|
|
|
|
|
| An E-Newsletter from the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
June 2013 | Volume V 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 upon us, and hopefully that means a time of rest and relaxation. There is no shortage of activities in our Diocesan Church in the coming weeks and months. We invite everyone to observe the Fortnight for Freedom as we strive to protect our precious religious liberty. We also extend an invitation to join us for Faith Day at DelGrosso's Amusement Park in Tipton as we celebrate our Catholic faith. Read more about these events and others in this edition of E-vangelist. May God bless us during these summer days. |
|
|
 Coming up in the July 1, 2013, edition of The Catholic Register
- New guidelines for the Confirmation preparation process are being implemented.
- A new app that provides Mass and Reconciliation times at parishes in the Diocese is available.
|
|
Bishop Mark Bartchak's upcoming Guests on Keeping the Faith, a weekly segment on Proclaim!:
- July 7 -- The Odyssey of the Mind team from Saint John the Evangelist School in Altoona talks about their trip to the World Finals in Michigan.
- July 14 -- Bishop Carroll Catholic High School students Alex Lieb and David Maruca join the Bishop to discuss their recognition by a local newspaper.
Proclaim! airs every Sunday at 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.
|
|
Watch "Answering the Call" every Sunday at 9:00 p.m. on the Altoona Public Access Channel 14 in the Central Blair County area.
Watch "Faith Alive: The Teen Perspective" every Sunday at 9:30 p.m on the Altoona Public Access Channel 14 in the Central Blair County area.
|
|
|
|
 Fortnight for Freedom
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will once again sponsor a Fortnight for Freedom June 21-July 4. In the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Bishop Mark L. Bartchak will observe the Fortnight with Evening Prayer and Eucharistic Adoration on July 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. All are invited to attend. The Fortnight emphasizes prayer, study, and peaceful public action to highlight the importance of preserving our cherished religious freedom. For more information about the Fortnight and a listing of events planned in the State College area, please visit the Diocesan website at www.dioceseaj.org.
|
 Faith Day
The annual Diocesan Faith Day will be held on June 30 at DelGrosso's Amusement Park in Tipton. Bishop Mark L. Bartchak will celebrate Mass at 3:00 p.m. on the park stage. Parishes are invited to hold group picnics in the park pavillions before or after Mass. You can also purchase dinner tickets through your parish or by filling out and mailling the form available on our Diocesan website at www.dioceseaj.org. Admission to the park is free. The Diocese will also provide a voucher to purchase All Day Fun Passes for a reduced price of $10 at the park. The vouchers are available at parishes or on the Diocesan website.. Vouchers will also be available in the Diocesan pavillion on the day of the event. Another highlight of the day will be a concert be Christian singer/song writer Shawn Smith at 7:00 p.m. on the park stage. Please bring a lawn chair for Mass and the concert. |
 Eleven Receive Present Gallitzin Cross AwardEleven individuals received the 2013 Prince Gallitzin Cross Award from Bishop Mark L. Bartchak at a banquet on June 1 at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson. The Gallitzin Cross is given annually to those exhibiting the "evangelizing spirit" of the Prince-Priest Demetrius Gallitzin. "I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the recipients of this year's Prince Gallitzin Cross Award, and I thank all who labor in the name of the Lord," said Bishop Mark. "May the legacy of Father Demetrius Gallitzin continue to shine brightly in all who strive to carry out his tradition of love and service throughout the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown." [Photo: (front row left to right) Sister Daniel Weinzierl, CSA, Sister Mary Lee Przybylski, CSSF, Rev. Paul Robine, Valerie Kahley, and Betty Schraff. (Back row) Oscar Speicher, Bishop Mark, Mary Ann Zakrzwski, John Conte, and Marty Klanchar. Absent were Dr. Rodolfo Furigay and Robert Zakrzwski.]
|
 Catholic Charities Recognition Dinner
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown held its annual recognition dinner on June 6 at the Calvin House in Duncansville. The agency honored three individuals with its Monsignor William M. Griffin Award, named in honor of the first executive director of Catholic Charities, and five individuals with the Matthew 25 Youth Humanitarian Award. "Pope Francis is a living example of the humble and proactive way in which we are to go about this mission to proclaim and live the Gospel," said Bishop Mark L. Bartchak. "It's nice to know that these  people we honor tonight are in the company of the Holy Father." [Top photo: recipients of the Monsignor William M. Griffin Award posing with Bishop Mark (left to right) Geraldine Pontzer, Anthony "Sonny" Consiglio, and Dolores Fatula. Bottom photo: recipients of the Matthew 25 Youth Humanitarian Award posing with the Bishop (left to right) Emily McCafferty, Nicholas Spinelli, Kiera Chirdon, Grace Walk, and Mikayla Yanchik.] |
 Masses for Couples
Bishop Mark L. Bartchak will once again celebrate an outdoor Mass for married couples on July 28 at 7:00 p.m. at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Alleghenies in Loretto. All are welcome. The Bishop will also celebrate the annual Masses for couples marking milestone anniversaries this year -- first, 25th, 40th, 50th, 55th, and 60th+. The Masses will be held at the following locations:
Sunday, August 18 - Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Bellefonte
Sunday, September 8 - Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona
Sunday, September 15 - Saint John Gualbert Cathedral, Johnstown
All Masses begin at 2:00 p.m. A light reception will follow. Couples must make reservations through their home parish. The deadline to register for the Bellefonte Mass is July 29; the deadline to register for the Altoona and Johnstown Masses is August 19. For more information, please contact the Family Life Office at (814) 886-5551. [Photo: Bishop Mark delivers his homily at last year's outdoor Mass for married couples at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Alleghenies in Loretto.]
|
 Summer Outdoor Masses
An Outdoor Mass is celebrated at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Alleghenies, 357 St. Mary Street, Loretto, every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. until Labor Day weekend, September 1. Please bring your own lawn chair. In the case of inclement weather, the outdoor Mass is moved indoors at the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel. Please note: there will be no outdoor Mass at the Shrine on Sunday, June 30 when the Diocese celebrates Faith Day at DelGrosso Park. |
|
|
|
Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. |
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 |
|
|
|
|
