Current Events and News
From the Diocese
Holy Week Directives
With public Masses and other liturgical gatherings suspended at least through Holy Week and Easter, Bishop Mark is inviting the faithful to watch the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown weekly television Mass on Passion (Palm) Sunday and Easter Sunday at 11:00 a.m. on WATM...
Television/Streaming Masses
During this time of no public Masses, the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is committed to continuing the weekly Proclaim! Television Ministry and Mass. Proclaim!Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on WATM ABC 23 Mass with Bishop MarkSundays at 11:00 a.m. on WATM ABC23Sundays at...
Spirituality
PRAYER RECITED BY POPE FRANCISFOR THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLDO Mary,you always shine on our pathas a sign of salvation and of hope.We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.You, Salvation of the...
Support Your Parish
Although public Masses are suspended until further notice, our Church is alive and still fulfilling its mission. Your parish will continue to bring you the light of Christ, but it needs your support. To assist parishes that do not currently offer...
Wine and Food Pairing
Much sweeter than the chocolate cake truffles and Moscato d’Asti at the recent Catholic Charities Wine and Food Pairing was a true story highlighting how the delightful evening helps our neighbors in need. At the conclusion of gathering at the Blairmont Club in...
Communal Penance Services
The season of Lent is a time to seek God’s healing and forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many parishes are sponsoring Communal Penance Services in the coming weeks. The following parishes submitted schedules to the Office of Communications. Please...
Stations of the Cross
Most parishes invite the faithful to pray the Stations of the Cross during Lent. All parishes were invited to submit their schedule to the Office of Communications. The following is the schedule from the parishes that responded. BEDFORD COUNTY Saint John the...
Lenten Spiritual Opportunities
Various parishes in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown are sponsoring spiritual enrichment opportunities during the Lenten season. Novena to Saint Anthony of PaduaSaint Francis of Assisi Parish in JohnstownTuesdays in LentNovena prayed after 6:30 p.m. Mass Holy...
Memory Walk in Honor of Sister Margie
By Tony DeGolProclaim! Carol Babinsack sums it up well when she says that the late Sister Margie Monahan was a cherished friend to many people. “She was always there,” pointed out Babinsack, a member of Saint Stephen Parish in McConnellsburg. “She was willing to help....
March For Life 2020
Groups from throughout the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown traveled to Washington, D.C., on January 24 for the March for Life. Bishop Mark traveled by bus with a group from the Altoona area organized by the Blair County chapter of Citizens Concerned for Human Life. In...
Saint of the Day
St. Teresa of Calcutta: Saint of the Day for Friday, September 05, 2025
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 Thursday, September 04, 2025
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 Wednesday, September 03, 2025
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 Tuesday, September 02, 2025
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 Monday, September 01, 2025
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 Sunday, August 31, 2025
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 Saturday, August 30, 2025
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 Friday, August 29, 2025
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...
St. Augustine of Hippo: Saint of the Day for Thursday, August 28, 2025
St. Augustine of Hippo is the patron of brewers because of his conversion from a former life of loose living, which included parties, entertainment, and worldly ambitions. His complete turnaround and conversion has been an inspiration to many who struggle with a...
St. Monica: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Saint Monica, also known as Monica of Hippo, is St. Augustine of Hippo's mother. She was born in 331 A.D. in Tagaste, which is present-day Algeria. When she was very young, she was married off to the Roman pagan Patricius, who shared his mother's violent temper....
Daily Reading
Daily Readings for Friday, September 05, 2025
Reading 1, Colossians 1:15-20 15 He is the image of the unseen God, the first-born of all creation,16 for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth: everything visible and everything invisible, thrones, ruling forces, sovereignties, powers -- all things...
Daily Readings for Thursday, September 04, 2025
Reading 1, Colossians 1:9-14 9 That is why, ever since the day he told us, we have never failed to remember you in our prayers and ask that through perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding you should reach the fullest knowledge of his will10 and so be able to lead a...
Daily Readings for Wednesday, September 03, 2025
Reading 1, Colossians 1:1-8 1 From Paul, by the will of God an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy2 to God's holy people in Colossae, our faithful brothers in Christ. Grace and peace to you from God our Father.3 We give thanks for you to God, the...
Daily Readings for Tuesday, September 02, 2025
Reading 1, First Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11 1 About times and dates, brothers, there is no need to write to you2 for you are well aware in any case that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night.3 It is when people are saying, 'How quiet and...
Daily Readings for Monday, September 01, 2025
Reading 1, First Thessalonians 4:13-18 13 We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, to make sure that you do not grieve for them, as others do who have no hope.14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that in the same way...
Daily Readings for Sunday, August 31, 2025
Daily Reading for Sunday August 31, 2025 Reading 1, Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11Gospel, Luke 14:1, 7-14Reading 2, Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24 Printable PDF of Today's Reading Past / Future Daily Readings Reading 1, Sirach 3:17-18,...
Daily Readings for Saturday, August 30, 2025
Reading 1, First Thessalonians 4:9-12 9 As for brotherly love, there is no need to write to you about that, since you have yourselves learnt from God to love one another,10 and in fact this is how you treat all the brothers throughout the whole of Macedonia. However,...
Daily Readings for Friday, August 29, 2025
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...
Daily Readings for Thursday, August 28, 2025
Reading 1, First Thessalonians 3:7-13 7 And so, brothers, your faith has been a great encouragement to us in the middle of our own distress and hardship;8 now we can breathe again, as you are holding firm in the Lord.9 How can we thank God enough for you, for all the...
Daily Readings for Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Reading 1, First Thessalonians 2:9-13 9 You remember, brothers, with what unsparing energy we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming the gospel of God to you.10 You are witnesses, and so is God, that...