Current Events and News

From the Diocese

Individual Who Was Present at Local Mass Tests Positive for COVID-19

An individual who attended Mass at a parish in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown has tested positive for COVID-19.The person attended the 4:00 p.m. Mass at Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Johnstown on Saturday, August 1. Weekend Masses at Saint Francis of Assisi have...

A Message from Bishop Mark

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Someone recently told me that she could hear the sigh of relief recently as restrictions were lifted that allowed for our churches to reopen. Numerous people have remarked how grateful they are to attend Sunday Mass and receive the...

Welcome Back to Sunday Mass!

As Sunday and Weekday Masses are now being celebrated, there has been a steady increase in the number of people who are attending. So far, there has been a positive response to the precautions of placing donations in the basket at the end of Mass, using face masks and...

Summer Missionary Cooperative Program

[Description of program] To search for your local summer missionary, simply click on the name of your parish (separated by city) below, and you will be redirected. Alternatively, click here to jump to the full list of summer missionaries. If you wish to make a...

A Special Message from Bishop Mark

Young people in our diocese have frequently heard me tell them that the foundational principle of Catholic social teaching is the following: Every human person is made in the image and likeness of God. Period. It’s in the Sacred Scriptures (Genesis 1:27). No further...

New Directive Regarding Mass Atttendance

Bishop Mark has issued a new directive regarding the celebration of public Masses that lifts an earlier directive that would have limited the number of people permitted at each Mass to 25. When public Masses resume beginning the weekend of June 13-14, 2020, all are...

Parishes Announce Reconciliation Opportunities

Bishop Mark Bartchak has announced that the public celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation may resume at parishes beginning on May 23, 2020. Click HERE for a county-by-county schedule of upcoming Reconciliation opportunities at various parishes in the Diocese...

Dates for Public Confessions, Masses Announced

Bishop Mark has announced dates to resume the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the distribution of Holy Communion and the public celebration of Mass in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. According to the Bishop’s directives, issued on May 20, 2020, priests may resume the...

Bishop Announces Plan to Reopen Churches

The following is a message from Bishop Mark to all people of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown on May 13, 2020. Specific directives are being finalized and will be available prior the the reopening of church buildings on Saturday, May 16, which marks the...

Saint of the Day

Daily Reading

Daily Readings for Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Reading 1, Acts 2:36-41 36 'For this reason the whole House of Israel can be certain that the Lord and Christ whom God has made is this Jesus whom you crucified.'37 Hearing this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'What are we to do,...

Daily Readings for Monday, April 21, 2025

Reading 1, Acts 2:14, 22-32 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed them in a loud voice: 'Men of Judaea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, make no mistake about this, but listen carefully to what I say.22 'Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to...

Daily Readings for Sunday, April 20, 2025

Reading 1, Acts 10:34, 37-43 34 Then Peter addressed them, 'I now really understand', he said, 'that God has no favourites,37 You know what happened all over Judaea, how Jesus of Nazareth began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism.38 God had anointed him...

Daily Readings for Saturday, April 19, 2025

Daily Reading for Saturday April 19, 2025 Reading 1, Genesis 1:1-2:2Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35Gospel, Luke 24:1-12Reading 2, Genesis 22:1-18 Printable PDF of Today's Reading Past / Future Daily Readings Reading 1, Genesis 1:1-2:2 1...

Daily Readings for Friday, April 18, 2025

Daily Reading for Friday April 18, 2025 Reading 1, Isaiah 52:13-53:12Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25Gospel, John 18:1-19:42Reading 2, Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 Printable PDF of Today's Reading Past / Future Daily Readings Reading 1, Isaiah...

Daily Readings for Thursday, April 17, 2025

Reading 1, Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 1 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,2 'This month must be the first of all the months for you, the first month of your year.3 Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, "On the tenth day of this month each man must take an...

Daily Readings for Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Reading 1, Isaiah 49:1-6 1 Coasts and islands, listen to me, pay attention, distant peoples. Yahweh called me when I was in the womb, before my birth he had pronounced my name.2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword, he hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me into...

Daily Readings for Monday, April 14, 2025

Reading 1, Isaiah 42:1-7 1 Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have sent my spirit upon him, he will bring fair judgement to the nations.2 He does not cry out or raise his voice, his voice is not heard in the street;3 he does...

Daily Readings for Sunday, April 13, 2025

Reading 1, Isaiah 50:4-7 4 Lord Yahweh has given me a disciple's tongue, for me to know how to give a word of comfort to the weary. Morning by morning he makes my ear alert to listen like a disciple.5 Lord Yahweh has opened my ear and I have not resisted, I have not...