Category: News and Events

Pastoral Plan 2021-2024: Formation

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FORMATION OBJECTIVES

St. John Neumann aims to foster and empower each person’s call to disciple Christ through effective faith formation and spirituality. Preparing our parishioners for mission requires a variety of educational and faith formation programs for all ages, including:
  • Children’s faith formation
  • Youth ministry
  • Young adult ministry
  • Adult faith formation
  • Spiritual formation, missions, and retreats
Strategic Direction: St. John Neumann will foster lifelong engagement and formation that flows reciprocally through all stages of life.
Lead Agent: Jean Lupinacci, Director of Faith Formation

PASTORAL OBJECTIVES

2021-2022 

  1.  Welcome and reintegrate to faith formation and the worship space
  2. Connect baptismal families with the larger communities by inviting them to group gatherings with other young households and providing them with age-appropriate material that supports them as the primary teachers of the faith
  3. Support the Spanish-speaking ARISE program and support the growth of small faith groups

2022-2023  

  1. Emphasize lived faith in-practice/action in all aspects of faith formation
  2. Work to connect Salesian spirituality to all aspects of our lived expression of faith
  3. Reconnect families to liturgical experiences

2023-2024  

  1. Build a relationship between the youth and the parish elders to encourage mutual understanding and accompaniment on the journey of faith
  2. Create opportunities for middle-aged adults to build community within the parish experience
  3. Connect Salesian spirituality to our liturgical and sacramental education

 

 

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Pastoral Plan 2021-2024: Worship

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WORSHIP OBJECTIVES

The heart of parish life is the celebration of the Eucharist, from which flows all our worship, sacraments, and prayer. St. John Neumann encourages the full, active, and conscious participation of all parishioners in the sacramental life of the Church. This includes:
  • Prayerful Sunday liturgy
  • Worship experiences celebrating the liturgical seasons
  • Sacramental preparation, including the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
  • Invitation and formation for liturgical ministers
Strategic Direction: St. John Neumann will engage all parishioners to fully participate in worship.
Lead Agents: Tricia Russman, CJ Capen, and the St. John Neumann Parish Liturgy Committee

PASTORAL OBJECTIVES

2021-2022

  1. Continue to expand the livestream production and utilize it to extend our reach to those who cannot attend in person
  2. Catechize on the importance of the gathered community and the graces that can be had in the Eucharist as parishioners continue to transition back to in-person worship
  3. Increase a cross-generation of liturgical ministers through intentional one-on-one invitations

2022-2023

  1. Revitalize Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) & Family Mass to be more family directed and intentional toward that target audience
  2. Provide Time & Talents surveys and workshops to help parishioners discern where their gifts would best be served, to include engaging those that have recently received a sacrament
  3. Continue catechesis on the “whys” to the liturgy and ritual elements to enrich personal growth

2023-2024

  1. Suggest practical applications from weekend liturgies to help worshipers best see how they can be agents of the Gospel during the week.
  2. Create more worship opportunities where the English and Spanish-speaking parishioners can gather as one body.
  3. Invite greater discussion about vocations and expand the opportunities for devotional practices.

Pastoral Plan 2021-2024: Stewardship

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STEWARDSHIP OBJECTIVES

St. John Neumann commits to being a good steward of the parish facilities, finances, and human resources that enable the community to pray, grow, and serve. Stewardship also involves empowering parishioners to use their gifts and competencies on behalf of the faith community, providing the necessary pastoral formation and support.  This includes:
  1. Parish administration and coordination
  2. Facilities management
  3. Financial processes, procedures, and reporting
  4. Identification of the gifts present in the community
  5. Genuine and intentional invitation to parishioners to serve in leadership roles
Strategic Direction: St. John Neumann will continue to engage parishioners in our commitment to effective and comprehensive stewardship.
Lead agents: Nelson Alvarez, Facilities Manager; Patty Kwapniewski, Office Administrator, and the Parish Finance Committee

PASTORAL OBJECTIVES

2021-2022

  1. To engage parishioners in all aspects of parish life by:
    • Creating a central repository for St John Neumann volunteer opportunities where adults and families can sign up to “drop in” and share their time and talent
    • Showcasing our ministries and increasing the ease of locating other aspects of church life on the St John Neumann website
  2. To embrace Pope Francis’ seven-year Laudato Si’ Action Plan by developing a multiyear approach to increase sustainability in the holistic spirit of integral ecology

2022-2023

  1. To encourage exploration of the charisms and gifts by hosting the “Called and Gifted Workshop,” sponsored by the Catherine of Siena Institute
  2. To implement St John Neumann’s year one objectives in response to the Laudato Si’ Action Plan
  3. To communicate how contributions are being used to give witness to the presence of God in our midst

2023-2024

  1. To encourage all who participate in programs at St. John Neumann to feel welcome in and responsible for the facility and those around them
  2. To implement St John Neumann’s Year Two objectives in response to the Laudato Si’ Action Plan.

Music for the Cure – In Memory of Fr. Tom Murphy, OSFS

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 Friday, May 6 at 7:00pm

St. John Neumann Parish – 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191

Concert to be followed by a dessert reception

Freewill offerings will be donated in honor of Fr. Tom Murphy to the
Lustgarten Foundation, benefiting pancreatic cancer research.

