About St. Patrick · Erie, Pennsylvania
St. Patrick Parish in Erie, Pennsylvania, known as the "Spirit of the Bayfront," is the oldest Catholic parish in the City of Erie, established in 1837 by Irish Catholic settlers who arrived during the era of the Great Hunger. The current Romanesque church — the parish's third — was begun in 1897 and first used for Mass on Christmas Day 1906 under the direction of the long-serving Monsignor Peter M. Cauley. It is famous worldwide for its life-size, hand-carved wooden Stations of the Cross (crafted in Munich, Germany), massive Munich-made stained-glass windows, and soaring column-free interior. Today St. Patrick's is recognized across the city for its outreach to the poor, homeless, and hungry, most visibly through the Sister Mary Pascal Gray, SSJ Food Pantry, one of the largest in Erie.
- Established
- 1837
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Michael DeMartinis
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
St. Patrick's offers a historic downtown Catholic home in the oldest parish of the City of Erie, with the faithful beauty of a Romanesque landmark church recognized worldwide for its life-size Munich Stations of the Cross and stained glass. Worship here is warm and accessible — three weekend Masses (one livestreamed each Sunday), a daily Mass Monday through Thursday, and a generous parish staff. For those who want their parish life to be about feeding the hungry, the parish runs the Sister Mary Pascal Gray, SSJ Food Pantry, one of Erie's largest, distributing 2–3 tons of food to more than 530 people each week, with clothing giveaways, free books, and seasonal celebrations for the east-side neighbors it serves.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (call the parish office at (814) 454-8085)
About St. Patrick Parish — The Spirit of the Bayfront
St. Patrick Parish in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania, has been the "Spirit of the Bayfront" since 1837 and is the oldest Catholic parish in the City of Erie. Founded by Irish Catholic families, it proclaims the Good News inside its landmark Romanesque church and reaches outward to feed the poor, shelter the homeless, and serve the hungry through its parish ministries.
Parish History
Father McCabe celebrated the first Mass here in 1837 in a wooden house at Third and German Streets. A brick Pro-Cathedral followed, with its first Mass on Christmas Day 1849. The Diocese of Erie was created in 1853 from fourteen counties of the Diocese of Pittsburgh; because there was no bishop's residence, the early bishops literally lived next door to St. Patrick's until St. Peter's Cathedral was built. The present Romanesque church, begun in 1897 under Monsignor Peter M. Cauley, was dedicated in 1906 and remains one of the most visually arresting Catholic churches in the region. A complete restoration was undertaken in 2012.
- 1837 — Parish founded by Father McCabe
- 1849 — Brick Pro-Cathedral completed; first Mass Christmas Day
- 1853 — Diocese of Erie created
- 1897 — Construction of present church begins
- 1906 — Church dedicated August 2; Munich Stations of the Cross installed
- 1937 — Centennial of the parish and Golden Jubilee of Msgr. Cauley
- 2012 — Major interior restoration completed
The Church Building & Architecture
The present church, the parish's third, is Romanesque in style and built of grey granite. It stands 110 feet high and 145 feet deep, with twin towers in the front corners, three marble altars in the sanctuary, artistic stucco ceilings in delicate ivory tints, and massive hand-painted windows by skilled Munich artists. Its column-free interior is a defining feature. The 2012 restoration renewed the lighting system and the world-famous life-size hand-carved wooden Stations of the Cross from Munich.
- Romanesque style, grey granite exterior
- Twin front-corner towers
- Three marble altars
- Hand-painted Munich stained-glass windows
- Column-free interior
- Life-size hand-carved Munich Stations of the Cross
- 2012 restoration — see photos and virtual tour on the parish website
Mass and the Sacraments
St. Patrick's offers a daily Mass Monday through Thursday at 8:00 AM, a Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM, and Sunday Masses at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM (the 10:30 AM Mass is livestreamed every Sunday). Holy Day Mass is at 12:00 PM. The Sacrament of Penance is available by appointment. Baptisms are prepared through Anne Causgrove's Baptismal Preparation program, and a Wedding Coordinator assists couples preparing for marriage at the church.
- Daily Mass: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM (livestreamed)
- Holy Day: 12:00 PM
- Confession: By appointment
Livestream Mass
Every Sunday at 10:30 AM, St. Patrick's livestreams its principal Mass for those unable to attend in person. The telecast is made possible through the generosity of parishioners Morgan and Kathy Jacox, with the technical expertise of parishioner Jamey Stewart of Mega Media Factory. Visitors are asked to refrain from sharing the livestream on public social platforms.
