Msgr. George B. Flinn, Vicar General for Pastoral Life and Ministry and Rector of Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown, died on September 6, 2009, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 69 years old. Msgr. Flinn was ordained a priest in 1966 in Rome. He held various administrative positions in the Diocese. He served as Vice-Chancellor from 1972-1987; Chancellor from 1987-1992; and Vicar General for Pastoral Life and Ministry from 1992 until his death. Msgr. Flinn served as Rector of Saint John Gualbert Cathedral from 1993 until his death. Prior to his appointment at Saint John Gualbert, he served as Pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Altoona, Holy Rosary Parish in the Juniata section of Altoona and Administrator of Saint Monica Parish in Chest Springs. He was a Parochial Vicar at Saint Rose of Lima and Sacred Heart Parish in Altoona. Viewings were held for Msgr. Flinn at Saint John Gualbert on September 9 and at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona on September 10. A Mass of Remembrance was held at Saint John Gualbert on September 9. A funeral Mass was held at the Altoona Cathedral on September 11. Bishop Joseph was the Celebrant of both Masses and priests of the Diocese concelebrated. Parishioners, friends and colleagues remember Msgr. Flinn as a priest of great faith, great humility, great compassion, great optimism and great enthusiasm. In his remarks at the Mass of Remembrance, Bishop Joseph said he had the opportunity to visit Msgr. Flinn the day before he died. Bishop Joseph said he thanked Msgr. Flinn for his outstanding service to the Diocese.

 

 

The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown honored teachers from our elementary schools and the three Catholic high schools for their years of service in Catholic education. The ceremony was part of a Diocesan in-service at Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School on September 18, 2009. Bishop Joseph celebrated Mass and recognized 60 teachers marking five, ten, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service. The Diocese also honored eleven educators who reached Master Catechist status. For a complete list of honorees, please go to the Diocesan website at www.ajdiocese.org. [Photo: Teachers marking 25, 30 and 35 years of service join Bishop Joseph, Sister Donna Marie Leiden, Director of Education (back row right), and Sister Mark Plescher, C.S.A., Assistant Director of Education (back row left).]

 

Bishop Joseph celebrated the annual Blue and White Mass on September 12, 2009, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. The Mass honored emergency service workers such as police officers and firefighters and medical personnel such as physicians and nurses. All elected officials from Blair County were invited to attend the Mass. The Blue and White Mass is a Diocesan tradition celebrated around the anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. [Photo: Bishop Joseph joins the Knights of Columbus and emergency service workers outside the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.]

 

The Family Life Office of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is once again sponsoring the Wedding Anniversary Liturgies. Couples celebrating their 1st, 25th, 40th, 50th, 55th, and 60th + wedding anniverary were invited to register for one of two Masses. The first was celebrated on September 13, 2009, at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown. The second Mass will be celebrated on September 27, 2009, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. Bishop Joseph will be the Celebrant and Homilist of both Masses. Couples in attendance receive a certificate signed by the Bishop. [Photo: Bishop Joseph congratulates Richard and Vera Trabold of Saint Benedict Parish in Johnstown. The Trabolds celebrated their 55th anniversary this year.]

 

Bishop Joseph has named Mrs. Francine Swope as  the new Coordinator of Youth Ministry for the Diocese. Mrs. Swope was most recently the Ministerial Coordinator of Religious Education. The Office of Youth Ministry will now include Religious Education, Sacramental Preparation and the Confirmation Process. The office has moved from the Education Secretariat to the Parish Life Secretariat. The changes come after Mr. Shawn Willox resigned as the Director of Youth and Campus Ministry and Mrs. Mary Frances Shedlock resigned as the Coordinator of Sacramental Preparation. Campus Ministry will remain under the Education Secretariat. A Campus Ministry Coordinator will be named.

 

Thank you to all of those who have so generously responded to the recent emergency appeal from Catholic Charities. Some agencies that rely on state funding have reduced or eliminated services because of the lack of a state budget. As a result, more people in need are turning to Catholic Charities. We are committed to helping as many of those people as possible. In July, 2009, Catholic Charities (Altoona, Johnstown and Bellefonte offices) spent $8,800 more in assistance than in July, 2008. In August 2009, the agency spent $8,400 more in assistance than the previous August. Many parishes have taken up special collections for Catholic Charities in recent weeks. So far, those collections have raised $36,000. We continue to ask for your prayers and support. Anyone wishing to help can send donations to the Altoona office of Catholic Charities at 1300 12th Avenue 16603.

 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has invited Carl Schultz from the Johnstown office of Catholic Charities to participate in a focus group meeting on September 30th and October 1st in Washington, D.C. The group will help develop materials for two web-based training courses on the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Programs. Carl will be one of approximately eight participants from around the country.

 

Another fun year of Camp Zacchaeus is in the books. More than 200 campers (boys and girls entering grades 4-9) attended this summer. Sponsored by the Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry, the event is held each year at Camp Sequanota in Jennerstown. Activities include daily prayer, Mass, arts and crafts, swimming, hiking, music and more. Dates for the 2010 sessions of Camp Z are already set. Week one will be held July 25-30, 2010. Week two will be held August 1-6, 2010. For more information, contact Mrs. Francine Swope at (814) 693-1401 or fswope@dioceseaj.org.

 

Despite little time to prepare, Resurrection Parish in the Cambria City section of Johnstown had a large presence in this year's Cambria City Ethnic Festival. Resurrection became a parish on July 22, 2009, with the merger of the five Roman Catholic Churches in the neighborhood. Volunteers went right to work preparing for the Labor Day weekend event. Large crowds enjoyed great ethnic food and music. Organizers also offered tours of the original church buildings in Cambria City.