Holy Family Church/Our Mother of Sorrows Parish

About Our Mother of Sorrows Parish

Our Mother of Sorrows Parish is a Roman Catholic community of the Diocese of Erie located on the lower east side of Erie, Pennsylvania. The parish website describes it as 'a wonderful welcoming Family of Faith' that, together with the historic Saint Casimir, Holy Family, and Saint Ann churches, 'rejoice[s] in doing our very best to live and love like Christ.' The parish is committed to 'loving God, loving others, and making disciples,' and welcomes founders, long-time parishioners, newcomers, and visitors alike.

History

The parish was canonically established in 2009 by combining three earlier east-side parishes. Holy Family Church was divided from Saint Stanislaus Parish in 1907 to serve Slovak Catholic families, with a second church completed in 1942. Saint Casimir was founded in 1914 to serve Polish Catholic families. Saint Ann rounds out the trio. In 1990 Holy Family was partnered with Saint Ann and Saint Casimir; in 2017 Saint Casimir was named the parish church of the newly formed Our Mother of Sorrows Parish. In July 2024, the parish was officially partnered with Saint Stanislaus Parish under one pastor, and in late 2025 Holy Family Church was relegated to profane use.

• 1907 — Holy Family Parish established for Slovak east-side families
• 1914 — Saint Casimir Parish founded for Polish east-side families
• 1942 — Current Holy Family Church building completed
• 1990 — Holy Family partnered with Saint Ann and Saint Casimir
• 2009 — Our Mother of Sorrows Parish canonically established
• 2017 — Saint Casimir named parish church; Holy Family becomes secondary church
• July 9, 2024 — Partnering decree with Saint Stanislaus Parish takes effect
• December 29, 2025 — Holy Family Church relegated to profane but not sordid use

Our Churches

Our Mother of Sorrows Parish worships across three historic church buildings on Erie's lower east side. Saint Casimir Church serves as the parish church for the principal Sunday Mass; Saint Ann Church is home to the daily Mass schedule and major devotions; Holy Family Church has been relegated as of December 29, 2025, and is being prepared for sale to the R.B. Wiley Charter School.

• Saint Casimir Church (629/630 Hess Ave.) — Parish church; Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM; Traditional Latin Mass at 9:00 AM
• Saint Ann Church (921 East Ave.) — Daily Mass Monday–Friday at 12:05 PM; First Saturday Mass at 9:00 AM; site of the Annual Novena to Good Saint Ann
• Holy Family Church (913 Fulton St.) — Founded 1907, current building 1942; relegated to profane use Dec. 29, 2025

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Religious education for the parish is coordinated through Eastside Catholic Faith Formation, led by Religious Education Leader Michelle (Michele) Inter. The program serves families across Our Mother of Sorrows and Saint Stanislaus parishes and can be reached at [email protected] or (814) 920-7525. During Lent, the parish also offers adult faith formation sessions, including Fr. Jason's presentations on 'Five Pivotal Moments in Church History,' paired with a soup-and-salad dinner in the parish hall following Stations of the Cross.

• Religious Education Leader: Michelle Inter
• Contact: [email protected] / (814) 920-7525
• Lenten adult faith formation series
• Soup & Salad dinner ministry during Lent

Parish Staff & Leadership

The parish is shepherded by its pastor, Rev. Jason A. Glover, who also serves as Pastor of partnered Saint Stanislaus Parish (since July 1, 2019). Lay staff include Helen Gangemi as Support Staff (parish office, [email protected]) and Michelle Inter as Religious Education Leader. Governance is supported by both a Parish Pastoral Council and a Parish Finance Council, whose unanimous support accompanied Father Glover's 2025 petition to the bishop to relegate Holy Family Church.

• Pastor: Rev. Jason A. Glover
• Support Staff: Helen Gangemi
• Religious Education Leader: Michelle (Michele) Inter
• Parish Pastoral Council
• Parish Finance Council

Online Giving & Parish Communications

Online Giving became available to parishioners on November 15, 2025, providing a digital option for weekly offertory and special collections. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin in partnership with Saint Stanislaus Parish (Saint Stanislaus & Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Churches), which announces Mass intentions, devotions, faith formation opportunities, and ministry sign-ups.

• Online Giving launched November 15, 2025
• Weekly bulletin (joint with Saint Stanislaus Parish)
• Parish announcements via website and bulletin

Contact, Office & Mailing Address

Effective October 1, 2024, the parish office and mailing address for Our Mother of Sorrows is c/o St. Stanislaus Parish, 516 East 13th Street, Erie, PA 16503. The previous mail slot is no longer available; all correspondence — including offertory envelopes — must be sent to the office address. The parish phone number remains (814) 452-4832; messages or texts are returned as soon as possible by Helen.

• Mailing Address (since 10/1/2024): 516 East 13th St., Erie, PA 16503
• Phone: (814) 452-4832
• Parish Office email: [email protected]
• Faith Formation email: [email protected]

Partnering with Saint Stanislaus Parish

On April 11, 2024, Bishop Lawrence T. Persico decreed that Our Mother of Sorrows Parish be partnered with Saint Stanislaus Parish in Erie 'such that both parishes are served by one pastor.' The decree took effect July 9, 2024. The two parishes now share clergy (Fr. Jason A. Glover, Pastor) and one parish office, located at 516 E. 13th St., Erie. Joint bulletins, online giving, and shared faith formation programming are among the practical fruits of the partnership.

• Decree issued April 11, 2024 by Bishop Lawrence T. Persico
• Effective July 9, 2024
• Shared Pastor: Rev. Jason A. Glover
• Shared parish office at 516 E. 13th St., Erie

Relegation of Holy Family Church (2025)

On December 7, 2025, Father Jason A. Glover, with the unanimous support of the parish finance council and parish pastoral council, petitioned Bishop Lawrence T. Persico to relegate Holy Family Church to 'profane but not sordid use.' The bishop, after consultation with the Presbyteral Council, accepted the petition. Under canon law, the consecration of the church is removed so that the building can be used for non-religious purposes. The decree was effective December 29, 2025. The parish has been in long-term negotiations with the R.B. Wiley Charter School, which is interested in buying the church together with the surrounding complex for rehabilitation and reuse.

• Petition announced December 7, 2025
• Decree effective December 29, 2025
• Buyer: R.B. Wiley Charter School (under negotiation)
• Pastoral care for parishioners continued at Saint Ann, Saint Casimir, and Saint Stanislaus