About St. George Church · Erie, Pennsylvania
St. George Roman Catholic Church is a large family-and-community-focused parish in Erie, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. Founded in 1922 and seated at 5145 Peach Street, the parish today is led by Pastor Rev. Brian Vossler and serves more than 2,000 registered families. The parish is closely paired with St. George Catholic School (PreK–8), founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1944, and is well known in the diocese for its food pantry, legion of Mary, faith-formation programs, and active liturgical music ministry. Weekend Masses are offered on Saturday evening and three times on Sunday morning, with the 9:30 AM Mass livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel.
- Established
- 1922
- Patron
- St. George
- Rector
- Rev. Brian Vossler
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
St. George is a revitalized, family-focused parish that welcomes newcomers with open arms. Worship is rich and varied — three Sunday Masses plus a livestreamed 9:30 AM on YouTube, daily Mass Monday through Saturday, monthly First Friday adoration, the Legion of Mary, rosary after weekday Masses, and an active Liturgy/Music ministry led by a full-time director. Children from toddlers through eighth grade can grow up on-site at St. George School, and a long-running Food Pantry (partnered with Second Harvest Foodbank) and Giving Tree ministry put faith into action for neighbors in need.
Mass times at St. George Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays after the 8:00 AM Mass
- Saturdays from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- By appointment at any other time
Adoration times
- 1st Friday of every month, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Parish History
St. George Parish was organized in January 1922 under the founding pastor Rev. Alfred J. Fischer, with the original red-brick church completed on August 6, 1922. The parish's Catholic roots go back further, however — in 1863 Schulfrau Katherina Uhr opened the first Catholic school for German Catholics in her father's store in Kearsarge. Three pastors have shaped the modern parish: Father Fischer (1922–1942), Monsignor W. Lawrence Franklin (1942–1974) who built the school complex and the present-day church, and Father Daniel M. Martin (1974–1986) who oversaw the office-and-rectory complex of 1976. Under their successors the parish grew from about 40 families in 1942 to more than 2,000 families by 2016.
- Founded 1922 by Rev. Alfred J. Fischer
- Original red-brick church completed August 6, 1922 (~$12,000)
- Monsignor W. Lawrence Franklin pastored 1942–1974
- Present-day modern-style church dedicated October 7, 1959 (~$500,000, ~1,000 seats)
- Rev. Daniel M. Martin pastored 1974–1986; built 1976 office/rectory
- 2016 parish: 2,000+ registered families, one of the largest in the Diocese
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor, parochial vicar, a priest in residence, and two permanent deacons, with lay staff running the offices of liturgy/music, faith formation, business, and administration. Pastor Rev. Brian Vossler welcomes visitors personally on the parish website and invites newcomers to register as parishioners.
- Rev. Brian Vossler — Pastor
- Rev. Brandon Feikles — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Philip Oriole — In Residence
- Deacon Stephen Washek — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Robert Ball — Permanent Deacon
- Emily Cabanillas — Liturgy/Music Director
- Mike Palmer — Faith Formation Director
- Krista A. Jeffreys — Business Manager
- Roxanne Kleckner — Administrative Assistant
- Bobbie Farr — Office Assistant
St. George Catholic School
Saint George School is a parish-aligned PreK through 8th grade co-educational Catholic school at 1612 Bryant Street, Erie, sharing a special relationship with St. George Church. It was founded in 1944 under Monsignor W. Lawrence Franklin with the Sisters of Mercy, who staffed it for 61 years. The school is part of the Erie Catholic School System, is accredited by Middle States, and offers a 2-year-old 'Littlest Lancer' program, 3- and 4-year-old preschool, kindergarten, before- and after-school child care, a summer program, and optional bus transportation.
- Founded 1944 by the Sisters of Mercy at St. George Parish
- Programs: Littlest Lancer (2 yr), Preschool (3 & 4 yr), Kindergarten, Grades 1–8
- Before- and after-school child care; summer program; optional bus
- Financial aid and Tuition Angel / St. George Fund scholarships available
- Accredited by Middle States; part of the Erie Catholic School System
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for parish children is coordinated by Faith Formation Director Mike Palmer. The K–10 program covers ongoing religious education for school-age children, Sacramental preparation including Confirmation, and a Lenten Family Gathering. Adult formation and sacramental preparation (Baptism, Marriage) are coordinated through the Rectory Office.
