Erie Catholic Students Celebrate First Communion

ERIE, Pa. — Erie Catholic School System announced today the addition of two new team members who will support the system’s mission by strengthening communication across its school communities and deepening Catholic identity across all five campuses. Chandler Villanueva has been named Director of Campus Ministry. Through this role, Villanueva will focus on supporting faith formation, spiritual growth, retreat programming, service learning, and liturgical life for students, faculty, staff, and administrators across the Erie Catholic School System. Villanueva brings a strong foundation in Catholic ministry, theology, youth engagement, and service. He has served as a regional youth minister, religious education teacher, long-term volunteer missionary at San Lucas Mission in Guatemala, chaplain’s office intern at Gannon University, and chaplain’s assistant at Saint Mary’s Home of Erie. He also currently serves as part of the faith formation team at Our Lady of Peace Church, where he helps plan and present weekly curriculum for Reconciliation and Confirmation preparation programs. “As Erie Catholic continues to strengthen the ways our campuses form students academically, socially, and spiritually, the Director of Campus Ministry role represents an important investment in our mission and our faith,” said Fr. Kevin Holland, Erie Catholic School System Chaplain. “Chandler brings a heart for ministry, experience working with young people, and a sincere commitment to helping students encounter Christ through prayer, service, retreat experiences, and the daily life of our schools.” In this role, Villanueva will work collaboratively with Erie Catholic leadership, the system chaplain, school principals, parish priests, diocesan clergy, faculty, and staff to support retreats, service projects, school Masses, spiritual formation opportunities, catechist certification, and faith-based programming across the system. Erie Catholic also welcomes Megan Lane as Communications Manager. Lane brings extensive media and advertising experience to the team. Previously, she worked in various roles with iHeart Radio & Media, The Oklahoman/Gannett, KFOR News Channel 4, KWTV News 9, and freelance content writing for Hertz NeverLost GPS. “Strong communication is essential to building trust, supporting families, and telling the story of Erie Catholic with clarity and purpose,” said Travis Washko, President of Erie Catholic School System. “Megan’s background in media, writing, relationship-building, and strategic communication will be a tremendous asset as we continue to strengthen how we communicate across our system and with the wider Erie community.” Together, these two new hires reflect Erie Catholic’s continued commitment to strengthening the student and family experience, supporting school leaders, and advancing the mission of Catholic education in Erie. “We are grateful to welcome both Chandler and Megan to Erie Catholic,” Washko said. “Their roles will support two areas that are central to who we are: forming young people in faith and communicating well with the families and communities we serve.” Both Lane and Villanueva begin their roles with Erie Catholic later this month.

Each year, the Easter season reminds us that our faith is never meant to stand still. Spring arrives, the days grow longer, and the Church invites us to reflect on the promise of new life that comes through the Resurrection of Christ. Easter is an invitation to begin again, to renew our hearts, and to grow deeper in our relationship with God. For families in our Catholic school community, this season offers a beautiful opportunity to reflect on how faith is lived each day — at home, at school, and in the life of the parish. Catholic education has always been more than what happens in the classroom. It is part of the larger mission of the Church, where parents, pastors, teachers, and students walk together in faith. We know that family life is busy, routines change, and it is not always easy to stay connected in the ways we hope to. Some families attend Mass every week. Others come when they are able. Some may feel that it has been a long time since they have been part of parish life at all. Wherever you find yourself today, know that the Church always welcomes you. Simple Ways to Begin This Easter Easter is a season that reminds us that we can begin again at any moment. If you have been thinking about reconnecting or diving deeper with the life of the Church, this season is a beautiful time to start. Even small steps can help families grow in faith and feel more at home in their parish community. You might consider: Attending Mass together, even if it has been a while. Simply being present is a meaningful place to begin. Visiting your parish for a Sunday, a weekday Mass, or a time of quiet prayer. Reintroducing prayer at home in a simple way, such as a short prayer before meals or bedtime. Participating in a parish event, service opportunity, or family activity when the chance arises. Talking with your child about what they are learning in religion class and sharing those conversations as a family. Reaching out to your parish if you have questions or are curious about ways to become more involved. No step is too small. Each moment we turn our hearts back toward God is a moment of grace. We are strongest when the partnership between family, school, and parish is alive and growing. When children see their parents living the faith, when they experience the joy of community, and when they know they belong to something greater than themselves, the lessons of Catholic education take root in lasting ways. This Easter season,take a moment to ask: Where is God inviting you to begin again? How can our family grow closer to Christ? How can we become more connected to the life of the Church? We pray for all of our students, families, pastors, and campus communities during this joyful season of Easter. May the hope of the Resurrection fill your homes with peace, strengthen your faith, and draw us ever closer to Christ and to one another.

