About Holy Trinity · Erie, Pennsylvania
Holy Trinity is a Roman Catholic parish in Erie, Pennsylvania, founded in 1903 to serve the city's growing Polish community. Designated a 'national parish' (one without geographic boundaries), it draws worshippers from across the city and beyond and remains a vibrant center of Polish-American Catholic heritage on Erie's east side. Since a diocesan decree effective July 9, 2024, Holy Trinity has been formally partnered with neighboring Saint John the Baptist Parish and its mission of Holy Rosary, sharing clergy and one parish office while retaining its own historic identity at 2220 Reed Street.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- Holy Trinity (the Most Holy Trinity — Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
- Rector
- Rev. James E. Piszker (Pastor of the partnered parishes Holy Trinity and Saint John the Baptist / Holy Rosary)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
Holy Trinity is an intimate, caring national parish where worshippers from across Erie and beyond are welcomed into a community with deep Polish-Catholic roots. Visitors encounter a celebrated Romanesque church (the first in the U.S. with laminated wood arches), a richly active liturgical and devotional life, and signature ministries like the Parish Catholic Education Program that helps families with K–12 and college tuition. The parish is also known regionally for its annual Zabawa Polish Heritage Festival each August and its outreach through the Trinity Square neighborhood-reclamation project.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:30 PM at Holy Trinity
- By appointment
Welcome & Parish Identity
Holy Trinity describes itself as part of the 'Roman Catholic Communities of Saint John the Baptist, Holy Rosary, and Holy Trinity in Erie, Pennsylvania' — a partnered community alive in the Sacraments and guided by the Holy Spirit. The parishes recognize themselves as Christians called by God to make Christ the living reality through reconciliation, education and public witness, becoming a clearer sign of the reign of God to their parishes, city, nation and world.
History of Holy Trinity Parish
Founded in 1903 by Erie's Polish immigrant community through the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Society and dedicated by Bishop John Fitzmaurice on December 6, 1903, Holy Trinity grew from a relocated frame church into one of the east side's anchor institutions. Under Msgr. Severin Erasmus Niedbalski (44 years as pastor) the parish built a Felician-Sisters school (1910) and the present Romanesque church (1941). After the school closed in 1995, parishioners founded the Parish Catholic Education Program, and a five-year renovation plan (2002–2006) restored the church, social center, rectory, parking lots and campus.
- Founded 1903; national parish (no geographic boundaries)
- Original frame church moved from St. John the Baptist for $500
- Current Romanesque church dedicated Trinity Sunday, June 8, 1941 — first U.S. church with laminated wood arches
- School staffed by Felician Sisters 1910–1995
- Major renovations 2002–2006
- Trinity Square neighborhood-reclamation project
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Trinity is currently served as one of the Diocese of Erie's partnered parishes. Rev. James E. Piszker is Pastor of Holy Trinity and the partnered parishes of Saint John the Baptist and Holy Rosary. Rev. Msgr. Daniel E. Magraw serves as Senior Associate (residing at Holy Trinity), with Deacon Denis Coan assisting both partnered parishes. Support staff includes Mary Ann Merski (Parish Secretary), Ryan Coletta (Bookkeeper) and Jeannie McGinley (Liturgical Music contact).
- Rev. James E. Piszker — Pastor
- Rev. Msgr. Daniel E. Magraw — Senior Associate
- Deacon Denis Coan — Deacon Assistant
- Mary Ann Merski — Parish Secretary
- Ryan Coletta — Bookkeeper
- Jeannie McGinley — Liturgical Music
Architecture & Campus
The present Romanesque-style church was designed by architect George W. Stickle, with groundbreaking on April 8, 1940 and dedication on Trinity Sunday, June 8, 1941. It is historically significant as the first church in the United States built with laminated wood arches spanning the nave. The 2002–2006 campus renovation restored stained-glass windows and the organ, installed computer-controlled sanctuary lighting, restored the statues and added new sanctuary furniture; the social center, rectory and parking lots were also refurbished.
- Architect: George W. Stickle
- Style: Romanesque; first U.S. church with laminated-wood nave arches
- Cornerstone laid October 27, 1940 by Bishop John Mark Gannon
- Dedicated Trinity Sunday, June 8, 1941
- 2002–2006 renovation: stained glass, organ, lighting, statues, sanctuary furniture
Parish Catholic Education Program (PCEP)
After the parish school closed in 1995, Holy Trinity parishioners banded together to create the Parish Catholic Education Program — commonly known as PCEP. Through a contractual arrangement with the parish, families volunteer their time in exchange for tuition assistance paid directly to their children's Catholic schools, at the elementary, high school or college level of their choice. The program is unique in the diocese in being entirely funded by the participating families themselves.
