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| An E-Newsletter from the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
March 2016
| Volume VIII Number 3 |
 Blessed Holy Week/Triduum
Welcome to the March edition of E-vangelist, a monthly E-Newsletter from the Communications Office of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. During this painful time in our Diocese, we continue to remember all those who have suffered harm in our Church. May God grant them healing and peace. As we commemorate the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ in these upcoming days, we pray for renewal. May we always be mindful of the Lord's infinite love and mercy.
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Coming up in the
March 21, 2016, edition of The Catholic Register:
- Reporter Bruce Tomaselli spotlights a special project at Saint Peter Parish in Somerset.
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Bishop Mark Bartchak's upcoming Guests on Keeping the Faith, a weekly segment on Proclaim!:
March 20 -- On this Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Father Tony Legarski, Pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Hollidaysburg, discusses the Corporal Work of Mercy of Burying the Dead.
March 27 -- On this Easter Sunday, a teacher and students from Saint Peter School in Somerset discuss the glory of Easter and the special things the school is doing to celebrate the Year of Mercy.
Proclaim! airs every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on WATM ABC 23 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 WATM 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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Bishop's Easter Message 
Bishop Mark is calling for us all to pray and work together during this Easter season and beyond so that the face of God's mercy can be seen everywhere.
In Easter his message, Bishop Mark said, "In Jesus the Risen Christ, God gave us a face that we could look upon and live. The face of Christ is seen especially at the Easter liturgy in the faces of those who are receiving the Easter sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist. And those faces are full of smiles!"
The Bishop goes on to say, "God challenges us to pay attention to the faces of every person, including the poor, the rejected, neglected, abused, and forgotten. As Pope Francis reminds us in this Year of Mercy, the face of God is seen most especially in them."
Click here to read Bishop Mark's entire Easter, 2016, message.
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 Bishop's Holy Week Schedule
Holy Week - the most solemn week on the Church calendar - is upon us. Liturgical celebrations are scheduled at parishes throughout the Diocese, and Bishop Mark will carry out his usual Holy Week schedule.
On Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, the Bishop will celebrate Mass at 11:00 a.m. at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown. The Mass will be broadcast live for 90 minutes on WATM ABC 23.
On Monday, Bishop Mark will celebrate the Chrism Mass at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. The Chrism Mass is a Diocesan-wide celebration during which the Bishop blesses the oils that parishes throughout the Diocese will use in the coming year.
On Holy Thursday, Bishop Mark will celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper at 6:00 p.m. at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown.
The Bishop returns to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona on Good Friday for morning prayer at 9:00 a.m., the Celebration of the Lord's Passion at Noon, and Tenebrae at 7:30 p.m.
On Holy Saturday, the Bishop will preside at the Office of Readings at 9:00 a.m., and he will celebrate the Easter Vigil at 8:30 p.m., both at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona.
The Bishop returns to Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown on Easter Sunday for the 11:00 a.m. Mass of the Lord's Resurrection, broadcast live for 90 minutes on WATM ABC 23.
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 Year of Mercy
As we continue to celebrate a Year of Mercy in the Catholic Church, all parishes, Catholic schools, religious education programs, and college campus ministry programs are invited to sponsor a weekend of service April 22 through the 24. Groups can choose projects to help benefit their local community.
During Lent, the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown placed special emphasis on the Corporal Works of Mercy. Throughout the Easter season and beyond, the Diocese will highlight the Spiritual Works of Mercy. A series of morning or evening reflections are scheduled throughout our Diocese in the coming weeks. The first one is Tuesday, April 12 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Saint Mark Parish in Altoona. Another one is scheduled on April 19 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity Parish in Huntingdon. On Saturday, April 30, Saint Benedict Parish in Carrolltown will host a gathering from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. The series will continue at other parishes throughout the Year of Mercy.
Also, in observance of the Year of Mercy, Bishop Mark will preside at a series of Holy Hours to pray for individuals who are not engaged in the Church. The first one is scheduled for May 12 at 6:00 p.m. at Saint Clement Parish in Johnstown. Click here for more on the Diocese's Year of Mercy observances.
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Prince Gallitzin Cross 
The Diocese is accepting nominations for the annual Prince Gallitzin Cross. The award recognizes individuals who exhibit the "evangelizing spirit" of the Prince-Priest and Servant of God Demetrius Gallitzin. The awards banquet will be held on June 4. Nominations are due by April 15. Click here for criteria and a nomination form.
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 Prayer for Lent
O God, bless us during this season of spiritual renewal. Fill our minds and hearts with love, that we may be a sign of Jesus to all those living in our midst. 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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