June 1, 2026
- Jun 8
- 6 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
Diocesan News & Events
The International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers is holding their national conference June 4-6 at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. This conference aims to equip Church leaders with essential skills and resources to establish or enhance mental health ministries in their local parishes, dioceses, and Catholic communities. On Thursday, June 3rd, before the conference officially opens, there will be time dedicated to mental health and self-care for clergy and religious. This is free to attend. Conference attendees can register to attend in-person or online at https://mailchi.mp/catholicmhm/conference-2026 For questions or more information, please contact Donna Nebistinsky, Pastoral Associate at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, at dnebistinsky@steas.net.
The Saint Thomas More Society of Central Pennsylvania is an organization of Catholic lawyers, judges, public office holders, paralegals, legal assistants, and law students. The Society respectfully invites you to attend the Feast Day Mass of Saints Thomas More and John Fisher.The Mass will be celebrated by Reverend Timothy Sahd, on Monday, June 22, 2026 at 8 a.m. at Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Middletown. Mass will be preceded by an all-night Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament from 10 p.m. Sunday to an hour before Mass. Adoration will be in the rectory chapel on 280 N. Race St., Middletown. Light refreshments will be served after Mass. The public is welcome to participate in all events. The purpose of this Mass, held at the start of Religious Freedom Week, is to gather to pray for God’s guidance and to invoke blessings, through the intercession of Thomas More and John Fisher, upon those who work in the administration of justice or government.
Are You a Licensed Mental Health Professional?
The Diocese of Harrisburg is developing a new listing of Licensed Mental Health Professionals who are practicing Catholics. Licensed clinicians are invited to apply for inclusion in this resource, which is intended to assist Catholic individuals and families seeking mental health care that aligns with and respects Catholic beliefs and values.
To be considered for inclusion in the diocesan listing, applicants are asked to submit the following as part of the vetting process:
Current professional license information
Proof of professional liability insurance
Curriculum vitae or résumé
A letter of good standing from his or her pastor (and, if applicable, other Catholic ministry leaders)
Practice location(s)
Mental health professionals who offer services in languages other than English are encouraged to also indicate this information.
Once finalized, this active listing will be made available on the diocesan website as an available resource. For questions or more information, please contact Brenda Estremera-Garay at BEstremeragaray@hbgdiocese.org or 717-657-4804 ext. 303.
Hallow
Join us in prayer today on Day 2 of the Heart of Jesus challenge with Matt Fradd, host of Pints with Aquinas, and Carmelite Sister Maria Goretti. In this beautiful 12-day journey, we’ll hear the stories of incredible men and women, martyrs and mystics, saints and sinners, and see how their encounters with the love of Christ changed them for good. We’ll also draw from the book Jesus Our Refuge as we rest on an incredibly important truth – the Lord is madly in love with you, and He wants your love in return. Pray every day leading up to the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart on June 12. Start today! |
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.
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!
Open the Hallow app.
Go to the Church tab at the bottom of your screen.
Select “Join a Church” and search for our parish by zip code: 17601.
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.
Youth Ministry
Faith Formation
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd at SJN: A Four-Part Glimpse into the Atrium
Part 4: Following the Child
by Erin Houser
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is deeply rooted in the Montessori principle of “following the child,” but always with Christ at the center. Rather than rushing children from activity to activity, the Atrium allows space for repetition, contemplation, movement, silence, and wonder. Children may return to the same work many times because something in it continues to speak to them spiritually.
This approach requires extraordinary preparation and discernment from catechists.
At SJN, Barbara Goss leads this ministry with expertise formed through countless hours of formation, prayer, study, observation of working atriums across the country, and faithful dedication to the call God has placed on her heart. Her leadership has helped create an Atrium culture where children are treated with deep respect as persons capable of profound relationship with God.
Our catechists spend significant time preparing presentations, studying Scripture, reflecting on child development, restoring materials, and prayerfully considering how best to meet the spiritual needs of each age level. As Barbara recently reflected regarding our growing Level II Atrium, the challenge is not simply managing activity, but helping older children balance activity with reflection as they enter a deeper stage of spiritual development. This ministry could not flourish without the many catechists, assistants, and families who support it with generosity and love. Perhaps the clearest sign of its fruit is simple:
Children leave the Atrium still wondering.
Wondering about the Kingdom of God.
Wondering about Jesus.
Wondering about the Holy Spirit.
Wondering what God may someday write on the “blank page” of their own lives.
That wonder is holy ground.
If you are interested in learning about becoming a CGS catechist, please contact Barbara Goss at bgosshome@gmail.com.
Registration is now open for the 2026–2027 Faith Formation year! We invite you to lead your family on a journey of faith with Family Faith Formation by clicking the link here: Registration Link. To register for Confirmation Preparation, click here: Confirmation Registration Link. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Nate Gulya at ngulya@sjnlancaster.org, or call the parish office. Registration for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is full (closed).
Parish Health Ministry (PHM)
This month, the Pope’s prayer intention is for the values of sports.
Sports celebrate excellence and achievement, and they can be good for our mental health, spirit, and body and help build community. But the "win-at-all-cost" attitude all too often found in sports can negatively impact our mental health.
We are more than our worst game, best performance, or most anxious day. Pope Leo XIV has said sports are healthiest when they do “not idolize performance but recognize the dignity of those who play.”
Let us pray that sports support mental health and promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.
St. John Neumann Catholic School
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