Parish Events

MUSIC CONCERT THANK YOU
On behalf of the choirs, I would like to thank all who attended our Music Night concert last Thursday. Your support was amazing! Thanks, also, to the parishioners who so graciously provided food for the reception and helped to serve - your time and generosity was greatly appreciated. To Father Bender, Father Charlie, and all the choir members - thank you for supporting me and allowing me the opportunity to put together such a meaningful senior project. I am truly grateful. - Tyler Weakland

MOTHER/SON EVENT
Volunteers are needed for the Mother/Son Event planning committee. For several years Good Shepherd mothers and sons enjoyed a fun bowling outing. Should we do it again or try something different? We need your input and help! This is a great opportunity to get involved in parish life and enrich our family activities. If you are interested, please contact the parish office at 238-2110 or email prmarsh95@gmail.com.

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:
" Kindergarten catechist and 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.

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.

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. The group will meet on Thursday evenings from 6:30 pm to 9 pm beginning on September 16. If you would like to join, call Charleen Blum 632-8457 or Fran Moorman 867-0486 so that materials can be ordered.

MATTHEW 25 COMMITTEE MEETING
There will be a Matthew 25 Committee Meeting on Thursday, September 25 at 7:00 pm in the Gathering Space at the Church.

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.
Youth in Ministry Masses are scheduled for the following Masses: September 12, 11:00 am; October 16, 5:30 pm; and November 21, 9:00 am.

NEW BIBLE TIMELINE SCRIPTURE STUDY FORMING
The Bible Timeline, a 24-week scripture study designed to give you the big picture of salvation history and basic understanding of the major people, places and events throughout biblical history will be offered at Good Shepherd Catholic Church starting in September if enough people express interest. The Bible Timeline is basic enough to suit those who haven't studied the Bible before while at the same time offering ways to go deeper that will challenge the Bible study veteran. Salvation history is covered from its beginning in Genesis through the coming of Christ and the establishment of the Catholic Church.

An organizational meeting to find out more and talk to parishioners who have taken part in the study will be held on Monday, August 30 at 7:00 pm in the Good Shepherd Church Parish Hall. A day and time for the weekly sessions will be discussed, so it is important for those interested to attend this meeting. Anyone who would like to join the group or find out more information is welcome to attend or contact Michelle Spiering at mms36@psu.edu or 235-1282.

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, August 29` from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm in the Chapel. For more information, please contact Michele Aukerman at aukerman77@comcast.net.

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES SCRIPTURE STUDY FORMING
A 28-week scripture study of the Acts of the Apostles examining the Birth of the Church - the completion of the story of Jesus as manifested in the life of the early Church, will be offered at Good Shepherd Catholic Church starting in September. The book of Acts is about the life of Jesus mystical body, the Church, and about what Jesus continues to do and teach in the world through the actions of the Holy Spirit within the Church. The group meets weekly on Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:00 pm in the Good Shepherd Church Parish Hall. Anyone who would like to join the group or find out more information is asked to contact Rick Brezina at rwbrez55@yahoo.com or 237-4712 or Michelle Spiering at mms36@psu.edu or 235-1282 by Monday August 30 so that we may order the study materials.

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
Mary Petersen - 238-2209 marypetersen@verizon.net

YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS

As we begin a new school year, I know that if you take Jesus with you each day, your year will be great! I also hope that you will join us for the upcoming events for WORD and SHOUT. Please mark your calendars, and make us part of your schedule, you won't be disappointed…God's WORD never returns void!

SHOUT will be held once a month and WORD will be held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

WORD Kick Off: Tuesday, September 14th 7:00-8:30 pm "My One WORD"
Tuesday, September 28th, 7:00-8:30 p,

SHOUT Kick Off: September 24th, 7:00-9:00 pm

6TH GRADE "PEEK AHEAD" PIZZA PARTY September 17th, 7:00-8:30 pm
6th graders head to Middle School for the first time, change the way they learn about their Roman Catholicism in TYM, and are now able to join in SHOUT, so we thought it would be a nice way to help them through the transition by celebrating together with their peers and pizza. Their TYM team will be there as well. Hope to see you there!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS…SHYCON 2010 IS HERE!
SHYCON, Senior High Youth Conference is a diocesan event opened to all youth in grades 9-12. It gives high school students an opportunity to grow in their faith and meet other Catholic youth from all over the Diocese. SHYCON will be on Sunday, October 24th at Saint Francis University, Loretto. We will need adult chaperones as well, so please let me know if you are interested. I will have more information in the upcoming weeks...

