Welcome to St. John Neumann Catholic Church

The purpose of this ministry is to become acquainted with fellow parishioners in a relaxed environment, in small groups. A meal is planned and shared in the home of a participant on the second Saturday of the month from September through May.

The Disability Advocate is a volunteer chosen by the pastor to assist him in working for and with parishioners who have disabilities to be fully integrated into the life of our parish.  If you need assistance, you are encouraged to contact the Disability Advocate.

The St. John Neumann Food Bank is supported by monetary donations. Volunteers pack food bags at the Lancaster County Food Hub (lancasterfoodhub.org) every Thursday from 1pm to 3pm. The Food Hub is located at 812 North Queen Street in Lancaster.

The Furniture Bank accepts “gently used” furniture and household goods for the “Off the Streets” homeless ministry and/or the San Juan Bautista Church Thrift Shop. To donate items to the Off the Streets ministry, please call 723-8084 and leave a detailed message. For donations to the San Juan Bautista Thrift Shop, simply drop them off at the Thrift Shop at 441 South Lime Street, Lancaster or call 283-0289 to schedule a pick up.

The Giving Tree Tags are placed in the Narthex of the church annually to provide Christmas gifts to underprivileged children and adults in the Lancaster area. Organized by the Knights of Columbus with the help of St. John Neumann parishioners, names and gift suggestions are obtained from social service agencies. Gift card requests are also received from St. Anne Church for their Christmas Day community dinner. Parishioners select the requests that are presented as tags on two Christmas packages and return the gifts packaged and wrapped with the tag attached to the gift box. Volunteers then sort, package, and identify by groups these packages and prepare them for pick up by organization.
All parishioners can be part of this ministry by taking a tag and returning a gift for the Christmas season. Also, announcements are made in the bulletin if you would like to help with the sorting of the packages. It is a great way to meet fellow parishioners!

The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Fr. Michael J. McGivney at St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, CT. The order is still true to its founding principles of Charity, Unity and Fraternity. Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men 18 years of age or older who are practicing Catholics.
The St. John Neumann Council, No. 12532, meets in the St. John Neumann Social Hall on the second Tuesday of each month. The rosary is said beginning at 7:15 p.m. with meeting immediately following.

The Lancaster Serra Club is a member of Serra International a Chicago-based group of Catholic men and women dedicated to promoting and fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life through prayer, encouragement, and financial assistance under the patronage of St. Junipero. Monthly meetings are held where the membership convenes for Mass, breakfast/lunch, a guest speaker, and a business meeting. Among our yearly activities are a summer dinner/picnic for the priests and religious of the Lancaster Deanery, a Christmas Appreciation Dinner for the priests of the deanery, and an altar servers award program.

Background
Off the Streets is a non-profit, charitable program which began in Connecticut in 2009 to get the homeless, or about to become homeless, persons “Off the Streets” and into a room they could call their own. There is no paid staff– all manpower is from volunteers, with no overhead or office related expense. No government money is accepted– all donations come from individuals, places of worship, or commercial institutions. Almost every dollar collected goes directly toward a security deposit to a landlord of a qualified, homeless person who is able to pay a monthly rent but cannot afford a security deposit. All of the “living needs,” such as beds, furniture, linens, and household items are donated. All of the foregoing contributes to our ability to get a person “Off the Streets” for approximately $500. The Lancaster PA chapter began in May 2013 and by May 2017 more than 1,000 people were helped into permanent housing through security deposits and/or furniture donations. This activity level has continued on a steady basis. For current information, please visit our website at www.offthestreetsnow.com/lancaster.
How to help
Consider making a tax-deductible contribution by sending a check to “Off The Streets,” c/o St. John Neumann Church, 601 East Delp Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. Donate furniture and other “living” needs to this effort. Check the bulletin or go to www.offthestreetsnow.com for details for collection dates/times. Participate in monthly meetings– generally the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Social Hall. More people are needed in all four of our working groups: Furniture, Living Needs, Fundraising, and Publicity.

Volunteers in this hospitality ministry are a welcoming presence at our entrances to church.  They greet both parishioners and visitors and are a helping hand for those who may need some assistance in getting into church.  Volunteers can sign up for a specific time each month or volunteer on an “as available and needed” basis. 

