July 29, 2024
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, August 5, 2024.The deadline for submissions is Thursday, August 1, 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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Collection for the Church in Latin America
Pastors and administrators will find in the attachments Bishop Persico’s letter introducing the 2024 Collection for the Church in Latin America. Parishes are asked to publicize this collection in a significant way on the weekend of August 10-11.
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).
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.Church in Latin America Collection 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 Men’s Conference Save the Date Office for Divine Worship August newsletter Pilgrimage to Ireland and Medjugorje |
St. Paul Italian Festival to be held August 9-11
Join in the fun at the St. Paul Italian Festival August 9-11. The event begins Friday at 5 pm and will conclude on Sunday at 6 pm when a $15,000 grand prize award will be drawn. There will be special dinners with food and beverage booths, a bake sale, basket raffle, wine raffle, tee shirts, a bingo tent and more! Friday’s dinner will be pasta e fagioli and Sunday will be spaghetti and meatballs.
On Sunday, August 11 at 11 am, Bishop Lawrence T. Persico will celebrate Mass at St. Paul Parish, Erie, followed by a traditional procession with the Blessed Mother through Little Italy.
Meetings explore the Secular Carmelite Order
The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites invites those interested in learning more to consider attending their formation classes. Confirmed and practicing Catholics at least 18 years old interested in the Secular Carmelite order can contact Roberta Mure at 715.984.8600 or mureroberta@yahoo.com. The group meets at St. Boniface Parish, 367 Wattsburg Road, Erie, from 12:30 to 4 pm on the third Sunday of each month. Meetings include formation classes, praying the Divine Office, mental prayer and the study of Carmelite saints. Those interested are invited “to discover if they may be called to follow St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese of Lisieux and the many other Carmelite saints by living hidden in the heart of Christ for the sake of the church and the world.”
Pittsburgh Men’s Conference slated for Sept. 21
The Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Western Pennsylvania will hold its 16th annual Gathering of Catholic Men Conference on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at the Duquesne University Union Ballroom, 1000 Locust Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282. Activities and speakers will be coordinated under the theme, The Eucharist: Source of our Healing and Hope. Keynote speakers include: Bishop William Waltersheid of the Diocese of Pittsburgh; Tim Glemkowski, former CEO of the National Eucharistic Congress; Father Lawrence Richards, pastor of St. Luke and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parishes in Erie; and Kevin Colbert, former Pittsburgh Steeler general manager. For more information, visit cmfwpa.org or see the attachment, suitable for bulletins.
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.
Oremus book giveaway
Saint George Church, Erie, has 36 Oremus books with cassette tapes titled “A Guide to Catholic Prayer” that are available for free. If a parish is interested, please call the parish office at 814.864.0622 to make arrangements to pick up the books.
Diocese of Erie seeks director of faith formation for marriage and family life
The Diocese of Erie, 429 East Grandview Blvd., Erie, is seeking a faith-driven leader to fill the position of the Director of Faith Formation for Marriage and Family Life. He/she will be responsible for the development of programs and activities that support the Catholic faithful in significant phases of marriage and family life. This person is responsible for the faithful transmission of Catholic doctrine in faith and morals as defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and described in recent papal documents, Evangelii Gaudium, Catechesi Tradendae, and Amoris Laetitia. The director is responsible for the development of a diverse variety of initiatives to enrich faith within family life in all its phases. The director will identify, prepare, and assist volunteer lay leaders, clergy, and parish staff to work with individuals, couples or families who will benefit from the programs of the Faith Formation Department. 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.
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