- K–10 Religious Education program
- Confirmation preparation
- Lenten Family Gathering
- Baptism, Marriage, and other sacraments coordinated through the Rectory
Outreach & Food Pantry
St. George's outreach ministry centers on its parish Food Pantry, which provides food to parish families and to families within the service-area boundaries set by the Second Harvest Foodbank. Non-perishable donations are collected year-round in the food-pantry boxes at the entrance of the church. At Christmas, the Food Pantry partners with volunteer parishioners for the Giving Tree, providing gifts for families enrolled in the food bank.
- Food Pantry — parish families and Second Harvest service area
- Drop-off boxes for non-perishable food at the church entrance
- Giving Tree — Christmas gift program for food-pantry families
- Christian Outreach ministry
Parish Life
Parish Life ministries focus on making St. George a welcoming community. The Hospitality ministry greets newcomers at Mass, the Welcome Committee hosts parish coffees, and social organizations and events build community beyond Sunday worship. Parish governance is supported by the elected Pastoral Council and the Finance Council.
- Hospitality / Welcoming ministry
- Welcome Committee coffee events
- Social Organizations and Events
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
Marian & Vocation Ministries
The parish supports Marian devotion through the Legion of Mary and other Marian ministries, and fosters vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life through the 31 Club for Vocations, in which members attend Mass on a particular day each month for vocations.
- Legion of Mary (regular Tuesday meetings)
- Marian Ministries
- 31 Club for Vocations
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. George is led by full-time Liturgy/Music Director Emily Cabanillas. The 9:30 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish's YouTube channel, and the music team supports special events including Christmas Eve (with special music beginning at 9:30 PM before the 10:00 PM Christmas Mass).
- Music Director: Emily Cabanillas
- Liturgical Music Ministry
- Sunday 9:30 AM Mass livestreamed on parish YouTube
- Special Christmas Eve music and Mass schedule
Youth & Young Adult Ministries
The parish runs dedicated Youth and Young Adult ministries alongside its school and faith-formation programs, fostering age-appropriate faith life for teens and young adults in the parish and beyond.
- Youth Ministry
- Young Adult Ministry
Visiting & Joining the Parish
Newcomers are warmly welcomed: those interested in registering can fill out the Parish Registration Form on the website, and the parish staff will enter the information and mail a welcome letter from Father Brian. The Rectory Office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
- Online Parish Registration Form on stgeorgeerie.org
- Welcome letter from Father Brian mailed to new registrants
- Rectory Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–3:00 PM, Fri 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
- Phone: 814-864-0622
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Alfred J. Fischer1922–1942
Founding pastor; ordained 1910 at St. Bonaventure; previously served St. Agnes (Morrisdale), St. Leo (Ridgway), St. Mark (Emporium) and St. Mary's (Sartwell). Built original red-brick church completed August 6, 1922 for ~$12,000. Retired 1942; died March 29, 1962; buried in St. Agatha Cemetery, Meadville.
- Msgr. W. Lawrence Franklin1942–1974
Continued as editor of the Lake Shore Visitor. Built 1944 two-story school annex (Sisters of Mercy). Opened a complete new school in fall 1957. Dedicated the present modern church on October 7, 1959. Named Papal Chamberlain May 24, 1947 and Domestic Prelate January 24, 1954. Retired August 1, 1974; died December 13, 1986.
- Rev. Daniel M. Martin1974–1986
Erie native; formerly assistant headmaster at Cathedral Prep and chaplain to the Sisters of Mercy at Mercyhurst College; first headmaster of Elk County Christian High School (1963); pastor of St. Joseph, Oil City (1970). Built 1976 office-and-rectory complex. Named Prelate of Honor May 1984. Retired September 15, 1986.