About St. Jude the Apostle · Erie, Pennsylvania
St. Jude the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in northwestern Erie, Pennsylvania, situated along the state's only Lake Erie shoreline near Presque Isle State Park. Established in 1955 by Archbishop John Mark Gannon, the parish has grown from a chapel-Mass congregation into a multi-building campus including a school, parish center, and a free-standing bell tower. Following diocesan reconfiguration in 2024, it absorbed neighboring Saint Andrew Parish (now a secondary mission church) and was partnered with Saint Stephen of Hungary (San Esteban), which serves the Spanish-speaking community. The parish mission is 'Revealing Jesus to one another and the world,' and it offers Mass in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Jude the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Polinek
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
St. Jude offers a rare combination in the Erie area: a bilingual Catholic community (English and Spanish) with daily Mass, a robust school, First Friday 24-hour Adoration, and dozens of active lay ministries — from OCIA/RCIA and faith formation for K-12 to a neighborhood food pantry, a men's prayer group, the Giving Tree, and homebound visitation. Its 2024 expansion added Saint Andrew Church as a Sunday Mass site and Saint Stephen of Hungary (San Esteban) as a partnered Spanish-speaking community, so parishioners can worship at one of three locations across the west side while belonging to one parish family.
Mass times at St. Jude the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30–4:00 PM in the chapel
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday Adoration: 24 hours following the 8 AM Mass, 8 AM Friday through 8 AM Saturday (sign up for a committed Holy Hour)
History of St. Jude the Apostle Parish
St. Jude the Apostle Parish was canonically established on September 30, 1955 by Archbishop John Mark Gannon of the Diocese of Erie. The Archbishop quietly purchased a nine-acre parcel bounded by Lowell Avenue, West 6th Street, and West 8th Street to serve as the parish's home. For its first two years the pastor lived at Villa Maria Academy, and Masses were celebrated in the chapel of St. Joseph Home for Children while the parish waited for its own buildings.
- Established September 30, 1955 by Archbishop John Mark Gannon
- Founding pastor: Msgr. Thomas Griffin
- First Masses held at the chapel of St. Joseph Home for Children
- Pastor initially resided at Villa Maria Academy
- Ground broken for the school on May 1, 1958
- School opened in 1959; renamed Our Lady's Christian School to serve both St. Jude and St. Julia parishes
- Sisters of St. Joseph staffed the school from the start; Sister Beatrice Marie Bricher was first principal
- Parish offices and Mass moved to the school auditorium in 1959
- Additional four acres purchased along W. 6th Street in the late 1960s
- Current church building constructed on that acreage in 1970
- Parish center and additional offices added in the 1980s
- Another 4.5 acres acquired in 1990, extending property to Peninsula Drive, where a free-standing bell tower was built
- School joined the Erie Catholic School System in 2017 and was renamed St. Jude School
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor and parochial vicar, three permanent deacons (one retired), and a lay staff that handles faith formation, parish operations, facilities, music, and sacramental support. Both English and Spanish lines are answered at the parish office.
- Rev. Michael Polinek — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Kevin Holland — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Dcn. Matthew Ochalek
- Dcn. Miguel Alvarez (Spanish-language contact, 814-459-0543)
- Dcn. Richard Brogdon (retired)
- Tim Rydberg — Parish Support Minister
- Sara Comi — Business Manager & Faith Coordinator
- Tom Swanson — Director of Facilities
- Marlene Ek — Sacristan & Maintenance
- Bruce & Trisha Yates — Music Ministry
- Devon Yates — Accompanist
Life Groups & Ministries
The parish organizes its lay ministry into four 'Life Group' tracks — Faith Formation, Liturgical, Community, and Service — designed so parishioners can plug in based on their gifts and stage of life. There are dozens of active ministries, many with named coordinators.
