Author: Kay

Saint Hedwig
Saint Patrick
Sister parishes serving the East Bay Front of Erie
Pastor
Rev. Msgr. Henry A. Kriegel

Daily Mass
Saint Patrick 8:00 AM
Saturday Evening Mass
Saint Hedwig 4:30 PM
Saint Patrick 5:00 PM
Sunday Morning Mass
Saint Hedwig 9:00 AM
Saint Patrick 10:30 AM
Holy Day Masses
Anticipation
Saint Hedwig 5:30 PM
Holy Day
Saint Patrick 12:05 PM
Confessions
30 Minutes before each Saturday
Evening Mass or by appointment

Saint Hedwig Parish
Established 1910
521 E. 3rd Street
Erie, PA 16507
(814) 454-6232
www.sainthedwigparisherie.org

Saint Patrick Parish
Established 1837
130 East 4th Street
Erie, PA 16507
(814) 454-8085
www.saintpatrickparisherie.org

For information on Baptism, Religious Education, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation,
Adult Initiation, Marriage, Prayer or Study Groups, please call either parish office.

Today is the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time and our first reading comes from the first Book of Kings. During the Ordinary Time, we will very regularly hear stories of God calling people such as today’s—the prophet Elisha. Before today’s event, the prophet Elijah, wearied by Israel’s infidelity to the covenant, attempted to walk out of his mission by fleeing to the desert. There, sitting under a broom tree, he complained to the Lord that he could not continue. An angel then led Elijah to God’s mountain where he encounters God at the entrance to a cave. The Lord listened and then told him to reverse his journey on the desert road back to Damascus and carry out specific tasks, one of which was to anoint Elisha. The Lord’s words of instruction are our first reading. Note that before Elisha assumes his role as a prophet, he takes care to feed his people.
Our second reading continues from Galatians and, for some strange reason, leaves out a good part of this section. It opens with a greeting and then skips to the middle of the chapter. Paul is telling them that they don’t serve God by following Jewish ritual laws; but by loving one another. He tells them to live by the Spirit, not the law.
Today’s Gospel is the beginning of Luke’s narrative of Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. The opening words of Jesus being “taken up” refers to his pending death and resurrection; and yet knowing this, he does not falter in his resolve to follow God’s will. When Jesus is rejected by the Samaritans, he accepts the rejection and refutes his disciples who want him to call down punishment upon them. In the next section, Jesus encounters three potential followers. The three proverbs with which he responds are all exaggerations intended to signify the serious and demanding nature of discipleship, and are not to be taken literally. They are intended to instill in potential disciples the same resoluteness that mirrors Jesus’ own single-mindedness to follow his father’s wishes, even if it means suffering and death.
A reminder that during the summer months we have added an 8 AM Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s. Several people had requested this saying that they like to get their day off started early rather than waiting for the 10:30 Mass. Depending on the number attending, we can continue this

throughout the year or just during the summer months.
Thursday of this coming week is the Fourth of July and the parish office will be closed. We’re going to treat ourselves and also be closed on Friday, July 5th.
During a recent talk he gave in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput noted that Catholic marriages in the United States have been dropping by 60,000 a year for the past 40 years! That is a staggering and frightening statistic. He also noted that the church has been closing Catholic schools at the rate of one school closing every four days for the last two decades. When you combine those monumental declines with the precipitous decline in ordinations to the priesthood, it makes one wonder where we’re going. The Holy Spirit is obviously doing something, and I suspect we need to listen carefully to the signs of the time to better understand where he wants us to be.
Work is finishing up on the roof at St. Patrick’s Church. While I knew we had some work to be done, I had no idea that it would have to be this extensive. We’re just going to have to bite the bullet and do the work. I think you will agree with me that the last thing we want to happen after this beautiful restoration work is to have moisture get into the walls again. While replacing the roof on the east gable, the workers discovered the areas where water has been coming into the church for years. You may recall that a section high on the east wall was always deteriorating, but now hopefully we have the situation under control.
A compilation of statistics on all of the dioceses in the United States shows that in 1976, Erie had 350 priests; today we have 120. In 1976 we had 210 seminarians; today we have 12. Also in 1976 , 53 men were enrolled in seminaries for various religious orders. Today, there are none enrolled in religious order seminaries. In 1976, we had 126 parishes, all of which had a resident pastor. Today we have 121 parishes of which 97 have a resident pastor and 20 do not.
Data also shows that in 2000, 84,000 attended Mass weekly; by 2010 it was 61,100!!