- Volunteer hours exchanged for tuition assistance
- Open to elementary, high school and Catholic college
- Family chooses any Catholic school
- Program entirely funded by participating families
- Contact: Parish Office at (814) 456-0671
Parish Organizations & Ministries
Several organizations founded in the parish's early decades remain active, including the Rosary Society, the Ushers Society, the Polish Women's Alliance of America (St. Catherine's Group No. 469) and the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Auxiliary. Holy Trinity also hosts the Wiwaty Dancers — a regional Polish folk dance group that rehearses in the parish Social Center — and the Mar Vels, a resident polka band started by a parishioner. The parish runs a Book Club and coordinates the Zabawa Festival committee with co-chairs Ray and Edith Luniewski.
- Rosary Society
- Ushers Society
- Polish Women's Alliance of America — St. Catherine's Group No. 469
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Auxiliary
- Wiwaty Dancers
- Mar Vels (resident polka band)
- Book Club
- Zabawa Festival committee
Zabawa — Polish Heritage Festival
Zabawa — Polish for 'fun time' — is Holy Trinity's signature annual summer festival, held on the fourth weekend in August at the parish grounds at East 23rd and Reed Streets. It features nationally known polka bands, homemade Polish food and baked goods, traditional dancing and a Saturday Polka Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Erie, followed by a Sunday Polish Heritage Mass featuring traditional Polish hymns. Now in its fourth decade, Zabawa draws visitors from across the tri-state region. The 30th annual Zabawa was held August 25–27, 2023; the 32nd was held August 22–24, 2025; and the 25th-anniversary edition (under a different numbering by the parish site) was announced for August 24–26.
- Held annually on the fourth weekend in August
- Nationally known polka bands
- Homemade Polish food and baked goods
- Saturday Polka Mass with Bishop of Erie
- Sunday Polish Heritage Mass
- Co-chairs: Ray and Edith Luniewski
Trinity Square Project — Neighborhood Outreach
As an anchor in the neighborhood, Holy Trinity has partnered with neighbors and local businesses in the Trinity Square Project, dedicated to reclaiming the surrounding neighborhood one block at a time. Special focus has been placed on East 22nd Street between Reed and Ash Streets, complementing the parish's five-year capital plan that renovated the church, social center, rectory, parking lots and entire campus.
- Focused on East 22nd Street between Reed and Ash
- Partnership with neighbors and local businesses
- Complements parish-wide campus renovation
Catholic Services Appeal (CSA)
Holy Trinity parishioners are invited to support the Diocese of Erie's annual Catholic Services Appeal, the unified fundraising campaign supporting diocesan ministries across all 13 counties of northwest Pennsylvania.
- Annual diocesan fundraising campaign
- Supports ministries and departments across the 13-county diocese
- Pledged through the parish office
Visiting, Contact & Partnered Parishes
Visitors and parishioners can reach the parish office at (814) 456-0671 or by email at [email protected]. The physical church is at 2220 Reed Street, Erie, PA 16503, while mail is currently routed c/o St. John the Baptist Parish, 509 E. 26th Street, Erie, PA 16504. Under a diocesan decree issued by Bishop Lawrence T. Persico on April 11, 2024, and effective July 9, 2024, Holy Trinity is partnered with Saint John the Baptist Parish and its Holy Rosary Mission (2701 East Avenue, Erie), sharing one pastor and one parish office.
- Physical address: 2220 Reed St., Erie, PA 16503
- Mailing address: c/o St. John the Baptist Parish, 509 E. 26th St., Erie, PA 16504
- Phone: (814) 456-0671
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: www.holytrinityrc.org
- Partnered parishes: St. John the Baptist, Holy Rosary (decree effective July 9, 2024)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Vincent Matysiak1903–1904
First pastor; appointed from St. Barbara's, Houtzdale; died May 12, 1904 of carbon monoxide poisoning from a defective gas tank in the new rectory.
- Rev. (later Rt. Rev. Msgr.) Severin Erasmus Niedbalski1904–1948
Long-serving second pastor for 44 years until his death on February 12, 1948, age 83. Built the new school (1910) with the Felician Sisters and oversaw construction and 1941 dedication of the present Romanesque church.
- Rev. (later Msgr.) John L. MieczkowskiAfter 1948
Third pastor of Holy Trinity; later elevated by the Pope to Monsignor.
- Msgr. Thomas McSweeney
Served as Parochial Administrator in an innovative two-man leadership team with Deacon Martin Eisert as Parish Administrator — the first such arrangement in the Diocese of Erie.
- Rev. Msgr. Bernard Urbaniak2017–2018
Named Pastor of both St. Stanislaus and Holy Trinity under the 2017 pastoral-planning round; announced retirement in October 2018.
- Rev. Msgr. Daniel E. Magraw2019–present
Pastoral Administrator from July 2019; now Senior Associate of the partnered parishes, residing at Holy Trinity.
- Rev. James E. Piszker2024–present
Appointed Pastor of the partnered parishes of Holy Trinity and Saint John the Baptist (with Holy Rosary) by decree of Bishop Lawrence T. Persico, effective July 9, 2024.