July 22, 2024
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, July 29, 2024.The deadline for submissions is Thursday, July 25, 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.
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New deanery configuration effective September 1, 2024
The Presbyteral Council, aware of the shrinking number of priests and parishes, has been studying the diocesan deanery structure for several years. Upon the advice of the council, Bishop Persico has decided to make the following modifications: The Gannon Deanery shall be merged into Erie West Deanery; the Clearfield Deanery shall be merged into the DuBois Deanery; and the Meadville and Sharon deaneries shall merge and become the Greenville Deanery. These changes are effective September 1, 2024. The three decrees effecting these changes are attached.
Office of Social Justice and Life offers new resources for voters
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States, has long provided a framework for Catholics in the United States. As a complement to the document, the bishops also approved six new bulletin inserts to help the Catholic faithful put their faith into action. Pastors are encouraged to make these user-friendly hand-outs available in bulletins and other parish settings.
- New Introductory Note to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship | en Español
- The Role of the Church in American Political Life | en Español
- The Dignity of the Human Person | en Español
- The Common Good | en Español
- Solidarity | en Español
- Subsidiarity | en Español
Reminders from the Chancery
Holy Communion for the Sick and Homebound
We are very grateful for the help of trained and designated Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist in carrying our Lord to those who are sick and homebound. This service finds its origin in the very beginning of the church. Extraordinary Ministers who take the Eucharist directly from Mass to the sick and homebound can either a) receive their pyx from the altar and be sent forth by the presider after Communion, or b) pick up the pyx after Mass from the Tabernacle and take the Blessed Sacrament immediately to the person who is to receive it. The long-standing directive first issued by Bishop Trautman, and repeatedly renewed by Bishop Persico, is that it is not permitted for those distributing the Eucharist to place the consecrated host in a pyx brought forward by the people in the Communion line at Mass and then return to their seat. Wherever this custom exists, it should cease.
Reservation of the Holy Eucharist
The Eucharist must be reserved in all parish churches (cf. can. 934 §1, 1). The Eucharist may be reserved in another church (i.e., in a secondary church, whether it has mission status or not), but only with the permission of the diocesan bishop or episcopal vicar and provided that Mass is celebrated there at least twice a month (cf. can. 934 §1, 2 and can. 934 §2). Churches in which the Eucharist is reserved are to be open for at least some hours each day, unless some grave reason (e.g., security concerns) intervenes (cf. can. 937). For churches in which the Eucharist is not reserved, pastors are encouraged to delegate deacons or trusted lay persons to unlock these churches occasionally to allow the faithful to enter for private prayer and devotion (cf. can. 1214).
Catholic Social Ministry grant opportunity
The Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania is still accepting applications for its Catholic Social Ministry Grant opportunity through July 29. Those eligible to apply for these grants are Catholic 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving people within the 13 counties of the Diocese of Erie, departments of the Diocese of Erie and parishes. Each organization must have programs supporting family ministries, justice and peace, respect life, parish social ministry, ministry to persons with disabilities or natural family planning. Grant guidelines and criteria can be found on the Catholic Foundation website at https://www.cfnwpa.org/grant-seekers/catholic-social-ministry-grant-guidelines-criteria.
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 August newsletter is attached.
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.Decree dissolving the Gannon Deanery Decree merging the Clearfield Deanery into the DuBois Deanery Decree merging the Meadville and Sharon deaneries and erecting the Greenville Deanery Office for Divine Worship August newsletter Pilgrimage to Ireland and Medjugorje Holy Trinity bingo flyer |
St. George Parish offering pilgrimage to Ireland and Medjugorje
Join Father Brian Vossler, pastor of St. George Parish, Erie, for a trip of a lifetime to Ireland and Medjugorje. This 12-day pilgrimage departs Cleveland on September 10, 2025, and arrives back stateside on September 22, 2025. The Catholic Pilgrim Office-hosted tour is open to all. An advertisement suitable for bulletins is in the attachments. For more information, please contact Lisa Manendo at lisaminerie@gmail.com or call her at 814.440.7608.
Frenchtown Ham or Chicken Dinner
The 128th annual Frenchtown Ham or Chicken Dinner will be held on Sunday, July 28 at St. Hippolyte Parish, Guys Mills. Dinner is served from 12:30 until 4:30 pm (or until sold out). The menu includes half a barbecued chicken or a generous portion of ham accompanied by mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, coleslaw, applesauce, rolls and butter, beverage and dessert. The cost of the dinner is $15 for adults, $14 for senior citizens (age 60+) and $10 for children 6-12. The dinner is free for those five and younger when you dine in only. An outdoor eating area and take-out meals are also available. There will be festival games, including a bingo tent, gift auction, quilt/afghan raffle, 50/50 raffles, country store and the grand prize drawing of $2,000. St. Hippolyte Parish is located on Route 27, just seven miles east of Meadville. The GPS address is 26012 North Frenchtown Road, Guys Mills, PA.
Holy Trinity bingo: Zabawa special
All are welcome to Holy Trinity bingo at the Polish Falcons Club, 432 East Third St., Erie, on Sunday, August 11, for a Zabawa Special that will include ticket sales for Zabawa food and beverage and special raffles. Doors open at noon; first game is at 1 pm. Food is available for purchase. Admission is $25 (1 pack) and $5 for each additional pack. Walk-ins are welcome or call 814.456.5300 to reserve a seat. Please see attached flyer for additional information.
Gather Book giveaway
St. Luke Church, Erie, has roughly 500 Gather Books that are available for free. If a parish is interested, please call De at 814.825.6920 to make arrangements to pick the books up.
Diocese of Erie seeks faith formation director
The Diocese of Erie, 429 East Grandview Blvd., Erie, is seeking an energetic and faith-driven leader with a passion for young adults and youth to serve as the director of faith formation for young adult and youth ministry in its Faith Formation Office. He/she will be an integral member of the Faith Formation team as a part of the ongoing development of a collaborative vision for lifelong faith formation in the Diocese of Erie. He/she will report to the executive director of Faith Formation. This is a full-time position with a terrific benefit package. Details here: https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.
Diocese of Erie seeks secretary/administrative assistant
The Diocese of Erie, 429 East Grandview Blvd., Erie, is seeking an organized and focused individual to provide administrative support to the Matrimonial Concerns and Tribunal Department. The basic responsibilities of the position are to forward calls and take messages for department members, create reports, schedule conference rooms and interviews, process departmental paperwork, transcribe interviews and other information as needed and to create, process and maintain information and records in electronic devices and applications. This is a full-time position with a terrific benefit package. Details here: https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.
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