ACTIVITIES - SAINT MARK'S AND HOLY ROSARY AND OTHER PARISHES AROUND THE AREA 21 CLUB BASKET RAFFLE will be held June 22, 2025, in Saint Mark’s Rec Hall. Doors open at noon. We would like to have raffle items and baskets turned in by June 15. Suggestions for chance items include gift cards, small appliances, jewelry, designer items. Tickets ($5 each) will be sold after Masses up to the day of the raffle and in the Rectory Office during regular office hours. The $5 ticket gives you a door prize ticket and 25 tickets for the baskets and a lite lunch. Additional tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event. Contact person: Sally Young 814 502-9059 FATHER’S DAY CEREAL COLLECTION – Bishop Mark has once again requested that each parish in Blair County sponsor a cereal collection at all Masses starting on Father’s Day weekend and up to the weekend of June 29 when the boxes of cereal collected by the representative of St. Vincent DePaul Society, Judy Savine, and who been doing this for lot of years. PARISHES’ PICNIC FOR HOLY ROSARY AND SAINT MARK’S will be held Sunday, June 29, at DelGrosso’s Amusement Park: 1-2:30 pm Bingo, 2:30 pm Dinner. The Sign-Up sheet will be at the back of both churches in the blue binder this weekend. List name, how many will be attending and # of meals. #1 Picnic Lunch:1/4# Angus Burger and Kunzler Hot Dog, Baked Beans, Murf’s Potato Salad - $13 meal #2 Picnic Lunch – Child Meal – 1 Hot Dog, 2 side dishes - $9.75 meal #3 Pasta & Rotisserie Barbecued Chicken Lunch: ½ Chicken, penne pasta in DelGrosso Meat Flavored sauce, salad, roll & butter - $13 meal. A pickle spear, Pepsi fountain drink and Galliker’s vanilla ice cream cup will be included with each meal. FATHER’S DAY – There is a special envelope in your box of envelopes for Father’s Day. Envelopes will be placed on the altar and remain there for the rest of the year and remembered at Masses. HOLY ROSARY CHURCH’S 125TH ANNIVERSARY – Monthly meetings will be held at 6:00 pm in Holy Rosary Basement. Social, Directory/History, Spiritual & Communications Committees are forming and starting to move forward with plans. We welcome additional members to upcoming meetings. Dear Parishioners, the next meeting is Monday, June 30, 2025. We have begun planning events for next year. Starting this year, we would like to have several fundraisers to help offset the expenses of these plans. Our first planned fundraiser will be a 50/50 raffle which we will start selling this weekend. We will hold the drawing during the meal at the Parish Picnic. Tickets are $5 each and the winner need not be present to win. If you would like to help sell tickets to family and friends, please contact Kathleen Winter at 814 591-0248. We look forward to celebrating with you and your family over the next year and half. HOLY ROSARY’S 125th ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL – EGYPT: Joseph’s Journey from Prison to Palace will be held at Holy Rosary – June 23-27, 2025 – 9:00 - 11:45 am. All ages are welcome (under 5 with a parent). Registration Forms are available at the back of both churches and can be put into the collection baskets. Anyone who would like to help or register, please call Holy Rosary Rectory. There will be a meeting on Monday, June 16 at 6:30 pm in Holy Rosary Hall for all who are helping. PARISH CURVE GAME – Join our parishes on a local trip to an Altoona Curve baseball game on Friday, July 18, 2025, at 6:30 pm. We will begin selling tickets for $11/ticket after all Masses beginning May 31, 2025. If you have any questions, please call Robyn Murphy 814 931-5683. SAINT VINCENT DePAUL SOCIETY meeting will be Sunday, June 15, 2025, after the 8:30 am Mass in the CCD Classroom at Saint Mark’s Church. MARTHA’S MAIDS – Saint Mark’s church cleaning is scheduled for Saturday, June 14 – 8:30 am - volunteers are welcome. OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH HALL – June 20 & 21, 2025 - Yard Sale – 9 am – 2 pm – Variety of items – Bake Sale – Call 814 943-6185 if you have any items to drop off. JUBILEE 2025 PILGRIMS OF HOPE MAY PRAYER INTENTION OF POPE FRANCIS FOR WORKING CONDITIONS Let us pray that through work each person might find fulfillment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society may be humanized. Amen. JUNE PRAYER INTENTION OF POPE FRANCIS THAT THE WORLD MIGHT GROW IN COMPASSION Let us pray that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from his Heart, learn to have compassion in the world. Amen. Pope Francis’ earnest desire was that the Jubilee Year may provide an opportunity “to be renewed