February 24, 2025
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, March 3, 2025.The deadline for submissions is Thursday, February 27, 2025, 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.
Accident and Illness Prevention Program
We are pleased to share information regarding the Accident and Illness Prevention Program for the Diocese of Erie. The director of Facilities & Risk Management, Russell Rydzewski, has prepared a summary of policies, procedures and goals of our safety program. These outline steps we are required to implement and have in place. The summary is attached for your information. After reviewing, if you have any questions, Russell can be reached at 814-824-1112, or via email at rrydzewski@eriercd.org.
Help us share Easter Mass times
As we prepare to celebrate the joy of Easter, the Diocese of Erie is gathering Easter Mass times to be shared on our website. If your parish is hosting Easter services, please send the Mass times and location to RPapalia@ErieRCD.org. Thank you for ensuring that all who seek to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ can find a place to worship.
Lent Parish bulletin inserts
The Diocese of Erie has assembled Lenten resources to help individuals and families deepen their faith during this Holy Year. We encourage you to share these resources with your parishioners as they embark on their Lenten journey. This year, we are introducing a new social media faith challenge—rather than giving up social media for 40 days, we invite individuals to use their platforms to share their faith and bring others closer to Christ: click here for more details.
Attached you will find parish bulletin inserts to help guide families and children, as well as resources such as a Family Almsgiving Planner, a step-by-step guide to adopting a service project; a Children’s Lent Worksheet to help guide children with a personal prayer and sacrifice; and a Lenten Plan designed to help individuals, families and children structure their Lent with prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The official Lenten website will be available next week.
Catholic Services Appeal Commitment Weekend, March 1-2
The administrative offices of the Diocese of Erie extend their gratitude to pastors and parish staff for their work to support the Catholic Services Appeal and offer prayers for a successful campaign. We suggest use of the Catholic Services Appeal Prayer this week at various staff and committee meetings. The 2025 CSA Prayer can be found at the following link: https://www.eriercd.org/images/pdf/2025-csa-prayer.pdf.
As the 2025 Catholic Services Appeal gets underway, parishes are encouraged to utilize the resources found at https://www.eriercd.org/Catholic-Services-Appeal-CSA-Materials.html.
Catholic Foundation Spring Grant Opportunities
The Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania’s spring grant cycle is now open. Applications for Education and Faith Formation Grants will be accepted through March 31, 2025. Are you planning a parish mission or faith formation special event in the summer or fall of 2025? Are you planning a new religious education or faith formation project for your parish or Catholic school? Are your parish lay ministers, lay staff or youth planning to attend a conference, workshop or retreat this summer or fall? Is your school or faith formation program in need of updated technology? Your project may meet the criteria for one of these grant opportunities. There have been some changes to guidelines and criteria. Please review carefully. Education: www.cfnwpa.org/grant-seekers/education-grant-guidelines. Faith Formation: https://www.cfnwpa.org/grant-seekers/faith-formation-endowment-guidelines. Questions? Contact Julia Cooney, operations director, at jcooney@cfnwpa.org or 814-824-1253.
To read about our most recent group of grantees, go to https://www.cfnwpa.org/news/catholic-foundation-of-northwest-pennsylvania-announces-2024-fall-grant-awards-totaling-54-315.
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 March newsletter is attached.
Revival: A Lenten Devotional for Eucharistic Renewal
The National Eucharistic Revival has released a Lenten devotional to help Catholics deepen their faith this season. "Revival: A Lenten Devotional for Eucharistic Renewal" offers daily reflections focused on prayer, fasting and interior renewal, guiding you closer to Christ in the Eucharist. Available for just $10! Share this with your parishioners and enrich their Lenten journey. Order here: https://store.eucharisticrevival.org/products/revival-a-lenten-devotional-for-eucharistic-renewal?_gl=11hp11ka_gcl_au*MTA5OTA1ODE2Mi4xNzM5NDc0NDc4.
Update computer technology to avoid security risk
Older devices often have weaknesses that make them easy targets for hackers. Many of them run outdated software, which means they don't have the latest security updates to protect against new threats. When devices stop getting updates from the manufacturer, they become even more vulnerable. Hackers are always looking for easy ways to break into systems, and an old device can be their entry point into the church's network. This can lead to unauthorized access and potentially compromise the entire system. Outdated devices to access church resources can put donor information at risk. By investing in newer, more secure devices, the church can protect its digital assets, safeguard member information and maintain the integrity of its operations. Keeping technology up to date is crucial for creating a safer environment for everyone involved. Reminder, Windows 10 will be retired by Microsoft on 10-14-25. To be safe, you should update your operating system or your computer before this date.
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.
