A Parish on Allentown Boulevard
Holy Name of Jesus Parish sits along Allentown Boulevard in the lower Paxton Township section of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where a Catholic community founded in 1960 has grown into one of the larger parishes of the Diocese of Harrisburg. The pastor, Reverend William C. Forrey, describes Holy Name as a welcoming family of faith, committed to prayer, worship, and service in the name of the Lord.
The parish's motto comes from Saint Paul's letter to the Philippians: "God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Everything at Holy Name flows from that confession of Christ as Lord.
Mass and the Sacrament of Penance
The parish offers an unusually full weekly Mass schedule that gives worshippers many options throughout the week. Saturday evening brings a Vigil Mass at 5:00 PM, and Sunday offers four Masses: 8:00 AM, 10:15 AM, 12:00 NOON, and 5:00 PM. The 10:15 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed each week for those at home.
Weekday Masses follow a steady rhythm: Monday at 6:30 AM; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at both 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM; Friday at 8:00 AM; and Saturday at 8:30 AM. The Sacrament of Penance is heard every Saturday from 9:00 to 9:30 AM and again from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, or by appointment.
The musical life of the parish shapes the tone of each Mass. The 5:00 PM Sunday Mass features the Life Teen Music Ministry's blend of contemporary and traditional music drawn from Oregon Catholic Press and Liturgical Press publications, while the 10:15 AM Mass is supported by the Adult Choir and the Bell Choir.
Parish Leadership and the Diocese of Harrisburg
Holy Name of Jesus Parish is one of the parishes served by the Diocese of Harrisburg. The pastor, Reverend William C. Forrey, leads the parish with the assistance of Reverend Steven J. Arena, Parochial Vicar. The pastoral team includes Mrs. Jamie Zuvich as Pastoral Associate and Mrs. Madeline Kueber as Adult Faith Formation Coordinator. The Parish Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM and can be reached at (717) 652-4211.
The Parish Pastoral Council works with the pastor in implementing the mission of the Diocese of Harrisburg at the parish level, exercising its work in a consultative role with Father Forrey. Current members include Judy Wrabel Bullock, Mary Egan, Donna Giberti, Michael Kelemen, Madeline Kueber, Deric Moody, Daniel Morneault, John Purcell, Gary Smith, and Dominic Biacchi.
The Sacraments
Holy Name prepares Catholics for the seven sacraments with structured programs and clear expectations. Baptisms are scheduled for Sundays after the noon Mass or on Saturdays at 11:00 AM, with the first Sunday of each month reserved for the required baptism class for parents baptizing their first child. Godparents must be practicing Catholics, at least 16 years old, who have already received Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, and, if married, must be married in accord with Catholic Church law. Forms are available online and at the Parish Office.
For couples preparing for Matrimony, the Diocese of Harrisburg requires nine to twelve months of advance notification of the priest or deacon, along with attendance at the diocesan marriage preparation program. The parish office can put couples in touch with these resources.
When a parishioner is hospitalized or homebound, the parish asks that the office be notified so that a priest may visit and Communion may be brought. Persons with celiac disease who cannot receive the normal wheat host are invited to come forward at Communion for a separate chalice offered at every Mass.
Holy Name of Jesus School and Religious Education
The parish operates Holy Name of Jesus School, a Catholic elementary school that serves as one of the parish's main works of education.
For children who do not attend the parish school, the Religious Education Program offers classes for grades 1 through 8 on Sundays from 9:05 to 10:05 AM. Registration requires a baptismal certificate and a $30 per child fee. Younger children, from PreK 4 through first grade, are invited to the Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 10:15 AM Mass from October through May. During this program, children are called forward by the priest at the First Reading, led to the chapel to hear the Gospel at their level, and returned to their families during the Presentation of the Gifts.
For children who have not been baptized, the Order of Christian Initiation of Children (OCIC) walks them and their families through that process.
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music is central to worship at Holy Name. The parish maintains an Adult Choir that rehearses on Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:00 PM and sings for the 10:15 AM Sunday Mass, holy days, and holidays, and a Bell Choir that rehearses on Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 PM and rings for one or two 10:15 AM Masses each month. The Director of Parish Music, Mr. Jay Risser, leads both ensembles and oversees a team of cantors.
The Life Teen Music Ministry provides a mixture of contemporary and traditional music for the 5:00 PM Sunday Mass. Its ensemble of 6- and 12-string guitars, flute, and SATB vocalists also provides music for the parish Living Rosary and other activities, with new singers and musicians always welcome.
Lay faithful serve the liturgy as Altar Servers (open to children in 4th grade and older), Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors who proclaim the readings and lead the Responsorial Psalm, and Ushers and Greeters who welcome all who enter the church.
Adult Formation
Adult faith formation takes several forms at Holy Name. The Adult Bible Study offers two weekly options, drawing on Ascension Press, the St. Paul Center with Dr. Scott Hahn, the Avila Institute, the St. Augustine Institute with Dr. Brant Pitre, Word on Fire with Bishop Barron, and Formed.org.
The Book Club Ministry is a Catholic women's group that meets once a month to discuss books of faith and reflection. The Council of Catholic Women (CCW), founded at the beginning of the parish, gathers on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM from September through June in the Social Hall. Fellowship 55+ offers adults 55 and older opportunities to stay connected and grow in faith. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) begins each autumn, walking inquirers through the journey toward full communion with the Catholic Church.
Men's and Women's Groups
For men, the parish offers the HNJ Men's 40 and Under Bible Study, a bi-weekly group for Catholic men 40 and under that meets in Blessed Saint Michael Hall on the lower level of the Parish Office. "That Man Is You" is a men's program that addresses husbandhood, fatherhood, and the building of faith-filled friendships. The Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men 18 and older.
For women, the Women of Grace program leads participants through the Foundational Study Series using DVD lessons by Johnnette Benkovic and the book Full of Grace, exploring authentic femininity, holiness of life, and women's mission in the world today. The Women's Prayer Group meets on the first and third Thursday of each month in the Saint Thomas room for prayer and conversation around the Gospels, with a 9:00 AM morning option and a 6:30 PM evening option. The Seven Sister Apostolate organizes seven women to pray a Holy Hour each day of the week for the parish priests and the bishop. Seeds of Lisieux, meanwhile, gathers women in their 20s through 40s on the third Thursday of each month.
Pastoral Care and Parish Evangelization
A wide network of pastoral and outreach ministries accompanies parishioners through every stage of life. The Homebound Ministry visits parishioners who cannot attend Mass in the short or long term, connecting them with the parish through visits, prayer, and the opportunity to receive Holy Communion. The Friendly Visitor ministry pairs volunteers one-on-one with parishioners for spiritual conversation and telephone reassurance calls. The Card Ministry sends handwritten greetings for deaths, birthdays, anniversaries, births, and adoptions. The Parish Messenger Ministry places short phone calls to fellow parishioners a few times a year, offering a quick message from the pastors and seasonal encouragement.
The Holy Name Loaves and Fishes Ministry provides meals to parishioners experiencing significant life changes. The Prayer Request Ministry commits members to pray for those who have asked for prayers, with the parish office receiving new requests. The Prayer Garden Ministry cares for the parish prayer garden landscape, where parishioners and visitors can spend time in quiet reflection.
The Saint Monica Ministry gathers parishioners in prayer for family members who have lost their way from the Catholic Faith. The Saint Joseph Volunteer Ministry is dedicated to the loving care of the parish campus, helping keep Holy Name of Jesus facilities and grounds in good condition. The Spiritual Direction Ministry connects parishioners with a spiritual director for one-on-one guidance, and Catholic Life Coaching offers one-on-one help for those wondering about their next step in the spiritual life. The Vocations Ministry fosters and supports vocations in the parish and the Diocese of Harrisburg through prayer, education, and community engagement. The Wings of Yarn Prayer Shawl Ministry, formed in 2007, crochets and knits shawls and blankets for those suffering illness or loss and for those celebrating joyful events, with a final blessing offered before each item is presented.
Children, Youth, and Family Life
Family life at Holy Name takes shape in many ways. The Font and Family ministry helps parents live out the promises of Baptism, gathering once a month to build community among younger families. Cursillo offers men a small-group experience of Christian community. The Karate program, founded in November 1982 by Bob Wright, a second-degree black belt, meets on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the former church. Boy Scouts of America and HNJ Girl Scouts provide scouting for youth from kindergarten through high school.
The parish's Youth Ministry, Life Teen, is on hiatus for 2026-2027, with hopes of relaunching the following year. Life Teen is an international Catholic youth ministry movement present in more than 2,000 parishes across 30 countries, dedicated to leading teens closer to Christ through Life Nights, retreats, praise and worship, small groups, and parish involvement. The parish asks the community to pray for the youth of Holy Name, including by offering a Rosary every Thursday for the teens and the renewal of the Church through the next generation.
Outreach and Social Concerns
Holy Name of Jesus Parish takes its call to social concerns and outreach seriously through several ministries. The Respect Life Ministry works to raise awareness of the dignity and value of human life at every stage, with activities that include the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., a baby shower for Lourdeshouse Maternity Home, a Baby Bottle Blessing Campaign for Morning Star Pregnancy Services, the parish picnic, the PA March for Life, a 5K Run/Walk for Life, the Harrisburg Life Chain, and the America Needs Fatima Rosary Rally.
The All One Flock Disability Ministry supports, uplifts, and embraces people of every ability, helping them fully access and practice their faith within the parish community. As a participant in the National Catholic Partnership on Disability mentorship program, Holy Name points parishioners to a Sunday ASL-interpreted Mass at St. Joseph Parish in Mechanicsburg and a quarterly sensory-friendly Mass at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Hershey.
The Grief Share Ministry hosts support meetings to help parishioners and others through the journey of loss. Holy Name is a participating parish in the Lower Paxton Meals on Wheels program, run by the Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging. The Saint Vincent de Paul Society, whose members are known as Vincentians, performs charitable acts within the community through donations made by parishioners. The Hope in Him Infertility Ministry offers a safe, confidential, and faith-centered space for those walking the challenging road of infertility, gathering monthly at 6:00 PM in the Church Library.
The Year of Saint Francis
The parish has marked 2026 as the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, in concert with Pope Leo XIV's proclamation of a special Year of Saint Francis. Holy Name hosted a two-part talk by John Cominsky on the legacy of Saint Francis in the Social Hall, with homemade Italian food accompanying the presentation, and a Blessing of the Animals in the prayer garden on the Feast of Saint Francis. Throughout the year, special gatherings for the Council of Catholic Women's Boxes of Joy campaign, the Feast of Saint Therese, Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations, and the All Souls Day supper have woven together faith, food, and fellowship.
Staying Connected
The parish keeps in touch with its members through Flocknote email and text updates, an online bulletin accessible through Parishes Online, and an active Facebook page. Newcomers are invited to register as parishioners by contacting the Parish Office. Online giving is available through the parish's e-offering portal. Located in the lower Paxton Township section of Harrisburg and rooted in the Diocese of Harrisburg, Holy Name of Jesus Parish remains a place where longtime Catholics, newcomers, and those simply exploring can find a true spiritual home and grow together in faith, hope, and love.