Witnesses for Life Lenten Regulations Ash Wednesday Marks the Beginning of the Sea- Youth Rally & Mass, Annual Son of Lent
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Got fish? New Year blessings Find a St. Callistus Lenten fish students dinner near highlight you, page 3. Epiphany, page 4. www.ErieRCD.org BI-WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN OF THE DIOCESE OF ERIE February 7, 2010 Church Calendar Erie Diocese supports Events of the local, American and universal church Haiti relief The Erie Diocese joined others Feast days in the church throughout the United States in holding a second collection on behalf of the people of Haiti. Bishop Donald Trautman autho- rized pastors to hold the collection on the weekends of Jan. 23-24 or Jan. 30-31 at their discretion. One hundred percent of the funds collected will be used for humanitarian aid through Catholic Relief Services, the of¿cial international humanitarian Church aids in crisis agency of the U.S. Catholic Church. The money will be used strictly to as agencies gear up provide humanitarian relief and no St. Scholastica Our Lady of Lourdes administrative fee will be taken for the to help in long term Erie Diocese. Feb. 6 St. Paul Miki and companions CRS will use the funds for relief By Catholic News Service and rehabilitation efforts in Haiti. Feb. 7 World Day for Consecrated Life If you missed the collection in your Facing a growing humanitarian parish, there is still time to make a Feb. 8 St. Jerome Emiliani, crisis after the largest earthquake in donation. Either contact your par- St. Josephine Bakhita Haiti in two centuries, Catholic aid ish of¿ce or Catholic Charities at agencies and world governments 814.824.1250 or 800.374.3723. Feb. 10 St. Scholastica were boosting efforts to respond Checks should be made out to to the needs of hundreds of thou- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Feb. 11 Our Lady of Lourdes sands of injured and homeless. Erie, with the notation, “Haiti Relief” Feb. 17 Ash Wednesday Agencies such as Catholic Relief and sent to: Services and Jesuit Refugee Service as well as smaller organizations (CNS photo) Catholic Charities from around the world have raised A woman sits at a tent constructed of cardboard and a sheet in a makeshift St. Mark Catholic Center World Day of the Sick – Feb. 11 millions of dollars to provide medi- camp in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 26. According to the government, 429 E. Grandview Blvd. more than a million people were left homeless by the Jan. 12 earthquake. In his message for the Feb. 11 celebration of cal services, feed and shelter people Erie, PA 16504 World Day of the Sick, Pope Benedict XVI high- and head off the rapid spread of disease. 200,000. Another 300,000 people ing the Catholic Church’s response, To make a secure online donation, lighted the important role of the church in bringing reported it had collected $13.1 mil- Christ’s love and healing to all those who suffer: be The agencies were coordinating were injured. Up to 3 million of visit www.ErieRCD.org. efforts with other religious, non- Haiti’s 9.8 million people were af- lion for earthquake relief as of it from poverty, oppression, remorse or illness. early Jan. 19. World Day of the Sick is marked each year on the governmental and government op- fected by the most recent natural erations as hunger grew and some disaster to strike the small nation. Caritas Internationalis, the termine what the immediate needs were. feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The 2010 celebration Vatican-based umbrella organiza- The agency distributed tents to families and also marks the 25th anniversary of the institution of Haitians became increasingly im- Catholic Relief Services in- patient because they had received creased its pledge of aid for the tion for Catholic charities, quickly supplied first aid to survivors in clinics and the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry. delivered aid to survivors but was hospitals. In his message, Pope Benedict said World Day of little or no assistance in the week impoverished nation to $25 mil- since the Jan. 12 quake. lion, and it could go higher, said in urgent need of additional re- Caritas designed a response plan that in- the Sick aims to remind Catholics how important it lief materials. The Caritas staff in cludes immediate food, shelter, health care, is for the church to offer pastoral service to the sick Haitian government and relief Pat Johns, director of safety and agency authorities raised their es- security for the Baltimore-based Haiti visited devastated areas of and those who care for them. the capital Port-au-Prince to de- See HAITI, page 3 “Every Christian is called to relive, in different timates of the number of dead to agency. CRS, which is coordinat- and always new