May 11, 2026
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
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 Diocesan Camp for Adults with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities is held annually in August at Camp Kirchenwald in Lebanon County. This year’s camp will be Sunday, August 9 through Friday morning, August 14. The cost of $700.00 for the week includes all meals, housing, activities, entertainment, and nursing staff. Campers enjoy five nights in cabins or “daks” – three-sided bunk houses in the woods. Activities include swimming, fishing, canoeing, crafts, faith-sharing, evening entertainment, Mass, karaoke night, and a camper talent show. Trained volunteers assist campers as needed; our loving staff provides support and encouragement so that each camper has a safe, enjoyable experience. For more information, please visit https://www.hbgdiocese.org/clev/life-and-dignity/annual-summer-camp/
To register a camper please visit:
https://hbgdiocese.formstack.com/forms/camp_kirchenwald_camper_application_form
All are invited to attend an End-of-Life Seminar event on Saturday, July 25, from 9 am-1 pm, at the Diocesan Center (4800 Union Deposit Rd., Harrisburg). The seminar will be presented by Dr. Joseph Meaney, PhD, KM, and Mr. Paul T. Schemel, Esq., DSS Law.
Dr. Joseph Meaney is Past President and Senior Ethicist of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, who will share informative guidance to support our understanding and preparation for end-of-life issues. End-of-Life care and decision making are vitally important topics for almost everyone. Catholics frequently have a different ethical perspective from mainstream society and there are real dangers to accepting advanced directive advice from some medical/legal professionals. Preparation for Eternal Life has always been a paramount concern of the Church, and biomedical and legal changes make that more complicated than ever before.
Mr. Paul Schemel will offer a practical discussion of how Theology of the Body can inform our approach to medical powers-of-attorney, advance directives and POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) documents, and how our will can be a means of both evangelizing our Catholic faith and maintaining peace among the family who survive us. Registration deadline: July 20. Cost is $10 to attend. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.hbgdiocese.org/event/a-catholic-perspective-on-end-of-life-care/
Hallow
“No matter what worries are present in our lives right now, we are not defined by them. We are not our worries. They will come and go, but we will remain, and God will always be at our side.” - Fr. Mark-Mary Ames
It's Day 2 of the Detachment Challenge! Join Sister Miriam and Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, today as we dive into the meaning of detachment with powerful reflections from the book Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Philippe.
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 1: A Place Prepared for Children
by Erin Houser
At St. John Neumann Parish and School, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Atrium is unlike a typical classroom. It is a carefully prepared sacred space where children encounter Jesus through prayer, Scripture, silence, beauty, and hands-on materials rooted in the liturgy and the life of the Church.
Walk into the Atrium and you will see children moving quietly and purposefully: tracing maps of the Holy Land, preparing a tiny altar, pin-punching crosses, lighting candles, reading Scripture, or working with parables Jesus used to teach about the Kingdom of God. Over time, the Atrium begins to feel like home to them, a place where they are known, trusted, and invited into relationship with God.
This year, our Level I children reflected deeply on the Kingdom Parables. They mixed yeast into dough while wondering how the Kingdom of God grows quietly from within. They moved around tiny sheep while listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd. One catechist shared a moment from Mass when a young child whispered during the Gospel, “and THE YEAST!” after hearing Jesus proclaim, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The parables had become alive in her heart.
Meanwhile, our Level II children explored the great history of salvation through Scripture, the Bible timeline, Resurrection narratives, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They journaled, reflected, and began asking deeper questions about God’s plan and their own place within it.
The Atrium is not centered on memorization or performance. Instead, it invites children to slow down, wonder, and discover that God is already speaking to them. At the heart of this ministry is the conviction that the child has a deep capacity for relationship with God, and that adults are called not to simply fill children with information, but to help prepare a space where they can encounter Christ.
Under the faithful leadership of Barbara Goss, and her team of dedicated CGS catechists, this ministry continues to flourish at SJN. Barbara has grown this beautiful program through prayer, formation, and years of dedicated study and observation of working atriums both locally and across the country. Stayed tuned for more glimpses into the Atrium in next week's blog!
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)
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH:
For resources, go to mhanational.com/may
“Set healthy boundaries”. We hear that advice all the time, whether we’re talking about screen time, work-life balance or relationships. But what does it mean? How do we set healthy boundaries? In a world that constantly demands our time, energy and attention, setting healthy boundaries is essential for protecting our mental wellbeing. But many people don’t know where to start, or even what “boundaries” means. Boundaries are the limits and rules we set for ourselves in relationships, work and daily life. They define what we are comfortable with and how we expect others to treat us. These limits can be physical, emotional, mental or even digital. When we set boundaries, we give ourselves permission to prioritize what matters most, reduce stress and burnout, and create space for healthier relationships — with our friends, coworkers, the office, our phones or a loved one. Without boundaries, it’s easy to become overwhelmed quickly. Constantly saying “yes” when you really mean “no” takes a lot of energy and time, leading to stress, anxiety and burnout. But saying “no” doesn’t sound like a good thing, does it? We want to be helpful and valued, and saying “no” might make us feel guilty or selfish. Still, too much people-pleasing is exhausting, and boundaries give us the space and capacity to be our best self. This text is taken from MHA: Set Boundaries for Mental Wellbeing
HONORING OUR ARMED SERVICE MEN & WOMEN
Please share with PHM the names and information of any of your family members who are also parish members currently serving on active duty or reserve status. PHM maintains a bulletin board acknowledging & honoring individuals who are away from the parish serving our country. We pray for their safety in duty and their eventual safe return. Details to Tonianne Bertel at 717 569-8531x229
St. John Neumann Catholic School
Comments