September 15, 2026
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 . . .
More Small Catholic Community Groups will be forming this fall at St. John Neumann Church. We are currently accepting new members that will meet monthly in small groups to develop in spirituality, to learn more about scripture, and to make friends with other parishioners. If this sounds like a group you'd like to join, please click the link below to join.
Diocesan News & Events . . .
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Spain and Portugal Pilgrimage led by Father Pang Tcheou - MARCH 2-12, 2027
All are welcome to join Father Pang Tcheou on an upcoming pilgrimage to Spain and Portugal! Price per person is $4,199, not including miscellaneous fees, gratuities, etc. Sponsored by NAWAS Travel, we will fly direct from Newark to Lisbon and visit numerous cities in Portugal and Spain, with focus on the holy cities of Fatima and Santiago de Compostela. Daily Holy Masses will be offered. Brochures are available from Father, please email him at fatherpangtcheou@gmail.com for more information. God bless!
In honor of the Jubilee Year proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV, commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, the Diocese of Harrisburg invites you to participate in a special one-day pilgrimage to Our Lady of Hope Parish, Coal Township, on Sunday, October 4, 2026, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
Traveling by coach bus from the Diocesan Center (4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg), pilgrims will enjoy a day of prayer, reflection, and fellowship. The pilgrimage will include opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass celebrated by Most Reverend Timothy Senior, and a presentation on St. Francis of Assisi and Franciscan spirituality by Reverend Nicholas Spano, OFM Conventual Franciscan, and pastor of Our Lady of Hope, Coal Township; Mother Cabrini, Shamokin; and Saint Patrick, Trevorton.
The bus will depart from the Diocesan Center at 8:00 a.m. and return at approximately 4:00 p.m. A chicken barbecue lunch is included.
The cost is $45 per person. To reserve your seat, please visit https://www.hbgdiocese.org/event/care-for-creation-mass/ For questions please contact Brenda Estremera-Garay at BEstremeragaray@hbgdiocese.org or 717-657-4804, ext. 303.
We hope you will join us for this day of prayer and reflection as we celebrate the life and legacy of St. Francis of Assisi during this Jubilee Year.
The Diocese of Harrisburg’s annual Remembrance Mass for Child Loss will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Seven Sorrows Parish in Middletown. This is an opportunity for families to grieve the loss of their child(ren) and find support and healing with others who share the same cross.
Remembrance Mass for Child Loss
The loss of a child at any age is a devastating cross to bear. Join us at Seven Sorrows Parish for a special Mass of remembrance and prayer, followed by a light reception and information about Red Bird Ministries. If you would like your child’s name remembered during Mass, please include it when registering.
Mass begins at 10:00 AM. To register or learn more, visit www.hbgdiocese.org/event/remembrance-mass-for-child-loss/.
Hallow
Don’t know where to start in your prayer life or looking for new ways to level up your daily time with the Lord? Join the waitlist for the brand-new challenge starting next Monday, September 21, for 21 Days of Prayer!
This 21-day challenge is all about building a daily habit of prayer and discovering new prayers to turn to every day, no matter what life is throwing at you. We’ll pray alongside folks from all walks of life, from professional athletes and actors to religious sisters and priests, and even a policeman and a nurse, to show you how they make prayer a priority every day – and how you can too.
Join Deion Sanders, Gwen Stefani, Fernando Mendoza, Jonathan Roumie, Gary Sinise, Dan Hurley, Fr. Robert Spitzer, and many more in the challenge to transform your prayer life.
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
Check back later for updates!
Faith Formation
Family Faith Formation & Confirmation Prep Are Underway!
by Erin Houser
It was wonderful to welcome our families back this past Sunday as Family Faith Formation and Confirmation Preparation gathered to begin a new year together!
Our children and catechists jumped right in with their first class, while parents gathered for orientation. There was a great sense of excitement throughout the morning, and we are so grateful to all our families, catechists, and volunteers who helped make it such a joyful and successful start to the year.
If you were unable to join us on Sunday, you can catch up by watching the orientation video included in the meeting follow-up email from Nate.
Families who still need to pick up their children’s books and materials may stop by the Parish Office Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. If those hours do not work for you, please contact Nate or Erin at the Parish Office to make other arrangements, or you can get them at the next meeting if you are participating in-person.
Our next Family Faith Formation gathering is Sunday, September 27. We are looking forward to another wonderful year of learning, growing, and living our Catholic faith together as a parish family!
Families wishing to register for Faith Formation may contact Nate Gulya at the parish office: ngulya@sjnlancaster,org, (717) 569-8531 ext. 218.
Parish Health Ministry (PHM)
GRIEF SHARES FALL SESSION TO BEGIN ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1ST 10-11:30AM.
This 13-week program is a safe place offering a healthy group experience for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one. This Christ- centered support group program is built around a 3-part design. Each session will show a short 20-30-minute video with valuable insight based on the topic of the week from counselors, pastors and personal stories of people who found healing after a loved one’s death. There would then be a small group discussion with opportunity to talk about information shared in the video and/or any challenges you may be experiencing. There is a workbook that follows the 13-week topics and offers support references for the week between sessions.
Registration is required and a $10 fee is collected during first 3 sessions to offset cost of the $25 workbook that is provided to all participants. Call Tonianne at 717 569-8531x229 to register.
St. John Neumann Catholic School
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