March 3, 2025
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, March 10, 2025.The deadline for submissions is Thursday, March 6, 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 Catholic Services Appeal Update
With Commitment Sunday behind us, we thank everyone for the good work you have done to promote giving to this year’s Catholic Services Appeal (CSA). Parishes are asked to utilize their parish leadership handbook for follow-up, thank-you letter ideas, etc. Also, check out the CSA parish resources webpage for a variety of digital tools for parish use including Facebook posts. Parish staff can find those resources at the following link: https://www.eriercd.org/Catholic-Services-Appeal-CSA-Materials.html. Please contact Julia Cooney at 814-824-1253 or jcooney@cfnwpa.org to request additional CSA supplies or with any questions.
Catholic Sisters Week 2025
Parishes are reminded that March 8–14 is Catholic Sisters Week, a time to honor the profound impact of Women Religious in our diocese. Nearly every parish has been shaped by their dedication, whether through education, healthcare, social services or their unwavering witness to the Gospel. If your parish has Sisters currently serving today or has been blessed by the service of Women Religious in the past, this is a meaningful time to honor and celebrate their contributions.
If you are planning an event or activity for Catholic Sisters Week, we’d love to share it with the entire diocese! Please send details to IBEditor@ErieRCD.org.
International Catholic Stewardship Council newsletter
The Catholic Foundation is happy to share the attached March 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.
March edition of Jubilee Journey: Pilgrims of Hope available now.
The March edition of the Jubilee Journey: Pilgrims of Hope newsletter is now available. To recognize the Jubilee Year 2025, this newsletter – suitable for printing in parish bulletins – provides both informative and interactive elements for children and adults. Each edition celebrates the monthly jubilee events recognized the Vatican and brings readers along for a spiritual pilgrimage. The March edition is attached, and previous editions can be found at https://www.eriercd.org/holyyear2025.html.
If your parish or group is hosting a jubilee event you would like to promote, please send information to IBEditor@ErieRCD.org.
Accident and Illness Prevention Program
We are pleased to share information regarding the Accident and Illness Prevention Program for the Diocese of Erie. The director of Facilities & Risk Management, Russell Rydzewski, has prepared a summary of policies, procedures and goals of our safety program. These outline steps we are required to implement and have in place. The summary is attached for your information. After reviewing, if you have any questions, Russell can be reached at 814-824-1112, or via email at rrydzewski@eriercd.org.
Help us share Easter Mass times
As we prepare to celebrate the joy of Easter, the Diocese of Erie 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. Thank you for ensuring that all who seek to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ can find a place to worship.
Lent Parish bulletin inserts
The Diocese of Erie has assembled Lenten resources to help individuals and families deepen their faith during this Holy Year. We encourage you to share these resources with your parishioners as they embark on their Lenten journey. This year, we are introducing a new social media faith challenge—rather than giving up social media for 40 days, we invite individuals to use their platforms to share their faith and bring others closer to Christ: click here for more details.
Attached you will find parish bulletin inserts to help guide families and children, as well as resources such as a Family Almsgiving Planner, a step-by-step guide to adopting a service project; a Children’s Lent Worksheet to help guide children with a personal prayer and sacrifice; and a Lenten Plan designed to help individuals, families and children structure their Lent with prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
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.ICSC Newsletter English and Spanish March Jubilee Newsletter Accident and Illness Prevention Program flyer Lent Parish bulletin inserts Gannon Students for Life speaker event Holy Trinity Easter Market and order form A Journey to Joy! St. Joseph Parish Lenten Mission Benedictine 6-week Lenten Series Mother-Daughter Tea |
The Diocese of Erie’s March calendar is filling up! From Lenten events to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss out—check out our calendar here. If you have an event to add, email us at IBEditor@ErieRCD.org, and we’ll get it posted!
Cancellation of Fish Dinner for St. Joseph Parish, Force
Due to unforeseen circumstances, St. Joseph Parish in Force must cancel their Lenten dinner this year. They had a water pipe burst that caused major water damage in the social hall and will not be able to utilize that space in time. Please consider visiting a neighboring parish if you still want to continue the tradition of a Lenten dinner and return to St. Joseph once they can proceed with events again.
Upcoming events at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, 6101 E Lake Rd, Erie.
On Wednesday, March 12, at 7 p.m., Rev. Dr. Shanon Sterringer, Erie Benedictine Oblate and noted scholar of St. Hildegard of Bingen, will present “An Evening in the Land of St. Hildegard.” She will share reflections from her recent trip to Germany at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery. RSVPs are not needed for in-person attendance. To receive the Zoom link, email retreats@eriebenedictines.org.
