March 11, 2013 - Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

The Catholic 

Register 

Official Publication Of 

The Diocese of Altoona - Johnstown 

Volume LXXXVII, No. 22 Published Bi - Weekly (USPS 094 - 280) www.dioceseaj.org March 11, 2013 

CHORAL PRAISE: The chorus from Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School, Altoona, sings “A Believer’s Prayer” during a Thursday, 

February 28 Mass of Thanksgiving for the Ministry of Pope Benedict XVI. 

Diocese Gives Thanks For Pontificate 

Of Pope Benedict XVI 

Photos And Text 

By Bruce A. Tomaselli 

As he stood before an overflow 

crowd of people at the Altoona 

cathedral, Bishop Mark 

L. Bartchak gazed down at the 

shiny gold cross resting upon his 

chest. 

He grasp the cross and 

slowly raised it for all to see. 

He fondly recalled when he received 

it from Pope Benedict 

XVI himself. 

“This is a special treasure 

for me on a special day,” he 

said. The importance of the gift 

became even more meaningful 

as Pope Benedict was departing 

to his retirement retreat at Castel 

Gandolfo at the same time Bishop 

Mark referred to the cross. 

“Pope Benedict gave me 

this pectoral cross. On it is his 

coat of arms,” he said, smiling 

warmly in remembrance of the 

happy occasion. 

Bishop Mark related the 

story at a special Mass of 

Thanksgiving for the Pontificate 

of Pope Benedict XVI, held 

Thursday, February 28 at the 

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament 

in Altoona. 

Pope Benedict XVI officially 

resigned the Pontificate at 

8:00 p.m. Rome Time, February 

28. He became the first Pope to 

resign in nearly 600 years. The 

86 - year old will be known as 

His Holiness Benedict XVI, the 

Pope Emeritus, or Roman Pontiff 

Emeritus. 

The Mass was held in 

thanksgiving for Pope Benedict 

XVI and his accomplishments 

as leader of the Roman Catholic 

Church. It also called on the 

guidance of The Holy Spirit as 

the College of Cardinals gather 

in conclave to elect a new successor 

to the Chair of Peter. 

The Cathedral of the 

Blessed Sacrament was overflowing 

with students and others 

from around the Diocese who 

came to give thanks for the ministry 

of Pope Benedict. 

“I was so happy to see well 

over 1,000 people come to celebrate 

the service of Pope Benedict 

XVI to our Church,” said 

Tony DeGol, secretary for Communications 

for the Altoona- 

Johnstown Diocese. 

“This was certainly an historic 

occasion, and it was appropriate 

for Catholics from all 

over the Diocese to gather in 

prayer. It was particularly nice 

to see such active participation 

from the children in our Catholic 

schools.” 

(Continued On Page 10.)

Page 2 The Catholic Register, March 11, 2013 

Catholic Charities 

Receives Grant 

Johnstown: Jean Johnstone, 

director of Catholic Charities 

of the Diocese of Altoona- 

Johnstown, has announced that 

the agency is the recipient of a 

$8,250 grant from the Community 

Foundation for the Alleghenies. 

The grant was made possible 

through the Benjamin Bosler 

Fund and the Ray DiBattista 

Charitable Fund within the 

Community Foundation according 

to Mike Kane, executive director 

of the Foundation. 

The grant will be divided 

between the Johnstown Office 

($5,250 for residents of Cambria 

County) and the Altoona Office 

($3,000 for the residents of Bedford 

County). 

The funds will be used for 

individual and family grants to 

directly pay fuel and utility vendors 

for an emergency delivery 

(Continued From Page 10.) 

String Ensemble 

Friedens: The Igou Family 

String Ensemble has scheduled a 

series of Christmas Concerts, 

“Come, Let Us Adore Him,” at 

churches in the Altoona - 

religious education students and 

teachers, and many members of the 

parish, the boxes were decorated 

and filled with small toys, hygienic 

items and school supplies. The 

children also sent the recipients 

On Sunday, December 20 at 

7:00 p.m., the two choirs, along 

with the Cathedral Youth Choir, 

will present the annual Advent of 

Christmas Concert at the Cathedral, Johnstown Diocese. 

their pictures, Christmas cards and may be dropped off in the play pen 

LAST accompanied SUPPER by orchestra, DRAMA: and featuring 

The Last Supper The concert Drama schedule will be includes: performed prayers. at 8:00 The p.m. boxes on Monday, were sent March via 25 in at the Our foyer lady of of Saint Lourdes Rose of Church, Lima 

Part Broad I of Avenue, Handel’s Altoona. “Messiah.” The December event features 14, 7:00 an p.m., adult Saint cast An- 

from Samaritan’s Saint Mary Purse and Saint to needy Michael childrenParishes Church, in Hollidaysburg, 5519 Sixth Avenue and Saint until 

2716, 

Patrick The Parish choirs in will Newry. be under The the drama drew is one Church, hour Johnstown; and is free of December 

charge. in Pictured 130 countries. are (left to right) Tim Sullivan (Nathaniel), John McIntyre 

15, 6:00 Greg p.m., Sweeney Most Holy (Peter), Trin- 

Bob Muldoon The Altar (seated, and Rosary Judas), Society Randy Patterson (John), Greg Scallen 

(James direction the of Lesser), Nicholas Tim Will, Gildea cathedral 

(Andrew), 

music Jim director, Yeager (James), and James Dave Madden ity Church, (seated, South Fork; Matthew), December Steve Gildea is sponsoring (Thomas), its tenth Erik annual Brown col- 

(Philip), Tim Casher (Thaddaeus) and 

(Jesus), 

Stu Dengler, Sibold organist (Simon and the choirmaster Zealot). Not 19, pictured 6:30 p.m., are Rick Saint Centar Matthew (narrator lection and technician), for Birthright, Andy and the Blazewicz, Confirmation 

Jeff Stephens and Dave Schrift 

(technicians) at Saint Luke’s. and Bill Padamonsky Church, (associate Tyrone; director). December 20, 

class has held its six- 

A free - will offering will be 2:00 p.m., Resurrection Church, teenth annual food drive. The parish 

is also helping local Catholic 

of accepted fuel oil at to both homes events. with families Johnstown; the Student Accounting December 27, Society 3:00 

experiencing a current financial p.m., (SAS) Cathedral have received of the Blessed training Sacrament, 

a Pittsburgh-based Altoona; and IRS January repre- 

3, 

by Mutual Aid Plan Trust 

crisis, Annual less Concert than two weeks of 

fuel Hollidaysburg: 

oil left, and the inability Saint to 2010, sentative. 3:00 Student p.m., Queen VITA of volunteers 

have Patton. set up shop in Aca- 

Peace Notes Milestones 

pay Michael for the the fuel Archangel delivery/utility. Parish will Church, 

present its third annual Advent/ demic Hall and the program will 

Community 

Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 

20 at 7:00 p.m. 

of area residents until April 17th. 

be available to a limited number 

Tax The Preparation program will Help feature the Parishes Residents must qualify to 

Children’s Choir directed by Sandy use the IRS’s VITA program. 

Harteis, Cresson: the Contemporary Area residents Choir 

Charitable VITA is geared Outreach for low to moderate 

Coupon: income On families Sunday, with Novem- 

in- 

seeking directed by help Julie with Hanlon, their tax and returns 

Parish can Concert get an Band assist and this Adult year ber comes 22, of members $50,000 of and Saint below. Joseph 

the 

from Choir Mount directed Aloysius by Tom Kunkle. College’s Parish delivered 100 decorated shoe 

Volunteer Following Income the concert, Tax refreshments 

(VITA) will be served program. in the VITA Social is Child. (Continued With the On combined Page 3.) efforts 

Assistance 

boxes to Operation Christmas 

now Hall. in its fourth year at Mount of the Altar and Rosary Society, the 

Aloysius College. Members of 

800-446-5377 

We Make Fundraising And Festivals Easy! 

Here Is A Sampling Of What We Have To Offer: 

*Chicken 

*Charcoal 

*Hams 

*Rolls 

*Pit BBQ Racks 

*Turkeys 

*Deli Meats & Cheeses 

*Side Dishes 

And So Much More! 

call For Details 

school children collect bottle caps 

and soda tabs which are redeemed 

to help with the cost of dialysis 

treatment, chemotherapy, and the 

training of service dogs. 

The Mutual Aid Plan Trust 

of the Diocese of Altoona – 

Johnstown has achieved some 

notable milestones, as reported 

in the Trust’s January 7, 2013 

newsletter. 

On April 17, 2012, all the 

assets of what was formerly 

known as the Mutal Aid Plan 

(MAP) were placed into a legal 

Trust, changing the name to the 

Mutual Aid Plan Trust (MAPT) 

and thereby separating the assets 

of each depositor from the assets 

of the Diocese. 

On June 29, 2012, the 

MAPT opened up a line of credit 

with First National Bank of 

Pennsylvania for $8 million, to 

increase Prescriptions 

its capacity for loans to 

parishes and schools. 

From 2008 to 2012, a series 

of loans to our four high schools 

have given them the finances 

for a solid start as independent 

schools. Hallmark These loans Cards included: 

start-up capital for 3 schools in 

2008; Aquinas 

& 

Hall as a Bishop 

Carroll dorm Gifts for foreign students 

in 2009; Bach Wellness 

Center at Bishop McCort in 

2010; and start-up capital for a 

new school, Letrent's St. Joseph Academy 

in Boalsburg, in 2011 and 2012. 

As Pharmacy 

of today, the MAPT has 

Bedford, PA 

$24 million in assets, including 

$7.8 million in loans to 38 borrowers. 

No loans are delinquent. 

The Catholic Register, Monday, 

Pro - Life Activity 

Altoona: The Pro - Life Committee 

of Saint Rose of Lima Parish 

is holding its annual collection 

of baby items this week. 

New or gently - used items 

The Mutual Aid Plan Trust 

(MAPT) is a deposit-and-loan 

fund operated by the Diocese 

of Altoona-Johnstown, for the 

exclusive benefit of its parishes, 

schools and agencies. It has two 

major commitments: protect the 

assets of its depositors, and keep 

funds available for low interest 

loans when needed. 

Cash reserves are deposited 

in the MAPT in exchange 

for competitive interest rates, 

usually better than commercial 

bank rates. Through conservative 

investment policies, these 

funds are protected from market 

bubbles and bank failures. 

Loans are available at low rates 

for building improvements or 

new construction. 

Bishop Howard Carroll 

created the Mutual Aid Plan in 

1957. Significant growth occurred 

in 1988 when Bishop 

Joseph Adamec adopted the 

mandatory practice of parishes 

placing excess cash and investment 

reserves into the MAP. In 

1995, Bishop Adamec formed 

the MAP Advisory Council to 

promote and enhance the accountability 

of the fund. On 

September 1, 1999, the MAP 

paid an extra dividend of $1.2 

million to its depositors as a way 

of sharing its excellent investment 

returns.

In The Alleghenies 

Pontifical Schedule 


Mount Aloysius College 

The Catholic Register, Monday, December 7, 2009 Page 15 

For Holy Week 2013 

volunteers are accounting majors 

the month, and Benediction MBA grad of students the Most 

s 

The session will be conducted 

by Carmelite of the Word Sister who Blessed have Sacrament earned IRS is given certification 

public during chapel intensive at Carmel, training followed at 

in the 

Linda LaMagna. 

The Most Reverend “Christmas is that time of the the by veneration college. of the relic of Saint 

Mark L. Bartchak year that seems to stir the heart to Therese. In addition to free tax return 

want to go to church,” said Sister preparation assistance, Mount 

Bishop of Altoona Linda. - Johnstown 

“Perhaps it’s the Christmas Aloysius College, like most 

Celebrant and carols, Presider the memories of Midnight VITA sites 

Pope 

also offers 

Says 

free electronic 

Mass, the special decorations, or 

Count 

filing (e-filing). 

