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| An E-Newsletter from the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
June 2012 | Volume IV Number 6 |
 Welcome!Welcome to the June edition of E-vangelist, a monthly E-Newsletter from the Communications Office of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Summer is off to a busy start. Most notably, our Diocesan Church is observing the national Fortnight for Religious Freedom June 21-July 4. A special Holy Hour for Religious Freedom will be held on four occasions. Details are contained in this E-newsletter. In times of strife, it is customary for Catholics to turn to the power of prayer. We encourage everyone to join us at the holy hours to pray for our country and its leaders. We are also preparing for the annual Faith Day at PNG Field in July. Join us as we celebrate our Catholic faith in a fun environment. The busy summer camp season is also upon us with Camp Timothy starting shortly and Camp Zacchaeus a little more than a month away. May God bless our campers and the staff, and may He provide safety to all who are traveling this summer. Enjoy these days of prayer and rest. |
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 Coming up in the July 2, 2012, edition of The Catholic Register: - Reporter Bruce Tomaselli previews the upcoming Faith Day at PNG Field.
- Monsignor Tim Stein comments on issues of the day in his column, "Another Perspective."
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Bishop Mark Bartchak's upcoming Guests on Keeping the Faith, a weekly segment on Proclaim!:
- June 24 -- Francine Swope and Tony DeGol preview the upcoming Faith Day at PNG Field in Altoona.
- July 1 -- As part of the Diocesan Marriage Building Initiative, Dr. Vince Vena and his daughter, Aubrey, members of Resurrection Parish in Johnstown, discuss the importance of family.
- July 8 -- Andre McCarville, Campus Minister at Penn State Altoona, and Maria Smith, a PSU Altoona student and member of Saint Matthew Parish in Tyrone, share memories from a Spring Break outreach trip to Kentucky.
Proclaim! airs every Sunday at 5:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on WWCP TV FOX 8. The live Mass from Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown airs at 11:00 a.m. on WWCP and is rebroadcast at 9:00 p.m. on Atlantic Broadband Channel 9 in the Altoona area.
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Listen to Radio Maria on WHHN 88.1 FM or go to the Diocesan website, www.dioceseaj.org, and click on the Radio Maria button on the right.
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Listen to the live Mass every Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. from the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona on WFBG 1290 AM. |
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Annual Catholic Appeal
Parishioners from throughout the Diocese continue to make gifts to the Annual Catholic Appeal for the benefit of their own parishes and several dozen Diocesan ministries. After only three months, already 40% of the 88 parishes have surpassed their respective goals in the amount pledged. Of those parishes, 17 have received 'over goal' refunds totaling $61,000.
ACA gifts may be placed in the Sunday offertory, turned in to the parish office or placed online through the "Donate" icon on Diocese's home page at www.dioceseaj.org. Thank you for generously supporting your parish and ministries!
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 Fortnight for Religious Freedom to BeginA Fortnight for Religioius Freedom will be observed in the Diocese June 21-July 4. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops called for the observance in response to the federal mandate that virtually all employers provide health insurance that includes abortion-inducing drugs, contraception and sterilization, thus violating our principles and our religious freedom.
To mark the Fortnight in Altoona-Johnstown, Bishop Mark L. Bartchak will preside and preach at a Holy Hour for Religious Freedom on four occasions:
- June 21 at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown
- June 24 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona
- June 28 at Saint Benedict Parish in Carrolltown
- July 1 at Our Lady of Victory Parish in State College
Each gathering will begin at 7:00 p.m. and include the celebration of Evening Prayer with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction.
Additionally, all parishes are to include prayers for religious freedom in the General Intercessions at all Masses during the Fortnight. The Bishop has also instructed all parishes to have a common recitation of a prayer for religious liberty at all Masses during the Fortnight.
