June 10, 2024
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, June 17, 2024.The deadline for submissions is Thursday, June 13, 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.
2025 Confirmation schedule
The 2025 confirmation schedule for the Diocese of Erie is now available and can be found in the attachments. Contact the Office for Divine Worship with any questions at 814.824.1271. If any changes are made to the confirmation schedule during the year, it will be updated at www.eriercd.org/bishop/worship.html.
Peter’s Pence Collection
Pastors and administrators will find attached Bishop Persico’s letter introducing the 2024 Peter’s Pence Collection. Parishes are asked to publicize this collection in a significant way on the weekend of June 22-23.
FOCCUS inventory resource for pastors and parish secretaries
The Marriage and Family Life Office is providing a basic tutorial video for pastors and parish secretaries to navigate the FOCCUS Pre-Marital Inventory website. The video walks through important steps such as logging in, purchasing, and creating and finding the reports for FOCCUS Pre-Marital Inventories. This tutorial is ideal for new secretaries to whom pastors have delegated the creation and printing of inventory reports and/or priests who have not used their account recently. The tutorial can be found at https://youtu.be/FlV1qZu2mWo and further questions can be addressed to Kate Wilson at kwilson@eriercd.org or 814.824.1261.
Upgrade to Windows 11 to remain secure
All parish staff should upgrade to Windows 11 by October 14. Microsoft will no longer support Windows 10 after October 14 and those parishes that don’t upgrade will be vulnerable to significant security risks and could subject parishioners to identity theft. Stay safe and learn more at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/getting-ready-for-the-windows-11-upgrade-eb50813f-c7da-4cf8-89a3-6ba0d33b2773
Twelve steps to stay safe online
Stay safe online through safety awareness training. Without training, people can fall victim to financial fraud, identity theft or data loss. Stay ahead of malicious individuals hoping to do you or your parish harm and read the attachment that shares 12 steps for staying safe online.
Stay connected through Ministry Platform
Pastors and parish staff can now stay connected by sending an email through Ministry Platform. Several email templates have been created to advertise your summer activities like a parish picnic, festival or bake sale. Tip: once you create your own template you can save it to reuse every year. To download or read instructions, visit https://www.eriercd.org/images/pdf/computer/mp/specialeventsemail.pdf. If you would like to see email templates for other common parish events, email ist@eriercd.org for consideration.
There is still time to join the National Eucharistic Congress
The Erie Diocesan Eucharistic Adoration Committee has more than 60 pilgrims heading to the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, July 17-21. The deadline to register for the complete pilgrimage through Corporate Travel has passed, but there are still ways the committee may help you attend the NEC.
Several $200 Congress passes are still available to purchase and there are seats on the buses for those who would like to travel to Indianapolis with the group. There are no hotel rooms available at the hotel where pilgrims from the Diocese of Erie will be staying (Best Western, Fisher, IN), so participants need to find their own accommodations. If rooms become available at the same hotel, or one nearby, the pilgrimage can provide travel back and forth daily to the congress.
For more information or if you are interested, please contact Jo Feeney at eriedeac@gmail.com.
Pastoral Planning implementation guides now available
Pastors and parish staff are reminded of the following pastoral planning guides, available on the diocesan website:
- Parish Restructuring Preparation Guide
- Implementation Guide for Merged Parishes
- Implementation Guide for Partnered Parishes
- Implementation Guide for Parishes not Restructuring at this time
- Liturgical Guide
These guides were originally developed in 2016 and have now been updated for use with ongoing pastoral planning. Parishes are encouraged to review these and other resources at https://eriercd.org/planning-downloads.html.
International Catholic Stewardship Council newsletter
The Catholic Foundation is happy to share the attached June edition of the International Catholic Stewardship Council newsletter (English and Spanish versions are available). Pastors and parish staff are encouraged to read and share this publication with their parishioners, using all or parts of it for their parish bulletin, with credit to the author/source.
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.2025 Confirmation schedule Peter’s Pence 2024 12 Steps for staying safe online ICSC-2024-June-Stewardship-eBulletin-English ICSC-2024-June-Stewardship-eBulletin-Spanish Bingo poster Soprano section leader flyer |
Catholic Charities Bingo
All bingo enthusiasts are invited to participate in the annual Catholic Charities Bingo on Friday, June 21. Win fabulous prizes including designer purses, top-of-the-line electronics and cold hard cash. It's time to dab those numbers and bring home the ultimate jackpot! Don't miss out on this thrilling opportunity to win big and have a blast all while helping a great cause. Join in on a night of fun, luck and unforgettable prizes. Purchase tickets at: https://bit.ly/ccbingo2024. Contact Tina with any questions at 814.824.1260 or tespin@ccincerie.org. See the attached flyer for additional information.
Support Catholic education through annual Winavette fundraiser
Erie’s St. Jude the Apostle Parish, in partnership with www.winavette.com, presents an opportunity to win a 2024 1LT Corvette Convertible Stingray or $50,000 in cash. There will be over $100,000 in prizes awarded including a second-place family vacation cruise or $5,000. To celebrate the Twelve Days of Christmas, cash prizes will be awarded for 12 consecutive days leading up to the grand prize drawing on Christmas Eve. All proceeds support Catholic education and ministries within the parish community. Tickets are available now for $50. For more details, please visit www.winavette.com.
Knights of Columbus to hold 10K, 5K race and 5K walk
Knights of Columbus JMJ Council 4071 is sponsoring its annual Liberty 10K and 5K run, and 5K walk on Thursday, July 4. The event will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 837 Bartlett Road, Harborcreek. Registration begins at 6:45 am. The event begins promptly at 8 am. The fee is $35. For more information and registration, go to www.runsignup.com/Race/PA/Harborcreek/Liberty10k or call Greg at 814.450.4298. The event will benefit St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen and will be a great way for all members of the family to celebrate the holiday.
St. Peter Cathedral seeks soprano section leader
St. Peter Cathedral, Erie, is seeking to fill the soprano section leader position in the St. Peter Cathedral Choir. Interested candidates should hold (or be working towards) a bachelor's degree in music, have strong sight-reading skills and strong vocal production with flexibility in a variety of musical styles. For additional details about how to apply and schedule an audition, see attachment or visit https://stpetercathedral.com/sacred-music/choral-section-leaders/.
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.
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