Your 

Individuals 

taking advantage of the e-file 

family time together in church. 

Passion (Palm) Sunday “I like to think that it is the program Advent should Blessings 

receive refunds 

mystery of God becoming man, 

March 24 - 11:00 a.m. 

in half the time compared to paper 

returns – even faster when 

Emmanuel, God still with us, the 

Blessing of Palm and Pontifical Mass 


baby in the manger, the Messiah, tax refunds are deposited directly 

into The a bank new staff account. with a cross on 

Saint John Gualbert our Savior, Cathedral, our redemption, the 

Johnstown shepherds, the kings, the Holy 

top is Anyone a gift from who a qualifies Rome-based and 

Family. These seem to stir our soul who Catholic wishes fraternal to use organization; the Mount it 

- - our faith and belief - - to want to 

Chrism Mass 

Aloysius is 6 feet College’s tall and weighs VITA program 

should treat the service 

5.5 

find our way back to the church that 

Monday, March 25 - 11:00 a.m. 

pounds. The paschal lamb, a symbol 

differently of the risen than Christ, if they is in were the 

has always been a sacred part of no 

Cathedral of the Blessed our lives,” Sacrament, she explained. “Even going center of to the an front accountant. of the cross Items and 

Altoona when one leaves the Church, the needed the four to Gospel complete writers their — return Matthew, 

include: Mark, Luke proof and of John identifica- 

— are 

heart always seems to desire its 

may 

place inside the church doors, 

Holy Thursday 

tion; represented Social on Security its four points. Cards for 

rather than outside them.” 

you, your spouse and dependents 

P from and/or the first a letters Social of Security Christ’s 

March 28 - 6:00 p.m. 

The Chi Rho — the X and the 

For more information contact 

Evening Mass of the Sister Lord’s Linda Supper at (814) 944 - 3922 

Number name in Greek verification — are in letter the center issued 

of the by back the of Social the cross Security and the four Ad- 

holic High School Saint John Altoona Gualbert (daytime) 

were Cathedral. or (814) 942 - 5747 (evenings). 

ishop Joseph V. Adamec, during Johnstown the 

ministration; points feature doctors Individual of the Taxpayer 

from Identification the West and Number the East: (ITIN) Sts. 

church 

mmissioned are Lisa Balasco, John 

ondrin, Kathryn Consiglio, Katelyn Prayer 

assignment Augustine and letter Ambrose for you, and your Sts. 

Good Friday 

el, Kara Hughes, Amanda Johnson, 

spouse Athanasius and and dependents; John Chrysostom. Proof of 

y Klobuka, Allison Kristofco, March Alexis 29 Infant Jesus Novena foreign A ring around status, the if applying base of the for cross an 

y. 

Morning Prayer - 9:00 Loretto: a.m. The Discalced Carmelite 

Passion Nuns announce - 12:00 their p.m. annual spouse name. and dependents on the 

ITIN; is inscribed birth with dates Pope for Benedict’s you, your 

Celebration of the Lord’s 

(Continued Tenebrae From Page 11.) private novena in honor of the Infant 

Jesus in preparation for the statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 

Service - 7:30 p.m. 

tax return; Wage and earning 

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 

Taking a little time each 

Items that are needed include: solemn feast of Christmas. 1099-R, from all employers; interest 

God’s and love dividend reminds statements people 

Altoona 

day to recognize signs of 

clothing for up to two - years - of - The novena will begin at the 

age, hats, gloves, socks, winter Carmelite Monastery chapel on from banks (Forms 1099); a 

coats, snowsuits, cribs Holy with slats Saturday Wednesday, December 16 and end 

that “God is here; he has 

copy of last year’s federal and 

that are no more than 2 - 1/4” March apart on Thursday, December 24, Christmas 

Eve. 

world; he has not left us 

not withdrawn from the 

30 

state returns if available; proof 

to comply with current safety 

of bank account routing numbers 

Office of Readings - 9:00 a.m. 

reulations, crib mattresses, receiving 

blankets, crib The sheets, Easter diapers, Vigil novena - 8:00 honoring p.m. Our Lady of 

The regular monthly private and 

alone,” 

account 

the 

numbers 

Pope said. 

for direct 

wipes, diaper Cathedral rash creams of and the ointments, 

baby food and formula. Altoona 

Blessed Mount Sacrament. 

Carmel and Saint Therese 

will take place at the same time. All 

intentions will be remembered in FRAUNDORFER 

Returning Catholics 

the special novena prayers offered 

Easter Sunday 

CHIROPRACTIC 

Altoona: The diocesan Parish 

Life Office is sponsoring March a 31 ses- 

- 11:00 Those a.m. desiring to share in the CENTER 

following the daily mass. 

sion “Returning Mass To of Your Our Catholic Lord’s graces Resurrection 

and blessings of these nine 

Faith For Christmas” Saint John on Thursday, days of prayer are requested to send 

Gualbert Cathedral, 

Decmeber 10 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. their petitions to Mother Prioress, Hours Daily 

Johnstown 

at Sacred Heart Formation Center, Carmelite Monastery, P.O. Box 57, 

2507 Broad Ave. 

located on 6th Avenue between Loretto PA 15940. 

20th and 21st Streets. 

Every Sunday afternoon at 944-0404 

4:00 p.m. and every First Friday of 

The Catholic Register, March 11, 2013 Page 3 

deposit, such as a blank check; 

total paid for daycare providers 

and the daycare provider’s tax 

identifying number (the provider’s 

Social Security Number 

or the provider’s business Employer 

Identification Number). 

To file taxes electronically on a 

married-filing-joint tax return, 

both spouses must be present to 

sign the required forms. 

Area residents in need 

of assistance with their taxes 

should call (814) 886-6399. 

Callers should leave their name 

and number. A Mount Aloysius 

College VITA volunteer will 

contact callers promptly. Once 

scheduled, VITA clients should 

report to Mount Aloysius College, 

Cresson, PA., Academic 

Hall, room 211. 

Prayer 

Night Of Worship 

Loretto: Campus Ministry 

at Saint Francis University will 

hold its’ monthly Night of Worship 

on Friday, March 15 at 8:00 

p.m. in the Immaculate Conception 

Chapel on campus. All are 

welcome to attend. 

Life And Justice Retreat 

Loretto: “Vatican II: Why, 

What, Who Cares?” will be the 

theme of a Saturday, April 27 retreat 

sponsored by the Diocese’s 

Commission for Life and Justice 

to be held at Saint Francis University 

in Loretto. 

Presenting the retreat will 

be Father John Durbin, a Spangler 

native and pastor of Saint 

Jue and Saint Mary Parishes in 

Hampstead and Surf City NC. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



THE CATHOLIC 

REGISTER 

SERVING THE DIOCESE OF 

ALTOONA - JOHNSTOWN 

Published Bi - weekly at 

925 South Logan Boulevard 

Hollidaysburg PA 16648 

Phone (814) 695 - 7563 

FAX (814) 695 - 7517 

Subscriptions: $8.00 Parish Based 

$18.00 Individual 

Periodical Class Postage Paid At 

Altoona PA and other mailing offices. 

Postmaster send change of address to: 


(USPS 094 - 280) 

Member Publication Of 

The Catholic Press Association 

Publisher: 

Most Reverend Bishop 

Mark L. Bartchak 

Editor: 

Rev. Msgr. Timothy P. Stein 

Manager: 

Bruce A. Tomaselli 

Secretary: 

Frances M. Logrando 

Another 

Perspective 

By Monsignor Timothy P. Stein 

An Extraordinarily 

Ordinary Papal Transition 

Point Of View 

The whole world watched as 

Pope Benedict XVI retired from 

his papal ministry, and the world 

will continue watching as his 

successor begins his papal ministry. 

Endings and beginnings 

are part of everyone’s life, aren’t 

they? Perhaps it’s because we 

can relate to that experience that 

we have such interest in the stories 

from the Vatican right now. 

Thankfully, the whole world 

isn’t watching each of us as we 

navigate the endings and beginnings 

in our lives! Whether 

young or old, we have all encountered 

situations where we 

had to face endings— leaving 

a home, friends, or job behind, 

mourning the end of a dream 

which didn’t come true, graduating 

from school, or losing the 

assumption of good health. 

From every human experience 

of letting go, there is something 

we can learn about ourselves 

and about God. Endings 

invite us to honestly mourn what 

must be mourned and to thank 

God for the blessings given. Beginnings 

offer the opportunity to 

look for God in the new place. 

He IS there, waiting for us. 

Some call Pope Benedict’s 

voluntary retirement an act 

of humility. It’s also a sign of 

his accepting the reality of his 

growing limitations and an acknowledgement 

of the continuing 

needs of others. 

What happened to Benedict 

XVI in his old age also happens 

to many of us and to our family 

members. Abilities diminish, 

energy lessens. We just can’t do 

what we used to do, or we can’t 

do it as well or as quickly, or we 

know deep down that it’s time 

to pass the baton on to someone 

younger. 

Like a baby being born or 

a butterfly breaking out of its 

cocoon, letting go is a struggle. 

Ask any elderly person, for instance, 

who has had to give up 

driving how that experience 

changed them. Was there denial 

at first on their part? What 

did they have to come to terms 

with? How did they navigate 

that transition emotionally? We 

can wonder what kind of talks 

one has with God at times like 

this. 

With every ending comes a 

new beginning. Those are not 

always pleasant, chosen ones. 

A person moving into a nursing 

home isn’t usually thrilled to be 

there. It can take conscious effort 

and persistence to find the 

positive in a particular situation. 

What is better here than where I 

was before? What opportunities 

do I have here that I didn’t have 

at the previous place? How can I 

use each day here to accept and 

savor God’s love for me shown 

through the staff, family and 

friends? And how can I pass on 

God’s love to others in different 

ways than I did before? 

Transitions test us. Just like 

a toddler learning to let go of 

the couch to take those first few 

steps to the waiting arms of a 

The 

Bureau Drawer 

By Susan Stith 

Endings And Beginnings 

CNS Photo/Tony Gentile, Reuters 

parent, it is brand new territory. 

We fall; we pick ourselves up, 

we try again. There are always 

people to help if we look for 

them. God is that loving parent 

waiting with arms open, not 

only at the end of our lives but 

all the way through it. 

Our older friends and relatives 

have much wisdom to 

share from their experience of 

the letting go that old age entails, 

wisdom that could enrich 

the whole Church. Think about 

asking them to share it with you. 

Or if you are that person who 

has grown in faith and virtue as 

a result of letting go and moving 

on, share your treasure with us. 

We needed Pope Benedict’s example, 

and we need yours too! 

The ticking of a clock. 

The tolling of a bell. 

The closing of a door. 

As quietly as that, an era came to a close. 

And as quietly as that, a new era was born. 

With those simple, ordinary, every day occurrences, the 

papacy of Benedict XVI came to an end at 8:00 p,m. Roman 

time, 2:00 p.m. Eastern time in the United States of America, 

on Thursday, February 28, 2013. Someday, we will sit around 

reminiscing about where we where when that moment struck. 

It is a moment that will long be remembered, for it is one of the 

most important moments in the almost 2,000 year history of 

God’s one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. Like the moment 

on January 25, 1959 when Blessed Pope John XXIII announced 

to the world his intention to convene an Ecumenical 

Council, the moment of the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, 

now the Pope Emeritus, will be remembered as the moment 

when a new Pentecost took place. 

Let there be no doubt about it: the resignation of the Roman 

Pontiff, his voluntary renunciation of the Petrine Ministry, 

is something momentous. It is not without precedent, but 

the fact that the last Papal resignation took place 600 years 

ago underlines the fact of how out of the ordinary this event 

is. But conversely, the very “ordinariness” of the events surrounding 

this resignation, shows us how God chooses to act 

in our world: God intervenes quietly, unobtrusively, and when 

we least expect it. Our God is a God of surprises, and He can 

bring something even more surprising out of this unforeseen 

turn of events. 

