THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY OF
​SAINT MARK'S AND HOLY ROSARY

SAINT MARK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH               HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH

                          












​416 Sixth Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602 
TELEPHONE NUMBER:   814 942-0364
Pastor
​Father Nelson Javier T.O.R. 

OUR MISSION 
The parish of Saint Mark’s Roman Catholic Church is a friendly and family-oriented church.  We dedicate ourselves to proclaiming God’s Word, the dispensing of sacraments, and the building of a community of believers. We include in our mission our parish family, guests, our homes for the elderly, and our youth.  Our intention is to do what Jesus asks of his disciples in the Gospel of Saint Mark,
“… ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the
gospel to every creature’.”
                                                                             Mark 16:15
We emphasize Trinitarian spirituality as expressed
​in the following prayer:
Father use me.  Jesus heal me.  Spirit teach me.  
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SAINT MARK – Patron Saint of Attorneys, Captives and Notaries – Feast Day, April 25
     Saint Mark was the author of the second Gospel and a disciple of Peter.  He is said to have traveled with Peter and Barnabas, who was Mark’s cousin, on missionary work on the island of Cyprus.  He is also said to have been with Peter and Paul in Rome.  Believed to have been written in Rome sometime before the year 60 AD, the Gospel of Mark was written in Greek for the Gentile converts to Christianity.  It is widely held that the Romans requested that Mark document the teachings of Peter.  This is supported by the fact that the second Gospel is a record of the life of Jesus from the perspective of Peter.  Representations of Mark often include lions or winged lions and scrolls or books representing his Gospel. 
 
PRAYER TO SAINT MARK
O Glorious Saint Mark, through the grace of God our Father, you became a great Evangelist who preached the good news of Christ.  May you help us to know Him well so that we may faithfully live our lives as followers of Christ.  Saint Mark, we implore you to grant your special graces to our parish family.  May our parish be a shrine of peace, purity, love, labor, and faith.  Help us to share our talents, time, and treasures.  Protect and bless all of us, absent and present, living and dead.  Open our hearts to concern for others, hear our prayers, and obtain our petitions.
                                           Saint Mark, Pray for Us. 

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Pope Leo and Father Nelson, TOR -June 2025
       
​900 N. Fourth Street, Altoona, PA  16601
         TELEPHONE NUMBER:     814 944-6676
       Pastor 
​Father Nelson Javier T.O.R.
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WEEKEND MASSES
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
4:30 pm
Saint Mark's Church

Sunday, Sept 6, 2026 
8:30 am - Saint Mark’s Church 
  11:00 am Holy Rosary Church

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CONFESSIONS
Saturday
​Month of September
Saint Mark's Church
12 noon - 12:30 pm
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SAINT MARK'S AND HOLY ROSARY
23rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
September 6, 2026

TODAY’S READINGS 
TODAY’S READINGS - Today’s readings are all about relationships.  In the first reading, the prophet Ezekial faithfully serves the Lord in his work as watchman over the people.  In the second reading, we learn that love for one another is the fulfillment of the commandments.  In the Gospel, Jesus sets forth the procedure for dealing with a community member who sins against another community member.  God has designed us in such a way that we must help each other on the journey towards heaven. We are “watchmen” for one another. Lovingly and generously share the gift of your Catholic faith.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES - begin next Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Bishop Guilfoyle Academy Fairview Campus (across from St. Therese). Class time is from 9 am to 10:20 am.  Please use ramp entrance. If you have not already done so, please compete a Registration Form.
 
SAINT MARK CLEANING - Next Saturday, September 12th will be the monthly cleaning day for Saint Mark’s please arrive for 8:30 start.  Thank you to all volunteers!
 
THANK YOU! - Father Nelson would like to thank everyone for the greeting cards and gifts he received for his BIRTHDAY! 
 
CANCELLED *** Back-To-School Family Fun Night. ***
due to lack of interest
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SOCIAL COMMITTEE 50/50 RAFFLE - Starting this weekend, the Joint Parish Social Committee will begin selling 50/50 Raffle tickets to cover the cost of upcoming events. Drawing will be held at the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Feast Day Social Hour, Wednesday October 7, 2026.
 
