evangelist header 2011
An E-Newsletter from the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
January 2014
Volume VI  Number  1
diocese signWelcome
Welcome to the January edition of E-vangelist, a monthly E-Newsletter from the Communications Office of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. As winter continues to keep a tight grip on the region, the weather is not stopping a number of important events. This week, hundreds from our Diocese will travel to Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life. May God bless those pilgrims on their journey, and may all of us never forget the value of human life in all forms. Next week, the Diocese will celebrate Catholic Schools Week. We encourage you to take advantage of the many open houses or other events that our schools will sponsor in honor of the observance. Catholic schools are truly an asset in our Diocesan Church and our communities. Congratulations to our students, parents, faculty, and staff, and best wishes for a wonderful Catholic Schools Week 2014!

 

Ministry Quicklinks

  
  
the catholic register
  
Coming up in the January 27, 2014, edition of The Catholic Register
 
  • Reporter Bruce Tomaselli previews some of the Catholic Schools Week activities planned throughout the Diocese.
     
  • Some say Pope Francis is being a pro-life Pope without saying much about abortion.

 
proclaim!

 

Bishop Mark Bartchak's upcoming Guests on Keeping the Faith, a weekly segment on Proclaim!: 

 

  • February 2 -- Altoona Central Catholic School co-principals Patricia Labriola and Sherry Buck discuss their unique situation of sharing leadership at the school.
  • February 9 -- Father Matthew Reese, Diocesan Director of Vocations, talks about what he's doing to reach out to young men considering a vocation to the priesthood. 

Proclaim! airs every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on WWCP TV FOX 8 and is rebroadcast on the Altoona Public Access Channel (Channel 14 on Atlantic Broadband) at 9:30 p.m. 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.

  

     
microwave dish 
 
Watch "Answering the Call" every Sunday at 9:00 p.m. on the Altoona Public Access Channel 14 in the Central Blair County area.
 
 

Catholic Schools Week

The Diocese, along with the rest of the nation, will celebrate Catholic Schools Week January 26-February 1. This year's theme is "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service." In the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, there are 20 Catholic elementary schools and four independent Catholic high schools. About 4,500 students are enrolled in our schools. Throughout the week, parishes and schools will celebrate special Masses, host open houses, and sponsor many other events in honor of Catholic Schools Week. You can read more about some of the plans in the January 27 edition of The Catholic Register. Bishop Mark L. Bartchak has also written a special letter to mark the observance. You can read is special message in The Catholic Register or on the Diocesan website at www.dioceseaj.org. Father Angelo Patti, Pastor of Saint Andrew Parish/School; Joan Donnelly, Principal of Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School; and Brandon Martinazzi, a student at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School will be Bishop Mark's guests on his "Keeping the Faith" segment of Proclaim! They will discuss how faith, knowledge, and service are central to Catholic education. You can watch that interview on January 26 at 10:30 a.m. on WWCP TV FOX 8.

Bartchak Coat of ArmsPrayer Service and March for Life 
Bishop Mark L. Bartchak will preside at a prayer service on January 21 -- the eve of the March for Life. It will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. Bishop Mark will deliver a homily and bless all of those going to Washington, D.C., the following day. All are welcome at the prayer service. As usual, the Bishop will be among the many in our Diocesan Church participating in the March for Life. He will travel to Washington with a group of students from Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy in Boalsburg. 
Praying HandsEcumenical Services 

Two annual ecumenical services are planned for the coming weeks. The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, the Allegheny Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the American Carpatho Russian Orthodox Diocese sponsor two ecumenical prayer services for Christian unity. The first service will be held on January 26 at 3:00 p.m. at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church in Martinsburg. The second will be held on February 9 at 3:00 p.m. at Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in Johnstown. All are welcome.

Redneck Olympics 
A unique fundraiser benefiting Catholic Charities was held earlier this month. The Redneck Olympics took place on January 4 at The Barn in Dysart. The event was the brainchild of Lynn Holtz, a member of Saint Augustine Parish in St. Augustine. She and her husband, Roy, own The Barn, a facility for youth activities, and wanted to do something to help Catholic Charities. Games included basketball, volleyball, ping-pong, corn hole, and toilet seat toss. Various three-on-three teams competed for prizes. The event raised almost $4,000 for Catholic Charities. [Photo: Catholic Charities Executive Director Jean Johnstone participates in the toilet seat toss at the Redneck Olympics.]

Prayers for Vocations

All are invited to the Prince Gallitzin Chapel House in Loretto every Thursday night for an hour of prayers for vocations. Father Matthew Reese, the Diocesan Director of Vocations, celebrates Mass at 6:00 p.m. followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 7:00 p.m. The Prince Gallitzin Chapel House is located at 357 St. Mary Street, next to the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel and the Our Lady of the Alleghenies Shrine.

Diocese to Host Speaker/Author Matthew Kelly
Internationally-acclaimed speaker and author Matthew Kelly is coming to the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown on September 27, 2014. Sponsored by the Parish Life Office of the Diocese, the event will be held at Saint Francis University in Loretto. The theme for the one-day retreat will be "Living your Catholic Faith Every Day with Purpose and Passion." For more information, please visit the Diocesan website at www.dioceseaj.org.
Flight of the BeetleMystery Novel to Benefit Catholic Charities
Bishop-Emeritus Joseph V. Adamec has authored a mystery novel titled "Flight of the Beetle." It is based on one of the nine dinner mysteries he wrote and produced over the years. The book has 295 pages with a hard cover and is suitable reading for all ages. The plot revolves around a missing brooch, an heirloom of the Tahftnut family. Suspicions and accusations abound, until young Joey Cervik solves the mystery with a surprise ending. The Bishop is generously donating all proceeds from the sale of the books to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Each book is $24.75 plus $3.00 for postage. To order a copy, please contact the Altoona office of Catholic Charities at (814) 944-9388.
CrucifixPrayer to Saint Michael

Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. 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