The last papal transition came eight years ago with the 

death of Blessed Pope John Paul II. Those were dramatic 

days: the night – time vigil in Saint Peter’s Square with silent 

crowds gathering in prayer beneath the windows of the Pope’s 

apartment as he drew his last breath; the hundreds of thousands 

of pilgrims lining the streets of Rome for the chance to 

file past the Pope’s bier as he lay in state in Saint Peter’s Basilica; 

the funeral Mass at which the great and the good of the 

world rubbed shoulders with simple worshippers, as a gentle 

breeze rippled through the open pages of the book of Gospels 

on top of the departed Pope’s coffin. 

There was none of that high drama this time. An elderly 

man, grown frail under the weight of years stepped into a 

courtyard, drove off in a car, boarded a helicopter, and flew 

away into the late afternoon sky. He made his last appearance 

when he reached his journey’s end, and like a good father 

said “Good night and God bless you.” And then he was 

gone. The clock ticked down the minutes. The bell tolled, and 

the door was shut. It was all over. And it all began again. 

In such quiet ways, God does His work in the world. His 

work will go on, for His work is bigger than any of the servants 

who do His bidding. Now we wait, we watch, we hope, we 

pray. The clock will continue to tick, the bells will ring again, 

and the doors will open once more. A new Pope will emerge, 

and God’s Holy Church will go on.


Bishop Mark’s Homily At The Mass Of Thanksgiving 

For The Pontificate Of Pope Benedict XVI 

A famous actor was once 

the guest of honor at a social 

gathering where he received 

many requests to recite favorite 

excerpts from Shakespeare or 

verses from some of the great 

poets. 

On that occasion, one lady 

asked if he would recite the 

23rd Psalm. This famous actor 

agreed on the condition that 

when he was finished, the audience 

would allow one other person 

to recite the 23rd Psalm as 

well. 

So this actor with perfect 

pronunciation and projection 

of his booming voice began to 

say the words, “The Lord is my 

shepherd, there is nothing I shall 

want.” His recitation was dramatic 

and done without any flaw. 

The audience stood to applaud. 

This famous actor finally 

got the group to quiet down, and 

invited to the front an elderly 

priest. He was the retired pastor 

of the local parish. 

The priest began to speak in 

a soft voice which was obviously 

weak with age. His pronunciation 

was not perfect because English 

was not his first language. He 

was born and raised in a small 

village in Europe and he still had 

a fairly strong accent. 

When he finished, he quietly 

returned to his seat. There was 

no applause, but it was obvious 

that the audience was deeply 

moved by his recitation of the 

23rd Psalm. The famous actor 

who had proposed that this elderly 

priest be heard had a tear 

in his eyes. 

Someone asked the famous 

actor why did everyone applaud 

his recitation and cry when the 

priest spoke. The actor, who 

considered the elderly priest to 

be his spiritual father said, “The 

difference is, I know the words 

of the Psalm, but he knows the 

Shepherd.” 

The opening words of the 

23rd Psalm contain a simple 

profession of faith and an act of 

faith. The profession of faith is 

found in the acclamation, “The 

Lord is my shepherd.” 

Did you even notice that 

whenever we pray this 23rd 

Psalm, we pray it with a simple, 

but deep conviction that the Lord 

God is real? And there is a simple, 

but deep conviction that with 

the Lord God we want nothing 

because God is everything and 

means everything to us. 

Yesterday, in his final public 

address to all of us in the 

Church, Pope Benedict XVI reflected 

on his simple, but deep 

conviction that with the Lord God 

as our Shepherd, we want nothing 

because God is everything 

and means everything to us. 

And Pope Benedict reflected 

on this simple, but deep conviction 

with great joy and thanksgiving. 

This is what he said: 

“At this time, I have within 

myself a great trust in God, because 

I know – all of us know – 

that the Gospel’s word of truth is 

the strength of the Church: it is 

her life. 

“The Gospel purifies and renews. 

It bears fruit wherever the 

community of believers hears 

and welcomes the grace of God 

in truth and lives in charity. This 

is my faith, this is my joy.” 

Then, Pope Benedict expressed 

even more that he not 

only knows the Psalm but he 

knows the Shepherd and he 

wants us to know that we should 

know the Shepherd as well. He 

said, 

“We are in the Year of 

Faith, which I desired in order to 

strengthen our own faith in God 

in a context that seems to push 

faith more and more toward the 

margins of life. I would like to invite 

everyone to renew firm trust 

in the Lord. 

“I would like that we all entrust 

ourselves as children to the 

arms of God, and rest assured 

that those arms support us and 

us to walk every day, even in 

times of struggle. I would like everyone 

to feel loved by the God 

who gave His Son for us and 

showed us His boundless love. I 

want everyone to feel the joy of 

being Christian.” 

And finally he says, 

“In a beautiful prayer to be 

recited daily in the morning it 

says, ‘I adore you, my God, I love 

you with all my heart. I thank you 

for having created me, for having 

made me a Christian.’ 

“Yes, we are happy for the 

gift of faith: it is the most precious 

good that no one can take 

from us! Let us thank God for this 

every day, with prayer and with 

a coherent Christian life. God 

loves us, but He also expects 

that we love Him!” 

This desire of Pope Benedict 

that we “feel loved by the 

God who gave His Son for us 

and showed us His boundless 

love,” is the message that Jesus, 

the Good Shepherd shares 

with us in today’s Gospel reading; 

that we should remain in his 

love. And he reminds us that if 

we remain in his love, our joy will 

be complete. 

This is the message of 

Pope Benedict in his first encyclical 

letter, Deus caritas est 

(God is love), that he published 

on Christmas day, December 25, 

2005; the first year of his pontificate. 

In that letter he wrote: 

“Faith, hope and love go 

together. Faith tells us that God 

has given his Son for our sakes 

and gives us the victorious certainty 

that it is really true: God 

is love! It transforms our impatience 

and our doubts into the 

sure hope that God holds the 

world in his hands. 

Faith, which sees the love 

of God revealed in the pierced 

heart of Jesus on the Cross, 

gives rise to love. Love is the 

light—and in the end, the only 

light—that can always illuminate 

a world grown dim and give us 

the courage needed to keep living 

and working. Love is possible, 

and we are able to practice 

it because we are created in the 

image of God.” 

Pope Benedict knows the 

Shepherd as described by the 

Prophet Ezekiel who says in the 

first reading today, “Shepherds, 

hear the word of the Lord God,” 

who says, “I rescue the sheep 

from every place where it was 

cloudy and dark.” 

In his farewell address yesterday, 

Pope Benedict stated 

that he is full of gratitude for all 

those who pray for him as we do 

here today. He says: 

“I would like to offer heartfelt 

thanks to all the many people 

throughout the whole world, 

who, in recent weeks have sent 

me moving tokens of concern, 

friendship and prayer. Yes, the 

Pope is never alone: now I experience 

this [truth] again in a 

way so great as to touch my very 

heart. The Pope belongs to everyone, 

and so many people feel 

very close to him. 

“I receive many letters from 

ordinary people who write to me 

simply from their heart and let me 

feel their affection, which is born 

of our being together in Christ 

Jesus, in the Church. These 

people write to me as brothers 

and sisters, sons and daughters, 

with the sense of very affectionate 

family ties. 

“Here, one can touch what 

the Church is – not an organization, 

not an association for religious 

or humanitarian purposes, 

but a living body, a community of 

brothers and sisters in the Body 

of Jesus Christ, who unites us 

all. To experience the Church in 

this way and almost be able to 

touch with one’s hands the power 

of His truth and His love, is a 

source of joy, in a time in which 

many speak of its decline.” 

As an expression of gratitude, 

concern, affection and 

friendship, many of you, especially 

our young people, have 

written down thoughts and 

prayers for Pope Benedict. What 

a powerful witness and expression 

of the living body which is 

the Church in the Diocese of 

Altoona-Johnstown as those 

written messages were brought 

forward in procession. 

I hope you realize that as 

much as you and I appreciate 

Pope Benedict who has served 

faithfully as a Shepherd for the 

whole Church, he sees in your 

thoughts and prayers an opportunity 

for him to be able to touch 

the power of Christ’s truth and 

love. You are a source of joy for 

Pope Benedict! 

In his farewell message, 

Pope Benedict asks nothing 

more for himself, but instead he 

asks prayers for the Church and 

for whoever will succeed him 

as the next Pope. He asks our 

prayers for the Cardinals of the 

Church who will elect the successor 

to the chair of Peter. 

The written thoughts and 

prayers for these intentions remain 

here, but I have written to 

Apostolic Nuncio in Washington, 

and asked him to convey 

our gratitude and prayerful best 

wishes to Pope Benedict. 

But we should not forget 

that it is in this celebration of 

the Holy Eucharist that we offer 

praise and thanks to God for the 

gift of Benedict XVI who knows 

the words of the 23rd Psalm. 

But more important, he knows 

the Shepherd and Pope Benedict 

XVI has shown us the Good 

Shepherd, Jesus Christ, through 

his ministry these past eight 

years. 

Today’s Gospel reading 

comes from the final conversation 

that Jesus had with his 

disciples at the Last Supper. Jesus 

spoke of the difficult times 

that he was about to face in his 

passion and death, but he also 

spoke words of encouragement. 

Jesus said, “I no longer call 

you slaves, because a slave 

does not know what his master is 

doing. I call you friends because 

I have told you everything I have 

heard from my Father.” 

So, let’s close with what 

will be remembered as the last 

conversation Pope Benedict 

has with all us at the end of his 

ministry as the Shepherd of our 

Church. There is no sense of 

discouragement or sound of distress 

or regret as our Holy Father 

says to us: 

“Finally, Dear friends! God 

guides His Church, maintains 

her always, and especially in 

difficult times. Let us never lose 

this vision of faith, which is the 

only true vision of the way of the 

Church and the world. 

In our heart, in the heart of 

each of you, let there be always 

the joyous certainty that the Lord 

is near, that He does not abandon 

us, that He is near to us and 

that He surrounds us with His 

love. Thank you!” 

The famous actor received 

applause as he recited the 

words, “The Lord is my Shepherd. 

There is nothing I shall 

want.” But the people were more 

deeply moved by the elderly 

priest. The difference? The actor 

knew the Psalm, but the priest 

knew the Shepherd. 

• Thanks be to God for 

the gift of Jesus the Good Shepherd. 


the gift of the Church which Jesus 

founded upon Peter and the 

Apostles. 


Benedict XVI who has served as 

successor to Peter; 


Benedict XVI who loves the 

Church. 


Benedict XVI who knows the 

Shepherd, the Lord Jesus and 

has taught us how to know him, 

love him, and serve him, because 

our Shepherd knows, and 

loves, and serves us!



Ordained for the Diocese 

of Altoona - Johnstown in 1979, 

Father Durbin served as parochial 

vicar at Saint Therese Parish 

in Altoona, and as a teacher at 

Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High 

School and in the pastoral ministry 

program at Saint Francis 

University, before transferring 

to the Diocese of Raleigh NC 

in 1985. He holds a licentiate 

degree in spirituality from the 

Pontifical Gregorian University 

in Rome, Italy, and for the past 

25 years has been a presenter for 

the North American Forum on 

the Catechumenate. 

The retreat will help participants 

gain an understanding 

of what happened at the Second 

Vatican Council (1962 - 1965), 

why the Council took place, and 

what it means for the contemporary 

Church. 

Master Catechists, lay ministers 

and permanent deacons 

will receive four continuing formation/education 

credits for taking 

part in the retreat. 