Pictured: Students from Our Lady of Peace School who earned top placements at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science, alongside Mrs. Ehrman, OLP’s PJAS faculty coordinator, at the recent regional competition.

Inside a gym buzzing with excitement, two Erie Catholic teams—Saint Jude’s Raider Robotics and Saint George’s LEGO Lancers—joined 25 other groups from across the region to compete in FIRST LEGO League’s regional tournament. The energy was contagious as students huddled over their robot tables, coaches leaned in with encouragement, teams cheered loudly for one another, and kindness flowed as freely as the creativity on display. For many of our students, this was their first time ever competing in an event like this. Yet from the opening round, it was clear they were not only prepared, but they were also ready to soar. Saint Jude’s Raider Robotics quickly realized they were holding their own against teams with years of experience. Their determination paid off as the Raiders earned second place with 335 points in the Robot Competition, a remarkable accomplishment for a first-year team navigating their first official meet. As their coach shared, they didn’t know what to expect walking in, but they left knowing they belonged. “We knew the competition was experienced and we didn’t have any idea of what to expect at the tournament,” said Brian Rehrig, parent and coach for the Raider Robotics team. “It was a pleasant surprise and testament to the team’s hard work to compete with the other teams so effectively.” Just a few tables over, Saint George’s LEGO Lancers were having a standout day of their own. Made up mostly of fifth- and sixth-graders, the Lancers earned second place for their Innovation Project, taking home a LEGO trophy that will soon find its place in the campus's display case. Their robot performance was equally impressive, tying for 8th place overall and scoring 230 points. “One of the judges came up to me afterward to say how impressed he was with the team and how strong our trajectory looks going forward,” said Kevin Miceli, parent and coach of the LEGO Lancers. “We’ve got our sights set on states next year!” This season’s FIRST LEGO League challenge was built around the theme “UNEARTHED℠,” inviting students into an archaeological-inspired adventure that connects the past with the future. Teams explored how artifacts, innovations, and discoveries from long ago can inform and inspire the solutions of tomorrow. While each campus celebrated its own achievements, the weekend was also a testament to what is possible when our system and parents come together to invest in hands-on learning. Parents volunteered hours after school and PTOs helped get things off the ground. Families rearranged schedules to get children to practices and competitions. And through it all, the system’s commitment to STEAM learning created space for students to explore robotics, coding, engineering, and teamwork in ways that strengthen both confidence and academic growth. According to the MIT Media Lab, research consistently shows that hands-on, experiential learning can increase retention by up to 90% and robotics in particular strengthens problem-solving, spatial reasoning, and mathematical thinking. Meanwhile, programs like FIRST LEGO League are linked to increased confidence, teamwork skills, and long-term interest in STEM. These opportunities align beautifully with how children at this age learn best: through doing, experimenting, collaborating, failing safely, and trying again while surrounded by adults who believe in their potential. “Opportunities like FIRST LEGO League make challenging students in new ways accessible even to our youngest learners,” said Lisa Panighetti, Vice President of Academic Affairs for Erie Catholic. “It gives students a chance to explore, imagine, build, and work together in ways that reflect the very best of what we want for them academically and personally.” FIRST Lego League has programming for preschool through eighth grade. Erie Catholic will continue exploring how to widen these opportunities within Erie Catholic, ensuring more of our students can participate in this kind of joyful, meaningful learning. Congratulations, Raider Robotics and LEGO Lancers teams! Thank you for representing your campuses with joy and humility. We can’t wait to see what they dream up next season!