BOSCOV’S FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS SHOPPING PASS
Passes are available at all masses, either rectory or contact Sally Young.  This ONE DAY ONLY Sale is Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 8 AM - 11 PM.  They are $5 for up to 25% Off the Lowest Sale Prices

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EASTER 2024
        Father Nelson Javier, TOR
Pastor of Saint Mark Church and Holy Rosary Church.   
Thank you for being our Spiritual Leader.  God Bless You and Us.
                    Emergency and Sick Calls - 814 515-9464   

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Most Rev. Bishop Mark L. Bartchak, Bishop of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.


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 125TH ANNIVERSARY PRAYER
WRITTEN BY BISHOP MARK L. BARTCHAK
     Father of Mercy, with grateful hearts we celebrate 125 years of our Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.  Send us your Holy Spirit to renew our hearts with the love and grace that inspired your servant, our beloved Demetrius Gallitzin, to bring the Catholic Faith to the heart of Pennsylvania.  Inspired by his apostolic zeal, help us to share the joy of being your sons and daughters. 
     Bless all of us on this journey of faith, which is sustained by hope and enriched by the love that you share in abundance.  We make this prayer through the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church and Patroness of our Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.  Amen.  
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 Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Watch Over Us; Saint Mark, Pray For Us.
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CATHOLIC MINISTRIES DRIVE (CMD)- 2026 - By virtue of our Baptism, we are entrusted with gifts that are meant to be shared for the good of others. 
Most of our parishioners have received the mailing to their homes. The theme this year is Sent to Serve. It is meant to tie into the history of Our Diocese and Our People and remind us that each of us has been Sent to Serve, entrusted with certain gifts meant to serve the Lord and others. Ministries within our Diocese rely on parishioner support and 100% of every donation to the CMD is directed to either the ministries funded by the CMD, or back to parishes in overages. There are envelopes on the back tables should you need one. You can either mail your donation directly to the Diocese or put it in the collection basket and mark either Saint Mark or Holy Rosary on the envelope.
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Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Pray For Us.

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SAINT MARK’S COOKBOOKS are available at the Rectory for $5. 
They make a nice gift. 
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BLESSING HOMES – Priests can bless your home and you also can bless your own home. The family can gather at the front door and one of the family can say the following prayer:     
May we who live in this home guard the sacredness of this doorway.  May God protect all who enter and leave through this doorway.  May we welcome all at this door in the name of Jesus Christ. May the blessing of God and His peace and grace rest upon all who shall pass across this threshold. Amen.
 
When the prayer is finished, the following mark is written above the entrance: 
20 B + G + M 26
The numbers at the beginning and end stand for the year.  The letters are for the names of the Three Wisemen:  Balthasar, Gaspar, and Melchior.
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YOU ARE IMPORTANT   - Your presence here on this website matters.  Thank you for checking in.  When we gather together for Mass, for the celebration of a sacrament, or for prayer, or here on this website, Jesus Christ is present and each of us becomes united with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Your presence makes you part of this connection which cannot be seen on the surface but is a spiritual reality that strengthens our love for one another and reminds us that we are not alone.  This is a movement of the Holy Spirit, who is constantly trying to draw us into God’s love.  You may not have noticed these little tugs before, but while you are here, we hope that you will experience that gentle pull of the Holy Spirit.  When you leave today, you will carry with you the love of Christ which has the power to instill new meaning and purpose in your life and
in the lives of others.  
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​SAINT MARK’S FACEBOOK ­ - Shelly Frank is doing a great job maintaining a Facebook Page for
Saint Mark’s.    The Facebook page is loaded with information and lots of pictures.  Just put the following into your search engine:  www.facebook.com/saintmarksofaltoona   - when you get there, “Like” the page so that it can reach many more of our Friends.  

SAINT MARK'S WEBSITE is maintained direct from the Rectory of Saint Mark's  
We have included Holy Rosary Catholic Church on this website.   
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Please see the Prayers and Spiritual Insights in the Candle Intention Section
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Please see the Bell History and Sister Elaine story in the New Section Labeled History
More to Come in the New Section Liam's Journey!


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