The progam will be held 

in the university’s DiSepio Institute 

(next to the library), 

from 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. The 

$15.00 participant’s fee includes 

lunch. 

Registration may be made 

by mailing a $15.00 check, 

made payable to Commision For 

Life and Justice, to the Family 

Life Office, 5379 Portage Street, 

Lilly PA 15938. 

Your Lenten Gift Brings Hope Throughout the Year 

Grace 

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Drug Testing and Criminal Background 

checks are required. 

Call 814-693-2911 or 1-866-637-2912 

Serving Blair and Cambria County 

2013 ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL 

Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown 

Personal Witness 

Evangelization 

Charity 

To support your parish and diocesan ministries, place your ACA gift 

in the offertory basket, give online at www.dioceseaj.org, or 

mail your gift to Annual Catholic Appeal, 

P. O. Box 409, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Thank you! 

Bishop Responds To 

Questions From 

Sophomore Students 

Photo And Text 

By Tony DeGol 

Abraham Lincoln is known 

as “Honest Abe,” and according 

to Bishop Mark L. Bartchak, a 

story involving the straight-talking 

former president is useful in 

the discussion of the Church’s 

position on same-sex marriage. 

The issue is one of many 

topics that is coming up as Bishop 

Mark continues his question 

and answer sessions with sophomore 

students at the four Catholic 

high schools in the Diocese. 

During this Year of Faith – 

a time in which everyone is encouraged 

to ask questions – the 

Bishop is making a special effort 

to reach out to teens. Prior to 

Christmas, he held sessions with 

seniors at the high schools. Now, 

he is meeting with tenth graders. 

So far, he visited sophomores at 

Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High 

School in Altoona, Bishop Mc- 

Cort Catholic High School in 

Johnstown, and Saint Joseph’s 

Catholic Academy in Boalsburg. 

He is scheduled to stop at Bishop 

Carroll Catholic High School 

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in Ebensburg in April. 

The students have no shortage 

of questions, including many 

about the Church’s support of 

traditional marriage between a 

man and a woman. The teens often 

wonder why the Church opposes 

same-sex marriage when 

so many others in society deem 

it acceptable. 

Noting the popularity of 

the recent movie “Lincoln,” the 

Bishop told a story from the former 

president’s days as an attorney. 

Meeting with a farmer who 

was in a land dispute, Lincoln 

asked the farmer how many legs 

a cow has. The farmer answered 

“four.” 

“Now suppose you call the 

cow’s tail a leg; how many legs 

would the cow have?,” Lincoln 

asked. When the farmer answered 

“five,” Lincoln pointed 

out that he was wrong. 

“Calling a cow’s tail a leg 

doesn’t make it a leg,” Lincoln 

told him. 

The same is true in the debate 

over same-sex marriage, 

Bishop Mark said during his 

session at Bishop Guilfoyle, 

pointing out that some in society 

want to change the truth about 

marriage being an act of love 

between a man and a woman. 

“God has told us what the 

definition of marriage is, and we 

can’t call it anything different,” 

he said. “I’m a Bishop. I have a 

lot of authority, but I don’t have 

the authority to change what 

God has taught us.” 

Despite the Church’s unwavering 

opposition to samesex 

marriage, Bishop Mark 

stressed that the Church never 

condones mistreating an individual 

because of his or her sexual 

orientation. 

“Every single person is 

made in the image and likeness 

of God,” he told the students. 

“Our dignity comes from God. 

No one can take that away.” 

When Bishop Mark meets 

with teens, the subject of prayer 

is always popular. Students 

typically ask about the Bishop’s 

SCHOOL VISIT: Bishop Mark 

L. Bartchak holds up a copy of 

the Youth Catechism, or YOU- 

CAT, during a question and answer 

session with tenth grade 

students at Bishop Guilfoyle 

Catholic High School in Altoona 

on Friday, February 22. 

The Bishop has been meeting 

with sophomores and seniors at 

the Catholic high schools in the 

Diocese as part of the Year of 

Faith. Bishop Mark encourages 

all high school students to own 

a copy of the YOUCAT, which 

is a version of “The Catechism 

of the Catholic Church” geared 

toward teens. 

prayer life and how they can 

strengthen their own. 

The Bishop referred to one 

of his favorite saints – Peter – 

and the words he said when he 

wanted Jesus to rescue him from 

drowning: “Lord, save me.” 

He invited the students to 

say those words with him several 

times. 

“I just taught you another 

prayer,” he said. “It’s three 

words, real simple, but real important.” 

Bishop Mark encouraged 

the students to take that Bible 

story and replace Peter’s name 

with their name. 

“It’s a great way to pray, and 

it can really help to strengthen 

your faith because you are using 

the Word of God,” he added. 

Social media is always another 

hot topic among the Bishop 

and the youth. A smart phone 

user himself, Bishop Mark 

warned that things like texting 

should never replace human 

contact. 

“God made us to be with 

other people,” he said. 

Holding up his iPhone, he 

added, “Use it, but don’t let it be 

a substitute for connecting with 

others and God.”

A Prince In The Service 

Of The Great King 


During the lifetime of the 

Servant of God Demetrius Augustine 

Gallitzin, six men occupied 

the papal throne. And 

just as in our own times when 

the Holy See has become vacant 

through the resignation of 

Pope Benedict XVI, there was a 

unique historic situation during 

the Reverend Prince’s life - - a 

six month interregnum in which 

there was no Pope. 

Prayer For 

Father Gallitzin’s Intercession 

O God, light of the faithful and shepherd of souls, who sent 

Servant of God Demetrius Gallitzin to serve God’s people in 

the Allegheny Mountains, feeding your sheep by his words 

and forming them by his example, pour out your Spirit to sow 

seeds of truth in people’s hearts and to awaken in them obedience 

to the faith. 

May the Gospel continue to be preached and the Sacraments 

bring power and grace to the faithful. By the example of this 

man of faith, Demetrius Gallitzin, may your people advance in 

the pray of salvation and love. 

Confident of your faithfulness to us, we humbly ask you, our 

God, to grant us the favor of (name your intention). 

May Christ’s saving work continue to the end of the ages, and 

may we feel a more urgent call to work for the salvation of 

every creature. We pray this, as did your priest Demetrius 

Gallitzin, through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives 

and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for 

ever and ever. Amen. 

+ + + 

Kindly send information about favors granted to: 

The Cause for the Servant of God 

Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin 

Diocese Of Altoona - Johnstown 


Hollidaysburg PA 16648 

The Servant Of God 

Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin 

1770 - 1840 

Prince - Priest Lived During 

Reigns Of Six Popes POPE CLEMENT XIV POPE GREGORY XVI 

The Popes who reigned 

during the lifetime of Father Demetrius 

Gallitzin (1770 - 1840) 

were: 

*19 May 1769 – 22 September 

1774, Pope Clement 

XIV (Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio 

Ganganelli), a member of 

the Conventual Franciscan Order. 

Suppressed the Jesuit Order. 

It was during his papacy that 

Prince Gallitzin was born at The 

Hague, while his father was amabassador 

to The Netherlands. 

*15 February 1775 – 29 August 

1799, Pope Pius VI (Angelo 

Braschi Cesena). Condemned 

the French Revolution and was 

expelled from the Papal States 

by French troops from 1798 until 

his death. It was during his 

pontificate that Demetrius Gallitzin 

became a Catholic, was 

ordained a priest, and made his 

first visit to Loretto. 

From 29 August 1799 – 14 

March 1800 there was an interregnum, 

a six month period 

without a valid pope elected. 

This was due to unique logistical 

problems (the old pope died 

a prisoner and the Conclave 

was in Venice) and a deadlock 

among cardinals voting. It was 

during this time that Father Gallitzin 

assumed the pastorate of 

Loretto. 

*14 March 1800 – 20 

August 1823, Pope Pius VII 

(Barnaba Niccolo Marìa Luigi 

Chiaramonti), a member of the 

Order of Saint Benedict. Present 

at Napoleon’s coronation as Emperor 

of the French. Temporarily 

expelled from the Papal States 

by the French between 1809 and 

1814. 

*28 September 1823 – 10 

February 1829, Pope Leo XII 

(Annibale Francesco Clemente 

Melchiore Girolamo Nicola 

Sermattei della Genga). Placed 

the Catholic educational system 

under the control of the Jesuits 

through Quod divina sapientia, 

1824. 

*31 March 1829 – 1 December 

1830, Pope Pius VIII 

(Francesco Saverio Castiglioni). 

Accepted Louis Philippe I as 

King of the French. 

*2 February 1831 – 1 June 

1846, Pope Gregory XVI (Bartolomeo 

Alberto Cappellari). A 

member of the Camaldolese Order, 

he was the last non - Bishop 

to be elected Pope. It was during 

his papacy that Father Gallitzin 

died in Loretto. 

Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel Church 

ANNUAL MEN’S TURKEY DINNER/BAZAAR 

12 Noon until 4PM 

Sunday, March 17, 2013 

The Dinner is Completely Prepared and Served Entirely by the 

MEN of the Parish 

PLEASE COME AND ENJOY FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES AND A GREAT MEAL 

Many Games of Fun and Chance and Kid’s Games 

(No Need To Wait in Line, We’ll Call Your Number To Be Seated). 

Our Lady of Loretto Hall, Loretto, PA 

Adults & Takeouts- $9.00/ Children 12 & Under $5.00 

The Annual Novena in Honor of the 

Sacred Heart of Jesus 

Monday, March 11, to Tuesday, March 19 

Solemn Opening on Monday, March 11, 

at 7:00 P.M. with Mass celebrated by 

Bishop Mark L. Bartchak 

From Tuesday, March 12, Daily Eucharist, Reconciliation 

and Novena Prayer at 7:45 A.M., 11:30 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. 

A complete schedule will be available on the first day 

of the Novena, in the parish bulletin, and at www.sacredheartaltoona.org 

Sacred Heart Church 

6 th Avenue and 20 th Street 

Altoona, PA 943-8553


Word of Life 

Spirituality 

For Today 

By Father John Catoir 

Living In Holiness 

Is ‘Saying Yes’ To God 

There are countless ways of living in holiness. 

Holiness is God living in you and your response to that 

divine presence. The degree to which we are able to turn our 

lives over to God will differ from person to person. Some are 

better at it than others. Pure prayer is one way of giving yourself 

to God as best you can. 

An outstanding example of holiness is found in the life of 

St. Therese, the “Little Flower of Lisieux.” On her deathbed, 

she said that everything she ever did was to make God happy. 

In other words, she tried to do what pleased the Lord and one 

way to do this was to focus on the positive. 

Pope Benedict XVI praised this approach to holiness. He 

wrote, “The saint is the person who is so fascinated by the 

beauty of God and by his perfect truth as to be progressively 

transformed by it. Because of this beauty and truth, he is 

ready to renounce everything.” 

Holiness is a gift, but it is also a striving to give yourself 

to God in such a way that his good pleasure and happiness 

becomes your sole joy and good. When Jesus said he came 

so “that your joy might be full,” he was telling us that it makes 

him happy when we find our joy in him. 

Many Catholics emphasize the idea of not offending God 

to avoid the pains of hell, which, of course, is a good thing. 

However, it falls short of the higher good, namely that of striving 

to please God and to make him happy. 

When you emphasize the idea of pleasing God, then all 

the sacrifices you make in life will serve to improve your relationship 

with God. You will no longer be afraid of him, and your 

sense of union with God will be more intimate. 

Think about it: Your union with God depends more on 

God’s love for you than on your love for God. You are powerless 

to make yourself more holy. The only thing you can give 

God that is truly yours to give is your trust. 

We all depend on the grace of God to carry out our noble 

desires, desires that he put there in the first place. In Nehemiah 

8:10, we find the secret of true dependence: “Do not be 

saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord is your strength.” 

