The Studio at St. Mary’s: Space to Create began as an elementary school for St. Mary’s Church
St. Mary’s, one of the pioneer Catholic parishes in the city of Erie, was organized in the 1830’s to care for the growing German immigrant population. To Saint Mary’s parish, too, belongs the distinction of initiating the parochial school system of Erie. When five Benedictine Sisters arrived in Erie in 1856 they responded to a request by the bishop and began teaching in the parish school. Three years later, the Benedictine monks of Latrobe, PA were invited to take over the pastorate at St. Mary’s church and by 1866 had constructed the present St. Mary’s school structure that was refurbished in later years.
After more than a century of service, the Latrobe monks relinquished St. Mary’s Parish and its elementary school was closed. The Benedictine Sisters of Erie who had staffed the school for 138 years, from 1865 to 1994, and who operated numerous ministries in the area felt they could not abandon the people or the neighborhood.
The Benedictine Sisters of Erie purchased St. Mary’s auditorium from the diocese and Emmaus Ministries obtained the school in order to accommodate expanding the after-school feeding program for children, Sister Gus’ Kids Café. At the time of purchase, a branch of Sarah Reed Children’s Center rented the remaining two floors of the building. When Sarah Reed consolidated its services in 2014 and moved out of St. Mary’s a new idea was born.
The school adopted a new name, The Studio at St. Mary’s: Space to Create, and began welcoming innovative programs and artists to help revitalize and positively impact center-city Erie.
The ground floor of the building is home to the Emmaus Kids Café that provides a nutritious meal, homework assistance, reading, gym programs, and other activities to over 120 children a day in a safe, caring environment. The rest of the building provides space for 13 artists—writing, yoga, photography, fiber art, visual art, videography, and painting—who utilize the studios for personal art and programs for the general public. Also located in the building is Listening Hearts, a unique spirituality program for women in transition. Under the leadership of two Benedictine sisters, women who are struggling with issues of poverty, addiction, or abuse, or reclaiming their lives after prison, are welcomed into a community and immersed in Benedictine values that can support them on their journeys to self-acceptance, self-worth, and self-blessing.
“The development of “The Studio” has exceeded our expectations,” said Erie Benedictine Sister Mary Miller, director of Emmaus Ministries. “To have such a mixture of creative artists and innovative programs makes it an exhilarating workplace and, more importantly, a vehicle to bring stability, imagination, creativity, spirituality, and beauty to a downtown neighborhood. Emmaus’ mission has always been to feed the body and feed the soul.”
In 2017 Preservation Erie awarded The Studio at St. Mary’s: Space to Create it Greater Erie Award. The award is given annually to individuals, businesses, or organizations that are exceptional stewards of the physical and cultural landscape that is greater Erie PA.
