Current Events and News
From the Diocese
Liturgical Directives
The following directives were communicated to the clergy of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown on March 17, 2020. The directives remain in effect until further notice. If questions arise concerning the impact of these directives, please contact your pastor for further...
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....
Saint of the Day
St. Teresa of Calcutta: Saint of the Day for Sunday, September 05, 2021
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 Saturday, September 04, 2021
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 Friday, September 03, 2021
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 Thursday, September 02, 2021
Born in Skänninge, 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 Wednesday, September 01, 2021
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 Tuesday, August 31, 2021
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 Monday, August 30, 2021
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 Sunday, August 29, 2021
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 Saturday, August 28, 2021
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 Friday, August 27, 2021
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 Sunday, September 05, 2021
Daily Reading for Sunday September 5, 2021 Reading 1, Isaiah 35:4-7Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 146:7, 8-9, 9-10Gospel, Mark 7:31-37Reading 2, James 2:1-5 We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a...
Daily Readings for Saturday, September 04, 2021
Daily Reading for Saturday September 4, 2021 Reading 1, Colossians 1:21-23Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 54:3-4, 6, 8Gospel, Luke 6:1-5 FREE Catholic Classes Pick a class, you can learn anything Reading 1, Colossians 1:21-23 21 You were once estranged and of hostile...
Daily Readings for Friday, September 03, 2021
Daily Reading for Friday September 3, 2021 Reading 1, Colossians 1:15-20Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 100:1, 2, 3, 4, 5Gospel, Luke 5:33-39 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...
Daily Readings for Thursday, September 02, 2021
Daily Reading for Thursday September 2, 2021 Reading 1, Colossians 1:9-14Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 98:2-3, 3-4, 5-6Gospel, Luke 5:1-11 To all our readers, Please don't scroll past this. Today, we humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online's independence. 98% of our...
Daily Readings for Wednesday, September 01, 2021
Daily Reading for Wednesday September 1, 2021 Reading 1, Colossians 1:1-8Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 52:10, 11Gospel, Luke 4:38-44 We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but...
Daily Readings for Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Daily Reading for Tuesday August 31, 2021 Reading 1, First Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 27:1, 4, 13-14Gospel, Luke 4:31-37 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...
Daily Readings for Monday, August 30, 2021
Daily Reading for Monday August 30, 2021 Reading 1, First Thessalonians 4:13-18Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 96:1, 3, 4-5, 11-12, 13Gospel, Luke 4:16-30 FREE Catholic Classes Pick a class, you can learn anything Reading 1, First Thessalonians 4:13-18 13 We want you to be...
Daily Readings for Sunday, August 29, 2021
Daily Reading for Sunday August 29, 2021 Reading 1, Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5Gospel, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23Reading 2, James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27 Reading 1, Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 1 'And now, Israel, listen to the laws and...
Daily Readings for Saturday, August 28, 2021
Daily Reading for Saturday August 28, 2021 Reading 1, First Thessalonians 4:9-12Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 98:1, 7-8, 9Gospel, Matthew 25:14-30 To all our readers, Please don't scroll past this. Today, we humbly ask you to defend Catholic Online's independence. 98% of...
Daily Readings for Friday, August 27, 2021
Daily Reading for Friday August 27, 2021 Reading 1, First Thessalonians 4:1-8Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 97:1, 2, 5-6, 10, 11-12Gospel, Matthew 25:1-13 Reading 1, First Thessalonians 4:1-8 1 Finally, brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus; we...