Current Events and News
From the Diocese
Reforms to Protect Children
On March 6, 2017, Bishop Mark L. Bartchak and Acting United States Attorney Soo C. Song announced reforms by the Diocese to protect children from sexual abuse, ensure that all allegations of sexual abuse are immediately reported to law enforcement, and provide victims...
Support for Survivors of Sexual Abuse
The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is partnering with state and local agencies to offer support to survivors of sexual abuse. Resources and educational information will be featured regularly in the Diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Register, and on the Diocesan...
Saint of the Day
St. Benedict of Nursia: Saint of the Day for Saturday, July 11, 2026
St. Benedict is believed to have been born around 480, as the son to a Roman noble of Norcia and the twin to his sister, Scholastica. In the fifth century, the young Benedict was sent to Rome to finish his education with a nurse/housekeeper. The subject that dominated...
Bl. Emmanuel Ruiz: Saint of the Day for Friday, July 10, 2026
Martyr with eleven companions in Lebanon. A Spanish Franciscan, Emmanuel and the others were caught up in the rising of the Druses in Lebanon. The Franciscan community, eight in number, and three Maronite laymen were slain by the Islamic rebels. He was beatified in...
St. Veronica Giuliani: Saint of the Day for Thursday, July 09, 2026
Capuchin mystic who had many spiritual gifis. A native of Binasco, near Milan, Italy, born in 1660, she entered the Capuchins atCitttidi Castello, Umbria, in 1677. She remained there for the rest of her life and served as novice mistress for thirty-four years. A...
St. Grimbald: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, July 08, 2026
Benedictine abbot also called Grimwald, invited to England by King Alfred in 885. Grimbald arrived in England and declined the see of Canterbury, preferring to remain a monk. He became the abbot of New Minster Abbey at Winchester appointed by King Edward the Elder....
St. Maria Goretti: Saint of the Day for Monday, July 06, 2026
Maria Goretti was born on October 16, 1890, in Corinaldo, in the Province of Ancona, Italy. Her family lived in deep poverty, and when her farmworker father moved them to Ferriere di Conca, near Anzio, their hardship only increased. After her father died of malaria,...
St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria: Saint of the Day for Sunday, July 05, 2026
Cofounder of the Barnabites. Born in 1502 in Cremona, Italy, Anthony became a medical doctor. In 1528 he was ordained a priest and cofounded the Barnabites, the religious congregation so called because it was headquartered in St. Barnabas Monastery in Milan. The...
St. Elizabeth of Portugal: Saint of the Day for Saturday, July 04, 2026
Elizabeth was a Spanish princess who was given in marriage to King Denis of Portugal at the age of twelve. She was very beautiful and very lovable. She was also very devout, and went to Mass every day. Elizabeth was a holy wife, but although her husband was fond of...
St. Thomas: Saint of the Day for Friday, July 03, 2026
St. Thomas was born a Jew and was called to be one of the twelve Apostles. His birth and death dates are unknown, but his feast day is celebrated July 3. He lived before the formal establishment of the Catholic Church but is recognized as the patron saint of...
St. Bernardino Realino: Saint of the Day for Thursday, July 02, 2026
St. Bernardino Realino was born into a noble family of Capri, Italy in 1530. After receiving a thorough and devout Christian education at the hands of his mother, he went on to study medicine at the University of Bologna, but after three years he switched to law and...
St. Junipero Serra: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, July 01, 2026
Learn More about the Missions St. JunĂ?Âpero Serra Helped Build with California Missions Adventure Junípero Serra, originally named Miguel José, was born on November 24, 1713, in Petra, Majorca, Spain. His parents, Antonio Nadal Serra and Margarita Rosa Ferrer, were...
Daily Reading
Daily Readings for Saturday, July 11, 2026
Reading 1, Isaiah 6:1-8 1 In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne; his train filled the sanctuary.2 Above him stood seraphs, each one with six wings: two to cover its face, two to cover its feet and two for flying;3 and they...
Daily Readings for Friday, July 10, 2026
Reading 1, Hosea 14:2-10 2 Israel, come back to Yahweh your God your guilt was the cause of your downfall.3 Provide yourself with words and come back to Yahweh. Say to him, 'Take all guilt away and give us what is good, instead of bulls we will dedicate to you our...
Daily Readings for Thursday, July 09, 2026
Reading 1, Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9 1 When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.3 I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I myself took them by the arm, but they did not know that I was the one caring for them,4 that I was leading them with human...
Daily Readings for Wednesday, July 08, 2026
Reading 1, Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 1 Israel was a luxuriant vine yielding plenty of fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; the richer his land became, the richer he made the sacred pillars.2 Theirs is a divided heart; now they will have to pay...
Daily Readings for Tuesday, July 07, 2026
Reading 1, Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13 4 They have set up kings, but without my consent, and appointed princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold, they have made themselves idols, but only to be destroyed.5 I spurn your calf, Samaria! My anger blazes against...
Daily Readings for Monday, July 06, 2026
Reading 1, Hosea 2:16, 17-18, 21-22 16 But look, I am going to seduce her and lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.17 There I shall give her back her vineyards, and make the Vale of Achor a gateway of hope. There she will respond as when she was young, as...
Daily Readings for Sunday, July 05, 2026
Reading 1, Zechariah 9:9-10 9 Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion! Shout for joy, daughter of Jerusalem! Look, your king is approaching, he is vindicated and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.10 He will banish chariots...
Daily Readings for Saturday, July 04, 2026
Reading 1, Amos 9:11-15 11 On that Day, I shall rebuild the tottering hut of David, make good the gaps in it, restore its ruins and rebuild it as it was in the days of old,12 for them to be master of what is left of Edom and of all the nations once called mine -Yahweh...
Daily Readings for Friday, July 03, 2026
Reading 1, Ephesians 2:19-22 19 So you are no longer aliens or foreign visitors; you are fellow-citizens with the holy people of God and part of God's household.20 You are built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, and Christ Jesus himself is the...
Daily Readings for Thursday, July 02, 2026
Reading 1, Amos 7:10-17 10 Amaziah the priest of Bethel then sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel as follows, 'Amos is plotting against you in the heart of the House of Israel; the country cannot tolerate his speeches.11 For this is what Amos says, "Jeroboam is going...