January 13, 2026

kmikulski6
Jan 13
8 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.

Father Dan's Ski Chair Chat

Parish News

Upcoming Events

2026 Church Envelopes

If you have not yet received your 2026 church envelopes, please know that they are on their way. The printing company had a machine malfunction and was not able to complete the job. As soon as they can repair the machine, you should receive them in the mail. In the meantime, please put your donation in an envelope with your name and we will make sure you receive credit in our database.

Sorry for the inconvenience!

SJN Parish Staff

Diocesan News & Events

In partnership with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the New Jersey Catholic Conference, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, and the SOAP Project, we invite you to a 90-minute webinar dedicated to exploring the intersection of human trafficking and major sporting events. January marks National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time when we come together to raise awareness about the grave injustice of human trafficking. This year, our focus is on major sporting events, which unfortunately can create conditions where trafficking risks increase. With the Super Bowl scheduled for Sunday, February 8th in San Jose, California, this discussion is both timely and urgent. Opening Prayer and Reflection led by His Excellency Oscar Cantú, Bishop of San Jose, California, who will offer a reflection on the Church’s role in combating human trafficking. For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.hbgdiocese.org/htwebinar.
The Diocese of Harrisburg invites you to a special online program for International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 from 1–2 p.m.: Remembering the Holocaust & Understanding and Challenging Antisemitism in Our Time. This prayerful and educational observance honors the victims of the Holocaust and reflects on its enduring moral lessons. The program includes prayer and a personal reflection by Elaine Culbertson, daughter of Holocaust survivors. More information and registration can be found at www.hbgdiocese.org/event/remembering-the-holocaust.
The National March for Life will occur on Friday, January 23, in Washington, D.C. The goal of the March is not only to advocate for life-saving laws, but to unite together in purpose and prayer to help move our culture to a point where abortion becomes unthinkable. Several parishes and pro-life organizations within our diocese are hosting buses to the March. All are invited to attend. Please visit https://www.hbgdiocese.org/clev/life-and-dignity/march-for-life-public-policy/ for the latest busing information. Thank you.
A Mass in American Sign Language without voice interpretation will be celebrated on Sunday, February 15 at 4:00 pm at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, (400 E. Simpson St.) Mechanicsburg. No voice interpretation will occur. The celebrant and homilist will be Father Mike Depcik, OSFS, and Chaplain for the Deaf Ministry for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Father Depcik will be available for the sacrament of confession in ASL-only. Following Mass there will be a time of fellowship and dinner. Participants are encouraged to confirm their attendance by emailing Dawn Rose at love2kids3@gmail.com. All are welcome.
Join us, Sunday, February 1st at 12:15pm, for the annual BCA Cultural Mass at Cathedral of Saint Patrick, 212 State St., Harrisburg, PA. Mass will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior and the Homilist will be Father Chiedozie F. Ononuju, Parochial Vicar of Saint Patrick, Carlisle. The Philadelphia Gospel Choir will be present for this occasion, leading us in singing, celebrating the Universality of the Catholic Church. Following Mass there will be a brief social gathering. Any questions please call Deacon Armando Torres, Director for Culture & Outreach at (717) 657-4804 Ext. 221.
Catholic Charities is Hiring!
If you have a passion to share your gifts and talents by serving others in your community, and are looking for a rewarding career, Catholic Charities has a professional opportunity available. Lourdeshouse Maternity Residential Program is seeking a Program Manager responsible for coordinating and implementing all aspects of residential care and services required to meet the needs of residents. The Program Manager ensures staff members comply with agency standards, schedules and coordinates staff and volunteers to ensure ongoing supervision and quality care of residents, develops and operates within a yearly budget, supervises the day-to-day cleanliness, safety guidelines and general conditions of the grounds and agency vehicles, and reviews and signs off on all Individual Service Plans and Aftercare Plans. Bachelor’s degree in related Human Service field from an accredited college or university or five years’ experience of working in a residential setting with combined supervisory and case management experience required. If interested, please email your resume to Sean Miriello, smiriello@cchbg.org.
On Thursday, January 22, 2026, an afternoon of Eucharistic Adoration will be offered at Saint Patrick Cathedral (212 State St., Harrisburg) to mark the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.