***As always, you will be able to find information for the upcoming events in the bulletin, on the bulletin board, the wiki page at www.shepherded.pbworks.com or on our WORD and SHOUT Facebook page.

Loving God, we thank you for a summer of relaxation and fun. As summer changes into fall, help us also transition back into school, cooler weather, and new possibilities to see You in our daily lives. We ask all of this in the glory of Your name. Amen.

Blessings, Elaine <><

MISSION CO-OP COLLECTION TO BE TAKEN UP NEXT WEEKEND!
At all of the masses this weekend, you heard an appeal from Father Karl Vacek, a Franciscan priest, who was visiting Good Shepherd to solicit funds to support their mission work in Paraguay, one of the poorest countries in Latin America.

The collection in response to his appeal is this weekend. There is an envelope in your packets marked "Mission Cooperative" to be used for this purpose. Hopefully, you have remembered your donation this weekend. If not, please make it at your very earliest convenience so that we can forward it to the mission office.

BAPTISM PROGRAM FOR EXPECTANT PARENTS - The next Baptism Program For Expectant Parents will begin this Wednesday, September 1, at 7:45 p.m. in the Large Conference Room. The second session in the series will be held on Wednesday, September 8, also at 7:45 p.m. Attendance at this program is required of all parents prior to the baptism of their child. We recommend that expectant parents attend this program prior to the birth of their child when attendance should be easier.

OUR ACA PLEDGE GOAL
HAS BEEN MET!

A special thank you goes out to those of you who responded to the call to participate in the parish's 2010 Annual Catholic Appeal! Our pledge goal of $60,545 has now been met (to date pledges total $62,036.79)! Assuming that all of those pledges will be fulfilled, this will be the first time in several years that we will not have to draw on the parish's General Fund to meet this annual commitment to the diocese!

While we are extremely grateful to all of you who have made a pledge, those of you who haven't yet done so (71% of the parish) are still encouraged to participate. It's not too late! Any funds over goal are returned to the parish for us to use as we'd like. "Why shouldn't I just make a donation to the parish's General Fund instead?" you might ask. The answer is simple. Each year the parish's regular collections are assessed (taxed) by the diocese at 5.7% to help support diocesan operations. Any donations to the Annual Catholic Appeal above and beyond our goal are not part of that assessment! Think about it!

SHEPHERD'S CALL MORTGAGE/DEBT
REDUCTION CAMPAIGN UPDATE

While we have met our pledge goal on the diocesan Annual Catholic Appeal, we still have a way to go on the annual Shepherd's Call Mortgage/Debt Reduction Campaign which is currently underway. Results as of August 15 are as follows:

Parish Goal - $250,000.00
Total Pledges to Date - $185,013.00
Number of Pledges Received - 216
% of Parish Goal - 74%
% of Parish Registration - 23%

We are most grateful to all who have supported our Shepherd's Call/Mortgage Debt Reduction Campaigns in the past. The current mortgage is scheduled to be paid off in March of 2011. Your generosity has enabled us to pay off that mortgage 14 years early - and not a bit too soon if our space limitations are any indication! It has also allowed us to save over $1,000,000 in interest over the course of the loan! However, to continue to expand our ministries and to support our parish mission, we do need additional space. Therefore, we would also like to begin to accumulate in our Mortgage/Debt Reduction Fund the finances we will need to build an expansion to our current building. We need your help! If you haven't already done so, please consider making your pledge now to the Mortgage/Debt Reduction Campaign.

Area Events

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS EVENTS:

SMOKE-FREE BINGO - Monday, August 30 - 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).