On Friday, March 29, the monastery is hosting a guided tour at 4 p.m., followed by supper with the sisters. After supper, guests are invited to attend the Lenten Vigil at 7 p.m. in the monastery chapel. Reservations are required for the tour and supper. To RSVP, call Michelle at (814) 899-0614, ext. 2507. Lenten Vigils are also held every Saturday during Lent on March 8, 15, 22, 29 and April 5, 12 at 7 p.m. in the monastery chapel. No reservations are necessary for the vigils.
The Liturgical Year, a spiritual offering for the Bradford Deanery
On Saturday, March 15, Sister Kathleen Dietz, FSO, will present The Liturgical Year at St. Bernard Parish, located at 95 East Corydon St., Bradford. The event will take place in the Fr. Gallina Social Center (across the street from the church) from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
With the first Sunday of Advent, the church begins a new liturgical year. Just as the earth moves through its seasons, the church cycles through its own seasons, reflecting the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Our Lord. The liturgical year unfolds the mystery of Christ, inviting us to live that mystery in our daily lives.
This presentation will explore what the liturgical year is and how we can deepen our engagement with it—personally, within our families and as a community. The session will conclude with small group discussions.
Students for Life host Pro-Life multi-speaker event
On Saturday, March 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Students for Life is hosting an educational speaking event that is free and open to the public. The event will be held in the Yehl Alumni Ballroom, Gannon University, 109 W Sixth St, Erie. The event features three pro-life speakers: Cameron Fradd, a podcaster passionate about pro-life issues and family life; Pete DeMaio, former president of Pennsylvanians for Human Life and founder of "Mission, Love and Life," a nonprofit dedicated to fostering a culture of life and love; and Christopher Bell, founder of Good Counsel, a home for unwed mothers facing difficult circumstances, often living on the streets. There will be donuts and coffee served when the doors open at 10 a.m. and lunch will be served in the middle of the day.
The purpose of this event is to help promote life in your own communities. To RSVP, please complete the registration form or contact studentsforlife@gannon.edu.
Holy Trinity Parish hosts Easter Market
Holy Trinity Parish, 509 East 26th St, Erie, is accepting orders for their Easter Market from Saturday, March 1 to Monday, March 31. Easter Market items include: pierogies, potato pancakes batter, sweet bread, nut roll, poppy roll, cookies, Blessing Bread, and butter lamb. Orders will be available for pick-up at the Holy Trinity Social Center at East 23rd St. and Reed St. on Friday April 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. or on Saturday April 12 from 9 a.m. to noon. Payment is due with the order and can be made by paying with a credit card by contacting Liz at (814) 722-0015. Please see attached flyer for more information and to order.
Multi-night Lenten mission: A Journey to Joy!
St. Patrick Parish, 130 East 4th Street, Erie, to host the Lenten mission, A Journey to Joy! This multi-day event will take place from Mar. 10-12, with different themes each night. The themes include Luke: Stories on the Road (Mar. 10), The Sermon on the Mount (Mar. 11) and Hollywood vs. Faith (Mar. 12). Each event begins at 7 p.m. and are free to attend, an offering will be accepted. Please see the attached flyer for more details.
Benedictine Monastery hosts 6-week Lenten Series
The Benedictine Monastery will host a six-week Lenten series on Thursdays, Mar. 6 - Apr. 10 from 4 to 5:15 p.m. The series is offered in-person at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, 6101 East Lake Rd., Erie. We will explore what it would mean to you to fast from multitasking and instead embrace presence. Or to fast from certainty to embrace mystery and waiting. Discuss these and other ways to deepen our spiritual lives. The series is inspired by the book A Different Kind of Fast: Feeding Our True Hungers in Lent by Christine Valters Paintner. (Book is not required but we recommend it.) Facilitators are Sister Ann Muczynski, Laurie Smith and Sister Anne McCarthy. The suggested donation for the six-week series is $50.
St. Joseph Parish to host Lenten Mission
On March 10, 11 and 12 from 6-7:30 p.m., St. Joseph Parish, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., Warren, will host a Lenten Mission, with a different theme each night, led by Fr. Ian McElrath. In this Jubilee year of HOPE, come and be renewed as we long for hope daily in our troubled world. The themes include Light in the Darkness: Christian Hope for a Broken World (Mar. 10), Setting Captives Free: Hope for our Sinful Hearts with confessions available (Mar. 11) and With Us on the Way: The Eucharist as a Source of Light and Hope with Mass celebrated this evening (Mar. 12). See attached flyer for more information.
Mother-Daughter Tea: two locations
Save the date for the annual Mother-Daughter Tea, hosted by the Virtue & Integrity Education Office! Join us for this special event designed for girls ages 10 and up and their mothers. The first gathering will take place on April 5 at St. Mary’s Parish (315 Church St., St. Marys), and the second on May 3 at Saint Mark Catholic Center (429 E. Grandview Blvd., Erie). Discussions will cover the emotional and physical changes of puberty, along with ways to strengthen the parent-child bond during adolescence. Learn more at https://www.eriercd.org/chastity/tea.html.
There are no classifieds this week.
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