Holiness is not something that comes from doing what is 

good. We do what is good because we are holy. Holiness is 

not something that comes from giving a lifetime of service to 

others; we give a lifetime of service because we are holy. 

The great foundation of the spiritual life is to give yourself 

to God. Giving is in the will, not in the feelings. The will has 

only one function, to say yes or no. 

Think about it: Your union with God depends more 

on God’s love for you than on your love for God. You 

are powerless to make yourself more holy. The only 

thing you can give God that is truly yours to give is 

your trust. 

ONE MORE TIME: Fifty years ago, in 1963, Saint Rose of Lima School in Altoona coped with burgeoning 

enrollment by adding a mobile classroom unit to the school building. The school was staffed 

by the Sisters of Divine Providence. 

The Sunday paper reported 

the death of Reg Presley. The 

name may not sound familiar. 

Presley was a member of the 

musical group The Troggs, and 

provided the raspy voice that 

sang “Wild Thing.” Remember 

now? If you grew up in the 

1960s or 1970s you couldn’t 

forget the song. “Wild thing, you 

make my heart sing.” 

The abbreviated obituary 

from The New York Times 

called the song “a paean to teenage 

lust.” Mr. Presley was 71 

and died after a series of strokes. 

I’m sure there was much 

more to Presley’s life than these 

few paragraphs conveyed. Relationships, 

children, the joys 

and struggles of a lifetime, these 

weren’t mentioned. We were left 

to believe his legacy was a song 

that gets stuck in your mind 

once you think about it. 

Do you ever wonder what 

your legacy will be? 

Most of us will never 

merit an obituary in The New 

York Times. When we die, our 

obits will be written lovingly, 

and forgivingly, by our families. 

They’ll write the standard 

fare. We were someone’s child, 

someone’s parent, grandparent, 

spouse. We were teachers or 

firemen or volunteers or businesspeople. 

We belonged to a 

church. If we’d ever written or 

sung anything close to “a paean 

to teenage lust,” our kids might 

leave that part out. 

But if someone could write 

an authentic, objective story 

about your life, what would it 

say? 

Maybe that’s a good question 

to ask ourselves during 

Lent. 

At Sunday Mass, our pastor 

made an observation that challenged 

my examination of conscience 

and the way I perceive 

my life’s story. He repeated it 

twice so it would sink in. He said 

that the things we generally recognize 

as our sins -- our faults 

and failings -- are often not what 

those who know us best struggle 

with about us. 

During Lent, many of us 

will receive the sacrament of 

reconciliation. But many find it 

hard to identify their sins. After 

hearing my pastor’s comments, I 

began to think that my examination 

of conscience could take on 

a little new territory if I got out 

of my own head and tried moving 

into someone else’s. 

How would it change my 

examination of conscience if I 

imagined myself standing in my 

spouse’s shoes, and asked, What 

it is about me that he finds least 

Christ-like, that he struggles 

with? What belittles or disappoints 

him? Was eating the extra 

brownie a sin -- given that gluttony 

is a sin -- or was my irritability 

for doing it, taken out on 

my spouse, my real sin? 

For The Journey 

By Effie Caldarola 

A Lenten Challenge 

Imagine how your children 

perceive you. Do they see you as 

someone who listens? Do they 

feel positive about your time 

together? Imagine them describing 

your legacy as a parent. 

I found this exercise particularly 

compelling when I looked 

at myself from the eyes of someone 

with whom I’m not particularly 

close. Choose a relative, 

neighbor or in-law with whom 

you don’t have the greatest relationship. 

From the perspective of 

the “other,” why is the relationship 

struggling? Don’t focus on 

her faults, obvious though they 

may be. Focus on your behavior 

through her eyes. How kind and 

forgiving are you? Do you come 

across as self-righteous, haughty, 

defensive, selfish, uncaring? 

Imagine how she might describe 

you. Honesty can make this exercise 

bear fruit. 

For just a moment in your 

imagination, hand that person 

a pen and let her write a short 

summation of your life. Let her 

write your legacy. Let her sum 

up the main points of your life. 

Do you like what’s written 

there?

Q. In the creed at Mass, it 

says that Jesus descended into 

hell. I feel terrible even saying 

that Jesus went to hell. What 

does that mean? (Selkirk, N.Y.) 

A. In the current (“new”) 

rite of the Mass, when a profession 

of faith is called for, the 

congregation may use either the 

previously used Nicene Creed or 

the shorter (and simpler) Apostles’ 

Creed. The Apostles’ Creed 

does say that after he was crucified, 

died and was buried, Jesus 

“descended into hell.” 

In common parlance today, 

we speak of “hell” as the state 

of those eternally damned. But 

in the time of Jesus, the Hebrew 

word for hell (“sheol”) referred 

not only to the abode of the condemned 

but to the place where 

the righteous awaited redemption. 

It is that latter sense to 

which the phrase in the creed refers. 

The first act of Jesus after 

his death was to go and rescue 

the just who had already died 

Question Corner 

By Father Kenneth Doyle 

The ‘Descent Into Hell’ 

Patrick 

c. 389-461 

March 17 

The patron of Ireland, this bishop was born in Roman Britain, 

kidnapped at 16 by Irish raiders and sold into slavery in Ireland. He 

was a lonely shepherd for six years before escaping and returning 

home. But his dream of converting the Irish pagans propelled 

him to priestly studies in Gaul (now France), and about 432 Pope 

Celestine I consecrated him bishop and sent him to Ireland. For 

nearly 30 years he preached tirelessly, made countless converts, 

founded monasteries and established the primatial see at Armagh. 

Toward the end of his life he made a 40-day retreat in Mayo that 

gave rise to the famous ongoing Croagh Patrick pilgrimages. Stories 

of him using the shamrock to explain the Trinity and driving 

snakes from the island are legend. 

Saints 

and to bring them with him into 

the joy of the Father’s presence. 

As the Catechism of the 

Catholic Church states in No. 

633: “Jesus did not descend into 

hell to deliver the damned, nor 

to destroy the hell of damnation, 

but to free the just who had gone 

before him.” 

Q. I know that one of the 

Ten Commandments is, “Thou 

shalt not bear false witness.” I 

can understand that it would be 

a serious sin to testify falsely 

under oath, but are all untruths 

sinful? How about “white lies,” 

like when your elderly aunt asks 

you, “How do you like my new 

hat?” 

So where does one draw 

the line? Must the statement be 

harmful to someone to qualify as 

a breach of the commandment, 

however venial? Is there any 

need to confess such a white lie 

or exaggeration so long as it is 

harmless? (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) 

A. Your question is a very 

good one and the answer is far 

Crosiers 

© 2013 Catholic News Service 

more complicated than one 

might think. In fact, for the past 

1,500 years, Christian moralists 

have debated what the right answer 

should be. 

In the theological history of 

the church, two diverse opinions 

have been given. One comes 

from St. Augustine, who held 

that, “A lie consists in speaking 

a falsehood with the intention of 

deceiving.” For Augustine, lying 

was always morally wrong, 

regardless of the circumstances. 

But for other theologians (Origen 

and John Chrysostom come 

to mind) the definition of lying 

was more nuanced, and it involved 

factoring in the questioner’s 

right to know the truth. 

Where the difference shows 

most clearly can be seen in the 

case of whether Christians who 

were hiding Jews in their homes 

in Nazi Germany could morally 

lie to those seeking to find and 

execute them. For Augustine, the 

only legitimate response to the 

question of the Gestapo would 

have been either silence or the 

response, “I cannot tell you.” 

But for a fair number of other 

moralists, because the guards 

had no moral right to know, the 

answer could simply have been, 

“No. There is no one here.” 

Even for those who take the 

absolutist position, of course, 

the gravity of a lie varies greatly 

with the circumstances. Lying 

under oath or when the untruth 

would cause serious harm to 

someone’s rights or reputation 

would be a grave sin. Lying to 

shield someone from embarrassment 

(as in the case of your aunt 

with the new hat) would be at 

most a venial sin, and you would 

be free to confess it or not. 

Interestingly, the Catechism 

of the Catholic Church gives 

evidence of the age-old struggle 

of moralists to sort this out. In 

the catechism published in 1994, 

section No. 2483 says that “to 

lie is to speak or act against the 

truth in order to lead into error 

someone who has the right to 

know the truth.” But since 1997, 

when the catechism was revised 

and the official Latin text published, 

“the right to know” was 

dropped and that sentence now 

says simply, “To lie is to speak 

or act against the truth in order 

to lead someone into error.” 


By Father John J. Slovikovski 


Forth Sunday of Lent: The Virtue of Fortitude 

*NB: We return to our regular reflection on aspects of our 

Catholic Christianity by means of the Sunday Gospels. Since 

most parishes are involved the Christian Initiation, we will look at 

the gospels from Cycle A (weeks 4 &5) since from these two of 

the three scrutinizes are celebrated.’ 

The Story of the Man born blind, John 9:1-41, is unique to 

the fourth gospel. Some may initially respond with the question: 

“What is so unique about this healing of a man born blind from 

birth since healing of the blind seems to be part and parcel of 

Jesus’ healing ministry in the Synoptic Gospels (i.e., Matthew, 

Mark, and Luke)?” I would say two things stand out and are deserving 

of comment, namely, that this event serves as a wonderful 

example of the Cardinal Virtue called fortitude and is important 

for its placement in the “Book of Glory,” which is the first half of 

John’s Gospel. As indicated by the Catechism of the Catholic 

Church, “Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in 

difficulty and constancy in the pursuit of the good….the virtue of 

fortitude enables one to conquer fear…and to face trials and persecutions.” 

(CCC, 1808) The story fits well with this definition in 

a number of ways. First, the man must attest to the healing at the 

ridicule of the religious leadership who eventually expel him from 

the synagogue, striking him at the heart of his Jewish faith, which 

is rooted in community membership. Second, he is set against 

his parents who will not attest to his blindness from birth because 

of fear of suffering much the same fate as their son. Third, and 

finally, he is constant and firm in his resolve to credit Jesus with 

the miracle from his healing to his acknowledging Jesus as the 

Son of Man. Clearly, this man is an example of fortitude for us to 

follow in the moral life. 


Fifth Sunday of Lent: The Raising of Lazarus 

The raising of Lazarus from the dead is particular to the 

fourth gospel, following the miracle of the restoration of sight to 

the bind man, which signifies spiritual enlightenment. The single 

longest episode in the fourth gospel is filled with significant details 

that can strengthen us on our Lenten journey and our deeper appreciation 

of our Christian beliefs during this Year of Faith. It is 

interesting how much the evangelist wants us to know that Lazarus 

is dead and the limitless nature of Jesus’ power to raise him 

to new life. In the ancient world, the spirit or “soul” of an individual 

was thought to remain in the immediate presence of the corpse 

for three days before departing forever to the next mode of existence. 

If Jesus has the ability to recall the soul from its final end, 

he surely possesses power to address all of the disheartening 

issues that deal with suffering and death. Also, Jesus responds 

to Martha’s grief with one of the most profound declarations in 

the fourth gospel: “I am the resurrection and the life.” (11:25). 

This statement has profound implications, implying that believers 

who remain attached to [Jesus] cannot fail to participate in the 

resurrection and new life. To be one with Jesus is to be part of 

life.” This reflects the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic 

Church, which indicated that here, “Jesus links faith with his own 

person.” (CCC, 994). What a preface to the Easter Mysteries we 

are about to celebrate! 

For further reading see, Catechism of the Catholic Church 

(992-996) and YouCat (152-153).


OFFERTORY GIFTS: Bishop Mark L. Bartchak receives the offertory gifts from parochial school 

children during the February 28 Mass of Thanksgiving for the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. 