CONCESSION BOOTH SUPPORT - The Knights of Columbus need help in concession stands 7, 18, and 18a at Beaver Stadium starting with the Youngstown State game on September 4. Identification is required for all workers. Workers must be 16 or older. The concession booth revenues are the primary source of funds for council charities. High School Students can receive community service credit for work with the Knights. Kickoff for the game is 12:00 pm, workers should arrive between 9:45 and 10:15 am so that we are ready when the gates open at 10:30 am. If you have tickets for the game and would be willing to help at halftime, we could use your help during that rush. Call Lionel Bassett (238-7003) or Rich Szmolko (861-5376) if you can help..

BUSINESS SPONSORS NEEDED FOR OLVCS WALK-A-THON - The Our Lady of Victory Catholic School Walk-a-thon is scheduled for October 7. The purpose of the Walk-a-thon is to raise funds to support classroom enhancements, merit scholarships, student activities, and to cover a portion of the schools 2010-2011 operating budget. In order to meet our fundraising goal, we are asking area businesses to support the Walk-a-thon with a donation of $250. If you are interested in having your business support Catholic education as a sponsor for the OLVCS Walk-a-thon, please, contact Kathy Peters at kfp1@psu.edu or 861-4334. All donations are tax-deductible!

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND - A worldwide marriage encounter weekend is a gift that a married couple can give to themselves that will enhance their relationship with each other and enhance their relationship as a couple with God. Remember that the best example we can give our children is to love one another. Join us September 24-26, at the Four Points Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport, for a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend. Turn a good marriage into a great one. For more information or to register please contact Jay and Judy at (412) 635-7775 or visit us on the web at www.wwme-pittsburgh.org Future dates are November 12, 13, 14, 2010 at Bishop Connare Center Greensburg, PA. February 18, 19, 20, 2011 at Gilmary Retreat House Pittsburgh, PA. April 8, 9, 10, 2011 at Toftrees Resort, State College, PA.

THE PRACTICE OF CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER - The Practice of Contemplative Prayer will be held at Bethany Retreat Center, Frenchville, September 10-12, 2010. An ongoing process of formation enabling participants to create their own unique contemplative lifestyle in the contemporary world. Prayer, contemplative living and the integrations of contemplation and activity are cultivated; the process is aided by the development of relational prayer through contemplative prayer practices. During this 9 month period participants will view the Spiritual Journey tapes. There is time for personal prayer, reflection, and liturgy all within an atmosphere of silence. Brochures Available. Call (814) 263-4855 for more information or visit website: www.bethanyretreatcenter.org.

POLISH MASS - On Sunday, September 5 at 2:30 pm, Father Mariusz Karbowski will celebrate in the polish language at Our Lady of Victory. All are welcome to join in the celebration. Father Karbowski has assisted in various masses at OLV and other parishes in the Centre Region throughout his visit at Penn State. Please join Father Karbowski in his final celebration of mass in America before his return to Warsaw, Poland.

Diocesan Events

MASS AT CATHEDRAL OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT - Bishop Joseph will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in thanksgiving for his Golden Jubilee of Priestly Ordination on Sunday, September 12, at 4:00 pm. Any and all singers in the Diocese are invited to sing in the choir for the Liturgy. Rehearsals will be on Saturday, September 4 and Saturday, September 11, from 10:00 am until Noon in the Cathedral Music Room (next to the Parish Hall). Cathedral Music Director Nicholas Will will be the organist and director of music for the event. Please contact Nicholas at 814-944-2044 or nwill@dioceseaj.org for more details and to reserve your place, as space in the choir loft is limited.

ANNUAL WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS ANNOUNCED - Bishop Joseph and the Family Life Office invite all couples celebrating their 1st, 25th, 40th, 50th, 55th, and 60+ Wedding Anniversary in 2010 (and their families) to attend one of the upcoming Annual Anniversary Day Liturgies. Couples may attend on either Sunday, September 26, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona or Sunday, October 3, at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown. Both liturgies begin at 2:00 p.m. Bishop Joseph will be the Celebrant and Homilist at each celebration. Punch and cookies will be available after the mass for those who attend. Please call the parish office at 238-6114 to register for either celebration. The deadline for reservations is Wednesday, September 1.

