(1,1) -1- faithlife 01-14.indd 4/16/2013 9:05:10 AM Making Papal headlines portrait Pope Benedict Holy Trinity XVI named top offers Pope John newsmaker of Paul II portraits, 2006, page 2. page 4. www.ErieRCD.org BI-WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN OF THE DIOCESE OF ERIE January 14, 2007 Church Calendar Events of the local, American and universal church Diocese announces two elementary school closings Catholic education still widely of Education and other staff Feast days members. No other Catholic schools available, bishop assures is the diocese will close in By Jason Koshinskie well aware of the heartache 2007, he said. FaithLife editor and disruption that is caused Of the two schools that are when families must choose a closing, Sacred Heart has en- The Diocese of Erie an- new school and when chil- dured a 63 percent decline in nounced Jan. 5 that two di- dren must leave the familiar enrollment, going from 290 ocesan elementary schools halls of their school environ- students in 2001-02 to 106 will close at the end of the ment. I also have a special students in the current school 2006-07 academic year but sense of regret for the won- year. The enrollment decline that all 151 children currently derful administrators and at St. Titus over the past five enrolled in these schools will teachers who years is 56 St. Francis de Sales St. Angela Merici have access to other Catholic are affected percent, go- schools in their areas. by this deci- “No bishop wants to close ing from 102 St. Anthony Sacred Heart School in sion. How- students in Jan. 17 Erie and St. Titus School in ever, we are a school, but we have to 2001-02 to Jan. 20 St. Fabian, St. Sebastian Titusville will close when the committed be open to the changing 45 this year. Jan. 22 St. Vincent school year is completed in to operating demographics. Our hope is The dio- Bishop Donald Trautman addresses the media during a Jan. Jan. 24 St. Francis de Sales June. Both schools are affili- strong and vi- to maintain the number of cese pointed 5 news conference at St. Mark Catholic Center. The diocese ated with Catholic parishes, able schools to statistics Jan. 25 The Conversion of St. Paul Catholic schools announced Sacred Heart and St. Titus elementary schools which remain open and fully for the Dio- on popula- will close at the end of the 2006-07 school year. Jan. 26 St. Timothy and Titus operational; only the schools cese of Erie that we have.” tion and Jan. 27 St. Angela Merici at these parishes are affected and to do – Bishop Donald Trautman enrollment proximity to other Catholic Catholic schools.” by this decision. this we need within the schools and community sup- Last year, the diocese di- Bishop Donald W. Traut- to make hard diocese for port. rected $2.4 million to support Week of Prayer for Christian Unity man made the announce- choices.” both public “No bishop wants to close Catholic schools, he said. ment at a news conference Citing declining enroll- and Catholic schools as im- a school, but we have to be On the subject of region- – Jan. 18-25 at St. Mark Catholic Center ment and financial pressure, pacting its decision. Bishop open to the changing demo- alization, Bishop Trautman “They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He on Jan. 5, a day after parents, Bishop Trautman said he Trautman said the decision graphics,” Bishop Trautman said that while the diocese has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear teachers and faculty were in- consulted with Father Skip was also based on assessing said. “Our hope is to main- operates several regional and the mute to speak.’” (Mark 7: 31-37) formed at each school. Davis and Father John De- other factors, which include tain the number of Catholic schools, in some geographi- The Week of Prayer “The decision to close a tisch, pastors of St. Titus and but are not limited to finan- schools that we have, and cal areas it is not possible. for Christian Unity is school is never an easy one,” Sacred Heart, respectively, as cial strength, educational I think you see interest of celebrated around the Bishop Trautman said. “I am well as the diocesan Office excellence and accreditation, the diocese to maintain our See SCHOOLS, page 3 world each January and calls Christians to ex- press their growing uni- ty by joining together in responding to human Youth teams have hand in planning own rallies suffering. The year’s theme, prepared by the World Coun- cil of Churches and the Pontifical Commission for Middle school rally set the Promotion of Christian Unity, has its origins in the experience of Christian communities in the for March 24 at OLP South African of Umlazi, near Durban, a region By Jason Koshinskie deeply affected by unemployment and poverty but FaithLife editor most of all by HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that 50 percent of the residents of Umlazi are infected HERMITAGE – For the nearly 500 youth and leaders who with the virus. attended the annual Senior High Youth Rally held in Novem- ber at Kennedy Catholic High School in Hermitage, it was a Collection for the church in Latin chance to get together for prayer, worship and fun. For members of the youth leadership team, it was an op- America – Jan. 20-21 portunity to have a hand in planning the rally for their peers. The youth leadership team was a new aspect to this rally. Se- nior high youth were part of the planning and operation of the rally in a variety of roles including emceeing and coordinating games, a service project, musicians for adoration and witness talks. Team members also held an overnight retreat the night before the rally. Involving youth in leadership roles is central to youth min- istry, said Greg Baker, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Erie Diocese. To fi nd out more about the Middle School “I often tell parishes Proceeds from this national collection, to be Youth Rally on March 24 or the National that if you want to pre- Students attending the We Believe! youth rally in Hermitage in November make blankets for taken on the weekend of Jan. 20-21, are distributed dict whether a youth Catholic Youth Conference Nov. 8-11 to dioceses, parishes, religious congregations, sem- or to register, visit www.ErieRCD. those in need as part of the rally’s service project. Students made close to 100 blankets that event will fly of flop, were shared between the Pregnancy Crises Center and John XXIII nursing facility. inaries and other Catholic institutions throughout just look at the plan- org/youth.asp and click on Programs Latin America and the Caribbean. ning team,” Baker said. & Events. Visit NCYC on the Web at The location of the diocesan youth rallies youth rallies, the better the event will be,” Funds assist in the formation of priests, reli- “If a bunch of well-in- www.cdeducation.org/oym/ncyc. rotates each year between the three vicari- Baker said. gious, lay ministers, missionaries, pastoral work- tentioned adults plan ates. This year is the Northern Vicariate’s A unique opportunity the Youth and Young ers, catechists and youth ministers—fellow Catho- the event for youth, it turn to host the Middle School Youth Rally, Adult Ministry Office is planning is a trip to the lics who are rich in faith but lacking in material is a safe bet that not many youth will show up. On the other which will be held Sat., March 24 at Our National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) resources. hand, when youth are invited to dream up and plan events, you Lady of Peace Parish in Erie. Nov. 8-11 in Columbus, Ohio. The event fea- “When we contribute to this collection, we are are guaranteed that the event will be designed in a way that is The theme of this rally will focus on im- tures the best of Catholic youth speakers and actively living out our call to stewardship, and are exciting, fun and meaningful for the youth. Good money has it age and how dignity and beauty come from musicians and is expected to be attended by participating in a work of solidarity with our Latin that more than a handful of youth will show up.” God and not media sources. Because of the more than 17,000 youth from across the na- American brothers and sisters,” said Bishop Don- He cites the energy and creativity youth offer, unique per- benefits of involving youth as leaders, in- tion. NCYC is open to high school age young ald Trautman. spectives, willingness to try new things and ability to bond volving youth as peer ministers and leaders people and their chaperones. The collection also helps the Diocese of Erie to with people of faith of other ages or parishes among the many has become a more formal and permanent The Erie Diocese is limited to the first 200 continue responding to the basic needs of impov- benefits of having them involved from beginning to end. aspect of the rallies. reservations. This event will take place of the erished people in our Sister Diocese of Yucatan, They also have a refreshingly strong faith in Jesus Christ, “I have learned that the more effort I traditional senior high youth rally in the dio- Mexico. Baker said. place in inviting youth to plan for diocesan cese for 2007. Day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person – Jan.