Sister Mary Pascal Gray, SSJ Food Pantry
The Sister Mary Pascal Gray, SSJ Food Pantry is the most visible outreach of St. Patrick Parish and one of the largest food pantries in the City of Erie. A Second Harvest member agency since 1982, the pantry is staffed by an all-volunteer team under Food Pantry Director Mary Williams, working in conjunction with Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwestern Pennsylvania. The pantry distributes between two and three tons of food each week to an average of more than 530 people, with additional distributions at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Unlike many pantries that distribute only canned and dry goods, the pantry also purchases beef, chicken, fish and other frozen foods so that recipients receive complete meals.
- Open Tuesdays 9:30–11:30 AM
- Serves a defined area of the lower east side of the City of Erie
- Weekly clothing give-away and free books
- Blood pressure screenings, voter registration and tax help offered to clients
- Knights & Ladies of St. Patrick host winter breakfasts for clients
- Annual 4th of July picnic for pantry clients
- Free Christmas Bazaar with decorations, wrapping paper, stockings and presents through the Sunshine Group
- Funded entirely by donations
Knights and Ladies of St. Patrick
Founded in 1978 with six men, the Knights and Ladies of St. Patrick has inducted men and women recognized by the Bishop of Erie for outstanding contributions to the community in the spirit of Christ Jesus — women have been inducted since 1979, and today about 158 members are active. The organization's special ministry is supporting the Sister Mary Pascal Gray, SSJ Food Pantry, and it also sponsors the annual Erie St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Erie Irish Festival. Members receive a hand-made kelly-green sash at their induction.
- Founded 1978; women admitted from 1979
- ~158 living members, 139 deceased
- Sponsors the Erie St. Patrick's Day Parade and Irish Festival
- Special ministry: Sister Mary Pascal Gray, SSJ Food Pantry
- Chaplain: Rev. Michael DeMartinis
Music and Liturgy
Music at St. Patrick's is led by Organist and Music Director Mark Alloway. The parish's livestream Mass is supported by parishioner technical talent, ensuring the Sunday liturgy reaches a wider audience each week. The Romanesque sanctuary, with three marble altars and Munich windows, forms a luminous setting for the parish's liturgical life.
Faith Formation
Alongside its sacramental preparation (Baptismal Preparation with Anne Causgrove, and marriage preparation with the Wedding Coordinator), the parish offers seasonal Scripture classes during Lent, led by Pastor Father Mike DeMartinis — most recently a three-session series held in church from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Classes are offered at no charge, with parishioners asked to call the parish office to RSVP.
Visit, Contact, and Office Hours
Visitors are warmly welcomed to St. Patrick's, the "Spirit of the Bayfront," at 130 East 4th Street in downtown Erie. The church is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM for prayer and visits. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and can be reached at (814) 454-8085 or [email protected].
- Address: 130 East 4th Street, Erie, PA 16507
- Phone: (814) 454-8085
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
- Church open: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Father McCabe1837–1840s
Officiated as first pastor from a wooden house at Third and German Streets; removed by Bishop Kenrick.
- Rev. Father Patrick J. Prendergast
Short pastorate.
- Rev. Father Bertes
Italian immigrant priest whose brief tenure reflected the era's Irish/English tensions.
- Rev. Father Brownto ~1849
Began building the 'Old St. Patrick's' / Pro-Cathedral.
- Rev. Father Reynolds
Completed the brick Pro-Cathedral; first Mass celebrated Christmas Day 1849.
- Rev. Joseph H. Deaneby 1853
Pastored when the Diocese of Erie was created in 1853; later resigned for health.
- Rev. William Lambert
Succeeded Father Deane.
- Rev. William Pollard
First pastor formally appointed under Bishop Young.
- Rev. Msgr. Peter M. Cauley, V.G.to 1937
Longest-serving pastor (Golden Jubilee 1937); built the present Romanesque church dedicated 1906 and the Stations of the Cross.
- Rev. Thomas Plunkett
Pastored in the era of the Cauley Community update.
- Monsignor Henry A. Kriegel
Earlier pastor who recalled the parish's Irish Catholic roots publicly.
- Rev. Michael DeMartinispresent
Current pastor; faculty member at Cathedral Preparatory School; chaplain of the Knights and Ladies of St. Patrick.