TOURS OF THE ALTOONA CATHEDRAL SCHEDULED - September is the month in which our diocesan Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona was formally dedicated in 1931. Faith communities from throughout the diocese are invited to take part in any of four guided one-hour tours of this magnificent house of worship. Tour dates are:

Sunday, September 5, at 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 14, at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 19, at 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 28, at 7:00 p.m.

Light refreshments will be offered following each of the tours.

The diocese has asked that each parish give them the approximate number of people who plan to attend on any given date. If you are interested in participating in one of the tours or if you would like any additional information, please contact Dee in the parish office at 238-6114.

WELCOME TO CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY! - Do you know a student starting college this fall who is enrolled in a college or university within the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown? We would like to welcome that student to our campus. Please share this announcement with all students attending our institutions. All of our campuses have Catholic and/or faith organizations where students can make new friends, share similar interests and grown in faith:

Juniata College - Lisa Baer, baer1@juniata.edu
Lock Haven University - Sister Karen Grusick, klgccw@yahoo.com
Mt. Aloysius College - Sister Nancy, ndonovan@mtaloy.edu
PSU/Altoona Campus - Mr. Andre McCarville, andre.mccarville@gmail.com
Penn State University - Father David Griffin, drg14@psu.edu
St. Francis University - Father Chris Dobson, cdobson@francis.edu
University of Pittsburgh/Johnstown Campus - Mr. Jonathan Jerome, jjerome@upj.edu

Stay connected to the Faith!

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING - Does your method of family planning …strengthen your emotional intimacy with your spouse? …work with the gift of your fertility? …nurture a loving relationship with God and the Church? …increase your self-respect and growth as a person/couple? The Billings Method of NFP (www.boma-usa.org or www.familyplanning.net) is the result of decades of scientific research by medical researchers. NFP honors the Church's respect for the unitive and procreative purpose of married love-making. If you haven't checked out NFP, you haven't made an informed choice. Certified diocesan instructors are located throughout our diocese. Introductory presentations to groups are available. Contact our diocesan Family Life Office, 814-886-5551; familylife@diocesaj.org.

FALL ADULT FAITH FORMATION CLASSES - What is the Adult Enrichment & Lay Ecclesial Ministry Formation Process?
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…
Advanced Bible Study, Christian Initiation, Hospital Visitation, Liturgical Foundations,
Master Catechist, Peace and Justice, Tribunal Advocate

Where will Year I classes be offered?

Duncansville: St. Catherine of Siena beginning Wednesday, Sept. 15, 6:30-8:30 pm.
Johnstown: St. John Gaulbert Activity Center beginning Wednesday, Sept. 8, 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 (Parish Life Ministries) or email mrusso@diocese.org.

7 STEPS TO BECOMING FINANCIALLY FREE - Have you ever thought how nice it would be to have true peace when thinking or talking about finances? Would you like to appreciate the gifts God has given--your skills, education, training, and income? Would you like to learn how to use them as He intended? This Catholic small group study could be the first step in helping you discover TRUE financial freedom. It will help you deepen your relationship with the Lord, strengthen your family life and build a support network for living Catholic values. The program will teach you how to break free from the bondage of consumer debt and develop a realistic and Godly financial plan for the future. Past participants have said that the program has helped them define their values and make wiser choices so that money does not dictate how they live. No personal financial information will be shared with others. See www.osv.com for more information.

Held Thursdays, September 23, October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Hall, 2716 Broad Ave., Altoona; 943-6185. Cost for materials: $30 person; $45 married/engaged couples (couples need to attend together.) Class size is limited. Walk-ins on the first night will be accepted only if space permits. Register through the parish, Family Life Office, 5379 Portage St., Lilly, PA 15938, 814-886-5551 by September 16. Make check payable to "Family Life Office." Co-sponsored by the diocesan Family Life Office and Our Lady of Lourdes. Childcare is available.