Read about events being held throughout the diocese. PAGE 3 February is month of love. Website off ers inspiration to marriages. PAGE 2 www.ErieRCD.org BI-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF ERIE February 18, 2018 DIOCESAN NEWS HOCKEY HOPEFULS Gannon to expand campus in Ruskin, Fla. Gannon University’s Ruskin, Fla., cam- pus opened a little more than two years ago, but its enrollment already has quadrupled, from 24 students to more than 100. The good news doesn’t end there. On Feb. 16, Erie Bishop Lawrence Persico is expected to be in Ruskin, along with Bishop Gregory Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, for the groundbreaking of a new 70,000- to 80,000-square-foot building. The structure will house masters’ and doctoral programs in the health service professions. Both bishops will formally bless the ground and offi cially begin the expansion project, which is expected to cost between $10 million and $20 million, according to CNS photo The sun rising over the rings of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics on a beach in Gang- neung, South Korea. Contributed photo This is an architectural rendering of the new build- Catholic school ing at Gannon University’s Florida campus. grad starts as goalie Dr. Steve Mauro, vice president for academ- ic administration. The new three-story structure is located on land purchased adjacent to the original for Team USA building, which was opened in 2015. “Currently, we have occupational and physical therapy and athletic training pro- grams at Ruskin, but this new building will Other athletes with Mercyhurst allow us to bring in additional health profes- sion programs,” Mauro said. The fi rst fl oor of the new building is connections take Olympic ice expected to be completed by March 2019, allowing the school to enroll more students beginning in the fall semester of 2019. BY MARY SOLBERG | FAITHLIFE Among the additional programs that will be offered is a master’s physician assistant Four world-class hockey players with ties to Erie’s degree, a popular program at Gannon’s Mercyhurst University—a Catholic institution founded downtown Erie campus, Mauro said. by the Sisters of Mercy—are competing in this month’s “By next fall, our enrollment will be clos- Winter Olympics in South Korea. er to 200. We really want to grow over the Most notable in that Olympic lineup is Erie native next six to seven years to bring enrollment to Ryan Zapolski, 31, who not only graduated from Mer- between 400 to 500 students,” Mauro said. cyhurst in 2011, but is a 2001 graduate of St. George According to Mauro, Gannon is paying School, and a 2005 graduate of Erie’s Cathedral Prepa- for the expansion with savings and capital ratory School, both in Erie. funds. He said the university is expecting to He is the starting goaltender for the U.S. men’s hock- Photo courtesy of Mercyhurst University hire fi ve to six new faculty and additional ey team, whose games are scheduled in Pyeongchang, South Korea, through Feb. 25. 2018 Winter Olympians, clockwise from top left, are: Ryan Zapol- staff at Ruskin. ski, Bailey Bram, Emma Nuutinen and Meghan Agosta. “We’re offering the right kinds of pro- “Being able to represent Erie and Mercyhurst is really grams and high quality programs,” Mauro special to me and I hope it can inspire future generations said. “Health professions, in general, are of kids to really believe in their goals and to never give such a high-demand fi eld.” up on your dreams!” Zapolski said in an email to the Ryan Zapolski Bailey Bram university before leaving for the Olympic Games. On Feb. 8-9, the St. George community celebrated Hometown: Erie (Summit Township) Hometown: Ste. Anne, Manitoba, one of their own making it to the pinnacle of the sports Cathedral Prep Class of 2005; Mercy- Canada world. Eric Trapp, a fi fth-grade hurst Class of 2011 Mercyhurst Class of 2012 24 Hours for the Lord teacher at St. George, is a long- First Olympic appearance, 2018, Team First Olympic appearance, 2018, Team time friend of Zapolski’s. He USA Canada On March 9-10, the Diocese of Erie will shared with all classrooms a celebrate 24 Hours for the Lord, an initia- video he created that included “...I hope it can Meghan Agosta Emma Nuutinen tive of Pope Francis with an emphasis on an interview with the Olympi- inspire future an, along with comments from Hometown: Ruthven, Ontario, Canada Hometown: Vantaa, Finland adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the generations of sacrament of reconciliation. students as well as teachers who Mercyhurst Class of 2011 Mercyhurst sophomore St. Peter Cathedral, Erie, will be open taught Zapolski when he at- kids to really Fourth Olympic appearance (gold Second Olympic appearance (fi fth place for the whole 24 hours, with adoration and tended St. George. believe in their medals in 2006, 2010 and 2014), Team in 2014), Team Finland Canada confession available during that time. Bishop According to Principal Al- goals and to Lawrence Persico has asked that this year’s lison Reynolds, “Our students never give up 24 Hours for the Lord be devoted to prayer are very excited to have a St. on your dreams! for clergy and consecrated religious in our George alumnus in the Olym- St. George Principal Al- diocese, as well as for an increase in voca- pics.” — Ryan Zapolski lison Reynolds carries tions to the priesthood and religious life. On Feb. 9, the day of the an Olympic torch during Priests in the greater Erie area are asked opening ceremonies in South a procession at a spe- to consider taking at least an hour to hear Korea, the school community cial Mass Feb. 9 at the confessions at the Cathedral during the 24 celebrated a Mass for the inten- ” Erie elementary school. Hours for the Lord. Confessions will begin tions of Zapolski and all Olym- Behind her are fi fth- on March 9 at 5:45 p.m. and continue until pic athletes, and participated in a day of Olympic-style grader Clara Gibson 3:30 p.m. on March 10. games. Trapp wore his old friend’s jersey. and fi fth-grade teacher Deacons and lay persons are asked to “It’s pretty amazing,” Trapp said. “Not only is Ryan Eric Trapp, a long-time consider committing to an hour of adora- representing St. George and Erie, but the whole country. friend of Olympian tion either alone or with family, friends or a It’s surreal.” Ryan Zapolski. parish group. Adoration will begin March 9 Zapolski will be joined in South Korea by three other at 5:45 p.m. and continue until 3:30 p.m. on athletes with Mercyhurst connections: March 10. • Canadian Meghan Agosta, 30, a 2011 Mercyhurst Contributed photo Parishes are asked to consider sending a graduate group of parishioners and friends to partici- • Canadian Bailey Bram, 27, a 2012 alumna pate in a holy hour. • Emma Nuutinen, 21, a native of Finland who cur- having helped her native Fin- 3,500—has distinguished itself All are asked to encourage people, includ- rently is a sophomore. land take fi fth place in 2014. on the international hockey ing those estranged from the church or away Zapolski played for Mercyhurst’s men’s ice hockey Another Mercyhurst student, stage. President Michael Victor from the sacraments for a long time, to at- from 2007-11, and for Prep, where he set a Pennsylva- Vilma Tanskanen, just missed and coaches Rick Gotkin and tend the event. nia Interscholastic Hockey League playoff record of 88 the fi nal roster on the Finnish Mike Sisti credit hard work over For more information or to sign up for saves as a senior in 2005. Olympic team, but was offered a the long haul. an hour of adoration (or for priests to hear Agosta and Bram began their NCAA careers playing position as fi rst alternate. “Rick and Mike have built confessions), contact Sister Kathleen Dietz, Division I women’s ice hockey for the Lakers and are Mercyhurst—a small univer- FSO, at [email protected] or at (814) representing their native Canada at the 2018 Games. sity in northwestern Pennsylva- 824-1135. Nuutinen is making her second Olympic appearance, nia with a total enrollment of >> See HOCKEY, page 3 2 | FaithLife — February 18, 2018 FORYOURMARRIAGE.ORG UPDATED Americans to develop their natural resources and use the land on which WASHINGTON (CNS)—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced the launch of a new mobile- they live as collateral to start their responsive ForYourMarriage.org website. Editor’s own businesses. One sign of hope for me is that “I hope this new platform will reach many more people with the message of God’s plan for marriage and Notes St. Michael Indian School is still in be a source of support to husbands and wives at every stage of their vocational journey,” said Philadelphia operation and apparently growing Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, chairman of the USCCB’s Mary since my visit there over three de- CCommitteeomm on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. cades ago. About 390 students are OOriginallyrig launched in 2007, ForYourMarriage.org is a SOLBERG enrolled from preschool through USCCBUSCC initiative that began as the communications com- high school. ponentponen of the National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage. Many of us could make things WithWi a grant from the Catholic Communications Cam- Thirty-three years ago this right for Native Americans by be- paign,paign the new website includes updated content, graph- March, I drove up to St.