PW Protected Attachments:Clergy and Department Heads click here to login.Accident and Illness Prevention Program flyer Family Almsgiving Planner Lenten Plan Children’s Lent Worksheet Office for Divine Worship monthly newsletter A Journey to Joy! Benedictine 6-week Lenten Series Mother Daughter Tea St. Patrick’s Haven Shamrock Showdown Reverse Raffle |
Multi-night Lenten mission: A Journey to Joy!
St. Patrick Parish, 130 East 4th Street, Erie, to host the Lenten mission, A Journey to Joy! This multi-day event will take place from Mar. 10-12, with different themes each night. The themes include: Luke: Stories on the Road (Mar. 10), The Sermon on the Mount (Mar. 11) and Hollywood vs. Faith (Mar. 12). Each event begins at 7 p.m. and are free to attend, an offering will be accepted. Please see the attached flyer for more details.
Benedictine Monastery hosts six-week Lenten Series
The Benedictine Monastery will host a six-week Lenten series on Thursdays, Mar. 6-April 10 from 4 to 5:15 p.m. The series is offered in-person at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, 6101 East Lake Rd., Erie. We will explore what it would mean to you to fast from multitasking and instead embrace presence. Or to fast from certainty to embrace mystery and waiting. Discuss these and other ways to deepen our spiritual lives. The series is inspired by the book A Different Kind of Fast: Feeding Our True Hungers in Lent by Christine Valters Paintner. (Book is not required but we recommend it.) Facilitators are Sister Ann Muczynski, Laurie Smith and Sister Anne McCarthy. The suggested donation for the six-week series is $50.
St. Joseph Parish to host Lenten Mission
On March 10, 11 and 12 from 6-7:30 p.m., St. Joseph Parish, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., Warren, will host a Lenten Mission, with a different theme each night, led by Fr. Ian McElrath. In this Jubilee year of hope, come and be renewed as we long for hope daily in our troubled world. The themes include Light in the Darkness: Christian Hope for a Broken World (Mar. 10), Setting Captives Free: Hope for our Sinful Hearts with confessions available (Mar. 11) and With Us on the Way: The Eucharist as a Source of Light and Hope with Mass celebrated this evening (Mar. 12). See attached flyer for more information.
Mother-Daughter Tea: two locations
Mark your calendars for the annual Mother-Daughter Tea, hosted by the Virtue & Integrity Education Office. The first tea is set for April 5 at St. Mary’s Parish, 315 Church St., St. Marys, while the second is May 3rd at Saint Mark Catholic Center, 429 E. Grandview Blvd., Erie. This special event is designed for girls ages 10 and above and their moms. Topics to be discussed include the emotional and physical changes of puberty and strengthening the parent-child bond through adolescence. For more information, visit: https://www.eriercd.org/chastity/tea.html.
Third Annual Four-Leaf Clover Celebration
Blessed Sacrament Parish, 1626 West 26th St., Erie, is hosting their third annual Four-Leaf Clover celebration on Saturday, Mar. 8. Tickets are $5 and cover admission to the event and a chance to win cash prizes of $500 (7 p.m.), $1,500 (8 p.m.) and $3,000 (9 p.m.). Light appetizers will be provided. BYOB and snacks too. There will be Irish dancers, games of chance and music by Lisa Keating. Back by popular demand Deal or no Deal and Break the Balloon. Tickets are available at the parish office or at the door. Proceeds benefit Blessed Sacrament Church.
Spaghetti Dinner
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, 816 West 26th St., Erie, is hosting a spaghetti dinner in their auditorium on Sunday, Mar. 9 from noon to 5 p.m. Buffet dinner and take-outs available. Traditional spaghetti and meatballs and includes salad, bread and a cannoli for dessert. Cost for adults is $15 and children are $10. Bucket of meatballs and sauce to go is $10. There will be 50/50 tickets, a bake sale and theme basket raffle. For more information, please call 814-452-2982 or visit www.stjoseph-sacredheart.org.
Shamrock Showdown
The Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier, Erie, will be the setting for the Shamrock Showdown, Mar 15. from 6- 9 p.m. This trivia competition will be emceed by Dr. Walter and Dr. Mary Iwanenko, President and First Lady of Gannon University and will benefit St. Patrick’s Haven. Register your eight-member team and compete to take home this year’s trophy. There will be a selection of delicious hors d’oeuvres, snacks and beverages, a 50/50 and basket raffles and a cash bar. Please see the attached flyer for more information and to register your team using the QR code. You can also visit https://stpatrickshaven.org/shamrock-showdown/ or call 814-836-4153.
Reverse Raffle
St. Boniface Parish, 9367 Wattsburg Rd., Erie, will be the setting for a St. Pat’s Party reverse raffle. On Mar. 15, the doors will open at 6 p.m. at the Coleman Center and the raffle starts at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased until Mar. 13 through the church office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. No tickets will be sold at the door. They are $40 for admission for two adults and includes beer, wine, water, pop and raffle. Bring your own food/snacks. Please see flyer for more information.
There are no classifieds this week.
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