What's Happening at Good Shepherd? Whether it's a recurring event in the parish or one of the other fun and uplifting singular events throughout the year, we hope you find something that will enhance being a part of the Good Shepherd community.

CURRENT EVENTS

SEMINARIAN-IN-RESIDENCE - Once again, Bishop Persico has assigned one of our diocesan seminarians to live at Good Shepherd. Mr. John Hepinger, from St. Andrew Parish in Erie and currently enrolled at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe will be moving in just after Memorial Day for a summer “tour of duty” here in the valley. Seminarians don’t bite, so please just walk up to him and introduce yourselves. Hopefully. He’ll be back next summer and for the time leading up to possible ordination to priesthood.

PARISH PICNIC - The Parish Council has set the date for the annual picnic for Sunday, September 9, beginning with the 11:30 AM Mass in church. Food and refreshments will be served outside (weather permitting) or in the Social Hall. Recreation and games will be held on the church/rectory lawn. This event will be combined with our celebration of a BLUE MASS, which honors our police, fire and emergency responders. Available members of those services, accompanied by a color guard will be part of the procession at Mass, be recognized and honored during the Mass, and join us as our guests for lunch.

The custom of Blue Masses began in the USA in the 1930s it seems, as a practice of the Catholic parishes in large cities to honor their parishioners who served the communities in that capacity. Called “Blue” because the police generally wore uniforms of that color, it was extended to honor all who served. For whatever reasons, it wasn’t celebrated with any regularity until 9/11, when it regained popular support.

Our own Chief Jason Newton got the word out to the other chiefs that we would like to host such an event, and local fire personnel are being notified by Joe Varga. With the addition of emergency rescue personnel from the local ambulance companies, we should have quite a crowd here to join us on September 9. Perhaps they might take some of our kids to check out the trucks, ambulances and squad cars that will be parked out front for the affair.

Come join us for the Eucharist at 11:30, the food to follow, and for the opportunity to say thank you to those men and women who put themselves on the line for us when threatened. Oh, and given the nature of the occasion, please wear red, white and blue.

DO YOU SING IN THE SHOWER? - How about coming to sing with us in church? We’re looking for additional voices in both our choir and the contemporary music group as well as a couple more leaders of song. Please call the rectory office if you’re interested.

MENS CLUB RAFFLE - The Mens Club members will be selling tickets on their August Lottery Raffle which will benefit the activities/charities of the club. If the number of your ticket matches the daily number in the PA Lottery on the days of August, you can win $50.00 Monday thru Saturday, or $100.00 on Sundays. They will be on sale thru July.

ANNUAL CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL - Our combined diocesan and parish goals amount to $106,000 this year, our parish goal being the technological upgrades we need in our classrooms, youth room, social hall, church and rectory, while our diocesan goal of $49,400 is for our share of the combined diocesan subsidies ($186,000) for Prince of Peace Center in Farrell and Catholic Charities Counseling and Adoption Services in Sharon. If you haven’t had a chance to pledge, please call the office at 724.528.3539.

Please click here to see the photo page of some of the projects we were able to accomplish last year because of your generosity. Your sense of stewardship amazes me.

You can view this year's video from the the Bishop by clicking here.

RECURRING EVENTS

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING - The council meetings are held every other month at 7:00PM in the Social Hall. For specific dates and time changes please refer to the bulletin.

BAPTISMAL CLASS - Classes are scheduled by appointment with the pastor.

RCIA SESSIONS - Sessions are on Thursdays at 6:30PM at the Rectory through Easter.

MENS CLUB - Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 7:00PM in the Social Hall.

ALTAR ROSARY SOCIETY - Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30PM in the Social Hall.