About St. John Neumann · Lancaster, Pennsylvania
St. John Neumann Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, part of the Diocese of Harrisburg. The parish was canonically established on December 16, 1978, and its first Mass was celebrated at a temporary site on East Delp Road, where the current campus now stands, before a permanent church was blessed by then-Msgr. William H. Keeler. The parish was named for St. John Neumann, the Philadelphia-born Redemptorist who became the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia and was canonized by Pope Paul VI on June 19, 1977 — one day before the parish community gathered for its first worship. Today the parish serves a thriving Catholic community on Lancaster's east side with a church, Religious Education Center, parish school, gym, and active ministries for children, youth, adults, and seniors.
- Established
- 1978
- Patron
- St. John Neumann (canonized June 19, 1977)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Daniel F.X. Powell, V.F.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Why belong here
St. John Neumann is a warm, growing Catholic community in east Lancaster that offers daily and weekend Masses in a dedicated church, weekly Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, and a full sacramental life — including Baptisms every Sunday, marriage preparation, and First Communion and Confirmation programs. Families are supported by an on-site parish school (formerly St. Anne School, refounded as St. John Neumann Catholic School), a Family Faith Formation program built around Catholic practice, culture, and education, and a Youth Ministry for grades 6–12 with retreats, service trips, and social outings. Adults find ways to serve through ministries such as Baptismal Preparation, Pre-Cana, the Parish Nurse/Health & Wellness program, music ministry, and outreach — all under the care of a dedicated pastor, parochial vicar, two permanent deacons, and a full lay staff.
Mass times at St. John Neumann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM
- Saturday: 2:00 PM (site) / 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM (Diocese listing) — 2:00–3:30 per parish website; or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM (for Vocations and Religious Life)
- Divine Mercy Chaplet: Wednesday 3:45 PM
Parish History
The parish traces its roots to a dedication on June 19, 1977 — the very day St. John Neumann was canonized in Rome — and a canonical establishment on December 16, 1978. From the blessing by Msgr. William H. Keeler and the first pastorate of Fr. John Acri, the community has grown through four pastorates, the construction of a rectory, library, Religious Education Center (dedicated to St. Pope John XXIII), and the launch of a parish school. The current pastor, Fr. Daniel F.X. Powell, was installed June 19, 2016.
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by a pastor with the rank of Very Reverend (Vicar Forane), supported by a parochial vicar and two permanent deacons. A lay staff handles parish operations, faith formation, music, youth ministry, health and wellness, and maintenance.
- Fr. Daniel F.X. Powell — Pastor
- Fr. Clark A. Stiteler — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Michael Oles — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Peter J. Jupin — Permanent Deacon
- Tom (Thomas) Conner — Parish Manager
- Kimberly Mikulski — Parish Secretary
- Linda Gowarty — Administrative Staff / Youth Protection
- Nate Gulya — Director of Family Faith Formation
- Erin Houser — Assistant to the DRE
- Udoka Ugoagwu — Youth Minister
- Kurt Kehler — Coordinator of Music
- Tonianne Bertel — Coordinator of Health and Wellness / Parish Nurse
- Ian Black — Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. John Neumann is built around three pillars — Catholic practice, culture, and education — and is offered in a Family Faith Formation model designed to help parents hand on the faith at home. Families with children in Grades PK-1 and 3-6 meet twice a month in person (with monthly at-home lessons). The program also prepares Grade 2 students for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, and Grades 7-8 students for Confirmation across a two-year span.
- Family Faith Formation for Grades PK-1 and 3-6
- First Reconciliation / First Holy Communion preparation (Grade 2)
- Confirmation preparation (Grades 7-8, two-year program)
- Director: Nate Gulya — (717) 569-8531 ext. 218
Youth Ministry
SJN Youth Ministry welcomes teens in grades 6–12 — Catholic faith is integral to every meeting, but meetings are open to all teens within the age range. Each gathering includes games and activities alongside prayer and reflection, and the ministry runs social trips (Hershey Park, corn maze, beach trip, bowling), spiritual retreats (Kairos, Steubenville, Fan the Fire), and service experiences such as Works of Mercy Week and food drives.
