Parish Events
COME HEAR THE WORD ABOUT WORLD YOUTH DAY!
WORD, our high school youth ministry, will have a guest speaker
on Monday, August 18 at 8:00 pm. Elizabeth Kreckel will be speaking
and showing pictures of her experience at World Youth Day in Sydney,
Australia. This event is open to anyone who is interested in hearing
her story. We especially encourage youth to attend to hear how another
youth experienced her faith. We will have light refreshments after her
presentation. We hope to see you there! Questions or concerns, please
contact Amelia at 238-0532 or at youthminister@goodshepherd-sc.org.
PRAYERS & SQUARES
On Monday, August 25, Prayers & Squares will be in the Parish Hall
beginning at 10:00 am. We'll be measuring and sorting the fabrics that
have been donated. Should time allow, we plan on making additional kits.
Stop in any time between 10 am and 2 pm. Any questions, feel free to
contact Sandy Ball at 466-9406 or email at sandeeball@gmail.com.
CATECHIST START-UP MEETING - 2008
The start-up meeting for religious education teachers and aides will
be at 6:00 pm on Monday, August 25 in the Parish Hall. The first part
of the meeting (6 pm to 7 pm) will be an overview session for all catechists
and aides, covering program expectations and the year's schedule. Teacher
texts can also be picked up at this time. From 7 pm to 8 pm, new teachers
and aides will be asked to stay for an orientation that will cover lesson
planning and procedures.
PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN TRAINING
The next Protecting God's Children training session will be at 6:00
pm on Thursday, August 28 in the Parish Hall at Good Shepherd. The training
runs about two hours. All adults who volunteer with youth at Good Shepherd
in areas such as Youth Ministry, Religious Education, Children's Liturgy
of the Word Program or the Nursery, must take this diocesan-mandated,
one-time session and submit to a criminal background check.
Registration for the session must be done on-line at www.virtus.org.
Click on registration in the left hand menu and follow the prompts.
The session involves filling out several forms, which require personal
information such as social security number, job history and references.
Please bring the appropriate reference material with you, so you can
fill out the forms.
JUST FAITH PROGRAM
If you are looking to encounter your faith in a way that challenges
you and how you are to live as a Christian in today's world, then Just
Faith may be the program for you. For thirty weeks you will journey
with other seekers using books, videos, conversation, retreats and immersion
experiences. The program will be offered here at Good Shepherd Catholic
Church on Saturdays from 9:00 - 11:30 am beginning September 6, 2008.
To register contact Fran Moorman 867-0486, Charleen Blum 632-8457 or
Jess Ballenger 861-3053.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REGISTRATION
There's still time to register for church-based and home-based Religious
Education classes at Good Shepherd for 2008, but spaces are beginning
to fill up. Registration materials can be obtained from the Faith Formation
Office (call 238-0649) and can also be downloaded from the parish website
at www.goodshepherd-sc.org.
(Click on the Faith Formation link in the left menu and then on Religious
Education of Children on the Faith Formation Page.)
Families must be registered with the parish in order to participate
in the regular religious education program. Classes start Sept. 7 and
8.
For families whose children have been away from religious education
for awhile, a home-based catch-up catechesis program is available to
bring them up to grade level. Contact the Faith Formation Office for
more information.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TEACHERS AND VOLUNTEERS NEED
The religious education program has the following openings for teachers
and aides: Sunday 6:00 pm, catechists and/or aides in grades 1, 3 and
5; Monday at 6:00 pm, a catechist in 5th grade. Successful volunteers
have a love of kids and a willingness to learn along with them. Training
and materials are provided. For more information please contact Faith
Formation Director, Barb Ballenger, at 238-0649, or e-mail dirred@goodshepherd-sc.org.
All volunteers who work with youth must take the diocesan-mandated Protecting
God's Children training and submit to a criminal background check. Dates
and times for these sessions will be announced in the bulletin.
SCRIPTURE STUDY GROUP
Interested in learning more about Scripture, but not finding the time
to do so on your own? Consider this your invitation to join a Scripture
Study Group that meets on Thursday evenings from 7:30 pm until 9:00
pm. Study will begin on Thursday, September 18.
The Book of Revelation will be our topic of study this fall, winter,
and spring. Don't let the duration of the study (25 weeks) deter you
from joining us! You are not committed to attending a particular number
of sessions, and we believe you will the find the study well worth your
time! Study materials are prepared by Catholic Scripture Study www.CatholicScriptureStudy.com.
Cost of the study will not exceed $50, and full scholarships are available.
Interested in learning more? Members of the Study Group will be available
after masses next weekend (August 23/August 24). Stop by to inquire,
learn more, and sign up. Copies of sample lessons and table of contents
for the study will be available. Feel free to contact Sandy Ball via
phone at 466-9406 or email sandeeball@gmail.com
for more information or to register.
THANK YOU
A special thank you to the Good Shepherd Parishioners: Thank you so
much for the prayer quilt and the prayers for our family during our
move. It has been a blessing for us to be a part of this parish. We
have made many friends here and we thank each of you for your gift of
prayers, your smiles, your laughter, and your presence in our lives!!
