February 7, 2022
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, February 14, 2022.
Deadline for submissions is Thursday, February 10, 2022, 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.
2022 Catholic Services Appeal update
The Catholic Services Appeal — the annual fundraising campaign of the Diocese of Erie — is essential to supporting the day-to-day work of the Catholic Church in our diocese. As you prepare for Commitment Sunday, here are some helpful hints for a successful CSA campaign:
- Promote the CSA in your bulletins, on your parish website and from the pulpit.
- Plan a great parish project to which people will be inspired to give.
- Use the video by putting a link on your parish website or showing it in your church prior to Commitment Sunday. The video along with additional materials can be accessed at eriercd.org/Catholic-Services-Appeal-CSA-Materials.html.
Questions? Contact Julia Cooney, operations manager, at jcooney@cfnwpa.org or 814-824-1253.
Alert to parishes using WeShare for online giving
WeShare has communicated that it will institute a monthly fee of $29 for all customers, effective March 1, 2022. Please be reminded that Vanco, the online giving merchant being integrated into Ministry Platform, provides fee-free online giving for parishes. To learn more, contact Peter Johnson at Vanco by emailing Peter.Johnson@vancopayments.com or calling 952-352-8136. You can switch from WeShare to Vanco at any time, and you do not have to wait until your parish converts from Church Office to Ministry Platform.
CRS Rice Bowl orders for Lent 2022
Orders for Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) annual Rice Bowl program materials for Lent 2022 are still being accepted. As a reminder, CRS is still updating its order information. If you have not yet ordered Rice Bowl materials for Lent 2022, you must place an order online at https://www.crsricebowl.org/ or call 800-222-0025. Materials are available in both English and Spanish. Questions can be directed to Patrice Swick, director of the Social Justice and Life Office, at pswick@ErieRCD.org.
Synod key term #4: What is discernment?
Pope Francis has asked all of us to contribute our insights to the 2023 Synod of Bishops on the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.” Local consultations are taking place in our diocese in February and March. The Chancery has developed a series of educational articles concerning key terms that are important to the process. Parishes are asked to include these in their bulletins, either as articles or as inserts, in the month of February. One key term should be published each week.
In today’s Information Bulletin, there are two attachments: one is an overview of Synod key terms, and the other is only Synod key term #4 regarding “What is discernment?” This series was first published in the Information Bulletin in December. This is the last week of its second run. For more information, please visit https://www.eriercd.org/synodality.html or call the Chancery at 814-824-1130.
Mass time websites for vacationers may have incorrect information
The following websites provide Mass times to travelers and others: masstimes.org, discovermass.com, parishesonline.com, catholicmasstime.org and ourcatholicneighborhood.com. These organizations may list out-of-date information for your parish. The Diocese of Erie does not directly authorize these sites to list its information. Parish staff are asked to regularly check information on these websites to ensure information is up-to-date and accurate for visitors to our area.
2022 Catholic Foundation spring Education Grant opportunity
In 2021, the Catholic Foundation awarded more than $135,000 in education grants to parishes, Catholic schools and departments of the Diocese of Erie. These grants provided funding for a variety of projects and programs throughout northwest Pennsylvania. Go to https://bit.ly/3G6xPYj to read about the fall Education Grant awards.
The Catholic Foundation’s spring Education Grant cycle is now open. Applications are being accepted through March 11, 2022. Is your parish planning to bring in a presenter for a parish mission or Advent program? Are your parish lay ministers or lay staff planning to attend a conference, workshop or retreat — in person or virtually — this summer or fall? Are you planning a new religious education or faith formation project for your parish or Catholic school? Is your school or faith formation program in need of updated technology? Your project may meet the criteria for this grant opportunity. Review the attached document outlining guidelines and criteria or go to www.cfnwpa.org/grant-seekers/education-grant-guidelines. Questions? Contact Julia Cooney, operations manager, at jcooney@cfnwpa.org or 814-824-1253.
