February 17, 2026

Feb 17
7 min read

Welcome to the latest news blog for St. John Neumann Parish. This page will be updated weekly with the most recent information to keep you informed. You can also access past blogs by clicking on the links on our blog landing page.

Fathers Dan's Ski Chair Chat!

Parish News

Ash Wednesday

February 18th

Masses with Distribution of Ashes

6:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 6 p.m.

Distribution of Ashes Only

12 p.m.& 3:30 p.m.

Every Friday in Lent

Stations of the Cross

7 p.m. in the Church

Diocesan News & Events

Bishop Timothy C. Senior invites men throughout the Diocese of Harrisburg to prayerfully discern a call to serve the Church as permanent deacons. A new formation cohort will begin in August 2026. Men between the ages of 30 and 62 who are active, prayerful Catholics are encouraged to speak with their pastor about this possibility. Applications are available through pastors and are due by March 15, 2026. Information sessions will be held at 6 p.m. at the Diocesan Center, Harrisburg; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, at St. Pius X Parish, Selingsgrove. Bishop Senior’s full letter, which offers additional guidance and details, is available at https://www.catholicwitness.org/invitation-for-applications-to-be-permanent-deacons/.

Whether it is a long-time parishioner using a walker after a stroke, a teenager with Down syndrome, or a 30-year-old with hearing loss, all persons with disabilities have a home in the Church. The Diocese of Harrisburg will be hosting the National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) to provide a free two-day disability ministry training. Clergy, parish and diocesan staff, and volunteers in any ministry will gain foundational knowledge about disabilities and mental health. Ideas about how to remove barriers so that parishes can be places of belonging for all will also be discussed. The training will be held at the Diocesan Conference Center. Register for one or both days. All are invited. For questions, contact Marianne Weltmer at mweltmer@hbgdiocese.org or 717-657-4804 ext 322. Register at https://www.hbgdiocese.org/event/disability-ministry-training/

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will offer the same NCPD Disability Ministry Training in Spanish on March 14 and March 21. The faithful of the Diocese of Harrisburg are warmly invited to attend the Spanish version in Philadelphia. For questions, contact Natalie Morales at namorales@archphila.org.

Life-Giving Wounds Online Support Group – Registration Now Open! If you or someone you know is an adult child of divorce or separation, this seven-week online support group offers powerful opportunities for healing. Participants will explore the impact of family wounds through a Catholic lens and find Christ-centered support in community with others who understand. Thursdays, Feb. 26–April 16 | 8:15–10:00 p.m. ET Early-bird registration ends Feb. 12 Learn more and register at: lifegivingwounds.org/online-support-group.
Beginning Experience Weekend: The Harrisburg Diocese Beginning Experience Team will host a Beginning Experience Weekend on May 1–3, 2026, at Camp Kirchenwald, Lebanon, Pa. Beginning Experience is an approved, ecumenical program offering healing, hope, and spiritual restoration for those grieving the loss of a spouse through death, divorce, or separation. Led by trained facilitators who have experienced loss themselves and certified by the International Beginning Experience Organization, these weekends have helped hundreds move toward renewed peace and purpose. For more information, visit https://www.hbgdiocese.org/clev/laity-and-family/navigating-difficulties/, or contact Julie at 717-379-0800.

Hallow

Tomorrow begins Day 1: To Dust You Shall Return. Join us on Hallow's Lent Pray40 Challenge, The Return, a journey back home to the Father. For families and kids, join Kids Lent: Miracle Hunters. Follow Mia, Paul, Brad, and Grace as they set out to discover the truth about miracles and how God is always at work in our lives. These premium prayer challenges are free to all by creating a basic (free) Hallow account and joining our SJN parish page. (See instructions below for more details).

Check out Father Dan's Lenten audio message new today on our Hallow parish page!

I already have a Hallow account. How do I access SJN's parish page?

Everyone is invited to be a part of our parish community page. There, you can create a profile, add friends, share/respond to prayer intentions, and take part in prayer challenges with the parish. The steps are simple:

To join the parish page: Tap “Church” on the menu at the bottom of your screen > Select “Join a Church” > Search for our parish by typing "17601." Hallow has corrected our parish name from "Saint" to "St." when searching by name. However, it is best to search by zip code (17601).
Start praying with us!

I do not have a Hallow account. How do I get a free account and join the SJN page?

Go to hallow.com/parish.
Type in “17601” and click on St. John Neumann Parish.
Click “Join.”
Create an account using phone or email.
Create a password.
You may redeem the $1 offer by clicking “Redeem Offer,” OR click “SKIP” to continue to the basic (free) version of the app.

My $1 Hallow Trial Expired. Now what?

