Our hundredth year is right around the corner and it is time for us to start revving up to celebrate it! In 1920, the   groundbreaking for our parish church on Chocolate Avenue took place and we were placed under the patronage of the newly canonized Saint Joan of Arc. From that auspicious day to the very present, we have continued to build the Kingdom of God in our little part of the world, Hershey, Pennsylvania. It is right for us to celebrate and we have a number of things planned as we move into our centennial year and one of the biggest will be the commencement of a Capital Campaign to begin what we are calling the Saint Joan of Arc Centennial Project. As you have read here in the bulletin these past few years and have seen on our posters in the church and around the parish, this project will provide us with the much-needed space for our parish to continue to flourish–now and in the future. We will be asking you to do something for The Centennial Project—pray for its success, support us financially, and be cheerleaders for its completion—but before we do that WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING FOR YOU! And that will be our KICK-OFF CELEBRATION on Saturday, April 27 at 6:30 pm. It will be a night of celebration, of memories, and of community-building, as we look forward to our next hundred years as the Catholic Church here in Hershey. What will it involve?

• First of all, it is FREE!!! (You don’t hear that    often, do you?!)
• A GREAT MEAL of pulled pork, coleslaw, baked ziti, beer, soda, water, coffee and a make-your-own sundae bar!
• A DJ will be on hand to help us dance the night away!
• BABYSITTING and CHILDREN’S GAMES will be available so that all of our young families have a chance to enjoy the night!
• More INFORMATION about the project (this part will be brief!).

Starting next weekend, we will be having lots of ways to learn about our Kick-Off Celebration and how to RSVP so we get an idea of the numbers, but for now—let’s CELEBRATE OUR CATHOLIC FAITH, OUR PARISH, AND AN AMAZING MILESTONE FOR SAINT JOAN OF ARC PARISH!

Caelorum will be held on Wednesday, April 3 at 7:00 pm. Come for an evening to commune with our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer, where heaven meets Earth in adoration, song, meditation, and praise! Lay all your burdens and prayers at the foot of the cross. Feel the power of his presence and never failing love as he attends to your needs and strengthens and blesses you with his abundant mercy. A reception will be held immediately following in the cafeteria.
 

If you have a festival sign, please return it to the parish office as soon as possible so we can replace last year’s dates. If you have a business and can support the festival by sponsoring a game booth, or ice cream, French fry, or funnel cake stand, or have a vacation home or other valuable gift to donate, please contact Karen.

​Contact Karen Willey: karen.willey@cai.io
 

​Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! 
 
Even though the Church is celebrating the Second Sunday of Lent, we in the Diocese of Harrisburg have a special love and  devotion to Saint Patrick, the patron of our diocese. The following is a  much-loved Irish prayer that some attribute to Saint Patrick himself!
 
I arise today,
may the strength of God pilot me,
the power of God uphold me,
the wisdom of God guide me.
May the eye of God look before me,
the ear of God hear me,
the word of God speak for me.
May the hand of God protect me,
the way of God lie before me,
the shield of God defend me,
the host of God save me.
May Christ shield me today.
Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit,
Christ when I stand,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Amen.
 

Discount Tickets to Hersheypark are available to the friends and families of the Diocese of Harrisburg. Add-on meal tickets and snack vouchers are also available at a savings of up to 30% off retail prices.

Orders and payments must be received by Wednesday, April 24.
All checks should be made payable to "St. Joan of Arc." We will receive the tickets by Friday, May 24.

Download the order form below and return with payment to the parish office.

The March Areba Club meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 19 at 4:00 pm in the cafeteria. Doors will open at 3:30 pm. Entertainment will be by Lee Moyer. He will be presenting his St. Patrick's Day program. Refreshments will be served.

Please join us for a Festival Planning meeting on March 19 at 6:30 pm in the Rectory. We need your help, so please try to make this important meeting.