The annual Bishop's Night for Vocations was held on April 21 at Our Lady of Loretto Community Hall in Loretto. The Serra Clubs of Altoona and Cambria County sponsor the event each year. This year's theme was "How the Priest Brings God to Me" in recognition of this Year for Priests. Bishop Joseph served as the keynote speaker. He reminded the audience that promoting vocations is everyone's job, and he urged parents and grandparents to encourage vocations in their family. Winners of the Vocations Essay, Poetry and Poster Contests were also recognized. A complete list of all the contest winners and photos of some of the winners are on the Diocesan website at www.ajdiocese.org. At the end of the evening, the chairman of the Knights of Columbus Vocation Education Endowment Committee presented a $10,000 check to the Independent Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. [Photo: Bishop Joseph poses with Kylie Kadas, one of the poster contest winners, and her brother, Luke. Kylie is a second grade student at Saint Andrew School in Johnstown.]

 

Catholic Charities will host its Annual Recognition Dinner on April 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the UVA Club in Altoona. Catholic Charities will honor the following recipients with the 2010 Msgr. William M. Griffin Humanitarian Award in recognition of their service to the community:  

The agency will also honor the following students with the Matthew 25 Student Award and Scholarship in recognition of their exceptional service to school and community:

For ticket information, please call Catholic Charities at (814) 944-9388. 

 

Confirmation season is in full swing in the Diocese. Bishop Joseph will celebrate 17 Confirmation Masses during the Easter season at the two Cathedrals and various parishes.  There are slightly more than 1,140 candidates for the Sacrament this year. Students in their Junior year of high school are eligible to be confirmed. [Photo: Bishop Joseph Confirms a young woman during a Confirmation Mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona on April 7.]

 

Bishop Joseph celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving for all Neophytes (all new members welcomed into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil) on April 17 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. "While it is true that you have become members of the Roman Catholic Church, - one that can trace its origin back to the Lord Jesus, his Apostles, and those that believed in him; - you have entered into something more than just an institution," Bishop Joseph said in his Homily. "You have entered into a very special relationship with that same Lord Jesus, along with his apostles and believers of today. Furthermore, that relationship plays out as a result of your participation in the Sacraments, the Sacred Mysteries, - the very life of the Assembly of Believers that we call the Church, - particularly the Eucharist, to which you have been admitted." A congratulations dinner was held after the Mass in the Cathedral Hall. 

 

Bishop Joseph celebrated the annual Chrism Mass on March 29 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. The Mass is a Diocesan celebration during which the Bishop blesses the oils that will be used at parishes over the next year. Representatives from each Faith Community then take the oils to their parish and present them during Holy Thursday Mass. During the Chrism Mass, the priests of the Diocese also renew their commitment to their vocation. In his Homily, Bishop Joseph saluted his priests during this Year for Priests. You can read the Bishop's Homily on the Diocesan website at www.ajdiocese.org. [Photo: Deacon John Gibbons presents Bishop Joseph with the oil for the Chrism.]