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May 26, 2026

  • May 26
  • 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



  • 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


Hallow has added some new sleep prayers to help you find a little more peace as you get ready to sleep every night: 


  • Proverbs with Chris Pratt: rest in the wisdom of God as Chris calmly reads through the Book of Proverbs 

  • Stories of Grace with Jonathan Roumie: fall asleep resting in God’s mercy through Gospel stories of people returning to God

  • Annunciation with Gwen Stefani: wind down in hope as you listen to the announcement, birth, and early life of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke

  • Mothers in Scripture with Patricia Heaton: meditate on the faith and courage of Hannah, Naomi, Elizabeth, and Mary, the Mother of God

  • The Greatest Story with Bear Grylls: find peace in an immersive retelling of the Gospels, written and narrated by Bear himself

  • Story of St. Francis with Fr. Agustino Torres: find comfort in God’s Word as you listen to the Scripture passages that transformed the life of St. Francis 

  • Songs of Peace: pray with new hymns of peace arranged for solo piano by The O'Neill Brothers.


Bible Stories can help you to slow down, find calm in the Lord, and fall asleep more easily, even when you can’t stop thinking about tomorrow’s to-do lists or that one thing keeping you up at night. There’s something really peaceful about ending your day with God’s Word, so try it out tonight! 


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:

  1. 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).

  2. Start praying with us!


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

  1. Go to hallow.com/parish.

  2. Type in “17601” and click on St. John Neumann Parish.

  3. Click “Join.”

  4. Create an account using phone or email.

  5. Create a password.

  6. 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:

  1. Cancel your current Hallow subscription.

    1. Open your Hallow app. Go to the “Me” tab > Settings > Subscription > Cancel my Subscription.

  2. Go to Hallow.com/redeem. 

  3. Enter code: GrowthSub25

  4. Follow the steps to get your discount.

  5. 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!


  6. 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 3: The Holy Spirit at Work

by Erin Houser


This past Sunday, the church celebrated Pentecost Sunday. As the Church approaches Pentecost each year, the Atrium is transformed. Red cloths appear. Candles fill the room. The children immediately notice the change. “Everything is red!” Through Scripture, song, procession, and prayer, the children celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate Jesus promised would remain with His people always. The Pentecost celebration in the Atrium is both reverent and joyful. Children process quietly with candles, sing “Come Holy Spirit,” and hear the story from Acts of the Apostles as tongues of fire descended upon the disciples. They revisit moments throughout salvation history where the Holy Spirit was present:


  • overshadowing Mary at the Annunciation,

  • filling John the Baptist with joy in Elizabeth’s womb,

  • guiding Simeon to recognize the infant Jesus,

  • descending upon the waters of Baptism,

  • and transforming bread and wine at every Mass through the Epiclesis.


The children begin to see that the Holy Spirit is not distant or abstract. The Spirit is active, alive, and still working in the Church today. One of the most moving moments of the celebration comes when children are invited to choose one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, or fear of the Lord) that they feel they most need at this moment in their lives. One by one, they light their candles from a larger flame and place them before that gift. The Atrium glows with candlelight and silence. The children often surprise us with the depth of their reflections and prayers. Some speak. Some sing softly. Some simply sit in wonder. This is the fruit of CGS: not merely learning about faith, but helping children experience themselves as participants in the life of the Church and in the work of the Holy Spirit.


Spending time in the Atrium is deeply meaningful not only for the children, but for the catechists as well. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a CGS catechist, please don't hesitate to 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)


 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

SJNCS Construction











 
 
 

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