The Erie Catholic School System is expanding its Erie Knights Lacrosse program to include all K-8 grade levels within the system, now including kindergarten through second graders. Since its launch five years ago, Erie Catholic Knights Lacrosse has steadily strengthened in participation, coaching, and vision. When the program first began, the long-term goal was always to create an athletic pathway that would eventually welcome students of all ages. That vision now becomes reality as Erie Catholic introduces the sport to its youngest learners at a time when lacrosse is experiencing unprecedented interest across the country. “We are so excited to continue growing lacrosse at the youth level as this has been the goal since we started this program,” said Andrew Smykowski, coach for the team. “It’s been great to get lacrosse in front of as many boys and girls as possible. It is truly for everyone and we want to share that in a fun, fast paced environment that focuses on the development of our students.” Over the past two decades, lacrosse has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing team sports in the United States, with national participation more than tripling since the early 2000s. This trend is especially strong at the youth and scholastic levels, where more families seek sports that blend conditioning, skill development, strategy, and teamwork. This national surge underscores that Erie Catholic is not simply expanding a program—it is opening the door for students to participate in a sport whose momentum and appeal are rising across the country. “Athletics help form confident and capable students,” said Travis Washko, president of Erie Catholic. "Providing our youngest students the opportunity to experience a sport like lacrosse allows them to grow in ways that support their whole development.” Lacrosse supports coordination, balance, and spatial awareness while also encouraging communication, cooperation, and confidence, which is developmentally aligned with how younger children learn best. National youth clinics show that roughly 85% of new players are experiencing lacrosse for the first time in early elementary grades, demonstrating how well the sport fits the needs and interests of young learners. “Beginning with foundational skills is fundamental to athletic success as our students move on to competitive programs,” said Tanner Verplancke, athletic director at Erie Catholic. “It creates a natural and healthy developmental pathway that benefits students in athletics and in the classroom.” Students interested in playing may attend an upcoming clinic before season registration begins in March. For more information, parents may download the information flyer in PlusPortals or reach out to Coach Smykowski directly: andrew.smykowski@cathedralprep.com.

Middle school students from the Erie Catholic School System and Mother Teresa Academy came together this week for the annual Great Mass, a longstanding Catholic Schools Week tradition that brings students, teachers, and clergy together in shared worship. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Lawrence Persico, along with parish pastors from each campus, and Erie Catholic’s chaplain, Fr. Kevin Holland. Held during Catholic Schools Week, the liturgy offers students a chance to unite as one community in prayer, reflection, and celebration. Erie Catholic President Travis Washko said the gathering reflects the momentum he’s seen building across the system. “As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, I’ve been reflecting on the remarkable movement already underway throughout our schools,” Washko said. “In these first months, I’ve seen a community ready to come together in new ways.” This year’s national theme—Unity in Faith and Community—aligns closely with Erie Catholic’s priorities. “The theme feels especially fitting as we step into a new era as a system,” Washko said. “This is a time when our shared Catholic identity guides us, our collaboration strengthens us, and our mission calls us to move forward together.” A central focus of Catholic Schools Week is service, something Washko says is rooted deeply in Erie Catholic’s culture. “Service isn’t just something we do—it’s a way of life we form in our students. You can see it when students support each other, when families rally around someone in need, and when our schools and parishes work side by side. That spirit of compassion and love is the heart of Catholic education.” The Great Mass also marks a moment of looking ahead. Erie Catholic will celebrate its 10-year anniversary in Fall 2026, a milestone that will shape the future direction of Catholic education in the region. These next years will define how Erie Catholic strengthens its Catholic identity, deepens unity across campuses, and ensures every child entrusted to us grows in mind, body, and spirit. Throughout the week, each Erie Catholic school has been celebrating the daily themes highlighted nationally by Catholic Schools Week. These include days dedicated to celebrating parishes, community, students, the nation, vocations, faculty and staff, and families. Classrooms across all five campuses have participated in activities ranging from special prayer services and service projects to classroom reflections and schoolwide events. The intention of each theme is to help students understand the many people and partnerships that shape their education and to recognize the ways Catholic identity is lived out in everyday school life. About Catholic Schools Week Catholic Schools Week is a national celebration held each year to highlight the value of Catholic education in the United States. According to the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), the week recognizes the faith formation, academic excellence, and community service that define Catholic schools. Events often include Masses, open houses, service projects, and activities that honor students, families, educators, parishes, and local communities. To learn more, visit ncea.org .