Students Had Special Role 

At Mass For Pope Emeritus 


Students from throughout 

the Diocese created a spiritual 

bouquet for Pope Benedict. During 

the opening procession children 

from each school placed 

the prayers in baskets next to 

a portrait of the Pope near the 

main altar. 

The combined diocesan 

choir performed along with 

choirs from Cathedral Catholic 

Academy of Johnstown; Johnstown 

Bishop McCort Catholic 

High School; Altoona Bishop 

Guilfoyle Catholic High School; 

and Altoona Central Catholic 

Grade School. 

In his Homily Bishop Mark 

told the story of a famous actor, 

the honored guest at a social 

gathering. A lady asked him if he 

would recite the 23rd Psalm. He 

said he would on the condition 

that another person could do the 

same. 

After he finished he called 

on the retired local pastor, who 

he considered to be his spiritual 

leader, to recite the Psalm. The 

recitation of the Psalm by the elderly 

priest brought tears to their 

eyes. 

Someone asked the actor 

why those at the banquet applauded 

when he recited the 

Psalm, and why people cried 

upon hearing the priest’s recitation. 

Said the actor, “The difference 

is, I know the words of the 

Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd.” 

“The opening words of the 

23rd Psalm contain a simple 

profession of faith and an act of 

faith,” said Bishop Mark. “The 

profession of faith is found in 

the acclamation, ‘The Lord is 

my Shepherd.’” 

He said that Pope Benedict 

reflected on the simple, but deep 

conviction with great joy and 

thanksgiving. 

Said the Pope, “At this time, 

I have within myself a great trust 

in God, because I know - - all of 

us know - - that the Gospel’s 

Word of truth is the strength of 

the Church: it is her life. 

“The Gospel purifies and renews. 

It bears fruit wherever the 

community of believers hears 

and welcomes the grace of God 

in truth and lives with charity. 

This is my faith, this is my joy.” 

Bishop Mark said that Pope 

expressed even more that he not 

only knows Psalm 23, but he 

knows the Shepherd and wants 

us to know that we should know 

the Shepherd as well. 

“Pope Benedict continued, 

said Bishop Mark, “‘I would 

like that we all entrust ourselves 

as children to the arms of God, 

and rest assured that those arms 

support us and to walk everyday, 

even in times of struggle. 

“‘I would like everyone 

to feel loved by God who gave 

His Son for us and showed His 

boundless love. I want everyone 

to feel the joy of being Christian.’” 

“This desire of Pope Benedict 

that we ‘feel loved by the 

God who gave us His Son for 

us and showed us His boundless 

love,’ is the message that Jesus, 

SPIRITUAL BOUQUETS: The February 28 Mass began with the 

presentation by Catholic school students of spiritual bouquets for the 

Pope Emeritus. 

the Good Shepherd shares with 

us in today’s Gospel reading, 

John 15:9 - 17; that we should 

remain in His love. And He reminds 

us that if we remain in His 

love, our joy swill be complete,” 

said Bishop Mark. 

He continued, that Pope 

Benedict knows the Shepherd as 

described by the Prophet Ezekiel 

who said in the Mass’s first reading 

“Shepherd hear the Word of 

God, who says, ‘I rescued the 

sheep from every place where it 

was cloudy and dark.’” 

“Pope Benedict wished to 

thank the entire world, who in 

recent weeks sent him letters of 

concern, friendship and prayer,” 

Bishop Mark said. “Pope Benedict 

said, ‘the Pope is never 

alone: now I experience this 

truth again in a way so great as 

to touch my very heart.’” 

He again noted the gratitude 

and concern shown by the people 

of the Altoona - Johnstown, 

especially the young people who 

wrote down their thoughts and 

prayers for Pope Benedict. 

“What a powerful witness 

and expression of the living 

body which is the Church in the 

Diocese of Altoona - Johnstown 

as those written messages that 

were brought forward in procession.” 

(Continued On Page 11.)

Mass Of Thanksgiving 


Then he asked all those 

students who wrote notes to 

the Holy Father to stand and be 

recognized by the congregation. 

“You are a source of joy for the 

Holy Father.” 

“Let’s close with what will 

be remembered as the last conversation 

Pope Benedict has 

with us at the end of his ministry,” 

said Bishop Mark: 

“‘Finally, Dear Friends! 

God guides His Church, maintains 

her always, and especially 

in difficult times. Let us never 

lose this vision of faith, which is 

the only true vision of the way 

the Church and the world. 

“‘In our heart, in the heart 

of each of you, let there be always 

the joyous certainty that 

the Lord is near, that He does 

not abandon us, that He is near 

to us and that He surrounds us 

with His love. Thank you!’” 

VATICAN CITY (CNS) 

-- After Pope Benedict XVI officially 

became pope emeritus, 

he ate dinner, watched the television 

news and strolled through 

the lake-view rooms of the papal 

villa at Castel Gandolfo. 

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, 

Vatican spokesman, said 

he spoke March 1 with Archbishop 

Georg Ganswein, the retired 

pope’s secretary, who said 

the mood in the villa after the 

pontificate ended was “relaxed” 

and his boss slept well. 

After watching two news 

programs, Pope Benedict expressed 

his gratitude to the media, 

because he said the coverage 

of his last day as pope 

helped people participate in the 

event, Father Lombardi said. 

The papal secretary said 

Pope Benedict celebrated Mass 

at 7 a.m. March 1 as normal, 

read his breviary, had breakfast 

and then began reading more of 

the messages he had received in 

the last days of his pontificate. 

He expected to stroll through the 

villa gardens, praying his rosary, 

in the afternoon. 

Meanwhile, back at the 

Vatican, officials from the College 

of Cardinals had a series of 

tasks to perform at the beginning 

of the “sede vacante,” the period 

when there is no pope. 

The most symbolic tasks 

were carried out by Cardinal 

Tarcisio Bertone, the camerlengo 

or chamberlain of the Holy 

Roman Church, and his assistants. 

During the sede vacante, 

the chamberlain is charged with 

administering and safeguarding 

the temporal goods of the 

church. 

Gathered with others in the 

offices of the “apostolic chamber,” 

Cardinal Bertone asked the 

time. At 8 p.m. exactly he was 

handed a “ferula,” a red velvetcovered 

scepter, as a sign of his 

authority. The cardinal led the 

staff in a brief prayer to God: 

The Catholic Register, March 11, 2013 Page 11 

Pope Emeritus Begins His Life Of Retirement, 

As Church Enters Period Of Sede Vacante 

CNS Photo/L’Osservatore Romano/via Reuters 

POPE LEAVES WINDOW AFTER FINAL APPEARANCE: 

Pope Benedict XVI leaves after appearing for the last time at the balcony 

of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Thursday, 

February 28. It was his final public appearance before his papacy 

came to an end at 8:00 p.m., Roman Time, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time 

in the United States. 

By Cindy Wooden 

Catholic News Service 

“Give your church a pope acceptable 

to you.” 

Carrying the ferula, he and 

his aides went into the private 

papal apartments. They made 

sure the door to the small private 

elevator was locked, then 

stretched tape across the elevator 

door and stamped it with 

seals. 

Withdrawing from the 

apartment, they dead-bolted the 

main door with a large key, then 

strung a red ribbon through the 

handles. An aide, using a hot 

wax gun, pressed it onto the ribbon’s 

knot and flattened it with 

a seal. 

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, 

dean of the College of Cardinals, 

wrote almost immediately 

after 8 p.m. to Vatican nuncios 

and other diplomatic representatives 

around the world, officially 

informing them of the sede vacante. 

In one of his first acts as 

dean March 1, Cardinal Sodano 

wrote to each of the world’s 207 

cardinals -- including those over 

age 80 and ineligible to vote in 

a conclave -- notifying them of 

“the vacancy of the Apostolic 

See because of the renunciation 

presented on the part of Pope 

Benedict XVI.”


CNS Photo/Bob Roller 

MAN SERVES HADDOCK: Bob Kutz serves haddock during a fish fry at Saint Mary Church’s parish 

hall in Altoona, Friday, February 15. The Friday fish fry is a big event for lots of people in Catholic 

parishes, especially in some sections of the United States. 

Fish Fries Are Popular Custom 

In Many U.S. Parishes 

By Mark Pattison 


WASHINGTON (CNS) 

-- The Friday fish fry is a big 


PASTOR CHECKS FISH: Monsignor Tim Stein, pastor of Saint 

Mary’s Parish in Altoona, checks the temperature of fish during a 

Friday, February 15 fish fry at the parish hall. 

deal to lots of people in Catholic 

parishes, especially in some sections 

of the United States. 

One audience is, of course, 

the customers, who like supporting 

their parish and its organizations 

and groups with reasonably 

priced suppers. Another 

audience is the volunteers who 

bake, grill, fry and deep-fry the 

menu items. A third audience is 

the parish or organization that 

benefits from the proceeds. 

While there are those parishes 

and Knights of Columbus 

councils that partake in the fish 

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fry during Lent, others offer it 

on an expanded schedule, some 

even year-round. 

The only ones possibly raising 

an objection might be the 

fish, with cod being a popular 

choice. But in late January, the 

New England Fishery Management 

Council took protective 

steps against overfishing northern 

cod, decreeing severe restrictions 

on the cod catch for 

2013 in a bid to restore depleted 

stocks of what had once been a 

staple in the north Atlantic. 

The Gulf of Maine cod catch 

was slashed 81 percent, and the 

Georges Bank cod catch was 

cut 61 percent, bringing great 

worry to New England fisheries 

and towns dependent on the 

revenues generated by fishing as 

their economic engine. 


In The Alleghenies 


Page 10 The Catholic Register, Monday, December 21, 2009 

Christian Coalition Holds 

Advent Service 

At Altoona Cathedral 

The Catholic Register, Monday, December 21, 2009 Page 3 

“The season of Advent is for 

By Tony DeGol 

us Christians a time of hope, heralding 

as it does the reality of God 

coming to be among his people,” 

said Bishop Joseph V. Adamec, 

Hope in the Lord and hope in 

who presided over the service. “As 

Day Of Prayer the For city of Altoona brought people 

we prepare during this Holy Season 

to express our welcome to the 

of various faith traditions together 

to pray and share their joy. The 

World Justice And Peace Savior whose birth we will celebrate 

this coming Christmas, we 

Altoona Area Christian Coalition 

sponsored its annual Season of 

CLERGY: Altoona area clergy from 

Friday, January 1, 2010 is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin 

are reminded that the God and Creator 

of all never ceases to welcome 

Hope Advent ecumenical service 

Ecumenical Service Sunday, Decem 

Mary, the Mother of God. This is a holy of obligation in the 

on Sunday, December 6 at the Cathedral 

of the Blessed Sacrament 

man, another was offered in Span- 

United States of America. All Catholics are to participate at Mass 

all of us as his sons and daughters. 

on this day. Following the encouragement of Pope Paul VI and 

And as the Lord Jesus extends His 

in Altoona. The service featured 

ish. The Gospel reading from Luke 

his successors, our Diocese names this a Day of Prayer for World 

warmth and love to all of us, so 


lessons and prayers read by community 

leaders and carols led by a 

seen on a guest’s 

recounted the announcement of the 

Justice and Peace. As the new civil FOOD calendar FILLS begins, PLATE: we pray Fried for haddock must and we other desire items to be are instruments 

birth of Christ. 

plate during 

Among 

a 

those 

fish fry 

who 

in 

peace throughout the world. Please the join parish the hall Local of Church Saint Mary’s in praying 

the following prayer on New Year’s tradition Day. in many parts of the United States. After the lighting of two 

Parish of in welcome Altoona, in Friday, our community.” 

choir made up of members from 

February 15. 

read 

The 

lessons 

parish fish 

at the 

fry 

service 

is a popular 

were 

CNS Photo/Nancy Wiechec 

several faith communities in the 

Altoona Mayor Wayne Hippo and 

candles of the Advent Wreath, 

Altoona Area. The service was 

Mayor-Elect William Schirf. Pastors 

parsihioner, Mark Pacifico, who baked MITTENS Representatives 

cod AND is on 

from HATS: the 

the 

Blessed 

business, 

God of power, mercy and peace, destroy war and banish modeled violence after the famous from Service 

Hannah (left) 

our 

fry and needs from 

Paige 

several about Baker 

area 55 place volunteers, faith 

mittens 

communities 

is a graduate of the Culinary Institute 

of America in New York. hasn’t on litical Monday, noticed 

Sacrament and education, hats the menu 

legal, Jesse -- 

medical Tree he added at Our and Lady he 

po- 

and Borkenhagen can call on a 

midst. You have revealed to us that those who work for of peace Nine Lessons will and be Carols calledfirst 

of Mount Carmel 

offered 

Church 

intercessions 

in Altoona 

for 

communities December any 

read 

price 7. Items chapters 

held at King’s College in Cambridge 

on Christmas Eve, 1918. 

pressures 

distributed from 

placed volunteer a 

on 

strong, 

the tree 

welcoming corps during twice Advent 

and that hopeful 

will size be to 

your sons and daughters. This new year help us to We work do without a seafood ceasing buffet, with for -- 

various 

as by well the books 

as parish’s French-fried 

of the Family Bible. Life pitch city. 

