Diocese News

 Bishop Joseph Welcomes You!  

As their Diocesan Bishop and spiritual shepherd, I welcome you to our website. It is our hope that your visits here will provide you with accurate information and be a source of encouragement on your own journey into the Lord's Kingdom.

(Most Rev.) Joseph V. Adamec
Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown

LENTEN JOURNEY -- Parishes throughout the Diocese celebrated Ash Wednesday Masses that included the Distribution of Ashes to the Faithful. Bishop Joseph celebrated Mass at Noon at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. In his Homily, the Bishop encouraged worshippers to embrace the Lenten journey as an opportunity for spiritual growth in preparation for a more joyful Easter. [Photo: Bishop Joseph places ashes on the forehead of a woman at the Cathedral during Ash Wednesday Mass.]

Lenten Resources (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) 

• Monday, March 22 -- Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown at 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 23 -- Good Shepherd Parish in State College at 7:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, March 24 -- Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona at 6:30 p.m.

Bishop Joseph's Holy Week Schedule

GLOBAL SOLIDARITY DURING LENT: OPERATION RICE BOWL --During Lent, Catholic Relief Services provides an opportunity for Catholics to highlight the Catholic social teaching principle of global solidarity as a way to live in true communion with our brothers and sisters worldwide: the Operation Rice Bowl program.

Operation Rice Bowl is the Lenten solidarity program of Catholic Relief Services. Through the Eucharist we have a spiritual connection with all of humanity. Operation Rice Bowl connects our Lenten activities to our brothers and sisters in need worldwide.

The theme of Operation Rice Bowl is Solidarity Will Transform the World. Through participation in the program, Catholics grow in solidarity among their own faith communities as well as reach out in solidarity with people who live in communities far away.

Operation Rice Bowl began on Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. Resources available at orb.crs.org.

TRI-HIGH DAY -- The annual Tri-High Day was held at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School on March 12. Twelve students each from the three independent Catholic high schools in the Diocese -- Bishop Carroll, Bishop Guilfoyle and Bishop McCort Catholic High Schools -- met with Bishop Joseph for question and answer sessions, Mass and lunch. The event is an opportunity for the Bishop and students to interact and for the students to grow in their faith. During his Homily, Bishop Joseph reminded students that the two most important things to remember as young Catholics are to love God with your whole heart and to love others as you would love yourself. At the end of the day, the Bishop gave four students $10 and asked them to use the money to do good things for others. The students are to report what they did to their campus ministers, who will report back to the Bishop Joseph.

CRS COLLECTION -- The Catholic Relief Services Collection will be taken at parishes on the weekend of March 13-14. The CRS Collection is one of the 12 national collections established by the bishops of the United States with the hope that, by combining resources, we can more effectively carry out our mision as Catholics. The collection represents our community of faith at work in the world, saving souls and improving lives. The CRS Collection theme -- Jesus in Disguise -- reminds us of the presence of Christ in every one of our brothers and sisters in need. More.

PRINCE GALLITZIN CROSS AWARD -- As a way of honoring the heritage of Father Demetrius Gallitzin, Bishop Joseph created the Prince Gallitzin Cross Award to recognize those who have imitated Father Gallitzin's "evangelizing spirit." The Diocese is requesting nominations for the 2010 Prince Gallitzin Cross Awards. The awards will be presented at a dinner on Saturday, June 5, at the Cosgrave Center at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson.

Click here for the Prince Gallitzin Cross Award criteria and nominating form

CATHOLIC CHARITIES SEEKS NOMINATIONS -- Catholic Charities is preparing for its annual dinner on Thursday, April 29, at the UVA Club in Altoona. The agency is also seeking nominations for the Msgr. William M. Griffin Humanitarian Award and the Matthew 25 Student Award, which will be presented at the dinner. The Msgr. William M. Griffin Humanitarian Award is given to persons demonstrating a significant, long-term commitment (professional or volunteer) to serving the poor, marginalized and most vulnerable within our diocesan community. The Matthew 25 Student Award is given to two elementary and two high school students for demonstrating exceptional service to their communities, especially service to the poor and needy -- service that is "above and beyond" required school community service hours.

Click here for more on the Msgr. William M. Griffin Humanitarian Award
(Information and Nomination Form)

Click here for more on the Matthew 25 Student Award
(Information and Nomination Form)

CHECK PRESENTATION -- The Lee Foundation gave a matching grant for $5,000, written on a blanket, to Catholic Charities on February 26 for Winter Home Heating Assistance. This grant matches a $5,000 award from the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. More.