- Faith Formation K-12 (mission trips, concerts, interactive events) — Sara Comi
- OCIA & Adult Formation — Fr. Kevin Holland & Dcn. Matt Ochalek
- Music Ministry & Choir — Bruce & Trisha Yates
- Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Sue Matteson
- Children's Liturgy of the Word during 10:30 AM Mass — Colleen Hammon
- Hospitality Ministers (Ushers) — Dan Pierce
- St. Jude / St. Andrew Neighborhood Food Pantry — Bill Haggerty
- Our Neighbor's Place Overflow Shelter — St. Jude Office
- St. Patrick's Haven meal program — Nancy Donnelly
- Saint Jude Cares (parishioner outreach, home visits, Communion) — Timothy Rydberg
- Westlake Woods Communion ministry — Donna Geiger
- First Friday Home Visits — Sue Hudson
- Comfort & Care (sympathy cards) — Patricia Fidorra
- Holy Dusters (sanctuary cleaning) — Shirley Kormos
- Our Lady's Guild (parish women) — Marilyn Redenius
- The 12 (intergenerational men's group, 18+) — Tim Rydberg
- Women of Faith — Caitie Rydberg
- Men's Prayer Group — Phil & Susann Doc
- Marriage Annulment Ministry — Donna Geiger
- Giving Tree Committee — Sara Comi
- Social Committee — Sara Comi
- Prayer Line Ministry — Nancy Young, Marie Gieza
- Morning Rosary after 8 AM Mass — Carol Layden
- Wednesday Morning Fellowship — Carol Layden
- Young Adults Group (21–35, currently paused)
Sacraments
Parish sacramental life centers on the Eucharist, Confession, Baptism, and Holy Matrimony. Weddings are typically scheduled at 1 PM at Saint Jude, with later availability at San Esteban and Saint Andrew; couples may also be married at Mercyhurst University's Christ the King Chapel or Gannon University's Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Holy Matrimony — weddings held at 1 PM at Saint Jude; also at San Esteban and Saint Andrew
- Off-site wedding venues available: Mercyhurst University (Christ the King Chapel) and Gannon University (Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel)
- Confession — Saturdays 3:30–4:00 PM in the chapel or by appointment
- First Friday Adoration — 24-hour vigil of Eucharistic devotion
Three Worship Sites — One Parish Family
Following Bishop Lawrence T. Persico's 2024 diocesan reconfiguration, St. Jude the Apostle Parish is now a territorial parish covering much of Erie's west side and parts of Millcreek Township. It includes Saint Andrew Church as a secondary mission church (with Sunday Mass) and is partnered with San Esteban / Saint Stephen of Hungary Church, which serves Erie's Spanish-speaking Catholic community.
- Saint Jude the Apostle Church (parish church) — 2801 W. 6th St., Erie, PA 16505
- Saint Andrew Church (secondary mission) — 1116 W. 7th St., Erie, PA 16502; Sunday Mass at 9:15 AM
- San Esteban / Saint Stephen of Hungary Church (partnered) — 1237 W. 21st St., Erie, PA 16502; Sunday Spanish Mass at 12:00 PM
- Saint Jude and Saint Stephen churches are 3.1 miles apart; Saint Andrew and Saint Jude are 2.5 miles apart
- Parish office lines: (814) 833-0927 (English), (814) 459-0543 (Español)
St. Jude School
St. Jude School began in 1959 as Our Lady's Christian School, serving children of both St. Jude and St. Julia parishes and originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph. It was incorporated into the Erie Catholic School System in 2017 and renamed St. Jude School. The school shares the parish campus at 2801 W. 6th St. in Erie.
- School opened in 1959 as Our Lady's Christian School
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph as administrators, teachers, cooks, and housekeepers
- Sister Beatrice Marie Bricher served as first principal (1959)
- Renamed St. Jude School in 2017 upon joining the Erie Catholic School System
- Located on the St. Jude parish campus
Location & Visit
St. Jude sits along Pennsylvania's only Lake Erie shoreline, near West 6th Street and Peninsula Drive and just minutes from Presque Isle State Park. The 7:30 AM Sunday Mass is live-streamed online for parishioners and visitors who cannot attend in person.
- Address: 2801 W. 6th St., Erie, PA 16505
- Located along the only Lake Erie shoreline in Pennsylvania
- Minutes from Presque Isle State Park
- Live-streaming of the 7:30 AM Sunday Mass via the parish website
- Parish office email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Thomas Griffin1955–
Founding pastor; led early fundraising for the land and drove the parish's commitment to Catholic education that led to building the school.