The schedule is:

12:00 pm – Holy Mass (Daily)12:30 pm – Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament12:30-5:30 pm – Eucharistic Adoration5:30 pm – Benediction

You are invited to sign up for an hour (or more) of Eucharistic Adoration by visiting: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4BADAC29A2FECF8-60227394-eucharistic#/

On Friday, January 23, 2026, the National March for Life will occur in Washington, D.C. The goal of the National March for Life is to not only change laws at the state and federal level, but to change our country's culture so that abortion becomes unthinkable. If your parish or group is offering bus transportation to the March for Life, please contact Marianne Weltmer at mweltmer@hbgdiocese.org or 717-657-4804, ext 322 with the details. Thank you.

For more details and new bus updates, visit https://www.hbgdiocese.org/clev/life-and-dignity/march-for-life-public-policy/.

See a flyer from Retrouvaille below.

The Diocese of Harrisburg is excited to announce the first Diocesan Catholic Social Teaching Symposium to be held in-person (4800 Union Deposit Rd., Harrisburg) on Saturday, January 31, 2026. This full-day event will emphasize education, action, and advocacy for issues relating to the Catholic Church’s long history of social teaching, with an emphasis on the dignity of the human person. The event will feature expert panel sessions on immigration and healthcare, as well as a variety of breakout sessions to explore other issues. Please plan to attend and look for the registration to open in early December 2025.

Hallow

It's Not Too Late to Jump Right In!

Even though the Daniel Fast has already begun, it's not too late to jump in and share in the graces of this journey. The Daniel Fast isn’t about when you start, it’s about the intention of your heart and your openness to God’s work in your life. Joining now still offers a powerful opportunity to refocus, simplify, and deepen your prayer as the community continues together. Now is the perfect moment to begin and let God lead the rest.

How do I access SJN's parish page on Hallow?

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:

Download or open the Hallow app on your phone
Join the parish page. Tap “Community” 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!

Did Your $1 Hallow Trial Expire?

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 community (church) tab at the bottom of your screen
3. Select “Join a Church” and search for our parish by typing exactly "Saint John Neumann Parish."
4. Start praying with the parish!

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

A Shepherd in the Classroom

by Erin Houser

This past Sunday, our first graders in Family Faith Formation were treated to a joyful and memorable retelling of the story of the Good Shepherd, brought to life by Mrs. Jean Reddy, complete with a full shepherd’s costume! Drawing on insights from the 2025 Catechetical Conference, Mrs. Reddy shared with me that when a lesson is presented as a story, it helps deepen understanding. Strong oral storytelling helps the Word sound fresh and alive to listeners. After all, Jesus himself was a storyteller, and much of the Old Testament and the Gospels rely on story to communicate God’s Word.

We are grateful to Mrs. Reddy for going the extra mile, both by attending the day-long workshop for catechists and by bringing renewed inspiration, creativity, and faith-filled imagination back to her classroom. We also extend our thanks to her co-teacher, Anne Campbell, as well as all our wonderful catechists, whose dedication and support help make the faith come alive each month for our students.

If you would like to learn more about Family Faith Formation, email Nate Gulya at ngulya@sjnlancaster.org,or call the parish office.

Parish Health Ministry (PHM)

PHM will sponsor a presentation in mid-February: Dementia: What is it? by Connie Metzler, BSN Clinical Dementia Professional. Keep eye on PHM Bulletin and EBLOG for date and time.

The Mental Health Ministry bookshelf has been updated with new Care Notes. Stop by and help yourself to the resources. NO Spiritual Support Group on Monday 1/15/26.

January Pope’s Mental Health Prayer Intention:

For those of us who live with a mental health challenge, the Word of God assures us that God understands our struggles and always wants to offer us spiritual support. In the Gospels, Jesus says, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,” and “My peace I give to you.” Jesus knows we struggle with our mental health, and he reassures us that through prayer, we can rest in him to find peace. We join with Pope Leo XIV in praying that the Word of God will be a source of hope as we face our mental health challenges.