The mission of this ministry focuses on the wellness and healing of our parish family by addressing the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of our parishioners. The central figure in this ministry is the parish nurse. She is a trained professional who utilizes a holistic approach to help restore a sense of wholeness and healing to those in need. Recognizing the interrelationship of mind, body and spirit, she/he focuses on offering healthcare with an emphasis on the spiritual according to the beliefs of the Catholic Church and the practices of the St. John Neumann family.

Some of the work included in this ministry is:
weekly visits to parishioners in local hospitals.
home visits to the homebound, infirm, or newly discharged from a hospital or rehabilitation facility who have identifiable special needs.
occasional visits to parishioners in local nursing homes, in addition to coordinating and scheduling masses at selected nursing facilities.
acts as a resource and advocate for parishioners and their families who have complex medical or emotional issues. This may include accompanying a person to a doctor’s appointment and/or providing counseling for an individual and their family.

Volunteers are needed in many areas of this ministry, a few of which are as follows: Health professionals to take blood pressure screenings the last weekend of the month after each Mass, parishioners willing to drive older people to Mass or doctor appointments, and people to visit the homebound or those in nursing facilities to provide friendship and spiritual comfort from their parish community.

Also, if qualified, bring the Eucharist to those who request it. We need people who are willing to provide an occasional meal for those parishioners in crisis and parishioners offering prayers for people in need of God’s healing love.

Pinochle group meets the second Thursday of the month from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Social Hall at St. John Neumann Church.

This ministry meets on Mondays at 9:30 a.m. in the Conference Room.

SJN 55+ is a growing group of people who want to keep ourselves in the know and on the go!

When we aren't with family or friends outside our club, we enjoy time getting together to know a new body of friends, and sharing time in different venues. Some of the fun things we do is to plan day trips, listening to live music, guest speakers, playing games, and watching educational films.

This time once a month gives 55+ guests to get out of the house and share some good times year round during the day time. Parking is available and coffee and sweet treats are provided.

Senior benefit: having fun helps balance our stress, and helps to boost our creativity, energy, and productivity and overall health. Socializing improves our well being and as well as our mental health.

Please join us the fourth Tuesday of the month in the social hall. Sign in at 12:30pmand meeting is 1 to 3 pm. Information on the activity will be posted in the church bulletin prior to the meeting. The donation at the time of the meeting is $5.00 per person. These montly get togethers form valuable friendships. All are welcome and feel free to bring guests.

Serving the needs of our less-fortunate sisters and brothers

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic organization of lay men and women who seek to grow their spiritual life through person-to-person service to those in need in our community in the spiritual traditions of St. Vincent de Paul, our patron, and Blessed Frederic Ozanam, who founded the Society in Paris in 1833.

When invited, members who are called Vincentians, visit the homes of those in need to assess how the Conference may assist them. Vincentians respond to immediate needs as well as providing longer-term assistance with the focus on moving people out of poverty. If you are in need of help, call the parish office (717-569-8531) and request a Vincentian call you. Leave your name, just a first name, if you wish, a phone number, and if there is a convenient time to reach you.  Your right to privacy is respected. Don’t delay until the situation becomes more difficult or stressful. You don’t have to go it alone.
If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation, send your donation to “The Society of St. Vincent de Paul” c/o St. John Neumann Church, 601 East Delp Road, Lancaster, PA 17601

The St. John Neumann Women’s Group promotes the principles of Faith, Friendship and Charitable service. The group provides the opportunity for women of the Parish to come together for fellowship. We are a newly formed group who will support and work in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus Council 12532 in their charitable endeavors. We will be enjoying social outings and events for our members, as well as fun activities. The group is open to all women of the parish ages 18 and older. The St. John Neumann Women’s Group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Youth Room.

All Young Adults (20s or 30s, single or married) are invited to be a part of the Lancaster County young adult community. Regular events include:

Theology on Tap: we gather monthly at Annie Bailey’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in Lancaster for fellowship, and a talk on our Catholic faith.

Breaking Bread: the fourth Sunday of every month, we gather at a Catholic Church in Lancaster for mass, and then go for brunch at a local eatery.

Additional special events include game nights, First Friday activities, and service opportunities.