Is your PC running Windows 8? Is anyone on your network running Windows 8? Effective Jan. 20, 2023, Microsoft will no longer support Windows 8. You must either upgrade your computer operating system or replace your PC before that date. If you continue using your Windows 8 machine after Jan. 20, 2023, you run the risk of exposing your parishioner’s private information to hackers. Identity theft is a prevalent crime. Once hacked, even computers on the same network that don’t contain parishioner information can become a threat to information on your PC. Upgrading or replacing computers running out-of-date applications like Windows 7 and Windows 8 is very important. Microsoft is also retiring Office 2013 on April 11, 2023. Using old versions of Microsoft Office also can be a threat because Microsoft stops issuing security upgrades for retired applications. You can purchase Office through the Diocese of Erie. Inquiries may be sent to Kathy Papalia at it@eriercd.org or 814-824-1184.
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.
AttachmentsSynod key term #4Synod key terms, overview 2022 Education Grant guidelines
|
PW Protected Attachments:Clergy and Department Heads click here to login.Synod key term #4 Synod key terms, overview 2022 Education Grant guidelines |
Final call to register for men’s conference
22:32 Men, the annual conference for Catholic men in the Diocese of Erie, is this Saturday, Feb. 12, from 8:30 a.m. to noon (registration begins at 7:30 a.m.) at St. Jude the Apostle Church, 2801 W. 6th St., Erie. This event is sponsored by the Reason for Our Hope Foundation. Based on our Lord’s exhortation to Peter (Luke 22:32), the day is designed to help men reflect on deepening their faith so they can be a source of strength for their families and others. Hear inspiring national speakers and enjoy opportunities for adoration and reconciliation. The event will conclude with Mass offered by Bishop Lawrence Persico. For more information and to register, visit www.2232Men.com or call 814-455-7364. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.
Ash Wednesday retreat offered at Stella Niagara
Begin the upcoming Lenten season by participating in an Ash Wednesday retreat/workshop at Stella Niagara's Center of Renewal, sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, Holy Name Province, and located 12 miles north of Niagara Falls, New York. The day begins with check-in and morning coffee from 8:30 to 8:55 a.m., followed by the retreat 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is provided. Arrangements also can be made to extend the Ash Wednesday retreat into a single- or multiple-overnight private retreat experience. Facilitated by Nancy P. Askins, executive director of the Center of Renewal, the retreat will include discussions, music, contemplative time and reflective values-based activities designed to help retreatants prepare to enter the sacred six weeks of Lent in a meaningful manner. Make reservations by Feb. 16 by calling the Center of Renewal at 716-754-7376, ext. 1 or 2. For everyone's mutual health and safety, current COVID protocols will be expected and verified of all participants (see www.stellaniagararetreats.org for details).
Long-term substitute kindergarten teacher needed
A long-term substitute kindergarten teacher is needed at St. Joseph Catholic School in Warren. This position has a tentative start date of March 14 and will end on the last day of school, June 10, 2022. Call 814-723-2030 for more information or go to www.eriercd.org/schools/educator-non-educator.html.
Housekeeper needed
St. Teresa of Avila Church in Union City is in need of a part-time housekeeper. The housekeeper performs cleaning and laundry services at the parish rectory and office. This position is approximately 10 hours per week, but additional hours may be available. Hours are preferably on Monday for the rectory and Friday morning for the parish office. If interested, contact Mary Harned at the parish office at 814-438-3408 or email mharned@st-teresa-unioncity.org.
Sacristan needed
The Franciscan Sisters at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany, New York, are searching for a sacristan. The sacristan would care for the sanctuary of the chapel, including preparing for daily Mass and maintaining the linens/sacred vessels, candles, etc., for the altars. This is a part-time position (Monday through Friday) for approximately 20 hours, which are flexible. If interested, contact Sister Chris Treichel, OSF, at 315-246-8004. The application deadline is March 31, 2022.
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.