December 16, 2024

Due to the Christmas holiday, the next Information Bulletin is Friday, December 20, 2024.
The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, December 18, 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.



Bishop Persico issues Jubilee indulgence decree
The indulgence, a priceless gift of divine mercy, is one of the special ‘signs’ of the Jubilee year. On Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, Bishop Persico issued a decree outlining the requirements for the reception of indulgences related to the Jubilee Year 2025 in the Diocese of Erie. All the ‘truly repentant’ faithful, moved by a spirit of charity, who, purified through the sacrament of penance and refreshed by Holy Communion, will be able to obtain the indulgence by undertaking spiritual activities as outlined in the bishop’s decree. If you have any questions, please contact the Chancery at 814.824.1130. Please refer to the attached document for more information.

#iGiveCatholic final results
The Catholic Foundation is excited to announce the final results of #iGiveCatholic! With all offline gifts included, an outstanding $563,031 was raised by 1,944 donors for 91 organizations. Organizations fiscally sponsored by the Catholic Foundation and prize winners will receive their checks by the end of the year.

For more details about the campaign, including prize winners and the generous businesses and individuals who supported this effort, visit https://www.cfnwpa.org/news/igivecatholic-giving-day-shatters-previous-donation-record. If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Rathburn at erathburn@cfnwpa.org or 814.824.1257.

Office for Divine Worship monthly newsletter
The Office for Divine Worship presents a monthly newsletter to aid in preparing celebrations that will occur in that particular month. The January newsletter is attached.

Diocesan map posters
The Chancery is in the process of ordering updated poster-sized maps of the diocese, featuring the newly established deanery boundaries. These maps include every town that has a Catholic Church, regardless of whether that church has regularly scheduled Sunday Mass. If your parish or Catholic entity would like to purchase a large diocesan map, please contact Maria Caulfield at mcaulfield@eriercd.org or 814.824.1130 by Jan. 6. Maps are $12 each. A printable version of the map may be found at https://www.eriercd.org/map.html.

Jubilee Journey: Pilgrims of Hope newsletter is now available.
To recognize Jubilee Year 2025, a special Jubilee newsletter – suitable for printing in parish bulletins – will be provided each month to guide us through the year, providing both informative and interactive elements. Tailored to offer a spiritual pilgrimage and a sense of hope within the diocese, the newsletter will engage with diocesan ministries, feature concise content for all ages and highlight significant events like the opening of the Holy Doors and special Masses. Each monthly edition will be structured around the Jubilee celebration calendar, offering valuable resources for faith formation, homilies, schools and parishes. The December newsletter Jubilee Journey: Pilgrims of Hope is attached for your parish bulletin.

Ministry Platform Batch creator guidelines. Look for an email for parish staff.
Be on the lookout for an email from Pat Barron addressed to your business manager. This email contains important end-of-year financial guidelines. Please review this email carefully with individuals who create batches in Ministry Platform to ensure your parish does not violate IRS regulations.

Online Donation Safety - ‘Tis the season for charity scams: How can you tell what’s a scam?
Charity scammers want to get your money quickly. They often pressure you to donate right away and ask for cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Scammers often refuse to send you information about the charity, won't answer questions or explain how the money will be used. They might even lie and say you’ve already made a pledge to donate. If you receive unsolicited emails from charities you have never heard of or have no association with, do not respond and do not click on links contained in them. Instead, verify the charity's legitimacy by using its official website. You can report financial fraud to the FTC here: https://ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Be sure to read this article for more ways to recognize charity scams. Please see the parish-friendly attached flyer.

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.



Attachments

Bishop Jubilee Indulgence Decree
Office of Divine Worship Newsletter
Jubilee Journey: Pilgrims of Hope newsletter
Charity fraud
Our Lady of Peace Bible Study

Parish Bulletin Announcements


PW Protected Attachments:

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Bishop Jubilee Indulgence Decree
Office of Divine Worship Newsletter
Jubilee Journey: Pilgrims of Hope newsletter
Charity fraud
Our Lady of Peace Bible Study


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Our Lady of Peace Bible Study for 2025
Join Our Lady of Peace Parish for an eight-week bible study in 2025, focusing on the prison letters of St. Paul: Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. The study will run from Jan. 7 to Feb. 26 and is open to all. Sessions will be held in the church social room at 2401 West 38th Street, Erie, with both day and evening options available. The cost is $10 per person, which includes a workbook and materials. Pre-registration is required by Jan. 2, 2025. For more details and to register, please see the flyer.

Mission of the Family videos
Free opportunity for your family to grow their faith with five short videos produced by the Knights of Columbus called the “Mission of The Family." The videos can be found on the Knights of Columbus website. Here is the link to find “The Mission of The Family” videos: https://www.kofc.org/en/campaigns/into-the-breach.html. The five videos are less than 14 minutes in length. You can also find the original “Into The Breach” video series by rolling down on this webpage and under CATEGORIES click on “Into The Breach." This series is also free of charge and is sure to help you grow in your faith.

Religious gifts for Christmas are available at The Benedictine Gift Shop, St. Marys
The Benedictine Gift Shop, 139 Church Street, St. Marys, has something for everyone on your Christmas list. Enjoy 20% off on Saturday, Dec.14, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Visit our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/TheBenedictineGiftShop to see what is new at the shop. 



Director of facilities needed at St. Francis Xavier parish in McKean.
St. Francis Xavier, 8880 Main Street, McKean is looking for a person who is willing to take on the part-time (up to 20 hours/week) position of Facilities Director. Interested persons should have capabilities of completing day-to-day general maintenance tasks and competent knowledge of larger physical plant items such as HVAC, plumbing, electrical and building maintenance. This individual must be willing to coordinate larger projects as needed.  Please contact Father Jason Feigh at jason.feigh@cathedralprep.com or 814.476.7657 with a resume and any questions you may have.  



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