/01/2018 McCarrick revelations cause
	REDACTED CLERGY SEX ABUSE REPORT MAY BE RELEASED BY AUG. 8 Erie bishop pushes for transparency 07/30/2018 PA Supreme Court orders grand jury report to be released with some names concealed until further review.
	BISHOP PERSICO CONCURS WITH AG ABOUT RELEASE OF GRAND JURY REPORT 07/27/2018 Erie Bishop Persico supports AG's efforts to expedite release of grand jury report.
	MUSIC ON THE HILL INSPIRES CROWD 07/24/2018 Concert sponsored by ministry for people with intellectual, developmental disabilities
	TWO EVENTS CELEBRATED AT ST. PETER CATHEDRAL 07/24/2018 NFP Awareness Week and Humanae vitae's 50th anniverary noted
	COUPLES INVITED TO CELEBRATE WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES 07/18/2018 Registration now open
	DIOCESE OF ERIE UPDATES ITS LIST OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURES 07/18/2018 This is the second update since names were first published in April
	TWO PRINCIPALS NAMED TO ERIE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 07/13/2018 New principals named to Catholic schools
	PRIESTS APPOINTED, ONE RETIRES 07/09/2018 Bishop makes priest appointments
	TEACHERS TRAIN TO BE PRINCIPALS, LEADERS 06/28/2018 New principal certification program begins.
	THE YOUNG CHURCH Exploring the role of young people in the Catholic Church 06/27/2018 College student interviews young people and youth leaders in the Diocese of Erie.
	PULLING STRINGS TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE 06/27/2018 Creating jewelry with donated guitar strings helps breast cancer patients, survivors
	BISHOP PERSICO MAINTAINS COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY IN CHILD ABUSE CASES 06/22/2018 Bishop Persico pledges transparency in child abuse cases, despite court stay.
	CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER PRESENCE ENDS IN DIOCESE News site launches upon newspaper closing 06/22/2018 FaithLife newspaper ends, but online news site begins.
	DIOCESAN PUBLICATIONS WIN NATIONAL PRESS AWARDS 06/21/2018 Diocesan newspaper, magazine win awards.
	DIOCESE CELEBRATES NEW PRIESTS 06/20/2018 Priests ordained for 13-county diocese
	Serra honors, clergy, religious, lay person 06/08/2018 Serra Club honorees
	Sisters celebrate milestone anniversaries 06/07/2018 Many sisters celebrate jubilees in the diocese.
	A Voice for Victims: Attorney general, bishop discuss protection of children in wake of abuse charges against priest 05/23/2018 Bishop Lawrence Persico and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro met in Erie May 16 to share their common concern for the victims of sexual abuse.
	Mother and son show beauty of Down syndrome 05/09/2018 When Diana Englund of Erie learned that her newborn son Nathan had Down syndrome, she worried about how people would treat him.
	Lucinda students recognized for cursive talent 05/01/2018 Eleven-year-old Lily Bell poises her pencil just above the faint blue line of dashes on the off-white page. She moves the lead tip to begin writing the first word of St . John’s verse about the law of love:
	Couple honored with Helping Hands Award 04/19/2018 Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Erie to honor couple with its prestigious award May 12 at Erie’s Bayfront Convention Center
	Diocese confronts sex abuse history, updates child protection policy 04/06/2018 The Diocese of Erie—as part of a sweeping update to its Policy for the Protection of Children—announced on April 6 the names of 34 priests and 17 lay men and women who have been credibly accused
	FAITH MAGAZINE: Disabilities Ministries offers insights for parishioners 04/01/2018 “If you haven’t rolled in someone else’s wheels — or you haven’t walked in their shoes — then you can’t appreciate how sometimes, without meaning to, you can be condescending or arrogant,” says Michele
	Diocese responds to opioid epidemic 03/28/2018 The Diocese of Erie creates the Opioid Task Force of the Diocese of Erie to inform clergy about the growing epidemic of addiction.
	Hospice care offers hope and help 03/27/2018 For Lisa To, “everyday heroes” in life are those families and caregivers who accompany the terminally ill. A nurse the past 32 years, To has spent the past five years as executive director of Hospice of
	‘God still has a presence in this…’ Students, bishops stand against gun violence 03/14/2018 Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at St. Luke School hold a prayer service to remember the 17 victims of the recent school shooting in Florida.
	Diocese advocates for Down syndrome legislation 03/13/2018 The Office of Social Justice and Life and the Office of Disabilities Ministries of the Diocese of Erie—along with the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference—urge Catholics to advocate for proposed legislation that
	Abortions in Pennsylvania drop, but activists remain concerned 01/18/2018 Abortions in Pennsylvania have decreased since 1980, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Yet, pro-life activists in the Erie area remain troubled by the 31,818 abortions performed in the commonwealth in 2015.