September 16, 2024
The next Information Bulletin is Monday, September 23, 2024.The deadline for submissions is Thursday, September 19, 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.
Pennsylvania/New Jersey Catholic Conferences offer election webinar
All are invited to join the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Catholic conferences on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. for an online webinar concerning the upcoming election. The webinar will focus on preparing to vote as well as on how Catholics can play a vital role in restoring civility in public discourse. The panel includes representatives from the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Catholic conferences and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. To learn more about this event and to register, please visit bit.ly/46ZEW3F. A flyer is attached.
#iGiveCatholic yard signs and donation envelopes available
#iGive Catholic yard signs and donation envelopes are available for all eligible participating Catholic schools, parishes and ministries. Each organization may request up to two yard signs and as many envelopes as they would like. The envelopes are ideal for donors who are unable to make online gifts or those who make large gifts and would like to avoid associated credit card fees. To place an order, contact Elizabeth Rathburn at the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania at erathburn@cfnwpa.org or 814.824.1257.
Deadline approaching for Catholic Foundation Education Grant opportunity
Catholic parishes and schools are invited to apply for an Education Grant from the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Pennsylvania. Already this year, funding has been granted to support a wide variety of faith formation and technology projects and programs throughout northwest Pennsylvania. Don’t miss this opportunity! Your project may be a good match for this grant. Read more at https://www.cfnwpa.org/grant-seekers/education-grant-guidelines. Contact Julia Cooney at jcooney@cfnwpa.org with any questions. The deadline to submit an Education Grant application is Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.
From the Office of Diocesan and International Missions
World Mission Sunday materials – envelopes available
Envelopes are available for the upcoming World Mission Sunday. If your parish needs World Mission Sunday envelopes, please contact the Mission Office as soon as possible through the email: missions@eriercd.org, with the estimated amount needed. These will be included in the WMS packages, which will be mailed out by the end of the week. Supplies are limited, so envelopes are first come, first served.
Missionary Cooperation Plan reminders
As the end of the 2024 Missionary Cooperation Plan approaches, this is a friendly reminder from the Mission Office regarding the assigned missionary appeals:
- All missionary presentations should be concluded by the end of September.
- Please contact the Mission Office immediately if your assigned missionary group never attended their appeal date.
- If the appeal has already occurred, please send the check of MCP collection within 30 days of the presentation to the Mission Office at the Diocese of Erie with Mission Co-op included on the memo line.
- Please send the Check Remittance Form (attached) along with your MCP check.
October Count begins Oct. 5
Attention pastors: the October Count starts Oct. 5. Please visit https://www.eriercd.org/October-Count.html to download the form and instructions for submitting October Count figures electronically. The deadline for submitting your figures is Nov. 15, 2024. Contact Kathy Papalia through email at it@eriercd.org or by calling 814.824.1184 with any questions.
Pet blessing template available
A new, eye-catching pet blessing template is now available for all pastors and parish staff. You can use this template in Ministry Platform to announce your upcoming pet blessing event to parishioners via email. To access the template created by the Communications Office, simply log in to Ministry Platform.
Did you know that once a template is created, it can be used every year? It can! Templates are more attractive than plain messages. They can include graphics and the text can be formatted. Please visit https://www.eriercd.org/images/pdf/computer/mp/specialeventsemail.pdf to download the instructions. A pdf is also attached. If you would like to see email templates for other common parish events, email kpapalia@eriercd.org to let us know.
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.Election webinar flyer Check remittance form Ministry Platform template directions Thoughts on a conversation with Antonia Acutis flyer Walking with Moms in Need flyer Columbus Day spaghetti dinner flyer Knight of Columbus bingo flyer Season of Creation Prayer Service flyer When You Pray flyer Comfort Through Grief Ministry flyer |
1:38 Women’s conference offers mid-year refresher: Thoughts on a conversation with the mother of Blessed Carlo Acutis
As a follow-up to their springtime offering, the 1:38 Women’s Conference is offering a free, two-hour workshop led by Anne-Marie Welsh, longtime editor of Faith magazine and director of the Communications Office for the Diocese of Erie. She will share insights into the conversation she had with Antonia Acutis, the mother of Blessed Carlo Acutis, in preparation for an article published by Faith magazine. She also will reflect on her experiences praying with different saints. The two-hour event will include small group discussion (bring a friend!), time for quiet reflection and insight into several practical tools the church gives us to grow in our relationship with Christ through the saints. The workshop will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 9:30 to 11:30 am at St. Francis Xavier Parish, 8880 Main St. in McKean. Open to women of all ages; poster attached. If your parish is interested in hosting the same workshop, contact Moe Trabold at the Reason for Our Hope Foundation, mtrabold@thereasonforourhope.org.
The Office of Social Justice presents: Walking with Moms in Need
An introduction to the nationwide initiative, Walking with Moms in Need, will be presented by Elizabeth Slaby, director of the Office of Social Justice and Life, at St. Mark Catholic Center, Erie, on Saturday, Oct. 19, 9:30-10:30 am or Thursday, Oct. 24, 6-7 pm. For more information or to register for the presentation, visit https://bit.ly/ccwalkingwithmoms or scan the QR code on the attached flyer. For questions contact Elizabeth Slaby at 814.824.1254 or by email eslaby@ccincerie.org.
