March 24, 2025
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, March 31, 2025.The deadline for submissions is Thursday, March 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.
2025 Pontifical Holy Land Collection
Please find attached Bishop Persico’s letter introducing the 2025 Pontifical Collection for the Holy Land, taken in parishes between Palm Sunday (April 13) and Divine Mercy Sunday (April 27). Parishes are asked to publicize this collection in a significant way on the weekend of April 5-6.
Help your parishioners stay connected
The Office of Communications distributes a weekly email newsletter to parishioners who sign up to receive it. This newsletter provides updates about our diocese, the Catholic Church nationwide and worldwide and includes special messages from the bishop or other important information. We encourage you to spread the word by sharing the attached image in your parish bulletin and on your social media pages. Additionally, we welcome photos and stories from your parish! If you have an inspiring story to share, please send it our way—we love highlighting the good works happening in our diocese. To sign up for the e-newsletter, visit https://bit.ly/Dioenews – or scan the QR code within the attached image. Please note: If posting on social media, be sure to include the link in the post content.
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 April newsletter is attached.
St. Mark Catholic Center to eliminate P.O. Box 10397
To create a consistent way of contacting the offices at St. Mark Catholic Center, the use of SMCC’s P.O. Box 10397 is being eliminated. This transition process is expected to be complete by March 31, 2026. All mail should be sent to the physical address:
St. Mark Catholic Center
429 E. Grandview Blvd.
Erie, PA 16504-2603
Your prompt attention to this matter and your support in ensuring a smooth transition is appreciated. Please notify any of your constituents who utilize the post office address currently to update them of the change. A draft of a letter regarding this matter to those constituents is attached for your convenience. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jim Tometsko at the St. Mark’s Catholic Center at 814-824-1111.
Missionary Cooperative Plan-Appeals 2025
The Mission Office would like to let pastors and parish administrators know that over the next few weeks you will be receiving a call from your annual Missionary Co-op missionary to schedule their 2025 visit. Since missionary visits are slated to begin in May, please set dates with your assigned missionary as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Indira Suarez in the Mission Office at isuarez@eriercd.org or 814-824-1231.
Help us share Easter Mass times!
As we prepare to celebrate the joy of Easter, the Office of Communications 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. This will help those who don’t regularly attend church easily find a Mass time for the holiday, providing an opportunity to share the Good News and bring more people to Christ. Thank you for ensuring that all who seek to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ can find a place to worship.
Catholic Charities 2024 Impact Report
Catholic Charities is pleased to share this year’s Impact Report. The report is all about the difference we made together! Thanks to Catholic Charities’ amazing supporters, food, shelter, counseling and emergency relief can continue to be provided to those who need it most. Attached, you’ll find inspiring stories, key highlights and real numbers that show how we’re changing lives every day.
Catholic Foundation Spring Grant deadline is Monday, March 31
Have you started your application yet? The Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania will accept applications for Education and Faith Formation Grants through Monday, March 31. 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: www.cfnwpa.org/grant-seekers/faith-formation-endowment-guidelines. Questions? Contact Julia Cooney, operations director, at jcooney@cfnwpa.org or 814-824-1253.
Microsoft Publisher to be retired in October 2026. Switch to Canva for free.
Many U.S. parishes have switched to Canva for their Sunday bulletins. Visit https://www.eriercd.org/ParishPlaceGraphics.html for a Sunday Bulletin template developed by our intern last December. Canva is an online graphic design tool for creating brochures, programs, social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more through their incredible template library. Apply for Canva Pro nonprofit here: https://www.canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits/. Rough instructions for getting through the approval process can be found here: https://eriercd.org/images/informationalbulletin/53b94f81b956a4d40a0e173d2af13646.pdf. Canva training can be found here: https://www.canva.com/designschool/courses/.
Seminary Discernment Weekend
Considering the Priesthood? Young men in high school, college or beyond who are open to exploring the call to priesthood are invited to a Seminary Discernment Retreat over Palm Sunday weekend, April 12-13, at St. Mark Seminary, 429 E. Grandview Blvd., Erie. This retreat offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of seminary life, discernment and the priesthood in a supportive and prayerful environment. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. To participate, contact Fr. Scott Jabo, Vocation Director, at 814-824-1198 or SWJabo@eriercd.org. Learn more at www.erievocations.org.