RITE OF ELECTION -- The Rite of Election of Catechumens and the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates was held on February 21 at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown and the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. A catechumen is someone who is seeking baptism. Their presence at the Rite of Election is a public recognition of their "yes" to living a new life in God within the Roman Catholic Church. A candidate -- someone who is already baptized and seeking full communion in the Catholic Church -- celebrates the Rite of the Call to Continuing Conversion. "What a magnificent sight," Bishop Joseph said of the parish-by-parish procession of catechumens and candidates. "You are here because of God's plan for your salvation," the Bishop told the group during his Homily. Thirty four Faith Communities participated in the ceremony, including Our lady of the Mount at the State Correctional Institution at Rockview and the Penn State Catholic Campus Ministry. The catechumens and candidates will be initiated at their parishes during the Easter Vigil. [Photo: Catechumen Ciji Siers of Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish in Bedford signs the Book of the Elect during the Rite of Election ceremony at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament as Deacon John Rys looks on.]

COMMUNION DIRECTIVES TO BE LIFTED BEGINNING AT EASTER VIGIL -- With the greater part of the flu season behind us, this Diocesan Church is preparing to restore the practice of offering the Chalice of the Precious Blood of the Lord to the Faithful at Mass. More.

YEAR FOR PRIESTS -- Pope Benedict XVI has declared June 19, 2009- June 19, 2010 the Year for Priests. More.

Diocese Announces Events for the Year for Priests

Altoona Mirror article spotlighting priests (Religion Section Nov. 20, 2009)

THEOLOGY ON TAP -- The Diocesan Office of Campus Ministry will host four sessions of Theology on Tap, a faith-enrichment program for young adults age 18-39. The sessions will be held the first four Mondays in March at P.J.'s Restaurant/Tavern in Cresson. More.

SIGNS OF HOPE DINNER -- The Altoona Area Christian Coalition hosted its Remarkable Signs of Hope Banquet on March 11 at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center. The AACC recognized four Altoona-area residents for their outstanding service to the community:

• Michael Barnes -- Bethany Lutheran Church; "Saturday Night Live" support group
• Virginia Day -- Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church; NAACP Secretary; various community organizations
• Tom Irwin -- Saint Rose of Lima Parish; Gloria Gates Memorial Foundation; Habitat for Humanity
• Kate Prescott -- Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish; coordinator of a project that collects items for children at Christmas.

[Photo: AACC Remarkable Signs of Hope award winners (left to right) Virginia Day, Michael Barnes and Kate Prescott. Tom Irwin was absent]

Click here to learn more about the Altoona Area Christian Coalition

ECUMENICAL SERVICE -- Bishop Joseph hosted an ecumenical service at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament on February 14. The exhortation was given by the Reverend Leo Walsh, Associate Director at the Secretariat of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. He is the former Vicar General of the Diocese of Anchorage.  Bishop Joseph, Metropolitan Nicholas Smisko of the Orthodox tradition and Bishop Gregory Pile of the Lutheran tradition sponsor two annual ecumenical services. The first one this year was hosted by Metropolitan Nicholas on January 31. [Photo: Mrs. Jeanne Thompson (center) participates in the ecumenical service at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.]

Ecumenical Prayer of Christian Unity

Catholic Schools Week Luncheon -- Bishop Joseph hosted his annual luncheon to celebrate Catholic Schools Week on January 28 at the Bishop's residence. Four students each from Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School and Bishop McCort Catholic High School, along with their principals, attended the luncheon. Catholic Schools Week was celebrated January 31 - February 6. This year's theme was "Dividends for Life."

THE CHURCH'S POSITION ON HEALTH CARE REFORM -- The Catholic Church seeks universal health care with respect for human life and dignity. The following web links and columns outline the Church's position on this highly-debated issue.

UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS
USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities -- March 4, 2010
USCCB News Release -- February 24, 2010
USCCB letter to Congress -- January 26, 2010
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops -- January 26, 2010 letter
USCCB Bulletin Insert -- January 2010
USCCB News Release -- December 22, 2009
USCCB News Release -- December 19, 2009
USCCB News Release -- December 18, 2009
USCCB News Release -- December 15, 2009

PENNSYLVANIA CATHOLIC CONFERENCE
Pennsylvania's Catholic Bishops Issue Statement -- October 2009
Side-by-Side Comparison: Hyde & Nelson/Hatch/Casey Amendments
Health Care Reform Questions -- Column by Amy Hill, PCC Communications Director 

BISHOP JOSEPH'S COMMENTS ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM
(FROM HIS RANDOM COMMENTS BLOG)
Calling It What It Is -- November 27, 2009
Health Care Reform -- August 28, 2009

What can you do? Visit, call, write or e-mail your Congressman or woman and our U.S. Senators about health care reform. Among other things, urge them to exclude mandated coverage for abortion. Below is a list of U.S. Senators and Representatives in the eight-county area of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.

Contact your lawmakers

UNITED STATES CENSUS 2010 UNDERWAY -- The U.S. Constitution requires a national census once very 10 years.  The census is a count of everyone residing in the United States.  It shows state population counts and determines representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Funding for critical community services and the location of schools, hospitals, senior centers and other facilities all depend on accurate census data.  With only 10 questions, the 2010 Census questionnaire takes just 10 minutes to complete.  Complete the Census questionnaire and be counted in 2010.  Log on to http://www.2010census.gov/ for more information.