For more information about the Fortnight for Religious Freedom, please go to the Diocesan website at www.dioceseaj.org. The webiste includes a video message from Bishop Mark, information about various parish observances, and USCCB information. |
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 Bishop Presents Prince Gallitzin Cross Awards
Nine individuals received the 2012 Prince Gallitzin Cross Award at a banquet on June 2 at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson. Founded in 1990, the Prince Gallitzin Cross Award is presented annually to those in the Diocese who exhibit the "evangelizing spirit" of the Prince-Priest Demetrius Gallitzin. "By honoring them, and by honoring Demetrius Gallitzin, we are expressing our belief in the Communion of Saints -- those who have made it to the Kingdom and those who by their good works and good words are building up the Kingdom in our world today," Bishop Mark L. Bartchak said before presenting the Crosses to the recipients. [Photo: (first row, left to right) Mary Ann Benz, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Altoona; Margaret Klesch, Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Johnstown; Sister Patti Rossi, CSJ, Our Lady of the Alleghenies Parish, Lilly, and Associate Director, Diocesan Missions Office; Dorothy Oberneder, Saint Mary (Immaculate Conception) Parish, Altoona. (Second row, left to right) Jill and Luke Rosenbaum, Holy Family Parish, Hooversville; Thomas Deskevich, Holy Name Parish, Ebensburg; Daniel Heiser, Saint Joseph Parish, Renovo; Bishop Mark; and Timothy Bettwy, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona.] |
 Catholic Charities Holds Annual Recognition Dinner
Catholic Charities held its annual Recognition Dinner on June 7 at the Calvin House in Duncansville. The agency honored two individuals with the 2012 Monsignor William M. Griffin Humanitarian Award: Father Chuck Bridges, Parochial Vicar at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown and Operations Manager of the Diocesan TV Ministry, Proclaim!; and Dorothy Baron of the Most Holy Trinity Parish/Saint Vincent de Paul Society in Huntingdon. Catherine Hull, a student at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School in Ebensburg, received the Matthew 25 Youth Humanitarian Award. Winners of the agency's "Chances for Charity" fundraiser were also announced. For a complete list of winners, please visit the Diocesan website at www.dioceseaj.org. [Photo: (left to right) C. David Kimmel, Advisory Board Chair; Monsignor Michael E. Servinsky, Vicar General; Rev. Chuck Bridges; Catherine Hull; Dorothy Baron; Jean D. Johnstone, Executive Director; and Bishop-Emeritus Joseph V. Adamec.] |
 Diocese Preparing for Faith Day
The annual Faith Day will be held on July 8 at PNG Field in Altoona. Bishop Mark L. Bartchak will celebrate Mass on the field at 3:00 p.m. Bishop-Emeritus Joseph V. Adamec and priests of the Diocese will concelebrate. The Altoona Curve game will begin at 6:00 p.m. Other highlights of Faith Day include the Parade of Parishes and carnival-style games for kids between Mass and the start of the baseball game. Bishop Mark will throw out the ceremonial first pitch; Father Brian Saylor, Pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Altoona, will sing the National Anthem; and Father Alan Thomas, Pastor of Resurrection Parish in Johnstown, will sing "God Bless America" during the Seventh Inning Stretch. For tickets, please contact the Altoona Curve at 877-99-CURVE; www.altoonacurve.com; or visit the box office at the stadium. [Photo: Bishop Mark celebrates Mass on the field at Faith Day 2011.] |
 Diocesan Marriage Building InitiativeAs part of the nearly year-long Marriage Building Initiative, Bishop Mark L. Bartchak will celebrate an outdoor Mass for married couples. All are invited to pray with and for those living the Sacrament of Marriage on Sunday evening, July 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Alleghenies in Loretto. This is a wonderful way to encourage and support the married couples in your family! Bring a lawn chair. In the event of rain, the Mass will be celebrated inside the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel. Cookies and punch following Mass compliments of Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Come early and picnic together or tour the historic Prince Gallitzin Chapel House (open 1:00 - 6:00 pm). Singers needed for the choir. One rehearsal at 5:30 p.m. before the Mass. Contact Kevin Luke by July 22 at (814) 944-6031 or sfxmusicdirector@gmail.com.
As part of the Marriage Building Initiative, The Catholic Register and Proclaim! TV will have special features in the coming months. There is also a special section on the Diocesan website, www.dioceseaj.org, where you can watch a video that includes a special message from Bishop Mark. |
 Bishop to Celebrate Mass for College Students
Bishop Mark L. Bartchak will celebrate a Mass for students entering or returning to college on August 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Alleghenies in Loretto. The Bishop will also offer a special blessing to the students. In the event of rain, the Mass will be celebrated inside the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel. Parents and relatives of the students are invited. [Bishop Mark blesses college students at last year's Mass.] |
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 School Choice Update
New school choice legislation is being considered in Harrisburg. House Bill 2468 would expand the existing Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, eliminate the delay for some companies that wish to contribute, and create another category of tax-credit supported scholarships called Educational Improvement Scholarship Credits (EISC) targeted at students in neighborhoods with perpetually underperforming public schools. Proposed funding for the traditional EITC program (k-12 and pre-k combined) is $100 million, $25 million more than last year. An additional $100 million would be allocated for EISC scholarship tax credits. Like EITC, the EISC program would be funded by companies that contribute to scholarship organizations in exchange for a tax credit. These special scholarships up to $8,500 ($15,000 for special education students) are set aside particularly for income eligible students in the lowest performing 15% of public schools. To learn more, or to send a message to lawmakers in support of school choice, visit the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference website at www.pacatholic.org. [Photo: Bishop Mark poses with students at Saint Andrew School in Johnstown during a recent visit.] |
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Upcoming Events
June 21-July 4
Fortnight for Religious Freedom
June 24-28
Camp Timothy (summer camp for students entering 10th, 11th, and 12th grades)
Somerset County
July 4
Indpendence Day
Diocesan Offices Closed
July 8; 3:00 p.m.
Faith Day
PNG Field, Altoona
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 Prayer for Discerning My Vocation
Lord Jesus, I know that you love me and that you call me to follow you. Help me to listen to your call in all the ways you speak to me: through prayer and the Scriptures; through the Church; through the people who know me and love me; through the circumstances of my life; through my own hopes and desires. Guide me to search openly and carefully to learn about life's choices so that I may respond generously to your call and to know and embrace the vocation that will enable me to love wholeheartedly and serve others with the gifts you have given to me. Help me to know and do your will. Thank you for your love for me and for all that the future holds for me. Lord Jesus, I put my trust in you. Amen. |
Contact Information
E-vangelist is published by the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown Office of Communications Mr. Tony DeGol Secretary for Communications 925 S. Logan Boulevard Hollidaysburg, PA 16648 (814) 695-5579 tdegol@dioceseaj.org |
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