Current Events and News
From the Diocese
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...
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...
Saint of the Day
Sts. Denis, Rusticus, and Eleutherius: Saint of the Day for Friday, October 09, 2026
The first mention we have of these three martyrs who died around 258 A.D. comes in the sixth century in the writings of Saint Gregory of Tours. Denis (or Dionysius as he is also called) is the most famous of the three. Born and raised in Italy, he was sent as a...
St. Pelagia: Saint of the Day for Thursday, October 08, 2026
Pelagia, more often called Margaret, on account of the magnificence of the pearls for which she had so often sold herself, was an actress of Antioch, equally celebrated for her beauty, her wealth and the disorder ofher life. During a synod at Antioch, she passed...
St. Artaldus: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, October 07, 2026
Artaldus (also called Arthaud) was born in the castle of Sothonod in Savoy. At the age of eighteen, he went to the court of Duke Amadeus III, but a year or two after, he became a Carthusian at Portes. After many years, being a priest and an experienced and holy...
St. Bruno: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, October 06, 2026
Bruno was born in Cologne of the prominent Hartenfaust family. He studied at the Cathedral school at Rheims, and on his return to Cologne about 1055, was ordained and became a Canon at St. Cunibert's. He returned to Rheims in 1056 as professor of theology, became head...
St. Faustina Kowalska: Saint of the Day for Monday, October 05, 2026
Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament was born as Helena Kowalska, in Glogowiec, Leczyca County, north-west of LĂ?Âłdz in Poland on August 25, 1905. She was the third of 10 children to a poor and religious family. Faustina first felt a calling to the...
St. Francis of Assisi: Saint of the Day for Sunday, October 04, 2026
Discover More About St. Francis of Assisi with Journey with the Saints Founder of the Franciscan Order, born at Assisi in Umbria, in 1181. In 1182, Pietro Bernardone returned from a trip to France to find out his wife had given birth to a son. Far from being excited...
St. Ewald & Ewald: Saint of the Day for Saturday, October 03, 2026
Martyred Northumbrian brothers, one called "the Fair" and one called "the Dark", companions of St. Willibrord. From Northumbria, they were educated in Ireland. These priests of the Benedictine Order went with Willibrord to Frisia, Netherlands. They were martyred...
St. Leger: Saint of the Day for Friday, October 02, 2026
Leger was raised at the court of King Clotaire II and by his uncle, Bishop Didon of Poitiers. Leger was made archdeacon by Didon, was ordained, and in about 651, became abbot of Maxentius Abbey, where he introduced the Rule of St. Benedict. He served Queen Regent St....
St. Therese of Lisieux: Saint of the Day for Thursday, October 01, 2026
Discover More About St. Th�©r�¨se of Lisieux with Journey with the Saints Generations of Catholics have admired this young saint, called her the "Little Flower", and found in her short life more inspiration for their own lives than in volumes by theologians. Yet...
St. Jerome: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Before he was known as Saint Jerome, he was named Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus. He was born around 342 AD, in Stridon, Dalmatia. Today, the town, which ceased to exist in Jerome�s time, would likely be in Croatia or Slovenia. The young Jerome was educated by...
Daily Reading
Daily Readings for Friday, October 09, 2026
Reading 1, Galatians 3:7-14 7 Be sure, then, that it is people of faith who are the children of Abraham.8 And it was because scripture foresaw that God would give saving justice to the gentiles through faith, that it announced the future gospel to Abraham in the...
Daily Readings for Thursday, October 08, 2026
Reading 1, Galatians 3:1-5 1 You stupid people in Galatia! After you have had a clear picture of Jesus Christ crucified, right in front of your eyes, who has put a spell on you?2 There is only one thing I should like you to tell me: How was it that you received the...
Daily Readings for Wednesday, October 07, 2026
Reading 1, Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14 1 It was not until fourteen years had gone by that I travelled up to Jerusalem again, with Barnabas, and I took Titus with me too.2 My journey was inspired by a revelation and there, in a private session with the recognised leaders, I...
Daily Readings for Tuesday, October 06, 2026
Reading 1, Galatians 1:13-24 13 You have surely heard how I lived in the past, within Judaism, and how there was simply no limit to the way I persecuted the Church of God in my attempts to destroy it;14 and how, in Judaism, I outstripped most of my Jewish...
Daily Readings for Monday, October 05, 2026
Reading 1, Galatians 1:6-12 6 I am astonished that you are so promptly turning away from the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are going over to a different gospel-7 not that it is another gospel; except that there are trouble-makers among you who are...
Daily Readings for Sunday, October 04, 2026
Reading 1, Isaiah 5:1-7 1 Let me sing my beloved the song of my friend for his vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.2 He dug it, cleared it of stones, and planted it with red grapes. In the middle he built a tower, he hewed a press there too. He...
Daily Readings for Saturday, October 03, 2026
Daily Reading for Saturday October 3, 2026 Reading 1, Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-16Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130Gospel, Luke 10:17-24 Printable PDF of Today's Reading Past / Future Daily Readings Reading 1, Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-16 1 This was the...
Daily Readings for Friday, October 02, 2026
Reading 1, Exodus 23:20-23 20 'Look, I am sending an angel to precede you, to guard you as you go and bring you to the place that I have prepared.21 Revere him and obey what he says. Do not defy him: he will not forgive any wrong-doing on your part, for my name is in...
Daily Readings for Thursday, October 01, 2026
Reading 1, Job 19:21-27 21 Pity me, pity me, my friends, since I have been struck by the hand of God.22 Must you persecute me just as God does, and give my body no peace?23 Will no one let my words be recorded, inscribed on some monument24 with iron chisel and...
Daily Readings for Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Reading 1, Job 9:1-12, 14-16 1 Job spoke next. He said:2 Indeed, I know it is as you say: how could anyone claim to be upright before God?3 Anyone trying to argue matters with him, could not give him one answer in a thousand.4 Among the wisest and the hardiest, who...