From the Pastor’s Desk continued………
Equally frightening are sacramental statistics which reveal, for example, that in 2000, there were 4,194 baptisms in the diocese; by 2011, there were 1,666. In 2000, there were 1,554 weddings in the diocese; by 2011, there were only 650, a decrease of over 50%. In that same time frame, there were 3,784 confirmations in 2000 and by 2011, there were only 1,955. The only sacramental statistic that increased in the diocese were funerals going from 1,638 in 2000 to 2,613 in 2011.
Weighing all of that information, you can more clearly understand why we need to reconfigure parishes in the diocese. A large number of our parishes are deeply in debt; many of them have not paid their assessments to the diocese in years and years leaving the diocese itself shortchanged. Bishop Persico is in the process of establishing a plan whereby everyone can be heard and participate as to how we reconfigure; but in the final analysis, he will have to make the decisions. Hopefully those decisions can be made within a year.
Starting today and at least until the end of August, the Sunday 9 AM Mass at St. Hedwig’s will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s. It will be a St. Hedwig Mass but in an air-conditioned church.
Last Sunday’s Rededication Mass was over the top. The music was incredible and the attendance inspirational. When Mass was over, Bishop Persico told me that he has not been in a single church in the Diocese of Erie where he has seen so many babies!!! Seeing these young families and these beautiful babies is the sweetest music.
A little girl was sitting on her grandfather’s lap as he read her a bedtime story. From time to time, she would take her eyes off the book and reach up and touch his wrinkled cheek. She was alternately stroking her own cheek and then his again. Finally she asked, “Grandpa, did God make you?” “Yes, sweetheart,” he answered. “God made me a long time ago.” “Did God make me too?” she asked. “”Yes, indeed; God made you just a little while ago.” “Feeling both of their faces again, she observed, “He’s getting better at it, isn’t he?”

Saint Hedwig News

Our Sanctuary Lamp burns this week in loving memory of Stanley & Elinor Flowers requested by daughter Janice Moskel, Our Lady’s Shrine Lamp burns in loving memory of Josephine J. Juchno requested by the Juchno family and St. Joseph Shrine Lamp burns in loving memory of Clara Waida requested by D. Dombkowski. Please remember in your prayers those in the hospital, nursing care and the homebound.
Our offertory for last week was $1,116.00. Thank you and God bless.
The Summer Festival is still ongoing. We thank everyone who has contributed and ask those who have not to consider doing so. Proceeds are used to cover our regular operating expenses.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
During July and August, St. Hedwig’s Sunday 9AM Mass at will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s.
Days of Prayer
At the Carmelite Monastery, 510 East Gore Rd. Erie
begin Thursday, July11 through Tuesday, July 16. the
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Holy Mass each
morning at 8am will be offered for the intentions of all
making the days of prayer. Services each evening at 7:30pm consist of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and sermon. Sacrament of Penance after
morning and evening services as well as afternoons upon request.
On Forgiveness
If anyone offends us and comes to ask our pardon, we must receive him kindly, and not be proud or unforgiving. If we offend any one, we should beg his pardon at once. “Do not let the sun go down upon your anger” (Eph.4:26). We are never sure of waking up again from sleep, so let us always be at peace in conscience bybeing at peace with all.
St. Hedwig Ministry Schedule
July 6 July 7
Saturday Sunday
4:30 PM 9:00 AM
Lectors Jim Gorski Frederic Olds
Eucharist Jim Gorski Judy Pentz
Ushers Roland Henderson Dan Jarzomski Ray Nowosielski Pete Pentz
Altar Servers Charlotte Mabie Nick Hayes

Saint Patrick News

Parish Stewardship: Our offertory for last weekend was $6,782.61, and 678.00 for online giving for a total of $7,460.61. $954.25 for Disaster Relief and $267.00 for Peter’s Pence. Thank you for your generosity.
St. Patrick’s is looking for a part time maintenance person to work 20 hours a week helping with lawn work and other seasonal upkeep.
We continue to thank those who make special donations to our parish and we pray for those people in whose honor the donations were made: The Peace Candle burns this week for all the men and women serving in the military; The Food Pantry Truck is sponsored this week by The Ave Maria Care and Concern Society; The Food Pantry is sponsored by Thomas & Mary Ann Ritter; Mr. David Romanowicz; Frank & Carol Vona; Ms. Marian Kohan; Mr. & Mrs. Mark Sargent; Ms. Nancy Yochim; Mr. & Mrs. Mark Sullivan; Mr. & Mrs. Jay Habbas; Mr. & Mrs. Robert Biebel; Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Daub; Mr. Elmer Maquire; Edward & Genevieve Chizewick; Paul & Bernie Elchynski; Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Gorgacz in memory of Madeline & Stanley Gorgacz.
Ministry Schedule
Saturday, July 6, 2013 at 5:00 pm
Lector: Gary Drapcho
Eucharistic Ministers:
HOST: Kay Mannino, Kathy Sertz, Judy Emling
CUP: Ray Fiorelli, Patty Dailey
Greeters: Judy Kelly + 1 needed
Altar Servers: none
Ushers: Chris Lampe, Rob Oligeri, Phil Rewers
There is an 8:00 AM Mass but no Ministers are required.
Sunday, July 7, 2013 at 10:30 am
Lector: Mary Kearnye
Eucharistic Ministers:
HOST:Cyndi Pristello, Tim Scully, Michelle Tortorelli
CUP: Mike Vehec, Gerri Valahovic
Greeters: Arlene Miller, Tim Donlin
Altar Servers: Logan Kearney, Brendan Humphrey
Ushers: Jim Wehan, Paul Balczun
John Purvis, Luke Purvis
Offertory Counters: Mary McCarthy, Mary Kearney, Mary Pat Schlaudecker