If you currently have a Hallow premium subscription (or $1 trial) and would like to renew, our Hallow Parish Partnership is offering a 25% discount on a premium subscription annually for the duration of our Hallow Parish Partnership. To redeem this, follow these instructions:

Cancel your current Hallow subscription.
1. Open your Hallow app. Go to the “Me” tab > Settings > Subscription > Cancel my Subscription.
Go to Hallow.com/redeem.
Enter code: GrowthSub25
Follow the steps to get your discount.
Enjoy your Hallow premium subscription, and don’t forget to join our parish page on Hallow!
1. Open the Hallow app.
2. Go to the Church tab at the bottom of your screen.
3. Select “Join a Church” and search for our parish by zip code: 17601.
4. Start praying with the parish!
If you do not wish to renew, Go to the "Me" tab, click the little wheel in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. Go to "Subscription" and click "Cancel My Subscription." If you were erroneously charged a renewal fee, contact parishsupport@hallow.app to have the charge reversed.

Ministry Team Members

Are you a member of a ministry team at SJN and interested in a premium Hallow account? Reach out to Erin Houser at the parish office or email ehouser@sjnlancaster.org to request access. Premium accounts are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

Faith Formation (Religious Education) and CGS Families

If you are a registered parent or student in our Faith Formation Program and would like to obtain a premium Hallow subscription, please click here to submit your information and get your account started.

Customer Support

If you have any issues getting someone set up on the app, please reach out to parishsupport@hallow.app. Hallow has an incredibly talented support team that responds to parish partners with super high priority. You may also direct inquiries to Erin Houser at the parish office, ehouser@sjnlancaster.org.

Youth Ministry

As a reminder, YM events are still scheduled. God bless!

Faith Formation

Choose What Draws You Closer

by Erin Houser

Lent begins tomorrow.

Many of you have already prayerfully considered how you will enter into this sacred season. You have weighed the options, asked the Holy Spirit for guidance, and chosen what to add and what to subtract from your life so that, when all is said and done, you may grow closer to Our Lord and deepen your devotion.

But if you are reading this and are anything like me, you may tend toward extremes. You might fall into one of two categories:

Either Lent completely snuck up on you and you have made no preparations at all.

Or you have carefully laid out so many fasts, added so many additional prayers, and packed so many devotions into your already full schedule that you are practically guaranteed to spend the next forty days lamenting broken penances, feeling discouraged, and no closer to our Lord and Savior than when you began.

May we remember:

“To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”— Ecclesiastes 3:1

Lent is not a spiritual competition. It is not meant to crush us. It is meant to convert us.

If you are the parent of babies or toddlers, perhaps giving up coffee may not actually be the most charitable offering for the members of your household! The Lord desires mercy, patience, and love within your home more than He desires your exhaustion.

If you do have children in the home, Lent can be a beautiful opportunity to grow together in simple ways:

Pray a family Rosary on Sundays
Choose one or two “screen-free” days each week
Read a short daily devotional together at dinner
Create a prayer jar and add intentions throughout the week

(We will be creating prayer boxes at an upcoming Family Faith Formation meeting!)

And if you haven’t pulled it together yet, just breathe. Ask the Holy Spirit for direction. The right penances and devotions for this season of your life may be different than they were last year. They may be smaller. They may be quieter. They may be hidden. That is okay.

The goal of Lent is not perfection in penance, but deeper union with Christ.

As we begin this holy season together, may we choose what draws us closer to Him, not what merely looks impressive on paper. May our sacrifices be sustainable, our prayers sincere, and our hearts open.

If you are interested in learning more about Faith Formation at our parish, contact Nate Gulya at ngulya@sjnlancaster.org, or call the parish office.

Parish Health Ministry (PHM)

GRIEF SHARE Returns to SJN March 3^rd, 2026

Losing a loved one changes everything. The emptiness, the loneliness, the sense that life has been turned upside down can feel overwhelming. If you’ve experienced this kind of loss, we want you to know: You’re not alone, and there is help available.

We invite you to join our GriefShare group beginning on Tuesday, March 3. Session is from 10-11:30 am. If evening hours work better for you, please call Tonianne if enough interested individuals would prefer an evening session, one can be added.

Grief Share is a 13-week program. It is built around a 3-part design. Each session will show a short 20-30-minute video. There would then be a small group discussion with an opportunity to talk about information shared in the video and/or any challenges you may be experiencing. There is no expectation that you need or must share in the group discussion. You may choose to just listen if that is what feels right for you at that time. Each participant will be requested to donate $10 towards the purchase of the workbook. SJN will cover the additional $10 for each book. You may take notes in the workbook during the video or reflect on some of the short exercises and journal prompting with scripture passages in between the sessions. Registration is required to plan for supplies. Call Tonianne at 717 569-8531x 229.

Pew Cards

Beginning this Sunday the Mental Health Ministry has placed take home cards in the pew with scripture verses referencing the 3 pillars of Lent- Prayer, Fasting & Almsgiving. Take one home and reflect on the passage and when possible put into expression.