Zabawa Festival celebrates Polish heritage, Catholic faith and generations of community
By Kristine Rilling08/26/2026
Holy Trinity Parish in Erie welcomed parishioners, families and visitors from throughout the region for the annual Zabawa Polish Heritage Festival, held Aug. 21–23. The popular three-day celebration once again brought together the distinctive food, music, traditions and Catholic faith that have shaped Erie’s Polish-American community for generations.
The festival featured authentic Polish food and baked goods, lively polka music, dancing, raffles and countless opportunities for fellowship. An enthusiastic team of volunteers from the parish, the surrounding community and local colleges helped welcome guests, serve favorite Polish dishes and kept the weekend’s activities running smoothly. Many were easy to spot in bright red T-shirts adorned with playful Polish sayings, adding even more color and cultural pride to the celebration. Although periods of rain moved through the area, the weather did little to dampen the spirits of festival goers, who continued to gather, dance, reconnect with friends and celebrate the enduring traditions of Polish heritage.
At the center of the weekend was the celebration of faith – the gift that sustained the immigrants who established Holy Trinity Parish and continues to unite their descendants today.
Bishop Lawrence Persico joined Father Jason Piszker, Monsignor Daniel Magraw and the Holy Trinity parish community for the festival Mass on Saturday, Aug. 22. In his homily, Bishop Persico reflected on the important place Zabawa holds in the life of the parish and the wider Erie community.
He acknowledged that the festival offers an opportunity to celebrate Polish customs, family memories and the sacrifices of those who came before. He also noted that Erie’s diverse cultural heritage was built by generations of immigrants who arrived with the hope of creating better lives for their families.
“Regardless of whether we are Polish, German, Italian or Irish, so much of who we are here in Erie, in Northwestern Pennsylvania, is the result of the lives and efforts of our parents and grandparents who immigrated to this area with a dream of creating a better life for their families,” Bishop Persico said.
For many attending the Mass and festival, those reflections carried special meaning. Zabawa is not simply an annual gathering; it is also a time to remember parents, grandparents, relatives and parishioners who preserved their heritage and handed it on to the next generation. Bishop Persico recognized that some worshippers were remembering loved ones who had celebrated with them in previous years but were no longer physically present.
Bishop Persico emphasized that the immigrants who established communities such as Holy Trinity brought much more than recipes, music and traditions from their native countries. Most importantly, they brought their Catholic faith.
That faith, he explained, continues to connect individual believers to their families, their parish, the Diocese of Erie and the universal Catholic Church. It also creates a spiritual bond with the generations who have gone before and with the saints whose witness remains part of the life of the Church.
“Through faith, we are linked one to another – a family to a parish to a diocese to the universal Church,” Bishop Persico said.
The Eucharist provides the deepest expression of that unity. As parishioners gathered around the altar, they celebrated the living presence of Jesus Christ and the faith that has remained at the heart of Holy Trinity Parish throughout its history.
Drawing from the day’s Gospel according to Matthew, Bishop Persico reflected on Jesus’ question to his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”
Bishop Persico reminded those present that Jesus poses the same question to every Christian. It is answered not only through words spoken at Mass but also through the decisions and actions of daily life.
“Our love for family and friends, our dedication to the cause of justice, our commitment to the highest moral and ethical standards, our taking the first step toward reconciliation and forgiveness, our simplest acts of kindness and charity” all express a person’s belief in Jesus as Messiah and Redeemer, he said.
Peter’s profession of faith became the rock upon which Christ established the Church. Through baptism, Christians become part of that same foundation and share responsibility for making Christ present in the world.
Bishop Persico encouraged those gathered to consider the particular “keys” God has entrusted to them. Those keys may be patience, understanding, compassion or a personal talent that can be used in service to another person. Even actions that seem small or remain unnoticed can open a door through which someone else experiences the love of God.
That message reflected the spirit of Zabawa itself. The festival is made possible through the time, talents and generosity of parishioners and volunteers who prepare food, organize activities, welcome visitors and preserve customs that might otherwise be lost. Their work helps ensure that Polish traditions remain a vibrant part of Erie’s cultural and religious life.
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