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| An E-Newsletter from the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
July 2015
| Volume VII Number 7 |
 Welcome!
Welcome to the July edition of E-vangelist, a monthly E-Newsletter from the Communications Office of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. As we continue to enjoy the blessings of this summer season, we are in the midst of a series of special outdoor Masses at the Our Lady of the Alleghenies Shrine in Loretto. Read more in this edition of E-vangelist. Our Diocesan youth summer camps are also in full swing. Please keep the campers, counselors, and adult staff in your prayers. May the Lord bless us as we celebrate these summer days and rest before the busy fall season.
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Coming up in the
July 27 , 2015, edition of The Catholic Register:
- Coverage of Bishop Mark's outdoor Mass for vocations.
- The Diocese of Greensburg welcomes a new Bishop.
- In his column, "Another Perspective," Monsignor Tim Stein talks about his "accidental retreat."
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Bishop Mark Bartchak's upcoming Guests on Keeping the Faith, a weekly segment on Proclaim!:
July 26 -- In preparation for his annual outdoor Mass for married couples, Bishop Mark welcomes Philip and Nancy Arnone, members of Saint Patrick Parish in Johnstown, who are celebrating 60 years of marriage.
August 2 -- Father Carl Spishak, Senior Priest of the Diocese, and Raymond Seymour, a parishioner at the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel in Loretto, discuss their recent trip to Cuba.
August 9 -- In preparation for his outdoor Mass for college students, Bishop Mark welcomes Nik Suckinos, a 2015 graduate of Bishop Carroll Catholic High School and member of Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Cresson.
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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Vocations Mass 
The Diocese has announced more encouraging news regarding vocations. Bishop Mark celebrated the annual outdoor Mass for vocations on July 19 at the Our Lady of the Alleghenies Shrine in Loretto. The Liturgy concluded a day of discernment for men considering a priestly vocation. During the Mass, Father Matthew Reese, Vocations Director, announced that two more men have been accepted for seminary studies for the Diocese this fall. They will join four other men currently in formation for the Diocesan Priesthood. During his homily at the outdoor Mass, Bishop Mark said he continues to speak to many men who are considering a vocation. He urged the faithful to encourage and support men discerning for the Priesthood and to continue praying for an increase in vocations in Altoona-Johnstown. [Photo: Father Matthew Reese poses with three Diocesan seminarians present for the Bishop's outdoor Mass for vocations. Pictured (left to right) are: Michael Pleva, a member of Holy Rosary Parish in Altoona, attending Saint Mark's College Seminary in Erie; Peter Crowe of Our Lady of Victory Parish in State College and seminarian at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe; Father Reese; and Austin Keith, a member of Saint Benedict Parish in Johnstown, attending Saint Vincent Seminary. Seminarian Jonathan Dickson of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Altoona and Saint Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, was unable to attend the Mass because he was on retreat.]
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 Seminarians to be Admitted to Candidacy
Seminarian Peter Crowe (top left) will be admitted to Candidacy for the Sacrament of Holy Orders at his home parish of Our Lady of Victory in State College during a Mass on July 25 at 4:00 p.m. Seminarian Jonathan Dickson (bottom left) will be admitted to Candidacy at his home parish of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Altoona during a Mass on August 2 at 10:30 a.m. Admission to Candidacy is the third formal step a seminarian takes in his preparation for Ordination as a Priest. Both  Peter and Jonathan have taken the earlier steps of being formally installed as Lector and Acolyte at their respective seminaries. After Candidacy, the next step for Peter and Jonathan is Ordination as a Transitional Deacon, which, for our Diocese, will take place in the summer between the 3rd year and 4th year of Theology studies. Both Peter and Jonathan will be entering their 3rd year of Theology studies this upcoming academic year.
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 Mass for Married Couples Bishop Mark will celebrate the annual outdoor Mass for married couples on August 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Our Lady of the Alleghenies Shrine in Loretto. During the Mass, married couples will have the opportunity to renew their marriage vows as a group. All are invited to this Liturgy to pray with couples and show support for marriage. Bring your own lawn chair. If it is raining, Mass will be celebrated inside the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel. |
 Mass for College Students
Students entering or returning to college in the fall and their families are invited to the Bishop's annual outdoor Mass for college students on August 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the Our Lady of the Alleghenies Shrine in Loretto. The Bishop will offer a special blessing to the students. Bring your own lawn chair. If it is raining, the Liturgy will be celebrated inside the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel. [Photo: Bishop Mark blesses college students gathered at a past Mass.] |
 Faith Day 2015
Despite a little rainy weather, the annual Diocesan Faith Day was held on June 28 at DelGrosso's Amusement Park in Tipton. Bishop Mark celebrated Mass on the park stage. Bishop-Emeritus Joseph V. Adamec and priests of the Diocese con-celebrated. After Mass, the faithful enjoyed a picnic supper. [Photo: Bishop Mark, Bishop Joseph, and priests gather for the entrance procession at Mass at DelGrosso's Amusement Park.]
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 Anniversary Liturgies
Bishop Mark and the Family Life Office of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown invite couples marking their first, 5th,10th, 25th, 40th, 50th, 55th, and 60th+ wedding anniversary this calendar year to attend either of the annual Wedding Anniversary Liturgies. Couples and their families may attend September 13 at 2:00 p.m. at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown or September 20 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. Couples must make reservations through their parish. The deadline is August 25. [Photo: Bishop Mark poses with Jim and Fran Logrando of Saint Mary Parish in Hollidaysburg at one of the Wedding Anniversary Liturgies in 2014.] |
 Prayers for Vocations
All are invited to pray for vocations every Thursday evening at the Prince Gallitzin Chapel House, 357 St. Mary's Street, Loretto. Beginning on August 6, Father Matthew Reese, Vocations Director, will celebrate Mass at 6:00 p.m. followed by an hour of Adoration and a vocations Rosary. Benediction will be at 7:30 p.m. |
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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.
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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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