Like our vibrant quilt in a rainbow of colors, you all have helped to
color our lives with rich and vibrant memories. We will treasure this
quilt always and appreciate all the loving hands that prayed or sewed
or tied this quilt!! May God bless all of you, Dan, Debbie, Mary, Theresa,
Anthony, Matthew, and Luke Vanden Berk.
HELP WANTED/WORK WANTED
If you need employment or have employment to offer, please call the
Church office at 238-2110. This information is provided only as a service
to parishioners and the appearance of an advertisement does not constitute
an endorsement by Good Shepherd Church.
Help Wanted: Love Babies? We are looking for someone to cuddle, play
with, and care for our 2-month infant, Danny, while Mom works from
home. Position is from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays
and Fridays. This person must have lots of experience with infants
and have excellent references. We are looking for someone to start
immediately. If you are interested, please call Sara or Mike at 861-0919.
CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS
Are you a non-Catholic who regularly participates in Good Shepherd's
faith community? Have you experienced a spiritual tug to become a full
member of the Catholic Church? We invite you to explore God's call more
fully through our Christian Initiation of Adults (CIA) program. Inquiry
sessions, which explain the program, will be held Sept. 7, 14 and 21
after the 9:00 am Mass in the Large Conference Room.
This CIA process provides education about the Catholic Church's belief,
worship and practice while providing a supportive community in which
to grow in faith and to discern a commitment to full membership. The
program involves weekly Sunday meetings, beginning with a period of
inquiry and culminating in the reception of sacraments of initiation
at the Easter Vigil, the night before Easter Sunday.
This Christian Initiation process is open to people who have never been
baptized, for Christians who have been baptized in another faith and
for baptized Catholics who never received First Communion and/or Confirmation.
It is for individuals or for families whose members are joining together.
Special provisions are also made for children age 7 or older.
For more information contact CIA Coordinator Jerry Bremer at 237-9439
or Faith Formation Director Barb Ballenger at 238-0649.
PRAYER SHAWLS
It is hard to believe we have been knitting and crocheting prayer shawls
since Jan. 2008...and we have given out over seventy shawls to people
with various needs from illnesses to celebrations. We are also happy
to say that our own prayer life both individually as well as in our
group has been enriched by our participating in this healing ministry.
When you create a prayer shawl you are saying prayers most often for
someone you will never meet personally but carry in your prayers and
your heart. This prayerful, contemplative, process starts with your
individual prayers while knitting or crocheting, and when your shawl
is completed it is prayed over by our group, and last but not least
each shawl is blessed by Father Bender or Deacon Mike...then it is ready
to be given out.
If you are interested in knitting or crocheting a prayer shawl but can't
attend our meetings please know several people make their shawls at
home and bring them to us when they are done so that we can pray over
them and have them blessed. If you would like to contribute to our yarn
and gift bag need that is wonderful too. Each shawl requires about four
skeins of yarn. And most importantly we would like to thank all of you
for your prayers because that is why God is using our humble group to
touch people's lives with prayer and His healing comfort.
To request a Prayer Shawl or for more information about Prayer Shawls,
please contact Cheryl Wunsch at 692-4620 or Marge Bennett at 234-7284.
PRAYER QUILTS
To request a Prayer Quilt or for more information about Prayer Quilts,
please contact Sandy Ball at 466-9406 or email her at sandeeball@gmail.com.
PRAYER CHAIN
If you have any prayer intentions you would like us to pray for, please
contact:
Ellen Jankowski at 231-0213
Mary Petersen at 238-2209
Laurie Ragan at 234-5024
OUTREACH OPPORTUNITY
4TH SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH
FOR THE FULTON COUNTY MISSION
Sisters Margie and Martha report a special need for the following items
at this time:
Hand & bath soaps
Shampoos
Other items also needed at this time:
Deodorants
Dishwashing Liquid
Laundry Detergent
Shower Gels
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
The Christian Service Committee will be coordinating the collection
of the above listed personal hygiene items for those people served by
the Catholic Mission in McConnellsburg, PA. All packaging must be unopened
or sealed or it cannot be distributed. Bring your donated items with
you to church and place them in the basket provided in the Gathering
Space on the fourth Sunday of each month. Your generosity will be rewarded
with appreciation, thanks and prayers.
Area Events
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS EVENTS:
SMOKE FREE BINGO - Monday, August 18 - 7:00 - 10:00 pm (doors
open at 5:30). Bingo will be held at the KC Hall at 850 Stratford Drive,
SC. For more information, call Lionel Bassett: 238-7003.
KC CLUB BOARD MEETING - The KC Club Board meeting for the month
of August will starts at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, August 20 in the meeting
room at the KC Home on Stratford Drive. All board members should attend
this meeting.
KC MEN'S PICNIC - A picnic will be held on Friday, August 22
at 5:00 pm at the KC pavilion on Stratford Drive. Bring a friend and
better yet bring a prospective Knight. Come and enjoy the food and fellowship.
