The Erie Police Department recently returned the items they took for fingerprinting after our October church burglary. They were able to lift some usable prints which will be helpful in identifying the individuals who perpetrated this incident. I’m grateful to State and Erie Police who responded so quickly the evening that it happened and to the city detectives who followed through on the case.

At the suggestion of Jill Wells Renne DiRaimo and Lois Lintelman, each of our Confirmation candidates was given a prayer partner to help them on their journey to becoming fully initiated member of the Faith. The prayer partner volunteers were solicited at the Monthly Holy Hour and at the Saturday morning Mass. I asked that the partners make a conscious effort to pray for their candidate each day, particularly when receiving Communion at Mass. I appreciate their willingness to take on this spiritual task.

At this year’s festival one of the new things that we are planning to do is serve pieroghi on Saturday night. Several weeks ago I asked for volunteers to help make them. I’m pleased to announce that we have a nice contingent of people who are willing to help. So far, the following have volunteered: Jo Ganzer, George Lucas, Pat Rihel, Dan and Julie Pelkowski, Gerry Miller, Maureen and Tom Matlock, Gina Chimera, Brigitte Kucharski, Joanne Fournier, Judy Trocki, Mary Vogt, Harriet Learn, Cindy Snider, Florence Slupski, Kathy Schaaf, Victoria Hellmann, Cindy Schauble, Ann Cornman, Rose Morrow, Gert Z., Dorothy Snider, Nancy Kaliszewski, Nancy Forish, Marge Shaw, Tom and Sandi Yonko, Ginny Warner, Dan and Alicia Kerchansky, and Antonella Cupillair. Their efforts will help make this year’s festival the best ever. If you’d like to give us a hand with the project, please call the parish office.

A note of gratitude and thanks goes out to Nancy Dusckas for providing and graciously underwriting the cost of our parish calendars. They are available at the doors of the Church.

I know first hand that the security systems in our buildings are in working order: I set two of them off accidentally last week! After our Church was broken into in October, knowing that the security systems are in place and operational in all our buildings allows me to sleep a little easier at night.

A parish thank you goes out to the officers and members of the Wesleyville American Legion Post for their generous donation to our parish food pantry. Their thoughtfulness will ensure that Christmas is much brighter for our pantry families.