Current Events and News
From the Diocese
Bishop Mark to Participate in 9/11 Anniversary Observances
To mark the 25th anniversary of the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, Bishop Mark will join other religious leaders at a memorial service at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2026, beginning at 8:30 a.m. During the...
To Authentically Love our Neighbor, It Must Be Rooted in Holy Realism (Truth)
By Father Rich Tomkosky Something hit me recently. I was listening to some Catholic speaker and he said, “God loves us unconditionally.” I have heard that many times over the years, as I am sure you have as well, but this time it hit me: I don’t think that’s true. So,...
How Are We Dealing with the Cross in Our Life?
By Father Rich Tomkosky In Sacred Scripture, we see three different responses to the cross including the exterior or interior trials and difficulties of this earthly life that call us to die to ourselves. Jeremiah cries out in desperation and frustration to the Lord...
McCort Students to “Turn the Towns Teal®”
From Bishop McCort Catholic High School For the 13th year, teal ribbons will be seen during September as Bishop McCort Catholic High School (BMCHS) students along with faculty and volunteers fasten bows on trees to support Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. They will be...
Bishop Carroll Can Change Your Life If You Let It
Column by Jonathan Nagy Notre Dame Fighting Irish Head Football Coach Marcus Freeman once said, “I think no matter if you’re a student, no matter if you’re an athlete, no matter if you’re a coach, an employee, this place can change your life if you let it. I believe...
Bishop’s Appointments
Deacon John R. Fontana from diaconal ministry at Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Johnstown to diaconal ministry at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Johnstown, effective August 13, 2026. Deacon Brian Yurky, Administrator at Our Lady of the Mount Parish...
How to Keep Holy the Lord’s Day: Sunday?
By Father Rich Tomkosky One of the essential ways the Bible says we honor God and give Him proper respect is to “Keep holy the Sabbath” (Third Commandment). For us Catholics, that means keeping Sunday holy. What does that mean? Our late great Holy Father Pope St. John...
Sister Mary Andrew Hooper, SSCJ — 1964-2026
Sister Mary Andrew Hooper, SSCJ. Sister Mary Andrew Hooper, age 61, a perpetually professed Sister of the Congregation of Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, entered into eternal life on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Garvey Manor Nursing Home,...
Reverend Joseph Chancler, TOR –1951-2026
Reverend Joseph Chancler, TOR, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular, Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, was called home to the Lord on August 7, 2026, at the age of 74.The son of Joseph A Chancler and Ella Mae (O’Brien) Chancler. Fr....
Why Does It Seem Like God is So Hard to Find in the Modern World?
By Father Rich Tomkosky In the readings this past weekend, we saw a fascinating encounter of the prophet Elijah with the living God. We also saw Peter venturing out to walk on the water, moving towards Jesus, only to falter in the end because of his weak faith. These...
Saint of the Day
St. Lorenzo Ruiz: Saint of the Day for Monday, September 28, 2026
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz was born around the year 1600 in Binondo, Manila in the Philippines. He was the son of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother. Both were Christians and took care to raise Lorenzo as a Catholic. He served happily in his parish church as an altar boy...
St. Vincent de Paul: Saint of the Day for Sunday, September 27, 2026
St. Vincent de Paul was born to a poor peasant family in the French village of Pouy on April 24, 1581. His first formal education was provided by the Franciscans. He did so well, he was hired to tutor the children of a nearby wealthy family. He used the monies he...
Sts. Cosmas & Damian: Saint of the Day for Saturday, September 26, 2026
Sts. Cosmas and Damian were brothers, born in Arabia, who had become eminent for their skill in the science of medicine. Being Christians, they were filled with the spirit of charity and never took money for their services. At Egaea in Cilicia, where they lived, they...
St. Finbar: Saint of the Day for Friday, September 25, 2026
He was the son of an artisan and a lady of the Irish royal court. Born in Connaught, Ireland, and baptized Lochan, he was educated at Kilmacahil, Kilkenny, where the monks named him Fionnbharr (white head) because of his light hair; he is also known as Bairre and...
