A Letter to the Parishioners of St. Columbkille Parish in Stoneboro, PA

December 19, 2025

This letter is addressed to the parishioners of St. Columbkille Parish, Stoneboro, and is to be read to the parishioners at all Masses December 20-21, 2025

Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

As you know, Father Robert Manning retired for medical reasons, effective November 30.  He served the parish generously and kindly for many years and I wrote to him expressing my gratitude. I have appointed Father Andrew Boyd as Pastor of St. Columbkille, effective December 16.  Father Boyd will continue as Pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Mercer, and as the Dean of the Greenville Deanery. 

Because of Father Boyd’s multiple duties, as well as the demands on our retired priests, we need to adjust the Mass schedules for both St. Columbkille Parish and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.  The new schedule for the parishes will be:

• St. Columbkille will have an anticipated Mass on Saturdays at 6:00pm.  We are not able to provide a priest for Sunday morning Mass in the current circumstances.
• Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish will adjust its schedule so that Father Boyd is able to fulfill his new duties.  The Masses at IHM will be on Saturday at 4:00pm, and on Sunday at 8:00am, and 11:00am.

This Mass schedule will become effective Saturday, January 3, 2026, and is for a six-month trial period, at which time it will be reviewed.

I am aware that this adjustment may cause some inconvenience at first, but I ask you to support Father Boyd and continue to pray for an increase of vocations.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Lawrence T. Persico

The Most Reverend Lawrence T. Persico, JCL

Bishop of Erie