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| An E-Newsletter from the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
October 2014 | Volume VI Number 10 |
 WelcomeWelcome to the October edition of E-vangelist, a monthly E-Newsletter from the Communications Office of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. The splendor of fall is evident once again in the Allegheny Mountains. As usual during this time of year, Bishop Mark and the staff of the Diocesan Administration Center are engaged in many pastoral events. You can read more about some of the happenings in this edition of E-vangelist. Please pray for the continued success of ministry in the Catholic Church both here in Altoona-Johnstown and around the world. May God bless you and your family during these wonderful autumn days and always. |
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 The latest Diocesan news and information is in The Catholic Register. The next edition will be published on the November 3, 2014, and past editions are available at www.dioceseaj.org. |
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Bishop Mark Bartchak's upcoming Guests on Keeping the Faith, a weekly segment on Proclaim!:
- October 26 -- Amy Kanich of the Diocesan Family Life Office and Deacon Larry Sutton from Saint Vincent Seminary will preview a special conference for the faith formation of children with special needs.
- November 2 -- Tom Baker, a member of Saint Michael Parish in Hollidaysburg, discusses his ministry in the parish.
- November 9 -- Melissa Kreutzberger of Catholic Charities talks about the status of the agency's new shelter in Johnstown.
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.
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Watch "Answering the Call" every Sunday at 9:00 p.m. on the Altoona Public Access Channel 14 in the Central Blair County area.
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 Partners in Faith Formation
The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown will offer conferences focusing on the faith formation of children with special needs. Directors of Religious Education, catechists, parents, and clergy are invited to one of two workshops that will offer insights needed to build an effective faith formation program for children with ASD, IDD and other disabilities. Deacon Larry Sutton, Ph.D., a psychologist and author from Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, will be the keynote presenter. The conferences are on November 7 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and November 8 from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. You can attend either session. Both will be held at Our Lady of the Alleghenies Parish in Lilly. The cost is $5 per adult. The registration deadline is October 31. Contact the Diocesan Family Life Office in Lilly to register or for more information. There is also information on our Diocesan website at www.dioceseaj.org. All are invited to a Mass for intellectually disabled persons, their family, and friends on November 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Alleghenies. Bishop Mark will be the celebrant and homilist.
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 Knights of Columbus Mass
A special salute to the Knights of Columbus in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Bishop Mark celebrated his annual Mass honoring the Knights on October 12 at the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel in Loretto. The Bishop is a member of the Knights of Columbus. Following Mass, a dinner was held at Our Lady of Loretto Community Hall next to the Basilica. Congratulations to the Knights of Columbus for their outstanding work in the Diocese. |
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 Patriotic Rosary
Plans are underway for a new tradition celebrating God and Country. The third annual Patriotic Rosary will be prayed on October 25 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. Sponsored by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Bishop Mark will preside and elected officials will participate. All are invited to join in this prayer for America and the wisdom of its leaders.
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 SHYCON 2014
The annual Senior High Youth Conference - or SHYCON - will be held on October 26 at Saint Francis University in Loretto. Sponsored by the Diocesan Office of Youth Ministry, students in grades 9-12 have registered to participate. The day will include keynote addresses by nationally-recognized speaker Steve Angrisano, fun and games, and Mass celebrated by Bishop Mark. |
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 LHCS Expansion
More exciting news for Catholic education in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Lock Haven Catholic School is expanding. The school added a seventh grade this academic year, and next year, it will add an eighth grade. The school plans to construct a new building to house those two additional classrooms as well as a new cafeteria and gymnasium. Bishop Mark traveled to Lock Haven on October 9 to celebrate Mass with the school community and take part in the ceremonial groundbreaking. The new building is expected to be complete by the start of next school year, if not sooner.
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 Election 2014 Election day is on November 4. Voters will decide races for Governor, United States Congress, and the Pennsylvania Legislature. The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference invited both candidates for Pennsylvania governor to share their views on issues important to Catholic voters. The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown sent PCC questionnaires to candidates for U.S. Congress and the Pennsylvania Legislature. The results are posted on the Diocesan website at www.dioceseaj.org. |
 Theology on TapHe is capturing the hearts and minds of Catholics around the world. In honor of Pope Francis, the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is sponsoring a Theology on Tap series focusing on the Holy Father. Theology on Tap is a casual speaker/discussion series for young adults ages 18-39. The dates, topics, and speakers are:
November 3
Pope Francis and the New Evangelization
Bishop Mark Bartchak
November 10
The Pope's Message and the Media: The Real Story
Sister Mary Joseph Calore, SSCJ, Provincial Secretary/Vocations Director
November 17
Pope for the Poor: Teaching Us to Serve the Least Among Us
Paul Girardi, Saint Francis University Campus Minister
November 24
The Crime of Gossip: Why Pope Francis Says Gossip is a Killer
Father Brian Warchola, Parochial Vicar at Holy Name Parish in Ebensburg
All sessions begin at 7:00 p.m. at Zach's in Altoona (enter through Joe's Bar). Complimentary appetizers are served. For more information, call Tony DeGol or Father David Rizzo at 695-5579.
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Prayer for Vocations
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 and 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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