contexts, the parable of the Good Samaritan,” who offered care and compassion to the man left half-dead by robbers along the road- side, said the papal message. Ash Wednesday – Feb. 17 and Witnesses for life Lenten Regulations Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the sea- Youth rally & Mass, annual son of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection and fasting which prepares us for Christ’s resurrection march blanket Washington on Easter Sunday. Here are the church regulations for fasting and with message of life abstinence during Lent: Everyone 14 years From staff and wire reports of age or older is bound to abstain from meat WASHINGTON – They came from all corners on Ash Wednesday, all of the Erie Diocese, at least 11 buses strong, join- the Fridays of Lent and ing others from across the country in the nation’s Good Friday. capital Jan. 22 to form a Everyone 18 or record-breaking crowd for Clockwise: Young people older, and under 59 the 37th annual March for from across the nation years of age, is bound to Life. packed the Verizon Center in fast on Ash Wednesday Buses accounted for in- Washington Jan. 22 for events and Good Friday. cluded at least four from held in advance of the annual On Ash Wednes- Erie: Two sponsored by March for Life. Pilgrims from day and Good Friday, the Erie Diocese and one the Erie Diocese cheer during only one full meatless meal is allowed. Two other each from People for Life a rally for life and youth Mass meatless meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may and Cathedral Prep. Other at the Verizon Center. Bishop be taken according to each one’s needs, but together buses came from Mead- Donald Trautman processes they should not equal another full meal. Eating be- ville, Pro-Life of Mercer during the Mass for life. The tween meals is not permitted. When health or abil- County, Grove City, Lines- Mass was concelebrated by a ity to work would be seriously affected, the law does ville, Greenville, Bradford number of bishops and Cardi- not oblige. and St. Marys. nals from the United States. Catholics should not lightly excuse them- Droves of pro-life youths selves from these prescribed minimal penitential from across the country lined up outside the Veri- crowd of 17,400 people. Youths brought banners and signs but most of practices. zon Center early in the morning to get inside the Fifteen alternate gathering sites near the Ve- all their faith and enthusiasm to the Verizon Cen- For the complete Lenten regulations, visit www. annual Youth Rally and Mass for Life sponsored rizon Center were set up to accommodate 8,000 ErieRCD.org. by the Archdiocese of Washington, forming a more pilgrims. See MARCH FOR LIFE, page 2 Clergy appointments Peer ministry helps deal with grief, loss Catholic Services Appeal 2010 The Most Rev. Donald The stories of people who are widowed, ® divorced or separated can be so different. BEGINNING EXPERIENCE W. Trautman, STD, SSL, So how does Beginning Experience, Commitment Sunday is Feb. 14 Bishop of Erie, announces “Coping With Life Alone” Catholic Charities’ ministry to help heal will be held at The annual Catholic Services the following clergy the heartache for those who find themselves St. Mark Catholic Center Appeal helps fund the Erie Dio- appointments: single again, minister to all of them? 429 W. Grandview Blvd. in Erie cese’s ministries and provides “People find that they have pain and from 4-6 p.m. on the following dates: support for health and social ser- Father John Barwin, appointed temporary pa- grief in common,” said Ann Badach, direc- vices, education, diocesan admin- rochial administrator of St. Boniface Parish, tor of Catholic Charities’ Family Life Of- February 21 and 28 istration and pastoral services that Kersey. Effective January 12, 2010. fice. “What they will find over time is that and March 7, 14, 21 and 28. serve 13 counties in northwest they have far more in common than they Beginning Experience Weekend at Pennsylvania. Father Chris Hamlett, appointed pastor of St. realized.” Parishes also benefit from the Raphael Parish, Eldred, its mission church of The ministry is divided into two pro- St. Mark Catholic Center appeal. Every dollar pledged that St. Mary, Sartwell, and St. Teresa Parish, Shin- grams: April 9, 10 and 11 exceeds a parish’s financial goal glehouse, for a term of six years. Effective Janu- “Coping With Life Alone” is a six- For more information or to register, stays within the parish. ary 8, 2010. week program with sessions that explore a Last year, a record amount number of common themes such as lone- contact Catholic Charities at of more than $6 million was Father John Murphy, appointed temporary pa- liness, stress, grief, trust and relationships 814.824.1265, 800.374.3723 Ext. 265 pledged by parishioners through- or e-mail [email protected].