Parish Events

THE SUMMER OF NEIGHBORHOOD OUTREACH IS HERE!
The Neighborhood Outreach program is up and running, with each parish family receiving a letter sharing the name(s) of the Shepherd Contact(s) in their neighborhood. Over the next few weeks the Shepherd Contacts will be calling the families in their neighborhoods to introduce themselves and discuss how Neighborhood Outreach works.

If you are a Shepherd Contact and have questions about your next steps, are interested in learning more about being a Shepherd Contact, or have questions about the Neighborhood Outreach program, please contact the Parish Office at 238-2110 or email Eric McGinnis at guinness5@yahoo.com.

YOUTH IN MINISTRY MASSES
Thanks to all the youth who have volunteered to serve at our Youth in Ministry Masses. We are in the planning stages for our next group of Masses and we are looking for volunteers to serve. If you think you'd like to help as a Reader, Server, Cross-Bearer, Gift Bearer or Hospitality please contact Deacon Jack Orlandi at 692-7472 or email him at Deacon-Jack@comcast.net . A Youth in Ministry Mass is scheduled for August 15 at 11:00 am.

PRAYER CHAIN
If you have any prayer intentions you would like us to pray for, please contact:
Ellen Jankowski - 231-0213
Laurie Ragan - 234-5024

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REGISTRATION
Registration for religious education classes for children in kindergarten through 11th grade has begun. Registration forms have been mailed to families previously enrolled in the program. If you are new to the parish or didn't receive a registration packet, you can pick up the information in the parish office Monday through Friday during regular work hours, or download it from the religious education webpage, www.shepherded.pbworks.com.

Final deadline for registration is Aug. 1. Schedules for elementary and secondary classes will be sent out with confirmation letters in August. Church-based elementary classes begin Sept. 12, and secondary religious education (TYM) for grades 6-11 begin Sept 12, 19, and 26 depending on the grade level.

Elementary classes are held Sundays at 4:15 and 6:00 pm and Mondays at 6:00 pm. Space is limited and classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so register early to secure the day and time you want. Families will be notified and students will be put on a waiting list if the class is full. Home-based and church-based options are available for children in grades 1 to 10. Grade 11 is church-based only.

Please contact the Faith Formation Office with questions -- dirred@goodshepherd-sc.org or call 238-0649.

CHRISTIAN SERVICE COLLECTION FOR McCONNELLSBURG MISSION
The Christian Service Committee has been collecting school supplies during the month of July for the children who come to the McConnellsburg Mission for basic assistance. There is only one week left for the collection and Sisters Margie and Martha have indicated that Book Bags and Back Packs are especially needed, along with the items listed below. Please place your new school supplies in the container provided and know that your generosity is much appreciated. Personal care items will not be collected during the month of July. These items are especially needed:

Pencils & Pens
Erasers
Notebooks & Paper
Binders

PRAYER-SHAWLS
To request a Prayer Shawl or for more information about Prayer Shawls, please contact Marge Bennett at 234-7284 or Lynne DeLuca at 234-4654. Anyone is welcome to stop by during our meetings to find out more about us. We meet on Tuesdays from 10:00 am - 12:00 Noon in the Parish Hall and on the third Saturday of each month from 10:00 am - 12:00 Noon in the Nursery or as indicated.

PRAYERS AND SQUARES QUILT MINISTRY
Do you know someone who would find comfort being wrapped in a prayer quilt? Prayers and Squares would be honored to provide you with one ... our quilts are appropriate for anyone experiencing physical, emotional, spiritual, or any other life crisis. To learn more or to request a quilt, please contact Sandy Ball (<mailto:sandeeball@gmail.com>) or via phone (383-4257).

NEW JUSTFAITH GROUP FORMING
JustFaith (www.justfaith.org) is a national adult discussion program looking at current social problems in light of Catholic Social Teaching. An organizational meeting for the group beginning in September will be held on Monday August 2 at 7:00 pm in the Good Shepherd Church hall. A day and time for the weekly sessions will be chosen, so it is important that those who have expressed interest attend this meeting. Anyone who would like to join the group or find out more information about JustFaith is welcome to attend or call Charleen Blum 632-8457 or Fran Moorman 867-0486.

A HINT FOR "REMEMBERING" TO BRING YOUR FOOD BANK DONATIONS WITH YOU WHEN YOU COME TO CHURCH!
Food Bank Sunday at Good Shepherd is the second Sunday of each month. As a reminder to bring your donations with you, we recommend that you put a paperclip on the second Sunday envelope when your packet of envelopes arrives in the mail. When you get your envelope out, it will remind you to bring your donated item(s) with you when you come to church!

CHRISTIAN SERVICE COLLECTION FOR McCONNELLSBURG MISSION - During July, the Christian Service Committee will again collect school supplies for the children who come to the McConnellsburg Mission for basic assistance. Sisters Margie and Martha have indicated that the items below are especially needed. Please place your new school supplies in the container provided and know that your generosity is much appreciated. Personal care items will not be collected during the month of July.