Festival Meeting: Be sure to join us after the 10:30 Mass for a festival meeting. Come and hear what new things are happening at the festival this year and how you can help to make this festival successful!
HOLY LAND GIFTS: After all the Masses on July 13th and 14th, there will be a display in the vestibule of hand made articles for sale. Items such as nativity scenes, crucifixes, rosaries, the last supper and many other beautiful religious articles will be available. Due to the recent interruptions of the tourist trade, over 130 Christian families in Bethlehem make their livelihood through the sales of their handmade olive wood religious articles.
Help Pick Garden Produce in July
The Second Harvest Food Bank is looking for volunteers to help pick fresh produce during harvest season. This will begin in July and continue until November. You can volunteer one time or multiple times and groups are encouraged. You will get to enjoy the great outdoors while helping to feed the hungry in an eleven-county service area. Kids must be at least 12 years old. Please contact Mariana Skonieczka at 459-3663 ext. 109.
Do you love gardening? Perry Square Alliance is looking for help tending the gardens at the corners of Perry Square. If interested, please call Louise at 833-3567 for more information.
A Family Perspective: Today’s gospel reminds us once we set our “hand to the plow” of parenting and marriage, “we cannot look back.” This is what commitment means: saying 'yes' to the choice to give up other choices, and 'yes' to be faithful to an unknown future with our spouse!

NEED PRAYERS?
Please call Mary Alice Hartwell at 454-5908 to have your prayer intentions placed on our joint parish prayer wheel. Please be assured that your prayer requests will be treated with respect and confidentiality.

Thirteenth Sunday in ordinary time June 30, 2013

LITURGY INTENTIONS
June 29 Sat. Vigil: Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
4:30 pm isabelle dombrowski - st.h
(helen dombrowski)
5:00 pm patrick & lillian walsh - st.p
(dan ropelewski)
June 30 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8:00 am helen lawrence (ken staaf family) - st.p
9:00 am peter & paul wernicki - st.h
(tony wernicki)
10:30 am debra (szymanowski) mcintosh, anniv.
(mom, gloria szymanowski) - st.p
July 1 Monday, Weekday Blessed Junipero Serra, Priest 8:00 am communion service
July 2 Tuesday, Weekday
8:00 am elizabeth ward (family)
July 3 Wednesday, Saint Thomas, Apostle
8:00 am jack deck, anniv. of birth
(marjorie clarke)
July 4 Thursday, Weekday, USA Independence Day
8:00 am no mass
July 5 Friday, Weekday, Saint Anthony Zaccaria, Priest:
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal
8:00 am no mass
July 6 Sat. Vigil: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
4:30 pm rita clacher (kathleen mahoney) - st.h
5:00 pm gertrude munch (angie hayes) - st.p July 7 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8:00 am geraldine ciacchini, anniv. - st.p
(q. gregory orlando family)
9:00 am st. hedwig holy name society
members, living and deceased - mass at st. patrick’s
10:30 am robert h. vogt (maura vogt) - st.p

DATES TO REMEMBER
St.H=St. Hedwig, St.P=St. Patrick, HR=Holy Rosary
CP=Chapel,, PF=Polish Falcons
PR=Pascal Room, R=Rectory, CV=Convent
06/29 3:30 pm Confessions - St.H
4:30 pm Confessions - St.P
07/02 11:00 am Food Pantry - PR
07/03 12:00 pm A.A. - PR
07/04 OFFICE CLOSED
07/05 OFFICE CLOSED
07/06 3:30 pm Confessions - St.H
4:30 pm Confessions - St.P

A Moment of Reflection
Reading I: 1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21
Reading II: Galatians 5:1, 13-18
Gospel: Luke 9:51-62
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is determined to get to Jerusalem. He knows what he faces there—certain death. This is the ultimate price of his fidelity to his Father. As followers of Jesus, we are called to resist the allure of wealth, power, and influence that infects much of contemporary culture. Living “ by the Spirit” as Paul puts it to the Galatians, we live to “serve one another through love.” How present does God seem to you in the ups and downs of daily life?

Happy Fourth of July

NEW PARISHIONER REGISTRATION FORM
Saint Hedwig Saint Patrick
NAME: ____________________________ _____________________ PHONE: ____________
STREET: ______________________________________ CITY: _____________ ZIP: _______
E-MAIL: _____________________________________________________________________
PLEASE CIRCLE ONE BELOW:
New Registration Change of Address Moving Want Envelopes
PLEASE DROP THIS INFORMATION INTO Offertory Basket or mail to Rectory