Catholic Relief Services (CRS) was born in 1943 out of the refugee crisis following World War II. Today, CRS serves in more than 100 countries around the world, responding to disasters, strengthening communities by fighting disease and poverty and nurturing peaceful and just societies.

Catholic Relief Services is building a nationwide network of Chapters to mobilize Catholics and others of goodwill to end global poverty. The goal of CRS Chapters is to equip and empower volunteers to become champions for the families and communities that CRS serves. CRS does this through advocacy, by developing relationships with our members of Congress and writing letters to the editor and op-eds; and through fundraising, where Chapters support the immediate needs of our brothers and sisters around the world through giving activities.

At present, the State College Chapter does two annual fundraising activities: CRS Rice Bowl during Lent and a Community Holiday Shopping Event (partnering with Ten Thousand Villages) in December.

In addition to serving our sisters and brothers around the world, CRS also serves the needs of the most vulnerable at home, with 25% of all the funds raised in local parishes being returned to local dioceses to use for social services and financial assistance in our own communities.

Interested in helping? Let us know if you'd like to do any of the following:

• I'm interested in joining the State College Chapter of CRS

• I'm interested in helping with the Chapter's advocacy efforts

• I'm interested in helping with the Chapter's fundraising efforts

This Ministry strives to make sure that “One day, no one will go hungry in Centre County.” They organize monthly food drives and deliver the much-needed donations to the State College Food Bank. The Ministry also conducts special drives throughout the year to help with ongoing needs. The contributions to the Food Bank provide food security to people in Centre County.

The Jamaican Mission Outreach program was instituted in 2000 at the request of Bishop Adamec, who committed the Altoona/Johnstown Diocese to aid Bishop Boyle in growing the Mandeville Diocese in Jamaica. Our Parish elected to twin with one of the 23 parishes in Mandeville – Holy Spirit Parish.

This Ministry coordinates an annual mission trip for interested parishioners to visit, observe, develop friendships and work at Holy Spirit Parish.  This Ministry offers informational sessions to keep Good Shepherd parishioners informed about the progress of mission projects at Holy Spirit.  

The Jamaican Mission Outreach ministry maintains monthly communication with Father Marek, Pastor of Holy Spirit, in order to prioritize appropriate opportunities for parishioners of Good Shepherd to support Holy Spirit Parish.  Some of the opportunities that are overseen through the Committee are the Advent Giving Trees, an Academic Sponsorship Program, the Higher Education Scholarship Program and collections of specific items for mission teams to deliver or Food for the Poor shipments. 

The Matthew 25 Ministry works with a designated monthly budget to distribute monies to people who need assistance with the basic needs of living: shelter, food, heat, electricity and medical. The guiding philosophy is based on Matthew 25:35-37: “For I was hungry, and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you went to see me.” Besides directly assisting individuals and families, Matthew 25 also gives a yearly donation to Catholic Charities, Interfaith Human Services, and other social service agencies and parish outreach efforts.  

Members of this subcommittee take turns on a monthly basis answering calls from both individuals in need and area social service agencies, allotting monies, as feasible and appropriate, based upon established subcommittee criteria and guidelines.

Interested in helping? Let us know if you'd like to do any of the following:

• I'm interested in joining the Matthew 25 Ministry, which meets quarterly.

• I'd like to help with the Advent Giving Trees.

• I'd like to help Interfaith Mission with Christmas Bell Ringing

Many years ago, in response to a plea from Tony Coray of OLV, Frank Deutsch agreed to be one of several drivers who drove to St. Stephan’s Mission in McConnellsburg, carrying goods donated by Walmart in State College. Located 90 miles from State College, McConnellsburg was (and still is) one of the poorest counties in Pennsylvania.  

For the last 30 years, Frank coordinated this Ministry. This entails recruiting drivers, making out driver schedules, calling the Benner Pike Walmart every two weeks, picking up available donations and dropping them off at Good Shepherd for pickup by the next available driver. Typically, there is a driver scheduled once a month who picks up and delivers the donations to McConnellsburg. Sister Martha Burbella directs the St. Stephan’s Mission and distributes the goods to the most needy. 

Note: Since the Ministry presently has 13 drivers, each driver serves no more than once per year.  

In 2024, Jim Maund took over leading this Ministry from Frank. Good Shepherd would like to thank Frank for his many years of service!

Out of the Cold: Centre County is a low-barrier shelter open from 8 PM to 8 AM every night. During the 2022-2023 season, 17 congregations helped to provide overnight shelter for 175 guests. Every day our guests are welcomed warmly, served a hot meal, given a cot, warm blankets and a place to sleep. While at the shelter, guests are served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Basic case management is provided to guests for assistance acquiring housing and other supportive services at our Day Shelter, located at 318 South Atherton Street in State College. We are working to make the Meetinghouse our full-time shelter.

The Peace & Justice Ministry (formerly Social Justice Committee) is a group of Good Shepherd parishioners committed to diverse social justice issues. Their purpose is to create a community that is committed to fostering change that makes the world more just, as informed by Catholic Social Teaching and Scripture. The Ministry seeks to accomplish this through education and action in a spirit of collaboration with the other Parish ministries and other faith communities. 

A Christian Service Ministry, Visiting the Sick and/or Homebound has been set up so that those parishioners who are homebound (or have a relative who is homebound) may have an occasional friendly visit from a parishioner and an opportunity to receive Communion. Visits take place at a mutually convenient scheduled time. 

When asked, the Ministry also takes Communion to parishioners who are hospitalized at Mount Nittany Medical Center or are residents of local long-term care facilities.

On a rotating basis, a member of this group also provides a weekly Communion service to Catholic residents of the Celebration Villa Senior Living and Nursing Home community. We also assist Father Jozef when he says Mass once a month at this facility.