Our Staff
Monsignor Robert L. Brugger
Pastor
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Msgr. Brugger grew up in Erie and attended St. John and St. Luke Schools. He is a graduate of Cathedral Prep. After seminary training at Gannon and St. Bonaventure Universities, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. He has served at several Erie parishes including St. Peter Cathedral, Holy Rosary and St. Jude, where he was pastor for eleven years before coming to St. George. In addition, he served as Episcopal Vicar for the Western Vicariate of the Erie Diocese and Priest Personnel Director for eight years. Pope John Paul II named him a monsignor in 1992.
In addition to his service as pastor of our church, he is a member of the Boards of Trustees at Gannon University and the new Erie Catholic Diocesan High School, which includes Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria Academy. Also, he is a member of the Diocesan Finance Council. He does occasional prison ministry at Erie County Prison, the state men’s prison in Albion and the women’s prison in Cambridge Springs.
He became Pastor of St. George Church on May 1, 2009.
Fr. Johnathan P. Schmolt
Parochial Vicar
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jschmolt@stgeorgeerie.org
Ordained in 2008, Fr. Johnathan was born and raised in Cincinnati where his parents and his two sisters still reside. He graduate from Covington Latin High School in Covington, Kentucky in 1990 and Northern Kentucky University in 1994 with a degree in Chemistry.
While in college he came to Pennsylvania to spend a week in Frenchville with the Young People Who Care program and he returned for more volunteer service in 1993 and 1994. In 1995 he decided to make the move to Pennsylvania with the intention of joining the Anawim Community of Frenchville.
After determining that the Anawim Community was not his calling, he moved to Coalport and began his own computer consulting company. He was actively involved in St. Basil the Great parish while he lived in Coalport from 1996 to 2001.
Finally, after sensing the calling of God, much prayer, and guidance from several priest friends he entered St. Marks Seminary in 2002 where he began his journey to the priesthood. Following studies at Gannon University and St. Mary's in Baltimore, Fr. Johnathan was ordained by Bishop Trautman for the Erie Diocese in 2008. He arrived at St. George on June 28, 2010 following his first assignment at St. Jude Parish.
Father T. Shane Mathew
Priest in Residence
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Father Shane Mathew was born and raised in
As a seminarian, he served assignments at the
Deacon Robert Ball
Permanent Deacon
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Deacon Robert Ball; was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Erie Diocese on June 9, 2006 and assigned to Saint George Parish where he enjoys being a member of the Pastoral Ministry team. Deacon (Bob) has been married to his wife, Patricia, for 41 years. God has blessed them with four children and ten grandchildren. He is a product of the Penn State University System. His Diaconate education was received from Gannon University. He currently serves as the Chairperson of the Social Concerns Committee for the Permanent Diaconate Community. He is a member of the Priest/ Deacon Advisory Committee for the Erie Diocese Cursillo Movement. He is also a Past President of the Cursillo Movement. A member of Serra International and a elected School Board Director for the Fort LeBoeuf School District, a position he has held for 20 years. With a deep sincere love for all God's children, he gives freely of all his God given talents.
Deacon Stephen Washek
Permanent Deacon
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Deacon Stephen Washek is an Erie Native, having attended Gannon University, where he converted to the Catholic Faith. Deacon Steve has been married to his wife Vicki for 26, years and they have been blessed with three children and 1 grandchild. Deacon Steve earned his BA in Social Work from Gannon University along with a certificate in Gerontology, and an MA in Pastoral Studies from Gannon University. Deacon Steve is currently assigned to Gannon University as the Director of Campus Ministry as well as the Diocesan Coordinator of Catholic Campus Ministry for the Diocese of Erie, and deacon assistant at St. George Parish. Deacon Steve and his wife Vicki have been members of the L’Arche Community in Erie since 1980, as well as teachers in the Deaconate Formation Program since 2006.
Sr. Josephine Vuodi, FSO
Pastoral Minister
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sr.josephine@stgeorgeerie.org
Sr. Josephine Vuodi, FSO, born in Germany of Italian parents, began her assignment as Pastoral Minister for St. George Parish in September 2008. Sister is a member of an international religious community, The Spiritual Family The Work (Familia Spiritualis Opus – FSO). The community was founded by Mother Julia Verhaeghe (1910-1997) in Belgium in 1938. The community has no particular apostolate and excludes none. The members are ready to meet the needs of the Church and faithful to their vocation to carry out their apostolate wherever God’s Providence leads them. Since entering the religious life, Sr. Josephine has served in various ministries in different countries. Over the years she has provided care for the elderly, served as tour guide of the catacombs in Rome and excavations of Saint Peter’s tomb in the Vatican. She served for five years in the Holy Land as secretary and tour guide in the Christian Information Center run by the Franciscan Fathers, taught catechism to children and performed various domestic and administrative duties for her community. This rich background of education and work experience enables her to meet the various needs of the Saint George parish family. She runs various ministries such as RCIA, Outreach, Christian Service Team, Adoration, Baptism classes, and a Widows Group, and is always willing to help individuals seeking advice.
Kris Rudy
Facilitator of Elementary Religious Education
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Kris is the Facilitator of the Elementary Religious Education Program, a position that she assumed in February 2001. Prior to this position, she began at St. George Parish in April of 1992 as Secretary of the Religious Education Program. Kris has been a member of Saint George for 20 years and her two daughters are graduates of Saint George School.
Kris has taken several courses at Mercyhurst College in the Religious Education Advanced Certificate Program along with other enrichment and methods classes. She has also served on Saint George Pastoral Council for eight and a half years, seven of them in the position of Secretary.
Kris feels her most rewarding accomplishments are the implementation of our annual Vacation Bible School and preparing second and third grade students for reception of the sacraments.
Mary Lou Pacoe
Facilitator of High School Religious Education
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In 1993, Mary Lou began as a Catechist at Saint Matthew in the Woods Parish in the Religious Education Program. In 1995, she received her Catechist Certificate having completed the courses required to be certified as a Catechist in the Diocese of Erie. She was offered the position of Facilitator of Religious Education in 1997. Being one of the first parishes in the Diocese of Erie, and months of dedication and hard work, Saint Matthew in the Woods received their Accreditation Status in Religious Education in 2004. Mary Lou was offered and accepted the position of High School Facilitator at Saint George Parish in 2005. Mary Lou is dedicated to always improving and striving to have the best religious education program to be offered in the Diocese.
Dr. Aaron Kerr
Youth Minister
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Donna Sandusky
Parish Secretary
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Donna Sandusky has been a part of the Saint George Family as Parish Secretary for 21 years. She has loved being a part of this very energetic community of Saint George.
Donna has seen and worked with the parishioners on many campaigns and has watched as this community has grown. Working with all the parishioners here, has been a source of great pleasure.
Donna and her late husband Jack had four wonderful children together. She has been blessed with seven beautiful grandchildren, two of which attend Saint George School.
Paula Levine
Parish Secretary
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