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.Pontifical collection Help parishes stay connected Office for Divine Worship monthly newsletter P.O. Box address letter template Catholic Charities Impact Report Knights of Columbus Coffee Fellowship Bowl-A-Thon Neighborhood Art House workshops Cathedral Prep Musical Mercyhurst Boys Basketball Camp |
Easter Treat Sales in Sharon
Two Sharon parishes are offering delicious Easter treats:
- St. Joseph Parish, 79 Case Ave., will host a bake sale featuring Easter bread and cherry cheesecake pies on Palm Sunday weekend—April 12 and 13—after the 5:15 p.m. Vigil Mass and the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass. Items are $10 each. Please note: no pre-orders will be accepted.
- St. Anthony Parish, 804 Idaho St., is holding an Easter bread sale with the following options: plain bread ($7), raisin bread ($8) and pogach ($5). Pickup is Wednesday, April 16, from 4–6 p.m. at the Sherman Ave. entrance. To order, call Linda at 724-866-7488 or Marilyn at 724-813-5440.
Knights of Columbus Coffee Fellowship
The Knights of Columbus Council #403 will be hosting The Coffee Fellowship on Tuesdays and Thursdays after 9 a.m. Mass. This faith and fellowship gathering will be held at St. Bernard’s Gallina Hall, 95 E. Corydon St., Bradford. There is no cost to attend, but donations are welcome. Please see attached flyer for details.
Grief Ministry
The next Comfort Through Grief Ministry meeting will be held at St. Joseph Church Bread of Life Community Center, 147 W. 24th St., Erie. The gathering will take place in the upstairs multi-purpose room, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the program running from 6:15 to 8:00 p.m. On Monday, March 24, guest speaker Joyce Covatto will present "Can Sadness and Peace Coexist? A Catholic Perspective." Visit https://www.eriercd.org/Grief-Ministry.html for more details.
Bowl-a-Thon
The Prince of Peace Center invites you to the Strike Out Poverty Bowl-a-Thon at Thornton Hall Bowling Lanes, 667 Thornton Ave., Sharon, on Sunday, March 30, starting at 12 p.m. Registration is $30 per bowler and includes three games, shoe rental, an event t-shirt, lunch and refreshments. For more information, call 724-346-5777 ext. 140 or see the attached flyer.
Upcoming workshops at the Neighborhood Art House
The Neighborhood Art House, located at 201 E. 10th St., Erie, is offering two upcoming six-week daytime workshops for adult students. These classes are free of charge and include all materials. They will take place on Thursday mornings from March 20 to May 1, from 9 a.m. to noon, with no class on April 17. The workshops include Signs of Spring with Jonilee Klusko and Observational Drawing with Alex Strasser. Additionally, a one-time evening workshop, the Felted Pod Workshop with April Cox, will be held on Thursday, April 10, from 6 to 9 p.m. This class has a $20 fee. For more details, see the attached flyer.
Cathedral Prep musical
Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie presents West Side Story with performances at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 3; 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 5; and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 6. An additional performance will take place on April 30 at 2 p.m. at the school’s H. David Bowes Auditorium, 250 W. 10th St., Erie. Tickets are available at the door for $10 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $5 for students (cash only). For more details, see the attached flyer.
2025 Laker Legends Scholarship Gala
Mercyhurst Preparatory School proudly presents the Laker Legends Scholarship Gala, the school’s largest annual fundraising event, celebrating individuals who exemplify the Mercy Core Values while raising vital scholarship funds for students. This year’s Laker Legend Honorees are Tom Reisenweber ’02, Michael Miele ’03, Kathy Donovan and Courtney Sullivan ’04.
This special evening will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Mercyhurst Preparatory School. Visit https://www.mpslakers.com/gala/ for more details.
Mercyhurst University boys’ basketball camp
The Mercyhurst University Basketball Camp provides an opportunity for young athletes to develop their skills, build confidence and compete in a structured and supportive environment. The Individual Camp, open to boys entering grades 3-12, and the Little Laker Camp, designed for boys entering grades K-2, will take place from July 28 to August 1 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. A $10 discount is available for early registrations submitted before May 1, as well as for families, employees and Little Laker members. For more information or to register, see the attached flyer, visit https://mercyhurstmenbasketball.totalcamps.com or contact Joe Causgrove at jcausgrove@mercyhurst.edu.
There are no classifieds this week.
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