HEALING FOR SEPARATION AND DIVORCE
Feeling the pain of a separation or divorce? You are not alone! Please consider joining us to focus on healing from our marital separations and divorces. We are all Catholics in some phase of divorce and healing. Our gatherings consist of prayer, sharing, and learning more about the healing process. We will meet on Sunday, July 25 from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm in the Chapel. For more information, please contact Michele Aukerman (238-0341; aukerman77@comcast.net).

CENTERING PRAYER GROUP -- OPEN MIND, OPEN HEART
The Centering Prayer group that meets on Thursday evening at 7:00 pm in the chapel has just begun reading the book "Open Mind, Open Heart" (2006 revised edition) by Fr. Thomas Keating together. After centering, we read a few pages together, and discuss what we have read. Anyone interested in centering and learning together is welcome. Once a month we will practice lectio divina (praying with Scripture) after centering together as well (first Thursday of the month). For more information, please contact Ellen Jankowski (231-0213) or Jet Schneider (238-0010).

PARISH PICNIC
Jim Maund would like to thank all of the "official volunteers" as well as all of the "spontaneous helpers" who made the Parish picnic a success. You all did an incredible job serving the Parish to help celebrate our twenty-first birthday. Thank you very, very much!!

HELP NEEDED FOR GOOD SHEPHERD'S ELEMENTARY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM
Good Shepherd's Elementary Religious Education program has the following needs for catechists and aides for the 2010-2011 academic year:

Sunday 6:00 pm:
" Grade 1 catechist and assistant
" Grade 2 catechist and assistant
" Grade 4 assistant
Monday, 6:00 pm:
" Grade 1 catechist and assistant
" Grade 2 catechist
" Grade 3 catechist
" Grade 4 assistant

Please note classes that do not have adequate coverage by the start of the academic year, Sept 12/13, will unfortunately be canceled. If you would like to volunteer please contact the Faith Formation office at 238-0649 or e-mail dirred@goodshepherd-sc.org. All volunteers must have the diocesan Protecting Gods Children training and pass background checks. PGC trainings will be offered again in September.

ENERGY EFFICIENT RESOURCE STANDARD POSTCARD CAMPAIGN
As recent events have demonstrated, the production of oil, coal and natural gas comes at great environmental and human cost. To waste these resources needlessly adds to suffering in our world and to the already dangerous levels of CO2 in our atmosphere. As people of faith, we have a responsibility to be better stewards of our environmental resources.

We could limit the ecological and health damages (such as toxic mercury from our coal-burning power plants) simply by requiring more energy efficiency as the law of the land. An Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) is an important part of comprehensive climate and energy legislation, and can be combined with support for more renewable energy as part of a comprehensive approach to reduce our carbon footprint.

The Good Shepherd Social Justice Committee is supporting a postcard campaign led by the Pennsylvania Chapter of Interfaith Power and Light, which urges our U.S. senators to require more energy efficiency as the law of the land by passing comprehensive climate and energy legislation this year that includes an EERS that will mandate that the country use less energy over time to achieve the same output.

The Social Justice Committee will have a display in the Gathering Space with more information on this issue and postcards for you to sign from July 24 - August 1. Stop by to learn more and make a difference.

Area Events

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS EVENTS:

SMOKE-FREE BINGO - Monday, July 26 - 7:00 - 10:00 pm (doors open at 5:30). Bingo will be held at the KC Hall at 850 Stratford Drive, SC. For information call Lionel Bassett: (238-7003).

FOURTH DEGREE EXEMPLIFICATION - Our Lady of Victory Assembly 1945 and Father O Hanlon Council 4678 will sponsor a Fourth Degree Exemplification at their home on Stratford drive on Sunday, September 12. Fourth Degree Exemplifications are held in State College every 5 - 10 years. This is a great opportunity for Third Degree Knights to receive this degree locally. Any Third Degree Knights interested in participating in the degree should contact Bob Gawryla (238-9517) or Lionel Bassett (238-7003) immediately. Applications must be received by the council by July 31 to be approved by the assembly at a special meeting on August 3.

OUR LADY OF VICTORY PRESCHOOL RESTAURANT NIGHT - OLV Preschool Restaurant Night will be held on Thursday, July 29, from 4:00-8:00 pm at Inferno Brick Oven & Bar and The Deli Restaurant. OLV Preschool will receive 20% of your order including take-out. Thank you for your continued support! Please contact Danielle Montler at dmontler29@gmail.com for a coupon.

 

Diocesan Events

CATHOLIC LIFE CONFERENCE 2010
There will be a Catholic Life Conference held Saturday, September 18, at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson. Keynote Addresses will be by Rev. Monsignor James Gaston, VF, STL, MA; Diocese of Greensburg.

Ministry Workshop Topics: Catechist Enrichment, Christian Initiation, Comprehensive Youth Ministry, Evangelization, Lay Ecclesial Ministry, Life & Justice, Liturgy, Marriage Initiative, Parish Pastoral Councils, & Vocations.

Registration is $25 per person and this includes lunch. For more information and to request a registration booklet, please contact: Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, 933 S. Logan Blvd., Hollidaysburg, PA 16648, 814-693-1401 or www.ajdiocese.org