For more information, contact Mickie Abatemarco
703-390-2340 or mabatemarco@saintjn.org

 

Saturday, May 7
Learning to Walk in the Rain

On Saturday, May 7, from 9:00am to 1:00pm, Tom Kendzia and ValLimar Jansen will offer a morning retreat in our de Sales’ Chapel, “Learning to Walk in the Rain.” The hosts will help us learn how to thrive in difficult times. The registration fee is $20. If you are interested in attending, please register with Mickie Abatemarco, our Director of Faith Formation, at mabatemarco@saintjn.org or 703-390-2340.

 

 

St. John Neumann Former Employee in Police Custody

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Law enforcement authorities have advised the Diocese of Arlington that Douglas Johnson is facing six criminal charges related to unlawfully videotaping a female minor in Chesapeake, Va.  Mr. Johnson has voluntarily turned himself in to police.

Johnson served as the Youth Minister at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reston from 2005 – 2018. As a condition of employment, he underwent a criminal background check and completed VIRTUS safe-environment training on the prevention and reporting of abuse. Johnson also underwent recurring background checks every five years, consistent with diocesan policy, to continue serving with minors. Prior to his employment, he volunteered at both St. John Neumann and St. Thomas à Becket Catholic Church in Reston.

No known complaints or allegations have been made against Johnson related to his time as an employee and volunteer at St. John Neumann and a volunteer at St. Thomas à Becket. If you are aware of misconduct or abuse on the part of any cleric, employee, or volunteer of the Diocese, immediately notify civil authorities and reach out to the diocesan Office of Child Protection and Victim Assistance at (703) 841-2530.

The Diocese of Arlington has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse and is fully committed to training our clergy, staff and volunteers to identify and report suspected instances of abuse. All clergy, staff and volunteers undergo mandatory abuse prevention and awareness training, and safe environment training is also provided to students in the Diocese’s schools, religious education and youth programs. Anyone who works with minors must also undergo background checks every five years. The diocesan Office of Child Protection and Victim Assistance works with parish staff to ensure training and prevention policies are followed throughout our parishes and schools. No one with a credible allegation against them is serving with minors in the Diocese.

The Baby Bottles are Coming – October 2-3

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The Pro-Life Ministry will be distributing baby bottles on the weekend of 2-3 October to raise funds for A Woman’s Choice (AWC), of Herndon and Falls Church, which counsels and assists pregnant women in need and provides pre- and post-natal care. The bottles of coins, bills, and checks should be returned to SJN on the weekend of 16-17 October. A Woman’s Choice has served our community for many years and the COVID pandemic has greatly disrupted its traditional sources of funds, such as Christmas greens sales. Please be as generous as your means will allow.

To learn more about A Woman’s Choice, click here.

Upcoming Knights of Columbus Event

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Knights of Columbus Blood Drive, Saturday, December 4

The Knights of Columbus Family of Man Council’s quarterly Red Cross Blood Drive at Saint John Neumann will be Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the Brown-McCarthy Auditorium. This time of year, blood drives across the country are often affected by seasonal illness and winter weather. So if you’re feeling healthy and well, your blood donation is needed now to help meet the needs of hospital patients this holiday season.

Donors can register online at www.redcrossblood.org using the sponsor code STJOHNNEUMANNVA. You can also call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 to register or get answers to eligibility questions. In addition, you may contact John Owens of the Knights at blooddrive@kofc7566.us if you need help with the process. Finally, you can accelerate your check-in by going online on December 4 before you come and using the RapidPass function to do your pre-readings and questionnaire.

 

Have Breakfast With the Knights of Columbus Sunday, December 5

The Family of Man Council of the Knights of Columbus will host our next Charity Breakfast on Sunday, December 5, 2021. Breakfast will be served in the Brown-McCarthy Auditorium at St John Neumann Parish starting after the 7:30 AM Mass until the start of the 11:30 AM Mass. This month, the proceeds from the Free Will donations will be provided to the Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).

Fairfax County Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc (CASA) is a nonprofit agency committed to advocating for children involved in the court system due to concerns for their safety and well-being. Fairfax CASA recruits, screens, trains, and supervises local citizens who become volunteer advocates. CASA volunteers make an immediate and critical impact in the lives of abused and neglected children. They work towards reunifying a child with their family of origin whenever safe and in keeping the focus on the child. More information about Fairfax CASA can be found at their website, https://www.fairfaxcasa.org.

Please join your fellow parishioners for a delicious breakfast and to support this worthy organization.

 

 

 

 

Join the Knights of Columbus at St. John Neumann

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After all Masses on the weekend of September 11 and 12 members of SJN’s Family of Man Council of the Knights of Columbus will be available to answer your questions about becoming a Knight!

  • Be part of a community.
  • Help those in need in your community.
  • Participate in a variety of events for you and your family.
  • Feel the confidence of having the support of your brother Knights.
  • Improve the world and yourself!

For more information on the Family of Man Council #7566 of the Knights of Columbus, visit their homepage here.

Pastoral Plan Survey Results

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In March, we asked you to share your opinions about St. John Neumann’s to help us develop objectives that reflect our community as we construct our 2021-2024 Pastoral Plan. We received over 700 responses to the survey, and here are the results from the multiple-choice answers we received. We sincerely thank all who took the time to fill out the survey! Your help has been indispensable to the formulation of our new Pastoral Plan.