- Open to grades 6-12
- Sunday Youth Group meetings 6:00–8:30 PM
- Spiritual retreats: Kairos, Steubenville, Fan the Fire
- Service experiences: Works of Mercy Week, food drives
- Youth Minister: Udoka Ugoagwu — [email protected]
Sacrament Preparation
Information for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage is published on the parish website. Baptisms are normally celebrated in the Chapel at 1:00 PM on Sundays (Saturdays by request) and require attendance at a monthly Baptism Class for first-time parents. Marriage preparation follows the Diocese of Harrisburg's nine-month process.
- Baptism: Sundays 1:00 PM in the Chapel; class on 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 PM
- First Communion: prepared in Grade 2
- Confirmation: two-year program in Grades 7-8
- Marriage: at least 9 months of preparation including Pre-Marital Inventory, Canonical Process, Formation & Accompaniment, retreat, and Liturgical Planning
Worship & Devotions
Beyond Mass, the parish nurtures Eucharistic devotion through regular Adoration periods, including a Thursday evening hour specifically for Vocations and Religious Life, and a weekly Wednesday gathering with the Divine Mercy Chaplet during Adoration.
- Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesdays 12:00–4:00 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations: Thursdays 6:30–7:30 PM
- Divine Mercy Chaplet: Wednesdays 3:45 PM
- Music Ministry coordinated by Kurt Kehler
Outreach & Parish Life
The parish supports a range of outreach and care ministries. A Parish Nurse / Coordinator of Health and Wellness, Tonianne Bertel, assists parishioners with health-related concerns, and Pre-Cana and Baptismal Preparation ministries walk couples and new parents through the Church's sacramental and formational life. The parish also operates a Youth Protection program coordinated by Linda Gowarty.
- Parish Nurse / Health and Wellness (Tonianne Bertel)
- Baptismal Preparation ministry
- Pre-Cana Ministry (marriage preparation)
- Youth Protection compliance
- Coffee & Donuts fellowship schedule (listed on the Ministries page)
St. John Neumann Catholic School
St. John Neumann Catholic School is the parish school, re-established on the parish campus through a 2018 Capital Campaign. It traces its heritage to St. Anne School, founded in 1924 and previously located at St. Anne Church on Liberty Street in Lancaster. The new Education Center allowed the school to expand its facilities and classrooms to serve more families.
- Re-established on the St. John Neumann campus
- Heritage from St. Anne School, founded 1924
- New Education Center funded through a 2018 Capital Campaign
Facilities, Live Stream & Visiting
The parish campus at 601 East Delp Road includes the church, parking, restrooms, and a Social Hall, and the church is equipped with an Assistive Listening system. Masses are live-streamed through the parish website and social channels, with homilies and other videos archived online. Parish Office Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed Fridays).
- Address: 601 East Delp Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
- Phone: (717) 569-8531
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM – 4 PM (closed Fridays)
- Live-stream Mass available; archives of homilies and videos online
- Assistive Listening system in the church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Acri1977–1980
First pastor; led the new parish from its dedication in 1977 until May 1980.
- Fr. Patrick Devine1980–1994
Second pastor; oversaw the 1982 dedication of the new rectory by Bishop Keeler.
- Msgr. Richard A. Youtz1994–2014
Third pastor; library blessed in 1995; broke ground for the Religious Education Center in 2013 and saw its Phase I dedicated on Divine Mercy Sunday 2014.
- Fr. David L. Danneker, Ph.D.2014–2016
Fourth pastor; took up residence in May 2014 after Msgr. Youtz's retirement.
- Fr. Daniel F.X. Powell2016–present
Fifth pastor; installed June 19, 2016; leads the parish through the current campus and school expansion.