Current Events and News
From the Diocese
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...
2026 Gallitzin Cross Awards
Bishop Mark Bartchak has announced the 2026 recipients of the Prince Gallitzin Cross Award, a prestigious recognition for individuals who mirror the “evangelizing spirit” of the Prince-Priest and Servant of God Demetrius Gallitzin. After many nominations were...
Not Allowing Anything or Anyone to Separate Us from God’s Love
By Father Rich Tomkosky Saint Paul reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ unless we let something or someone to cause this to happen. What will separate us from the love of Christ will anguish, distress, or persecution, or famine, or...
Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Liturgies
Couples celebrating 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60+ years of marriage in 2026, along with their families, are invited to attend the annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Liturgy with Bishop Mark. A Mass will be held at the Cathedral of the Blessed...
Fishers of Men Vocations Appeal
The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is pleased to announce that a group of young men will be attending seminary this fall. Thanks be to God, we now have four seminarians, as well as dozens of teens and young men who are seriously considering the priesthood. Liam Clyma of...
Diocesan Family Conference
Lunch is included with the registration fee Bishop Carroll Catholic High School is a handicap accessible facility REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 11 Registration can be completed online or by mail: ONLINE REGISTRATION Please note the codes of the breakout...
Combating the Tendency to Give Into Human Respect and Wanting to Be Liked by All
By Father Rich Tomkosky Part of the struggle of our fallen human nature is the weakness in all of us — to a greater or lesser degree, based upon our temperament, family background, and other variables — to want to be liked and thought well of by other people, even to...
Preparation for Spiritual Sacrifice by Sharing in Different Ways in the Priesthood of Jesus
By Father Rich Tomkosky The Book of Exodus reminds us that God has rescued us by the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus. And God always promises us that He will be faithful and help us stay on the narrow path to salvation, but in the end, we have to...
Saint of the Day
St. Cloud: Saint of the Day for Monday, September 07, 2026
On the death of Clovis, King of the Franks, in the year 511 his kingdom was divided between his four sons, of whom the second was Clodomir. Thirteen years later he was killed fighting against his cousin, Gondomar, leaving three sons to share his dominions. The...
St. Eleutherius: Saint of the Day for Sunday, September 06, 2026
A wonderful simplicity and spirit of compunction were the distinguishing virtues of this holy man. He was chosen abbot of St. Mark's near Spoleto, and favored by God with the gift of miracles. A child who was possessed by the devil, being delivered by being educated...
St. Teresa of Calcutta: Saint of the Day for Saturday, September 05, 2026
The remarkable woman who would be known as Mother Teresa began life named Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. Born on August 26, 1910 in Skopje, she was the youngest child born to Nikola and Drane Bojaxhiu. Receiving her First Communion at the age of five, she was confirmed in...
St. Rosalia: Saint of the Day for Friday, September 04, 2026
St. Rosalia, daughter of Sinibald, Lord of Roses and Quisquina, was a descendant of the great Charlemagne. She was born at Palermo in Sicily. In her youth, her heart turned from earthly vanities to God. She left her home and took up her abode in a cave, on the walls...
Pope Saint Gregory the Great: Saint of the Day for Thursday, September 03, 2026
Pope Saint Gregory I, also known as the Great, was the Pope of the Catholic Church between 590 and 604 AD. Gregory was born around 540 in Rome. The exact date of his birth is unknown. Although the Western Roman Empire had collapsed long before his birth, many ancient...
St. Ingrid of Sweden: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, September 02, 2026
Born in Sk�¤nninge, Sweden, in the 13th century, St. Ingrid lived under the spiritual direction of Peter of Dacia, a Dominican priest. She was the first Dominican nun in Sweden and in 1281 she founded the first Dominican cloister there, called St. Martin's in...
