Faith Formation Task Force unveils preliminary plan

“With some of the logistics behind us, it’s finally time for you to go back to your parishes and your schools and to stir into flame a renewed passion for the Gospel, and a deeper understanding of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ,” the bishop said at meetings scheduled in Erie, Hermitage and St. Marys.Bishop Lawrence Persico and members of the Faith Formation Task Force and Pastoral Planning Committee unveiled the preliminary plan for faith formation in the Diocese of Erie the week of June 14, 2017.

The task force recommendations deal with six key areas: lifelong formation, vision, parish leadership, diocesan leadership, the role of the family and lay ministry. The full list of recommendations are posted in a link below.

Parishioners in the Diocese of Erie are encouraged to offer their feedback to the plan between June 16 and July 28, 2017. An online survey and instructions are provided in the links below.

Deepening Spiritual Engagement, a document authored by Greg Baker—campus minister at Mercyhurst University and a member of the task force—served as a basis for many of the recommendations that were proposed. All are encouraged to read the document as they prepare to offer feedback.

	Full list of recommendations (PDF)
	Faith Formation Task Force feedback instructions"As you Prepare to Provide Feedback" (PDF)
	FEEDBACK FORM
June 2017 vicariate meeting commentary:
	Bishop Persico’s comments from the Vicariate meetings (PDF)
	Sister Phyllis Schleicher's comments from the Vicariate meetings (PDF)
	Greg Baker’s comments from the Vicariate meetings (PDF)
	Deacon Marty Eisert's comments from the Vicariate meetings (PDF)

The 2017 Catholic Services Appeal

"With Open Hearts" is something that appeals to our sense of the common good by providing each of us an opportunity to unite and reach out to those in need that are in our parishes, cities and throughout the Diocese of Erie. Your gift helps in many ways, these are just a few:

• Parish projects
• Catholic Charities' nine affiliate agencies and multiple programs: More than 43,000 men, women and children of all faiths received services last year.
• Support and advice for administrators and teachers of the 36 Catholic schools
• Scholarships for Catholic school students – CSA provided more than $450,000 in scholarships for needy students
• Continuing education opportunities for catechists
• Rural ministries

The Catholic Services Appeal has ministered and provided services to thousands of individuals and families throughout our Northwestern and Central Pennsylvania communities. The needs continue and in some cases are growing. As they do, so does our need to ask you for support. Your pledge to the Catholic Services Appeal will help us continue to preach, to teach, and to serve. We encourage you to read the special CSA issue of Faith Magazine (which will be linked here soon) and other information presented on this site. Then we hope you see how vital your CSA gift is to our church; how important it is to many people. Please prayerfully consider your response to the Catholic Services Appeal.

SPIRITUALITY ON THE INTERNET

We  Are One Body Catholic Radio Network – WAOB has recently become available via the Internet in the Diocese of Erie. Receive daily instruction from Pope Francis, daily meditations, the Rosary, the Divine Office, Holy Mass and much more! They can be found at WAOB.org

Families Always Matter

Families Always Matter is a website intended to affirm families in their importance to God, the Church, to society and to each other.