As Christmas approaches, the Advent season invites us to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for what truly matters. At Erie Catholic, this time of year offers a meaningful opportunity to give thanks for the gift of community and the shared mission that unites our system. Advent is a season rooted in hope, anticipation, and quiet preparation. Across every campus, these values come to life each day as students grow not only in knowledge and skill, but in compassion, generosity, and faith. Our classrooms, hallways, and prayer spaces reflect a commitment to educating the whole child—mind, body, and spirit—while helping students understand the deeper meaning of the season. The Christmas story reminds us that God chose to enter the world in humility and love, bringing light into the darkness and hope to every home. This message sits at the heart of Catholic education and guides our work as we partner with families to form young people who are grounded in faith, kindness, and service to others. This season is also a time of gratitude. We are thankful for the dedicated faculty and staff who serve our students with care, the families who place their trust in our system, and the broader community that supports Erie Catholic through prayer, encouragement, and engagement. As we look toward the new year, we do so with optimism and purpose. Important work is underway to strengthen our system, deepen connections across our campuses, and ensure that every student and family feels supported, valued, and proud to be part of Erie Catholic. May this holy season bring peace, joy, and rest to all those we serve. From all of us at Erie Catholic, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year filled with hope and promise!

Throughout October, Catholics around the world honor Mary, our Blessed Mother, through the devotion of the Holy Rosary. It’s a time to pause, reflect, and draw closer to Jesus through the eyes and heart of His mother—a gentle reminder that prayer connects us, strengthens us, and brings peace to our hearts and homes. Last week, the Erie Catholic School System came together as one faith-filled community to pray the Rosary virtually. From classrooms across all five campuses, students, teachers, and leaders joined in prayer, each taking a decade of the Rosary as we lifted our intentions to God. The virtual Rosary was a beautiful expression of unity where voices, young and old, came together in rhythm and reverence. Each decade was led by a different campus, creating a living example of what it means to be one system rooted in faith and love for Christ and His Mother. “As our students prayed, they were reminded that every “Hail Mary” is a small act of love, a chance to quiet our hearts, to listen, and to grow in faith together,” said Travis Washko, president of Erie Catholic. “These moments, though brief, form the foundation of a lifelong relationship with God.” The Power of the Rosary at Home The Rosary is sometimes called “the Gospel on a string.” Each decade invites us to meditate on the life of Jesus and Mary—His birth, ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection. Praying it together as a family can be a meaningful way to bring faith into daily life. Here are a few ways families can keep the spirit of the Rosary alive at home: Start small: Pray one decade together before bedtime or dinner. Even a few minutes of prayer can bring peace and closeness. Make it meaningful: Invite each family member to share an intention for their decade, like someone they want to pray for or something they’re thankful for. Create a sacred space: Light a candle or place a small statue or image of Mary nearby to help center your family in prayer. Pray on the go: The Rosary can be prayed in the car on the way to school, while taking a walk together, or wherever your day takes you. As the final prayers echoed through our classrooms, the quiet reverence of our students lifting their voices together served as a powerful reminder of who we are and what binds us. In a world that moves quickly, moments like this slow us down and re-center us on what matters most. May the peace of the Rosary continue to fill our hearts and homes long after October ends, reminding us that when we pray together, we grow together in faith and love as one Erie Catholic community.

There’s no better time to experience the heart of Catholic education than during Discover Catholic Schools Week, and no better place to do it than right here at Erie Catholic. Starting Saturday, November 15th, our campuses will open their doors to welcome prospective families, alumni, parishioners, and supporters of Catholic education for a first-hand look at what makes Erie Catholic special. Whether you’re exploring Catholic education for the first time or returning to the halls that helped shape who you are, these open houses offer a meaningful way to reconnect, rediscover, and be inspired. Experience the Erie Catholic Difference Faith and learning go hand in hand at Erie Catholic. Our students thrive in an environment built on academic excellence, moral development, and a strong sense of community. Visitors will have the chance to tour classrooms, meet teachers and principals, talk with current families, and see how we nurture the whole child in mind, body, and spirit. Each school has its own unique personality and strengths, but they all share the same mission: to prepare students to lead lives of faith, integrity, and service. A Celebration for All Who Believe in Catholic Education Discover Catholic Schools Week isn’t just for prospective families; it’s a celebration for everyone who believes in the power and purpose of Catholic education. Alumni can stroll through familiar hallways and see how their alma mater continues to grow. Parishioners and supporters can witness the impact of their generosity in the smiles of our students and the vibrant learning taking place each day. When you walk through our doors, you’ll see more than classrooms. You will feel a sense of belonging, purpose, and hope for the future. Join Us: Register Today We invite you to visit one or more of our Erie Catholic campuses during Discover Catholic Schools Week. Come see how faith forms the foundation of everything we do and how it continues to transform lives every day. To view open house dates, times, and locations, visit eriecatholic.org/open-house. Come discover Catholic education. Come discover Erie Catholic.