St. Giles, Abbot: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, September 01, 2026
St. Giles, Abbot (Patron of Physically Disabled) Feast day - September 1 St. Giles is said to have been a seventh century Athenian of noble birth. His piety and learning made him so conspicuous and an object of such admiration in his own country that, dreading praise...
St. Raymond Nonnatus: Saint of the Day for Monday, August 31, 2026
Raymond was born at Portella, Catalonia, Spain. He was delivered by caesarean operation when his mother died in childbirth. Hence his name non natus (not born). He joined the Mercedarians under St. Peter Nolasco at Barcelona. He succeeded Peter as chief ransomer and...
St. Rumon: Saint of the Day for Sunday, August 30, 2026
St. Rumon, also known as Ruan, Ronan, and Ruadan, was probably a brother of Bishop St. Tudwal of Trequier, but nothing else is known of him beyond that he was probably an Irish missionary and many churches in Devon and Cornwall in England were named after him. Some...
St. Sabina: Saint of the Day for Saturday, August 29, 2026
St. Sabina's feast day is August 29th. We know St. Sabina only through legend, and there is some question as to it's trustworthiness. Even the century in which she lived is unknown. Supposedly Sabina was converted to Christianity by her Syrian servant Serapia. During...
Daily Reading
Daily Readings for Monday, September 07, 2026
Reading 1, First Corinthians 5:1-8 1 It is widely reported that there is sexual immorality among you, immorality of a kind that is not found even among gentiles: that one of you is living with his stepmother.2 And you so filled with your own self-importance! It would...
Daily Readings for Sunday, September 06, 2026
Reading 1, Ezekiel 33:7-9 7 'Son of man I have appointed you as watchman for the House of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, warn them from me.8 If I say to someone wicked, "Evil- doer, you are to die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked person to...
Daily Readings for Saturday, September 05, 2026
Reading 1, First Corinthians 4:9-15 9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on show right at the end, like men condemned to death: we have been exhibited as a spectacle to the whole universe, both angelic and human.10 Here we are, fools for Christ's sake,...
Daily Readings for Friday, September 04, 2026
Reading 1, First Corinthians 4:1-5 1 People should think of us as Christ's servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God.2 In such a matter, what is expected of stewards is that each one should be found trustworthy.3 It is of no importance to me how you or...
Daily Readings for Thursday, September 03, 2026
Reading 1, First Corinthians 3:18-23 18 There is no room for self-delusion. Any one of you who thinks he is wise by worldly standards must learn to be a fool in order to be really wise.19 For the wisdom of the world is folly to God. As scripture says: He traps the...
Daily Readings for Wednesday, September 02, 2026
Reading 1, First Corinthians 3:1-9 1 And so, brothers, I was not able to talk to you as spiritual people; I had to talk to you as people still living by your natural inclinations, still infants in Christ;2 I fed you with milk and not solid food, for you were not yet...
Daily Readings for Tuesday, September 01, 2026
Reading 1, First Corinthians 2:10-16 10 to us, though, God has given revelation through the Spirit, for the Spirit explores the depths of everything, even the depths of God.11 After all, is there anyone who knows the qualities of anyone except his own spirit, within...
Daily Readings for Monday, August 31, 2026
Reading 1, First Corinthians 2:1-5 1 Now when I came to you, brothers, I did not come with any brilliance of oratory or wise argument to announce to you the mystery of God.2 I was resolved that the only knowledge I would have while I was with you was knowledge of...
Daily Readings for Sunday, August 30, 2026
Reading 1, Jeremiah 20:7-9 7 You have seduced me, Yahweh, and I have let myself be seduced; you have overpowered me: you were the stronger. I am a laughing-stock all day long, they all make fun of me.8 For whenever I speak, I have to howl and proclaim, 'Violence and...
Daily Readings for Saturday, August 29, 2026
Reading 1, Jeremiah 1:17-19 17 'As for you, prepare yourself for action. Stand up and tell them all I command you. Have no fear of them and in their presence I will make you fearless.18 For look, today I have made you into a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of...