The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is mourning the death of the Very Reverend Paul E. Turnbull, VF, Pastor of Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Johnstown and Dean of the Johnstown Deanery. Father Turnbull's body was found in the OMOS Rectory on May 15. He died of natural causes.

 

Bishop Joseph expressed great sadness upon hearing the news of Father Turnbull's passing. "The Lord has taken to Himself a very good man and a dedicated priest," the Bishop said. "May the Lord have welcomed him home, embraced him in His love, and granted him eternal rest!" 

 

Father Turnbull, 63, was ordained in 1973 and served as a Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Altoona; Saint Patrick Parish in Johnstown; Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Philipsburg; and Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Altoona. He served as Pastor of Saint Boniface Parish in St. Boniface and Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Altoona. He was also Parochial Administrator of Saint Michael Parish in Johnstown.

 

Father Turnbull is perhaps best remembered for his dedication to the Priesthood and passion for music. A funeral Mass was held on Wednesday May 19 at Our Mother of Sorrows with Bishop Joseph as Celebrant and priests of the Diocese as Concelebrants. Memorial donations may be made to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Organ Maintenance or Music Ministry. 

 

 

Bishop Joseph is celebrating his 23rd Anniversary as Bishop of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. He was ordained and installed as the seventh Shepherd of Altoona-Johnstown on May 20, 1987, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. He is the longest-serving Bishop in Diocesan history. Congratulations, Bishop Joseph! May the Lord continue to bless you on your remarkable journey.

 

 

 

 

Bishop Joseph will ordain Deacon John Gibbons (pictured left) to the Sacred Order of the Priesthood on Saturday, May 22 at 10:00 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. Deacon Gibbons completed his studies at the Sacred Heart School of Theology. He has served at Our Lady of the Alleghenies Parish in Lilly and Saint Andrew Parish in Johnstown. The Bishop will also ordain five men to the Sacred Order of the Permanent Diaconate. They are: Mr. Charles Ahearn of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Duncansville; Mr. David Hornick of Saint Benedict Parish in Johnstown; Mr. Thomas McFee of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Altoona; Mr. Michael Russo of Saint Michael Parish in St. Michael; and Mr. James Woomer of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Altoona. For more information on Deacon Gibbons and the candidaes for the Permanent Diaconate, please go to the Diocesan website at www.ajdiocese.org.

  

 

Catholic Charities hosted its Annual Recognition Dinner on April 29, at the UVA Club in Altoona. Executive Director Jean Johnstone thanked the staff and board members for their tireless work, and Board Chairman Rob Egan thanked the Diocese for its continued financial and spiritual support.

 

During the dinner, Catholic Charities honored the following recipients with the 2010 Msgr. William M. Griffin Humanitarian Award in recognition of their service to the community:  

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

Three priests of the Diocese are celebrating jubilees this year. Father Francis Balestino, a senior priest, is marking his golden jubilee; Father Walter Moll, Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Portage, and Monsignor Robert Saly, Pastor of Saint Catherine of Siena Parish in Duncansville, are marking their silver jubilee. For the first time ever, the Diocese is celebrating the silver jubilees of permanent deacons: Deacons John Concannon of Saint John Gualbert Cathedral Parish in Johnstown, Gene Neral of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Altoona, and John Sroka of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Johnstown. Deacon Neral is also the Diocesan Director of Diaconal Formation; Deacon Concannon is the former Director.

 

Mr. Michael Russo has been named the new Coordinator of Lay Ecclesial Ministry for the Diocese. He will succeed Mrs. Jean Schneiderbauer, who will retire on June 30. Russo, a member of Saint Michael Parish in St. Michael, will be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on May 22.  He is also the Associate Director of Diaconal Formation and has assisted Deacon Gene Neral, Diocesan Director of Diaconal Formation, in implementing guidelines designed to help in the development and formation of deacons. Russo earned a Masters Degree in Sacred Scripture and Systematic Theology at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe. 

 

 

The legacy of the Servant of God Demetrius A. Gallitzin received national attention this month. The May edition of Columbia Magazine (Knights of Columbus) featured the Prince-Priest as the "Catholic Man of the Month." Gallizin was a Russian Prince who abandoned royalty for the priesthood. He established Catholicism here in the Allegheny Mountains with the creation of a church in what became known as Loretto. A Cause for Sainthood for Gallitzin continues.