Martyrs of Chalcedon: Saint of the Day for Thursday, September 24, 2026
A group of forty-nine Christians slain in Chalcedon during the reign of Emperor Diocletian . Records indicate that the martyrs were members of the choir in the church of Chalcedon. Excellent content provided by https://www.catholic.org/.
St. Padre Pio: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, September 23, 2026
St. Padre Pio was an Italian priest who was known for his piety and charity, as well as the gift of the stigmata, which has never been explained. St. Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione, on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy. His parents were peasant farmers. He...
St. Thomas of Villanueva: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Augustinian bishop. Born at Fuentellana, Castile, Spain, he was the son of a miller. He studied at the University of Alcala, earned a licentiate in theology, and became a professor there at the age of twenty-six. He declined the chair of philosophy at the university...
St. Matthew: Saint of the Day for Monday, September 21, 2026
Little is known about St. Matthew, except that he was the son of Alpheus, and he was likely born in Galilee. He worked as a tax collector, which was a hated profession during the time of Christ. According to the Gospel, Matthew was working at a collection booth in...
Sts. Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, and Companions: Saint of the Day for Sunday, September 20, 2026
Feastday: September 20 The evangelization of Korea began during the 17th century through a group of lay persons. A strong vital Christian community flourished there under lay leadership until missionaries arrived from the Paris Foreign Mission Society. During the...
St. Januarius: Saint of the Day for Saturday, September 19, 2026
St. Januarius was born in Italy and was bishop of Benevento during the Emperor Diocletion persecution. Bishop Januarius went to visit two deacons and two laymen in prison. He was then also imprison along with his deacon and lector. They were thrown to the wild beasts,...
Daily Reading
Daily Readings for Monday, September 28, 2026
Reading 1, Job 1:6-22 6 One day when the sons of God came to attend on Yahweh, among them came Satan.7 So Yahweh said to Satan, 'Where have you been?' 'Prowling about on earth,' he answered, 'roaming around there.'8 So Yahweh asked him, 'Did you pay any attention to...
Daily Readings for Sunday, September 27, 2026
Reading 1, Ezekiel 18:25-28 25 'Now, you say, "What the Lord does is unjust." Now listen, House of Israel: is what I do unjust? Is it not what you do that is unjust?26 When the upright abandons uprightness and does wrong and dies, he dies because of the wrong which he...
Daily Readings for Saturday, September 26, 2026
Reading 1, Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 9 Young man, enjoy yourself while you are young, make the most of the days of your youth, follow the prompting and desire of heart and eye, but remember, God will call you to account for everything.10 Rid your heart of indignation,...
Daily Readings for Friday, September 25, 2026
Reading 1, Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 1 There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven:2 A time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted.3 A time for killing, a time for healing; a time...
Daily Readings for Thursday, September 24, 2026
Reading 1, Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 2 Sheer futility, Qoheleth says. Sheer futility: everything is futile!3 What profit can we show for all our toil, toiling under the sun?4 A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm for ever.5 The sun rises, the sun...
Daily Readings for Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Reading 1, Galatians 2:19-20 19 In fact, through the Law I am dead to the Law so that I can be alive to God. I have been crucified with Christ20 and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me. The life that I am now living, subject to the...
Daily Readings for Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Reading 1, Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13 1 Like flowing water is a king's heart in Yahweh's hand; he directs it wherever he pleases.2 All actions are straight in the doer's own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs hearts.3 To do what is upright and just is more pleasing to...
Daily Readings for Monday, September 21, 2026
Reading 1, Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 1 I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you therefore to lead a life worthy of the vocation to which you were called.2 With all humility and gentleness, and with patience, support each other in love.3 Take every care to preserve the unity...
Daily Readings for Sunday, September 20, 2026
Reading 1, Isaiah 55:6-9 6 Seek out Yahweh while he is still to be found, call to him while he is still near.7 Let the wicked abandon his way and the evil one his thoughts. Let him turn back to Yahweh who will take pity on him, to our God, for he is rich in...
Daily Readings for Saturday, September 19, 2026
Reading 1, First Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49 35 Someone may ask: How are dead people raised, and what sort of body do they have when they come?36 How foolish! What you sow must die before it is given new life;37 and what you sow is not the body that is to be, but only...