There will be the usual menu plus a few extra items at $5.00 per person.
For more information, contact Bob Hershey at 231-0829.
CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF AMERICA - A meeting will be held at 7:00
pm in Gardiner Hall (OLV Activities Center) on Wednesday, August 20.
The agenda will include a presentation on the "Prayer Shawl Ministry."
New members welcome. Come and see what we're all about!
OUR LADY OF VICTORY USED UNIFORM SALE - The OLV Parent Teacher
Group will be sponsoring a used uniform sale in the school gym on Saturday,
August 23 from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. Volunteers are needed. Come and replace
outgrown or outworn clothes for school.
OUR LADY OF VICTORY PRESCHOOL - The OLV Preschool welcomes all
new and returning families to the 2008 - 2009 school year. We are proud
to provide quality Preschool and Childcare programs for children ages
2½ - 5 years (Pre-K). With our bright, fully equipped facility
and trained caring staff your child will enjoy a special and rewarding
experience with us. For more information about our Programs and to schedule
a tour of our facility, please call 238-6616.
NINE-MONTH COURSE: THE PRACTICE OF CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER - The
Bethany Retreat Center will host a retreat on the Practice of Contemplative
Prayer beginning on September 12 - 14, 2008. The retreat will be one
weekend each month and during the nine month period participants will
view the Spiritual Journey tapes. Brochures available. Call 814-263-4855
for more information or visit website: www.bethanyretreatcenter.org.
CAMPBELL'S LABELS AND BOX TOPS 4 EDUCATION - OLV is collecting
Campbell's soup labels to purchase valuable educational materials. The
labels are also on Pepperidge Farm products, V8 juices, and Prego sauces.
Please place labels in the Campbell's collection bin located in the
Gathering Space.
Box Tops 4 Education coupons are also needed (Cheerios, Kleenex, brownie
mix, etc.) Please place these box tops in the Campbell's collection
bin located in the Gathering Space. For a complete list of products
sporting Box Tops go to www.Boxtops4education.com.
For more information, please call Jen Fitzgerald at 234-2306.
Announcements of additional area events which may be of interest are
posted on the "Area News and Events" and "Goods/Services
Needed/Offered" bulletin boards located in the Gathering Space.
Please take a moment to check them out.
Diocesan Events
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NEW BISHOP GUILFOYLE APPLICANTS - It's not
too late to enroll for the 2008-09 school year at Bishop Guilfoyle High
School. Special scholarship monies have been set aside for new applicants.
Call 944-4014 to schedule a personal consultation. Bus transportation
from surrounding school districts and State College shuttle available.
BG offers a Catholic, pre-collegiate education on a drug-free campus.
SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF THE ALLEGHENIES OUTDOOR SUNDAY MASSES -
All are most welcome to join us each Sunday evening at 7:00 pm for the
Outdoor Sunday Mass at the beautiful Shrine of Our Lady of the Alleghenies
in Loretto. The Mass will be celebrated now through Labor Day Weekend,
August 31. In the event of inclement weather, the Mass will be held
in the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel. Some benches are available.
However, to insure seating, please bring a lawn chair. The Prince Gallitzin
Chapel House, adjacent to the Shrine, will also be open to the public
on those same Sundays, beginning at 1:00 pm and closing at 6:00 pm.
TOUR OF THE ALTOONA CATHEDRAL - The Cathedral of the Blessed
Sacrament in Altoona is conducting tours during the month of September.
This is the month in which the Cathedral was formally dedicated in 1931.
parishes and groups from throughout the Diocese are invited to come
for a one-hour guided tour. Plan to take part in one of these tours.
Please call your Parish Office for further information.
FALL ADULT FAITH FORMATION CLASSES - What is the Adult Enrichment
& Lay Ecclesial Ministry Formation Process? It's an opportunity
for courses to enrich your faith; two years of intensive spiritual and
theological formation with an opportunity for a third year of specialized
ministry training in Adult Formation. Training includes Advance Bible
Study, Christian Initiation, Hospital Visitation, Liturgical Foundations,
Master Catechist, Peace & Justice, Tribunal Advocate and Youth Ministry.
Classes are offered in Duncansville at St. Catherine of Siena Parish
Hall on Wednesday, September 3 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm and in Johnstown
at St. John Gualbert Activity Center on Wednesday, September 10 from
6:30 - 8:30 pm. For information and registration contact the Parish
Life Office at 814-693-9605, visit us online at www.ajdiocese.org
or email jschneider@dioceseaj.org.
MASS IN SLOVAK - A Mass in the Slovak language will be con-celebrated
on Wednesday, September 17, at 9:30 am in the Cathedral of the Blessed
Sacrament in Altoona. That Eucharistic celebration will open this year's
bi-annual convocation of the Conference of Slovak Clergy in the United
States. Five American Bishops and a number of priests and deacons of
Slovak ancestry are expected to participate. Anyone interested is invited
to join them in prayer.