Columbus Day spaghetti dinner
All are welcome to an annual Columbus Day spaghetti dinner at St. Mary of Grace Church, 1085 Water St., Meadville, on Sunday, Oct. 13, from 11:30 am to 5 pm. Menu: spaghetti, homemade sauce and two meatballs, salad, bread, beverage and dessert. Dine in or carry out. There will also be a bake sale, a raffle with cash prizes, a 50/50 and a gift basket auction. Dinner and raffle tickets are available for purchase at the door, after Mass or in advance at the parish office. For more information call 814.336.1112. The proceeds will benefit the Epiphany of the Lord Parish. Please see the attached flyer for more details.
Bingo to support Our Lady of Peace Knights of Columbus
All are welcome to bingo at the JPT Event Center, 2319 W. 38 St., Erie, on Sunday, Oct. 26, for bingo that will benefit Our Lady of Peace Knights of Columbus. Doors open at noon; first game is at 1 pm. Please bring your own food and beverages. There will be tip boards, instants and raffle baskets. Admission is $30 and includes 10 games of cash bingo. Walk-ins are welcome or call Pete at 814.600.5386 to buy tickets. Please see attached flyer for additional information.
Retreat center in Frenchville lists fall retreats
Bethany Retreat Center in Frenchville has several upcoming retreats among which are: Labyrinth, 9 am – 3 pm on Sept. 21 ($40); Forest Retreat, 1-3 pm on Oct. 5 ($10); Daily Prayer thru Mary, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm on Oct. 7 ($25); and Drumming Retreat, 10 am – 3 pm on Oct. 12 ($50). For a complete list of their fall offerings visit the “retreats” tab on their newly updated website at https://www.anawimministries.com.
Season of Creation prayer service
An interfaith Season of Creation prayer will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7 pm on the public sidewalk of the Bayfront Convention Center. Gather to pray for our planet at the site of the annual Shale Insight Conference, hosted by the Marcellus Shale Coalition, one of the largest fossil fuel lobbies in the US. This will be a special time of interfaith prayer and action for our common home, the Earth. The theme this year is “To Hope and Act with Creation.” The prayer, organized by Benedictines for Peace, is co-sponsored by the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Paul, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwest PA and the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. The prayer will be followed by an artistic movement meditation at 7:30 pm. For more information, contact bfp@eriebenedictines.org. A flyer is attached for parish bulletins.
When You Pray: A clear path to a deeper relationship with God
A study on the journey of prayer will be held for those interested in learning more about praying. The study, When You Pray: A Clear Path to a Deeper Relationship with God, will be held at St. Francis Xavier Parish, McKean, on Mondays, Sept. 30–Nov. 11 from 6:30-8 pm or Wednesdays, Oct. 2–Nov. 13 from 10-11:30 am. For more information or to register for the study, contact Irene Schneider at 814.476.7657 ext. 7 or by email at evangelization@stfrancisxaviermckean.org. For more information, visit the parish website at https://stfrancisxaviermckean.org or scan the QR Code on the attached flyer.
Comfort Through Grief Ministry event
St. Joseph Bread of Life Parish, Erie, hosts Comfort Through Grief Ministry meetings every fourth Monday of each month. This month, the parish will welcome guest speaker Dawn Schaaf on Sept. 23 from 6:15 to 8 pm in the St. Joseph Parish Community Center, 147 West 24th St., Erie. Doors open at 5:30 pm. All are welcome. For more information, please see the attached flyer or contact Barb at 814.323.2806 or email dulcibarb@aol.com.
Diocese of Erie seeks associate director of communications
The Diocese of Erie, 429 East Grandview Blvd., Erie, is seeking an energetic and faith-driven leader with a passion for strategic communications to serve as the associate director of communications. The associate director is responsible for the development of a diverse variety of initiatives to enrich faith within the Diocese of Erie. He/she should be a creative, enthusiastic, organized, visionary individual. The position is a full-time exempt position. Responsibilities include: contributing to Faith magazine and other major publications for the diocese, managing digital media content, producing the weekly Diocese of EriE-News and Information Bulletin, facilitating communication tactics to enhance diocese fundraising strategies and developing engaging messaging for social media. This is a full-time position with a terrific benefit package. Details here: https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.
Diocese of Erie seeks a payroll/AP coordinator
The Diocese of Erie is looking for an organized, dedicated and detailed candidate for the position of payroll/AP coordinator. As the payroll/AP coordinator, working under the direction of the controller, the candidate will be tasked with providing timely information and accurate record keeping in the areas of employee pensions and payroll operations for St. Mark Catholic Center, clergy and others as assigned by the Office of Financial Services. This includes processing payroll and changes to payroll for full and part-time staff; transmitting payroll information to third party service; maintaining employee payroll files; verifying receipt of pension payment for diocesan participants; validating incoming invoices; and maintaining purchasing and delivery system for organizational supplies and inventory. This is a full-time position with a terrific benefit package. Details here: https://www.eriercd.org/employment.html.
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