Committee in. to underprivileged 

that justice which brings true and lasting peace. We fried ask fish being this one through of the choices. 

with Mark you prepares and a chef’s the Holy spe- 

menu Order Regular addition Franciscan came Father about Frank in is 

our shrimp. children One reading through One 

was 

relatively various offered social recent 

in Ger- 

service agencies She’s “Hope 

in been in 

Blair 

the able Christian 

County. to take sense 

Third part 

Lord, Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns Scornaienchi 

not virtually what we every wish 

is pastor. fish will fry happen, in the 


cial each week. There’s always when “nine years ago,” courtesy 

of now-Cardinal Timothy giving do,” said birth Pastor to Cory and Hartman raising ofa 

shares a laugh with guests during a fish fry in the parish hall of Saint 

CHEF Spirit, SHARES one God, LAUGH: for ever Chef and parishioner ever. Amen. 

past but what quarter-century we are confident -- even God will with 

Mark Pacifico, 

something new and interesting.” 

Prior to being assigned eight M. Dolan of New York. He was child, First Baptist and coping Church with in a diagnosidaysburg. 

of breast Pastor cancer. Hartman offered 

Holli- 

Mary’s Parish in Altoona, Friday, February 15. 

years ago to St. Mary’s, Msgr. Archbishop Dolan of Milwaukee 

at the time. 

one Borkenhagen 

of two reflections remembers at the ser- 

Stein for eight years cooked the 

(Continued From Page 12.) French fries, cole slaw, parsleybuttered 

potatoes, milk or cof- 

parish -- turkey dinners. nounced. He said it was good volunteering on, all believers when in our he area was willin 

With cod certain to grow fee, and the buyer’s choice of a Good help can be hard to enough but there was something eighth have a grade vision at of the what parish God school, is do- 

featured dinner at his previous “(He) came over here unan- 

one vice. of “My her hope helpers is that as who time started goes 

more rare, its price will inevitably 

go up. “It’s gone up consid- 

The prices haven’t scared Blessed Sacrament Parish before (growing up in St. Lou- 

to ence run and the be parish excited about festival.” that and She 

homemade desert. 

find for the parish fish fry. missing which he always had “and ing beyond now he’s our immediate 30 and he’s experi- 

going 

erably since I’ve been doing it,” away too many parishioners. in Milwaukee typically holds is): mac and cheese.” 

and praise her Him husband for that.” will run a bratwurst 

and hot dog booth. 

said Kris Borkenhagen, a volunteer 

who runs the seven-timesners 

at each fish fry. 

last year the only fish fry was that on the menu right away. 

The parish serves about 550 din- 

fish fries throughout Lent, but So Blessed Sacrament put 

yearly fish fries at St. Mary Parish 

in the Milwaukee suburb of to the cost of cod is to drop it al- 

Tom Adamski, the parish busi- 

following week and he loved it. 

One possible solution on Good Friday, because last “Cardinal Dolan came over the 

Hales Corners, Wis. 

together. 

ness manager who arranges the We’ve had mac and cheese ever 

And she should know. “We’ve never served cod. fish fries, had “some serious since,” along with children’s 

Borkenhagen, 51, has been running 

the fish fry for 25 years. In signor Tim Stein, pastor of St. ankles. 

loved it,” Adamski said. 

We serve haddock,” said Mon- 

surgery,” he said, on one of his portions of the entree, “and they 

fact, she had to raise prices last Mary’s Parish in Altoona, Pa. He “It’s primarily getting volunteers 

together,” Adamski told in Hales Corners used to sponsor 

The altar society at St. Mary 

fall. 

also is the editor of The Catholic 

Register, newspaper of the CNS about putting on the din- 

the fish fries there, but as time 

“The seniors, they do say 

something,” Borkenhagen told Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. ners. One source of volunteers and age whittled its membership 

to a dozen or so women, 

Catholic News Service in a “Cod has never been a big is “the maintenance crew at our 

telephone interview from Hales thing around here. If you don’t church, some young guys.” Others 

come from the nearby public 

the parish took it over. Each fish 

Corners. “But at McDonald’s, serve haddock to the western 

the Filet-o-Fish costs $4” -- Pennsylvania audience, you’re high school. “Some of them help 

when there isn’t a Friday special 

during Lent -- “and you’re he added, noting his parish does a ROTC group, they help out 

not going to get a big crowd,” out,” Adamski said. “There’s 

getting 

WIN 

a 

CAR: 

meal 

Matt 

here.” 

Smith 

Icelandic 

(left) executive fish fries vice on Ash president Wednesday of Laurel and Auto Group, Johnstown, hands Bishop 

clearing tables. Some of them 

cod 

Carroll 

or shrimp, 

Catholic 

baked 

High 

or 

School, 

fried, a 

Ebensburg, the Fridays raffle of winners Lent. Greg and Janelle Nealen of Nicktown the keys to a 

are the children” of parish families. 

small 

2010 

meal 

Prius 

costs 

III, while 

$8 and 

Janelle’s 

a large 

son, Bishop “I’m Carroll the sophomore chief fish Adam fryer. Mervine receives $500.00 from principal 

costs 

Kristie 

$10, 

L. 

and 

Wolfe, 

that 

for 

comes 

being 

with 

the seller But of the we winning are fortunate ticket. to have a Adamski said breaded and


Now Showing 

Popes A Major 

Presence On Screen 

By John Mulderig 


NEW YORK (CNS) -- The 

Vatican often makes headlines, 

never more so than at a time 

of transition such as that which 

Pope Benedict XVI ushered in 

Feb. 11 with the surprise announcement 

of his resignation. 

In addition to its frequently 

prominent place in the news, 

though, the papacy has, over the 

years, drawn the occasional attention 

of the entertainment industry 

as well. 

Pontiffs, both real and fictional, 

have been portrayed 

-- sometimes accurately, sometimes 

in caricature -- on stage, in 

movies and via television. The 

highlights of papal history have 

been used to inspire audiences, 

while the scandalous patches in 

that long chronicle have been 

employed for less edifying ends. 

As long ago as 1935, for 

example, French director Abel 

Gance -- perhaps best remembered 

today for his epic, multiscreen 

biopic “Napoleon” 

(1927) -- focused on the decadent 

Renaissance-era reign of 

Pope Alexander VI in “Lucrezia 

Borgia.” Gance left sufficiently 

little to viewers’ imagination for 

his film to draw a “Condemned” 

classification from the National 

Legion of Decency. 

In the 1965 film “The Agony 

and the Ecstasy,” adapted 

from Irving Stone’s historical 

novel, Rex Harrison played another 

bishop of Rome whose 

record jars modern sensibilities: 

Julius II. 

As directed by Carol Reed, 

the picture mainly concerns Michelangelo’s 

(Charlton Heston) 

exhausting work -- undertaken 

at Julius’ behest, and with his 

often-impatient encouragement 

-- to fresco the ceiling of the Sistine 

Chapel. But it also shows us 

Julius’ more problematic legacy 

as the last leader of the church 

Sunday Mass 

Broadcast Live from 

the Cathedral of 

the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona 

10:00 a.m. WFBG Radio, 1290 AM 

Sunday Mass Telecast 

Live from Saint John Gualbert Cathedral 

Downtown Johnstown 

11 a.m. - Noon WWCP - TV FOX Channel 8 

Proclaim! 

10:30 a.m. (Early Edition 5:30 a.m.) 

A half - hour of local Church news and features 

CNS Photo/Reuters 

ACTOR PLAYS POPE JOHN PAUL II: U.S. actor Jon Voight, 

dressed as Pope John Paul II, looks on during the filming of a CBS 

miniseries in a handout photo released November 15, 2005. The 

miniseries, which aired in early December 2005, was screened at the 

Vatican for Pope Benedict XVI November 17, 2005. 

to command troops in battle. Arrayed 

in full armor, Harrison’s 

Julius rides majestically to the 

defense of his territory as sovereign 

of the Papal States. 

The pontiffs of the modern 

era have -- fortunately -- deserved, 

and generally received, 

more reverential treatment. 

Thus the 2002 Italian made-fortelevision 

film “Papa Giovanni 

-- Joannes XXIII” (available 

on DVD, dubbed in English, 

as “John XXIII: The Pope of 

Peace”) saw Ed Asner portraying 

the initiator of the Second 

Vatican Council. Bob Hoskins 

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took on the same role in the following 

year’s “The Good Pope: 

John XXIII.” 

The eventful life of Karol 

Wojtyla -- both before and after 

he became Pope John Paul II in 

1978 -- has been the subject of 

at least one big-screen docudrama 

and numerous TV specials. 

Three years after his distinguished 

countryman’s election, 

Polish director Krzysztof Zanussi’s 

film “From a Far Country” 

profiled Wojtyla’s youth, 

with Cezary Morawski playing 

the future pontiff. 

At the other end of the 

reign, 2005, the year of Blessed 

John Paul’s death, brought three 

small-screen tributes: The fourhour 

CBS miniseries “Pope 

John Paul II” starred Jon Voight 

in the title role; Piotr Adamczyk 

led the cast of the Hallmark 

Channel presentation “A Man 

Who Would Become Pope”; 

and ABC’s “Have No Fear: The 

Life of John Paul II” featured 

German born actor Thomas 

Kretschmann. 

Probably the most famous 

fictional pope in cinematic history 

hailed, like the real-life John 

Paul II, from Eastern Europe. In 

1968’s “The Shoes of the Fisherman,” 

director Michael Anderson’s 

screen version of Morris 

L. West’s novel, Anthony Quinn 

played Kiril Lakota, a former 

political prisoner-turned-pope 

who resolves to give away the 

Vatican’s wealth. 

Other made-up pontiffs 

have found adventure by going 

on the lam. In “Saving Grace,” 

a 1985 feature helmed by Robert 

M. Young, Tom Conti’s unusually 

young Pope Leo XIV turns 

the accident of being locked out 

of the Vatican to pastoral advantage 

by ministering to everyday 

people. 

Coming Up On ‘Proclaim!’ 

Upcoming guests on “Keeping The Faith,” Bishop 

Mark L. Bartchak’s segment of “Proclaim!” will include: 

March 17 - - On this Saint Patrick’s Day, Monsignor 

Anthony Little, Pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in 

Newry, and Father Matthew Reese, Pastor of Saint 

Patrick Parish in Johnstown, discuss how their parishes 

honor their patron and offer insight into the life 

of Saint Patrick. 

