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. Vincent de Paul: Saint of the Day for Friday, September 27, 2024
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 Thursday, September 26, 2024
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 Wednesday, September 25, 2024
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 Tuesday, September 24, 2024
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 Monday, September 23, 2024
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 Sunday, September 22, 2024
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 Saturday, September 21, 2024
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 Friday, September 20, 2024
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 Thursday, September 19, 2024
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,...
St. Joseph of Cupertino: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, September 18, 2024
St. Joseph was born in 1603 at Cupertino, in the diocese of Nardo in the Kingdom of Naples. After spending his childhood and adolescence in simplicity and innocence, he finally joined the Franciscan Friars Minor Conventual. After his ordination to the holy priesthood,...
Daily Reading
Daily Readings for Friday, September 27, 2024
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 26, 2024
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 25, 2024
Reading 1, Proverbs 30:5-9 5 Every word of God is unalloyed, a shield to those who take refuge in him.6 To his words make no addition, lest he reprove you and account you a liar.7 Two things I beg of you, do not grudge me them before I die:8 keep falsehood and lies...
Daily Readings for Tuesday, September 24, 2024
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 23, 2024
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 Sunday, September 22, 2024
Reading 1, Wisdom 2:17-20 17 Let us see if what he says is true, and test him to see what sort of end he will have.18 For if the upright man is God's son, God will help him and rescue him from the clutches of his enemies.19 Let us test him with cruelty and with...
Daily Readings for Saturday, September 21, 2024
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 Friday, September 20, 2024
Reading 1, Wisdom 3:1-9 1 But the souls of the upright are in the hands of God, and no torment can touch them.2 To the unenlightened, they appeared to die, their departure was regarded as disaster,3 their leaving us like annihilation; but they are at peace.4 If, as it...
Daily Readings for Thursday, September 19, 2024
Reading 1, First Corinthians 15:1-11 1 I want to make quite clear to you, brothers, what the message of the gospel that I preached to you is; you accepted it and took your stand on it,2 and you are saved by it, if you keep to the message I preached to you; otherwise...
Daily Readings for Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Reading 1, First Corinthians 12:31-13:13 31 Set your mind on the higher gifts. And now I am going to put before you the best way of all.1 Though I command languages both human and angelic -- if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal...