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History

Good Shepherd Church was officially established on July 14, 1989, with the Rev. Philip M. Bender as the Founding Pastor. In the beginning, our faith community was a mobile one. Masses were held for a little over a year at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Stratford Drive, and then establishing more permanent quarters at a "warehouse" on Old Gatesburg Road. Construction of our current church began in June of 1992 and was completed by June the following year. By July 1, 1993, we were able to move into our permanent home. On September 17, 1993, the church was dedicated.

Over the years, as our parish grew, so did our need for additional space.  Under the direction of Rev. Charles Amershek, Fr. Bender’s successor, the Father Bender Community Center was born. Named in honor of our founding pastor who passed away on May 23, 2011, the center was completed in April of 2014, and dedicated on July 20, 2014.

In general, the parish includes all of Patton and Halfmoon Townships, plus an area of Ferguson Township bounded by North Atherton Street and Circleville Road (Park Hills and Park Forest area) and part of Worth Township between Port Matilda and State College. The parish lies almost exactly in the center of the parish boundaries.

Good Shepherd Church is located in Centre County near the eastern border of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese. The diocese consists of eight counties and includes 89 parishes with the largest cluster of parishes in Cambria County. By contrast, there are only six parishes and the Catholic Community at Penn State in Centre County, two parishes in Clinton County (one in Lock Haven and one in Renovo) and only one in Fulton County. Administrative Offices for the diocese are located at: 2713 W. Chestnut Ave., Altoona, Pa 16601