March 24 - - On this Passion (Palm) Sunday, Monsignor 

Robert Mazur, Rector of the Cathedral of the 

Blessed Sacrament in Altoona and Diocesan Director 

of Liturgy, previews the Liturgies of Holy Week, 

Triduum, and Easter.

May 

They Rest 

In Peace 

Sister M. Greta Collins 

I.H.M. 

Sister Mary Greta Collins 

of the Sisters, Servants of the 

Immaculate Heart of Mary died 

Thursday, February 14 at Geisinger 

- Community Medical 

Center in Scranton. She was 93. 

She was born April 19, 

1919, in Scranton, and given the 

name Lucy Marie, the daughter 

of the late James and Margaret 

(Collins) Collins. She entered 

the IHM Congregation on February 

2, 1936, and made her 

temporary profession of vows 

on August 2, 1939, and her final 

profession of vows on August 2, 

1942. 

Sister Greta served locally 

at Lock Haven Catholic Elementary 

School from 1968 to 1972. 

From 2007 until the time of 

her death, Sister Greta served as 

a prayer minister at Our Lady of 

Peace Residence in Scranton. 

She received a bachelor of 

arts degree in education from 

Marywood College. 

She is survived by a niece, 

Sister Carlita Bird IHM. 

The funeral Mass for Sister 

Mary Greta Collins I.H.M. was 

celebrated Monday, February 

18, at Our Lady of Peace Residence, 

Scranton. Committal was 

at Saint Catherine’s Cemetery in 

Moscow. 

Memorial contributions 

may be made to support the retired 

IHM Sisters c/o the IHM 

Sisters Retirement Fund, IHM 

Center, 2300 Adams Avenue, 

Scranton, PA 18509. 

Father Simon Mary Engler 

T.O.R. 

Father Simon Mary Engler 

of the Third Order Regular Franciscan 

Friars of the Province of 

the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus 

died Monday, February 18 at 

Saint Francis Friary at Mount 

Assisi, Loretto. He was 92. 

Eternal rest grant unto them 

O Lord, and let perpetual 

light thine upon them. May 

they rest in peace. Amen. 


He was born May 22, 1920 

in Williamsport and given the 

name Joseph Henry. He was the 

son of the late Joseph and Mary 

(Seewald) Engler. 

He graduated from Saint 

Joseph Grade School and Saint 

Joseph High School, both in 

Williamsport. After high school 

graduation, he entered the Third 

Order Regular on July 7, 1942. 

He professed first vows on July 

8, 1943 and his solemn vows on 

July 10, 1945. 

Father Simon Mary was ordained 

to the priesthood by the 

late Auxiliary Bishop John M. 

McNamara of the Archdiocese 

of Washington, DC at the Basilica 

of the National Shrine of 

the Immaculate Conception on 

February 10, 1949. 

Father Simon Mary received 

a B.A. degree in Philosophy 

from Saint Francis College, 

Loretto and studied Theology at 

Saint Francis Seminary, Loretto. 

During his long and faithful 

ministry, Father Simon Mary 

served as follows: 1949-1962 

Bhagalpur (Bihar) India. His 

work primary dealt with the 

formation of indigenous Franciscan 

vocations; 1963-1980 as 

Chaplain to various hospitals in 

the Diocese of Pittsburgh; 1980- 

1995 as Chaplain to the Veterans 

Hospital in Cleveland, OH; 

1995-1997 as a parochial vicar 

in the Diocese of Sioux Fall, SD; 

and 1997 to 2013 in local prayer 

ministry at Saint Francis Friary 

at Mount Assisi, Loretto. 

Father Simon Mary is survived 

by a sister, Mrs. Arlene 

Agnor, Williamsport, nieces 

and nephews and his Franciscan 

brothers. 

The funeral Mass for Father 

Simon Mary Engler T.O.R. was 

celebrated Thursday, February 

21 in the Saint Francis Friary 

Chapel with Father Nicholas 

Polichnowski T.O.R., minister 

provincial, as principal celebrant. 

Committal was in the 

Franciscan Friars Cemetery on 

the campus of Saint Francis University, 

Loretto. 

Memorial contributions 

may be made to support the retired 

T.O.R. Friars c/o Friars Retirement 

fund, Post Office Box 

137, Loretto. PA 15940. 

Polish American Priests Association 

P.A.P.A. 

Priests from all regions of the United States will gather in Pittsburgh from April 8th to April 12th for their 24th Annual convention. 

The theme of this year’s Convention is “Growth in Priestly Holiness.” 

Stanislaus Cardinal Dziwisz, the former secretary to Blessed John Paul II is expected to attend. 

The Solemn Convention Mass will be held on Thursday, April 11th at 5:00 PM in Pittsburgh at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 3058 Brereton St. (Polish Hill). The Public is invited 

to attend this Mass. 

The Convention Banquet at 7:00 PM on April 11th will be held on the Gateway Clipper in Pittsburgh. The public may also attend this banquet. Tickets for the Gateway Clipper Cruise and 

Banquet may be obtained by filling out the form below. 

Yes I (We) want to attend the Gateway Clipper Cruise and Banquet at 7:00 PM on April 11. 

Name____________________________Address____________________________City_________________State__________Zip_________ 

Number of tickets requested_____ Each ticket will require a $50.00 Donation 

A convention Booklet Will be Published. 

We rely on your organization and business sponsorship for the success of our convention. Please spread 

the word and help us out! Even if you cannot attend, you can support our endeavors by donating. 

Full Page Ad - $150 Half Page Ad - $100 Quarter page Ad - $50 Patron Ad - $25.00 

Premier Ad - (Inside and Outside Cover) $300.00 

Deadline for all Advertisements to be submitted is March 15th 

Make checks and artwork payable to: Papa Booklet, Rev. Msgr. B. Przybocki 

7923 Admiral Peary Highway, Cresson, PA 16630 

Yes, I want to Advertise in the PAPA Convention Booklet 

Email Artwork To: 

StMarksofAltoona@Atlanticbb.net 

Fax: 814-942-1127 

Mail Banquet Request To: 

Rev. Msgr. B. Przybocki, 

7923 Admiral Peary Highway, 

Cresson, PA 16630 

Enclosed is a check for $______ 

made payable to: 

PAPA Banquet 

Phone (814)659-0032)

PERIODICAL RATE MAIL 


Photo And Text 

By Bruce A. Tomaselli 

Catechumens, Candidates Welcomed At Rites 

There is a tangible connection 

between the innocence of 

children and the Gospel teachings 

of Jesus. 

Bishop Mark L. Bartchak 

told the story of little Tommy 

who fell to temptation. He related 

the story at the Rite of 

Election for Catechumens and 

Call to Continuing Conversion 

of Candidates. 

The Rites were celebrated 

on Sunday, February 17 at 

Saint John Gualbert Cathedral 

in Johnstown, and the Cathedral 

of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. 

Continued Bishop Mark 

during his Homily, Tommy’s father 

gave him permission to go 

play with his friends one Saturday, 

but warned him not to go 

swimming in a nearby pond. 

Upon returning home his 

father could see that his hair 

was wet and he was carrying 

his swimming trunks. “Didn’t I 

tell you not to go swimming,” 

admonished the father. “Yes, sir, 

the boy said. 

His father than asked him 

why he did. “Well dad”, explained 

Tommy, I had my bathing 

suit with me and I couldn’t 

resist temptation.” 

To which his father replied, 

“Then, why did you take your 

bathing suit with you?,” asked 

the father. 

With a straight face, Tommy 

answered, “So I’d be prepared to 

swim in case I was tempted.” 

CATECHUMEN: Bishp Mark L. Bartchak greets catechumen 

Christine Wasserman (center) and her son Branden, at the Rite of 

Election for Catechumens and Call to Continuing Conversion for 

Candidates Sunday, March 17 at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral, 

Johnstown. Wasserman, of Saint Nicholas Parish, Nicktown, is 

flanked by her sponsors, Archie and Sue Morris. 

“Preparation and temptation. 

I can see that there are 

some of you who understand 

Tommy’s thinking and behavior,” 

smiled Bishop Mark. “The 

truth is that all of us experience 

temptation and all of us know 

what preparation is all about.” 

Bishop Mark said that leading 

up to this celebration, “you 

candidates (114) and catechumens 

(53) have shared with me 

through letters, stories of your 

temptation and your preparation 

for this day. 

“In your letters you explained 

that, unlike Tommy who 

seemed to remain clueless in 

spite of his father’s directions, 

you have come to realize that 

your frame of reference is not 

The Catholic 

Register 

simply a rule or admonition 

like, don’t go swimming in the 

pond. 

“You have come to realize 

that the frame of reference is a 

real person, the person of the 

Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Catechumen Christine Wasserman 

of Saint Nicholas Parish 

in Nicktown says her Catholic 

faith has “made me a better person, 

and it has brought our family 

together.” 

Her son, Branden, 10, attended 

the event with his mother. 

“He’s my support today,” Christine 

said. She and her husband, 

Barry have another son, Devan, 

8. The boys attend Northern 

Cambria Catholic School. 

“When we moved to Nicktown 

we wanted our children 

to become Catholic and attend 

Catholic School,” said Christine. 

“They enjoy going to Sunday 

school and they love their 

teachers. 

“I decided that by converting 

to Catholicism I could help 

my childrens’ spiritual life as 

well as my own. This is a nice 

learning experience for all of us. 

“This process has made me 

more patient and understanding. 

I now have a regular prayer life, 

and I feel like I have a better 

understanding of what life is all 

about.” 

Bishop Mark reminded that 

Jesus was able to overcome the 

temptations of his life because 

of his preparation. That was 

especially evident in his constant 

and enduring prayer life in 

which He always sought to communicate 

with His loving Father 

who is our Father. 

Dave Springer began preparation 

for his conversion to 

Catholicism as a young child. 

As a youngster growing up in 

California he prayed the rosary 

even though his family wasn’t 

Catholic. 

“I used to ask my mom why 

we didn’t attend the Mother of 

all churches,” recalled Springer. 

“My mom would just say we believe 

differently.” 

The parishioner of Saint 

Clement Parish in Johnstown, 

said he has always yearned to 

learn more about the faith. “Over 

the years I made three attempts 

at conversion, but because of 

life circumstances I was never 

able to complete the process,” 

he explained. 

“It’s because of these two 

ladies,” he gestured in the direction 

of Andrea Rick and Terri 

Ray, “that I’m here and will finish 

the process.” Ray and Rick 

are coordinators of the Rite of 

Christian Initiation of Adults 

(R.C.I.A.) at Saint Clement’s. 

“I met these two ladies and 

their deep faith and friendliness 

have encouraged me to stay on 

the path and become Catholic,” 

Springer added. “The Catholic 

Church provides a sense of community 

that I don’t feel in any 

other church.” 

Bishop Mark spoke of the 

season of Lent as a time to prepare. 

“Candidates and Catechumens, 

and all of us here are reminded 

by Jesus how we are to 

prepare during this holy season 

of Lent for the fulfillment that 

we are seeking through Christ. 

“He says, ‘Repent and believe 

in the gospel.’ Although 

today is an important milestone 

for you, it is not the end of the 

story. 

“Remember what Saint 

Paul tells us,” reminded Bishop 

Mark. “It is God who saves us 

and calls us to a holy life and 

bestows His grace on us through 

His Son Jesus Christ.” 

Bishop Mark continued that 

“Your day to go swimming, in 

the living water of the grace 

of the Word of God; the grace 

of the waters of Baptism; the 

grace of the Holy Spirit who is 

poured out in Confirmation; and 

the grace of the Body and Blood 

of Christ in the Holy Eucharist; 

your day, your time of fulfillment 

is not too far away.” 

Official Publication of the 

Diocese of Altoona - Johnstown

March 11, 2013 - Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

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