Emmaus Ministries

A commitment to the forgotten and the faceless of society – a Christian presence and outreach in Erie, Pennsylvania since 1974.

Mission

EMMAUS MINISTRIES: A Commitment to the Forgotten and the Marginal
— to the faceless of society who get left out and left behind without support at times of crisis

— to the single mother whose life is a constant struggle to provide simple necessities for her children

— to the child lost in poverty whose present is barely human and whose future is already lost

— to the elderly whose basic needs are too great for a check that is too small

— to the working poor who work in the lowest of low paying jobs and never get ahead

Contact Information

Emmaus Ministries, Inc.
345 East 9th Street
Erie, PA 16503
Phone: 814-459-8349
Fax: 814-459-8066
Email:
Sister Mary Miller, OSB
Margaret Kloecker
Rita Scrimenti

Emmaus Soup Kitchen
218 East 11th Street
Erie PA 16503

Sister Gus' Kids Cafe
310 East 10th Street
Erie PA 16503
814-878-2922

Breaking the Bread

 
The well-fed person
and the hungry one
do not see the same thing
when they look upon a loaf of bread.
 
— Rumi
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

From the Director

Sister Mary Miller

Sister Mary Miller, Emmaus Ministries Director

I want to invite you to a special place of care and concern. It’s called Emmaus Ministries. We named it Emmaus after the Bible story. Do you remember it? Two of Jesus’ followers were on the road to Emmaus and met a stranger. They told the stranger how sad they were because their...

For the Record

Emmaus Grows

We’ve all heard that “it takes a village to raise a child”. Based on recent experience, Emmaus would like to add that it also “…takes a village to raise a garden.” At least a large garden. Approached by volunteers Rosemary Gantz (thegreatfullgardener.com) and Ellen DiPlacido, to use the 3000 square feet of property adjoining Emmaus Food Pantry for an expanded garden, Sister Mary Miller, Director, readily agreed. There was only one glitch—the property did not belong to Emmaus. No problem...

Homemade Goodness

This cake caught the eyes of both Soup Kitchen guests and volunteers the other evening. The homemade creation is part of a monthly delivery of brownies, cookies, cakes and sweet bread donated by parishioners of St. Mark the Evangelist Church in Lawrence Park. Parishioner and Soup Kitchen volunteer Judy Stanczak, (pictured) noted that this cake was the creation of Julie and Joe Bereski. “Julie baked and frosted the cake and Joe decorated it,” said Judy. “Our guests love their desserts and I...

Kids Cafe Store News

What do 100 boxes of cereal and 55 polo shirts have in common? Answer: The Erie Elks Lodge #67.
“With The Elks recent cash donation to the Kids Cafe we purchased new polo shirts for the children,” said Kids Cafe Store Coordinator and Volunteer,” Gretchen Mikelonis. Gretchen along with volunteers Kathy St. George and Sheila Baldwin (pictured) shopped for and purchased 55 school uniform shirts in navy blue, white and gray. Prior to this, the Elks Lodge had collected the cereal for the...

Walking Together on the Road to Emmaus

Volunteer at Emmaus

Over 300 people volunteer at Emmaus food pantry, soup kitchen and Kids Cafe.Call 814-459-8349 if you would like to volunteer.

Kitty Welton, Soup Kitchen Volunteer

Read about Kitty Welton's "Heart Moment". An experience in her life where her heart became softer and more compassionate. Thirty-one-years ago I was pregnant with my third child and because of an RH factor my daughter needed blood transfusions. While in a Pittsburgh hospital for the third round of transfusions, I lay hopelessly in bed as the attempts that day had been unsuccessful. My roommate was a nineteen-year-old who told me that she had undergone a liver transplant and was never supposed to have children, but that she and her husband decided to take the risk. Now she was pregnant with twins, both of who had spinal bifida. She was from a depressed area in West Virginia and her husband had to remain there to keep his job. It was obvious that she did not have much financial or family support. My roommate asked me how things had gone with the transfusion that day and I pretended to be asleep because, at that moment, I was depressed and wanted to wallow in my sorrow.

Donate to Emmaus

There is no such thing as a donation that is “too little.” Over 90% of our donations are under $100.

Elise Rinke, Donor

Meet Elise Rinke. Like many 10–year-olds, Elise watches the Disney Channel for fun. But, she was also inspired with the channel’s feature spots of children helping people, communities and the planet. “People do good things and I wanted to do something good too!” she said. So to celebrate her birthday on March 23rd, she planned a sleepover and a birthday breakfast and instead of presents, she asked her friends to bring a donation for Emmaus Soup Kitchen. Sister Mary Miller, Emmaus Director is always inspired by the generosity and creativity of our youngest donors and remarked, “This child is as beautiful inside as she is on the outside.” Elise attends Belle Valley Elementary School.

Remember Emmaus with a Memorial

We are grateful to family members who ask that memorials be made to Emmaus on the death of loved ones. Visit our secure site to offer a memorial.

+ Madeline M. Stephany

+ Gerald R. Sargent

+ Carol Anne Pella

+ Margaret E. "Marge" Conyngham

+ Carol Ann (Breter) Sedney

Fulfill the Emmaus Wish List

Attention Bakers!!!

We always welcome homemade treats for our evening meal.

If you like to bake, please know that our Emmaus guests are so appreciative of cookies, cakes, pies…sweets of any kind.

Give us a call — 814-459-8349 — and we will schedule your homemade treat.

Pray with Emmaus

Please join with the Emmaus community in reciting this prayer daily.

Prayer of St. Vincent DePaul

You will find that charity
is a heavy burden to carry,
heavier than the kettle of soup
and the basket of bread.

But you must your gentleness
and your smile keep.

Giving soup and bread
isn’t all that you can do.

The poor are your masters-
terribly sensitive and exacting
as you will see.

But the more demanding they seem
the more unjust and bitter
the more you must give them your love.

Emmaus Ministries