News Update: October 21, 2025

kmikulski6
Oct 21
6 min read

Updated: Oct 23

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

Join us tonight for the Sanctity of Life Mass. All are welcome!

Return to the church by the weekend of October 25/26 so that we can get them shipped to the families in need.

We are in the process of forming a new Youth Choir. If you are interested in joining, please complete the form and bring it to the first practice on Monday, October 27th.

This year, All Saints Day falls on a Saturday, so it is not a holy day of obligation.

That being said, we will have a 9 a.m. Mass on Saturday, November 1st to honor our saints.

Diocesan News & Events

A parishioner at OPMH parish is asking for prayers and the help of a truly selfless individual. His wife, Jody, is in need of a living donor kidney transplant. Due to a genetic condition, both her kidneys are slowly failing. If you would like to learn more about the disease or the donation process, please contact her at: kidneyforjody@gmail.com.
The Office for Stewardship and Development at the Diocese of Harrisburg is seeking a dedicated and experienced professional to serve as the Director of Appeals. This is a new position that will support innovative and dynamic initiatives to create an encounter with Christ, to foster joy and peace, and to cultivate faith, hope and love for all who live in this community. This role is crucial in driving the success of annual fundraising initiatives and ensuring the continued support for the mission and ministries of the Church in Central Pennsylvania.
- This is a full-time position with occasional evening or weekend events.
- Occasional travel within the Diocese of Harrisburg and beyond for donor meetings and fundraising events is expected. A valid driver’s license and proof of insurance is required.
Ideal candidates will have:
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in fundraising, with a focus on annual giving.
- Proven track record of successful fundraising campaigns and donor relationship management.
- Strong communication, organizational, and analytical skills.
- Proficiency with fundraising software and donor management systems. Experience with Raisers’ Edge desired.
If you are seeking a challenging professional position of purpose, impact, and consequence, we invite you to join us. The full job description is posted at www.hbgdiocese.org/careers/ or contact Kim Roche at KRoche@hbgdiocese.org for more details.
Vacancy - Gift Processor/Development Assistant
The Office for Stewardship & Development is looking for a confident self-starter with outstanding written and communication skills to join our team. You will need to have an excellent customer service mindset and proven skills in a customer service role as this position works with all levels of donors, staff, and vendors. Candidates must be detail oriented with good organizational skills. Proficiency in database management is a must as is the ability to operate with an exceedingly high level of accuracy. Candidates need to be proficient in the use of all Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel. Working in conjunction with the Director of Development, the Development Assistant undertakes administrative functions within the Office for Stewardship & Development including but not limited to activities associated with the Diocesan Annual Campaign, FOCUS, Neumann, Scholarship Foundation, Matthew 25, Pentecost and Estate gift initiatives. Provides administrative support to the Director as it relates to acknowledgements, communication with donors, and other external constituents.
Please submit resumes to Employment@hbgdiocese.org. Full job description available at www.hbgdiocese.org/careers/.
The USCCB's annual Respect Life Month novena will take place October 22-30, 2025. The novena covers a wide breadth of Respect Life topics, including pregnancy support, the death penalty, persons with disabilities, healing after abortion, and more. Join thousands of Catholics across the country in praying for the protection of human life at https://www.respectlife.org/respect-life-month-novena.

See the flyer below regarding the Lutheran-Anglican-Roman Catholic Day of Dialogue on November 11th.

The Diocese of Harrisburg Cursillo Movement will host its annual Grand Ultreya, Saturday, October 25, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Diocesan Conference Center, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA. The Doors Open at 8:00 a.m. Mass will begin at 9:15 a.m. with the Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer, Bishop Emeritus of Harrisburg, as the main Mass celebrant. The cost is $20 (for lunch). Please register by October 17, 2025, at www.harrisburg-cursillo.org. Payment accepted at the door, by PayPal or by check. Make the check payable to 'Harrisburg Cursillo Movement.' Bring your spiritual books for the Book Swap at the Grand Ultreya. For questions, email Lisa Rowe, Post-Cursillo Chair at rowrosie@hotmail.com or call 717-736-3866.

See below for the Respect Life Campaign Flyer.

Click below for a flyer for the Catholic Scout Retreat taking place on November 22.

Hallow

Ever wanted to dive into the wisdom of C.S. Lewis but found his works a bit tough to get through? You’re not alone!

Now there’s a new and powerful way to experience The Screwtape Letters on Hallow. Actor Jim Caviezel (known for The Passion of the Christ) brings the senior demon Screwtape to life as he writes to his nephew Wormwood — a fascinating and unsettling glimpse into temptation, sin, and grace from the enemy’s point of view. Guided by Fr. John Riccardo and Msgr. Stephen Rossetti, this immersive audio experience helps uncover the deep spiritual truths behind C.S. Lewis’ masterpiece — truths that can shape how we understand both eternity and our everyday struggles.

Listen now on your Hallow app! Don’t have Hallow yet? Visit www.Hallow.com/parish to get started. If you’re part of our Faith Formation Program, contact Erin Houser at ehouser@sjnlancaster.org for access to your special Religious Ed Hallow account.

Youth Ministry

As a reminder, YM events are still scheduled. God bless!

Faith Formation

Meet Our Catechist: Linda Retallack

We’re delighted to welcome back Linda Retallack to St. John Neumann Parish! Linda grew up here and attended St. Anne’s School before graduating from Lancaster Catholic High School. After graduate school, she spent many years living in Virginia but returned home to the parish following the COVID pandemic.

Linda works for Selective Insurance, supporting a team of agents in Maryland who write property and casualty coverage for commercial businesses. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, hiking, and volunteering at a few local museums. She shares life’s adventures with her loyal dog, Basil.

Linda graciously volunteers as a substitute catechist in the Family Faith Formation program, stepping in wherever she is most needed. She has already been a tremendous help to our program this year, and we are so grateful for her generosity and joyful spirit.

✨ Stay tuned each week as we introduce our amazing catechists who make Faith Formation at St. John Neumann so special.

Check out the flyer below about the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA) Annual National Christmas Artwork Contest. It's a contest for children!

Parish Health Ministry (PHM)

This month, the Pope’s prayer is for collaboration between different religious traditions. Mental illness is part of the human condition, and people from all religious traditions are affected. Religious traditions are coming to a more complete understanding of mental illness and see that mental health care is a gift from God that can help all people find healing and hope. Pope Leo XIV has said, “religion, at its core, is ... a wellspring of healing”. Pray that all religious traditions will work together to eliminate stigma and promote the healing that comes with good mental health care.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS _FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24 at 6 pm in Social Hall for a MHM Presentation on ANXIETY: What it is?, Why do we have it ? When does it become an issue to bring to therapy? If you have ever wondered about these questions or thought about how anxiety helps and hinders you, join us on October 24th, 6-7:30 , for this presentation and questions in the social hall. This presentation is done by Peter Krimmel a Master preparing Clinical Mental Health student at Immaculata University. After discussing the history, causes, diagnosis, and finally treatment and anxiety reduction methods, there will be time for questions and feedback. Please prayerfully consider joining us.

MARK CALENDAR THURSDAY NOVEMBER 6^TH 6PM MASS OF REMEBRANCE: HONORING THE PASSING OF OUR LOVED ONES.

In honor of this Mass, we ask you to bring a framed photo of your deceased loved ones (labelled with your contact information on the back). Drop off photos beginning October 14. In the container in front of the office. Photos will be displayed in the narthex before Mass and brought into the Sanctuary for Mass of Remembrance on November 6^th.