March 24, 2026
- Mar 24
- 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.
Father Dan's Ski Chair Chat!
Parish News
Diocesan News & Events
Men of the Diocese are warmly invited to join Father Boniface Hicks, OSB for the 2026 Men’s Conference on April 18th, at the Diocesan Center. Mark your calendars and invite your friends and family! This year’s theme is “Steadfast in Mercy.”
Deadline/Costs:
$40 per person
$70 father/son combo
CLERGY ADMITTED FREE
Deadline: April 6, 2026
$50 Walk-In Registration
Due to space limitations, walk-ins can’t be assured of preferred workshop choices.
If any special accommodations are needed, please contact Marianne Weltmer at (717) 657-4804 ext. 322 or mweltmer@hbgdiocese.org. Requests should be made by April 1, 2026.
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.
The Diocese of Harrisburg is seeking an experienced administrative assistant with customer service experience. Must be able to take direction and follow through on duties and responsibilities with minimum supervision. Proficiency in using all MS office programs is essential, particularly excel and word. Must possess high levels of verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills. Candidates must be a Catholic in good standing, and a knowledge of diocesan and parish structure would be helpful. Full job description available at www.hbgdiocese.org/careers. Please send resume and cover letter to: employment@hbgdiocese.org.
Hallow
Over the past weeks, more and more parishioners have been adding prayer requests to the SJN parish page. Each intention, whether written in a few simple words or shared with heartfelt detail, offers us a glimpse into what is truly on the hearts and minds of our fellow parishioners. These are not just requests; they are invitations. Invitations to pause, to care, and to lift one another up in prayer.
In a world where it can be easy to feel disconnected or to carry burdens quietly, this growing collection of intentions reminds us that we are not meant to walk alone. When someone shares a prayer request, they are entrusting the community with something meaningful: perhaps a worry for a child, a hope for healing, gratitude for a blessing, or strength during a difficult time. And when we respond by praying, even briefly, we become part of that story.
Prayer has always been one of the most profound ways we are united as the Body of Christ. Even when we are not physically together, we are deeply connected through our shared faith and our willingness to intercede for one another. A few moments spent praying for someone else, someone you may or may not even know, creates a bond that is real and lasting. It is in these moments that our parish becomes more than a place we attend; it becomes a true spiritual family.
There is also something transformative that happens within us when we pray for others. Our perspective shifts. Our hearts soften. We begin to see beyond our own immediate concerns and recognize the broader needs of those around us. In lifting others up, we are reminded of God’s presence not only in our own lives, but in the lives of our neighbors.
As this space continues to grow, we invite you to be part of it. Take a moment to visit the Hallow SJN parish page. Read through the intentions. Choose one or two and hold them in your prayer today. And if there is something on your own heart, consider adding your voice. Your intention matters, and your parish family is here to pray with you. Together, in this simple but meaningful way, we are building a community rooted in compassion, connection, and faith. We are living out the call to “bear one another’s burdens,” and in doing so, we become stronger, more united, and more deeply aware of God’s love at work among us.
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. Erin Houser is out of the office on leave returning April 1. Please contact Hallow directly with questions or concerns.
Youth Ministry
Stay tuned!
Faith Formation
The Lost Sheep and the Joy of Being Found
by Erin Houser
This past Saturday was our parish's Second Grade Retreat and First Confession.
As part of the retreat, we gathered with the children to reflect on the Parable of the Lost Sheep. It is a simple story, but one that carries a message we never outgrow. A shepherd notices that one sheep is missing. Not satisfied with just the ninety-nine who are safe, he goes out searching. And when he finds the lost sheep, he does not scold or punish. The lost sheep is lifted up, carried home, and welcomed back with joy.
For our children preparing for Confession, this story opens a door to understanding something essential: God’s mercy is not about fear; it is about love. At this age, children are just beginning to make sense of right and wrong, of choices and consequences. It can be easy for them to wonder if mistakes change how they are seen or loved. The image of the Good Shepherd gently corrects that fear. It shows them, in a way they can truly grasp, that when we stray, we are not rejected, we are sought after.
During the retreat, we shared with them that Confession is not a place of shame, but a place of return. It is where we allow ourselves to be found and brought back, just like the lost sheep. This message is not only for our second graders. It is for all of us. In our own lives, we can easily slip into thinking that we must “have it all together” before turning back to God. We may hesitate, delay, or carry burdens longer than we need to. But the parable reminds us that God is not waiting to lecture us. He is already coming toward us, ready to lift us up and bring us home.
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)
The Pope's Prayer Network Monthly Prayer for Mental Health - March 2026
This month the Pope’s prayer intention is for peace and disarmament, especially nuclear disarmament. Living under the threat of total destruction from nuclear war creates lasting fear that diminishes mental health across generations. Pope Leo said that “the temptation to have recourse to powerful and sophisticated weapons needs to be rejected.” Peace and mental health are inseparable. Effective disarmament is a commitment to protecting the dignity and mental health for those of us living today and those who will follow. We pray that world leaders choose the path of dialogue, diplomacy, and peace instead of violence. The International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers (https://www.catholicmhm.org/click-to-pray.
St. John Neumann Catholic School
SJNCS Construction
Each day brings us closer to enjoying our exciting new additions!