in hope” not only for the millions of pilgrims who will travel to Rome for this Jubilee, but also for those who, unable to do so, will celebrate in their local churches through the pilgrimages to Marian shrines and holy sites. ========================================================================= HOLLIDAYSBURG VETERANS’ HOME – A thank you letter was received by our St. Vincent De Paul Chapter for the generous donation of sweatpants, hats, gloves, sweat jackets, socks, shirts, and lotions to the Veterans Closet Donation Room. Our generosity and support was appreciated by the residents as well as the staff and administration. FOSTER GRANDPARENT & SENIOR COMPANION VOLUNTEER PROGRAM - If you are looking for an opportunity to bless someone, contact Blair Senior Services, Inc. They are in need of Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions. For more information on how to pay it forward or for an application, please contact the Volunteer Program Office at 814 946-1235 and ask for Jackie Rollo. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO THE NATIONAL SHRINE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Friday, October 17, 2025, there will be a bus trip with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to the National Shrine. The pilgrimage will include 2 pm Mass with Bishop Mark in the Upper Church. This is an official Holy Door Site named by Pope Francis for the Jubilee Year. Please talk to Father Nelson or call either rectory if you are interested. More information to follow. ========================================================================== JANUARY 2025 FOR THE RIGHT TO AN EDUCATION PRAYER INTENTION OF POPE FRANCIS Let us pray for migrants, refugees and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected. Amen. Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown Pilgrim Holy Sites Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Altoona Saint John Gualbert Cathedral, Johnstown Our Lady of the Alleghenies, Lilly Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel, Loretto Our Lady Queen of Angels, Central City Immaculate Conception Church, Dudley Our Lady of Victory Church, State College Saint Joseph Mission Church, Carrolltown Queen of Archangels Church, Clarence Saint Mary Church, Shade Gap Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Bean’s Cove Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Johnstown Pope Francis has decreed the year 2025 as a Jubilee Year calling all to be Pilgrims of Hope. Catholic Charities will be using the influence of Pope Francis to provide training opportunities to understand what poverty looks like in each parish community. Dates for the live workshops will be shared with each Deanery for the Lenten season. The knowledge provided will have participants embrace how they can bring hope and respond to real situations in their parish communities and local neighborhoods. More information will be provided closer to the Lenten Season. The first Jubilee in the Catholic Church was proclaimed in the year 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII and has been continued from that time on to be held every 25 years. Pope Francis chose the motto “Pilgrims of Hope” for the Jubilee as the world is still in the midst of our post-pandemic years. Hope does not disappoint. Pope Francis notes that the Jubilee has always been an event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church” encouraging all the faithful “to be tangible signs of hope.” Pope Francis has cast the Jubilee as an opportunity for conversion, reconciliation with God through the Sacrament of Penance, obtaining indulgences for ourselves and the faithfully departed, through God’s mercy, renewing our faith and love through hope, and proclaiming God’s love to the many people suffering in today’s world. FEBRUARY 2025 – FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD & RELIGIOUS LIFE – MONTHLY INTENTION PRAYER INTENTION OF POPE FRANCIS Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life. Amen. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. MARCH 2025 – FOR FAMILIES IN CRISIS – MONTHLY INTENTION PRAYER INTENTION OF POPE FRANCIS Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences. Amen ---------------------------- What does the Bible say about 2025? Matthew 24:42 remind us: “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” As we step into 2025, let’s remain prayerful and grounded in Scripture. ------------------------- ====================================================================== JUBILEE 2025 PILGRIMS OF HOPE APRIL PRAYER INTENTION OF POPE FRANCIS For the Use of New Technologies Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crisis of our times. Amen. Good Father, I know you are with me. Here I am on this new day. Place my heart once more next to the Heart of Your Son Jesus, who is giving himself for me and who comes to me in the Eucharist ================================================ SAINT MARK CHURCH CLEANING – Saturday, May 10 - 8:30 am - volunteers are welcome. =============================================================================== VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES at Garvey Manor & Our Lady of the Alleghenies Residence The rewards of volunteering are many, but none is as great a knowing that you can help someone live with the quality and dignity that they deserve. Just a few hours of your time as a volunteer would make a lasting impact on the residents. Flexible schedules are offered to the volunteers so that you can give of your time and talents weekly, monthly, or even periodically for special functions and programs. Volunteers can help by being a Eucharistic Minister, Providing Companionship and Visits, Sharing your Talents by singing or playing an instrument, etc. For more information, contact Kathy LaVelle at 814 694-5571, extension 4009 or email: [email protected] ======================================================= BOY SCOUT TROOP 49 SHOE DRIVE – Thanks to all of your donations, the shoe drive collected 3,867 pairs of shoes for a total profit of $2,048. Troop 49 thanks you for your generous support! COOKBOOKS – Our 125th Anniversary Cookbook is still available. They make great gifts. Cost $5; available at St. Mark’s Rectory and in the Sacristy. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Pray for Us. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO – The Combined Churches Social Committee has put together the following activities for 2025. You might want to mark your calendars.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SAINT MARY ADORATION CHAPEL at 712 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, PA has five time slots available: Tuesday – 9 pm – 10 pm; Tuesday – 11 pm – 12 midnight; Thursday 4 pm – 5 pm; Friday – 8 am – 9 am; Friday – 10 am – 11 am. You are invited to come pray to the Blessed Sacrament. Please call or text Katie at 814 502-8436. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FACEBOOK – facebook.com/saintmarksofaltoona - “Like us” on Facebook ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAINED GLASS WINDOWS AT SAINT MARK’S Week #4, Window #4 (4th from the front on left): Saint Mark and Saint Barnabas were relatives, possibly cousins, who made several missionary journeys together. Barnabas was an early prominent Christian disciple in Jerusalem, first mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as one who sold some land he owned and gave the proceeds to the Apostles. He introduced St. Paul to the Apostles, accompanied Paul on some of his missionary journeys, and is also mentioned in some of Paul’s Epistles. According to tradition, Barnabas was martyred by being tortured and stoned to death around 61 A.D. This window depicts Mark and Barnabas departing on a missionary journey to Cyprus where they preached all over the island, using the Gospel of St. Matthew, the first Gospel written. St. Mark is shown traveling lightly, carrying only a purple traveling bag and a walking stick or staff, shown again at the bottom in the middle windowpane. The fire in the lower left windowpane might serve as a reminder that these missionaries are led by the Holy Spirit (often symbolized by fire) as they go forth to spread the fire of God’s love by preaching the “good news” of Jesus Christ. The symbol of the lion is frequently used to represent St. Mark the Evangelist, probably because St. Mark begins his Gospel with scenes of St. John the Baptist and Jesus in the wilderness. It is interesting to note that, at the time the Gospels were written, lions still inhabited caves within Palestine. Often the lion symbolizing St. Mark is a winged lion as in this image, wings being a symbol of divine mission. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. Week #5, Window #5 (5th from the front on left): In this window Saint Paul is shown under house arrest in chains, in Rome with a soldier guarding him. This event occurred during St. Paul’s second Roman captivity shortly before his martyrdom in 63 A.D. Sacred Scripture relates to St. Mark was with St. Paul to help and comfort him. (1 Colossians 4: 10-11) St. Paul near the end of his Epistle to the Ephesians, describes himself as an “ambassador in chains” as he boldly makes known the mystery of the Gospel. The bottom left windowpane depicts a griffin, a mythological creature which possesses the parts of great predator animals, such as a lion and an eagle. For this reason, it is a perfect symbol of Satan, the great predator of the Christian. The middle pane illustrates the Bible with the Latin words “Spiritus Gladius”, translated “Sword of the Spirit”, imposed on a double-edged sword. This symbol is reference to St. Paul’s admonition in his Epistle to the Ephesians, written during his imprisonment. He tells them and us to “put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil… In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of the God” (Ephesians 6” 10-17) The bottom right pane shows the shield of faith mentioned above; the three circles on the shield possibly represent the Holy Trinity, the central mystery of our faith. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out our Facebook page and see the new addition put there describing the stained-glass windows in Saint Mark’s Church. Week #6, Window #6 (1st window on the right-hand side of the church): This window presents St. Mark with parchment and a feather pen in hand, writing his Gospel as St. Peter dictates to him. Christ, crowned in glory, with the wounds of his hands and feet, appears above them, holding the world in His hands, with angels at his side. (Note the winged lion on the side of St. Mark’s writing desk signifying his divine mission in writing the Gospel, as well as the scroll proclaiming “Pax Tibi” or “Peace to Y ou”.) The Gospel of St. Mark (the second Gospel) written in Rome before 60 A.D. is a record of the life of Jesus through the eyes of St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles (shown again with the keys to the kingdom hanging from his waist). For this reason, St. Peter plays a prominent role in St. Mark’s Gospel whose purpose is to prove to the Romans (and us) that Jesus is the Savior and that He is divine. Thus, a high point in Mark’s Gospel occurs when the Roman centurion proclaims, following the death of Jesus, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” FACEBOOK – facebook.com/saintmarksofaltoona - “Like us” on Facebook Check out our Facebook page and see the new addition put there describing the stained-glass windows in Saint Mark’s Church. Week #9, Window #9 (4th window on the right-hand side of the church): In this window, Saint Mark is shown reminiscing about the events in the life of Christ as seen through the eyes of Saint Peter. In the upper left, the table at which Jesus ate His Last Supper with the Apostles is pictured. On the table is the chalice reminding us of the Blood of Christ which was poured out at Calvary. The arrest of Jesus is illustrated beside the table. On the right is depicted one of the miracles of Jesus, probably the cure of the blind man near Bethsaida which is described only in Mark’s Gospel. To the right of Saint Mark is shown the fig tree with leaves, but no fruit, an allusion to the story where Jesus cursed the fig tree, causing it to wither. To his left is seen the Gospel of Mark in the paws of the winged lion, mentioned previously as the symbol of the evangelist Mark. This points to the fact that, in his Gospel, Mark dwells most fully on the Resurrection of Christ and proclaims with great emphasis the royal dignity of Christ. (Recall that lions are known as “the king of beasts” and wings are a symbol of divine mission). Because it was once believed that young lions were born dead but came to life three days later when breathed upon by the father, the lion has become associated with the Resurrection and is thus a symbol for Christ, the Lord of life! On the bottom left, the empty tomb is surrounded by a sunburst symbolizing that Christ, who died on the cross has risen from the dead. In the middle pane, behind the cross, the books of the four Gospels, which tell the story of Christ, are presented. To the right, the open book of the Gospel of Mark, originally written in Greek, is shown accompanied by a quill pen and inkhorn. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out our Facebook page and see the new addition put there describing the stained-glass windows in Saint Mark’s Church. Week #10, Window #10 (5th window on the right-hand side of the church): This window shows St. Mark, the Patron Saint of Venice, Italy, seated on his throne with one hand raised in blessing and the other hand holding his Gospel opened to the Latin greeting “Pax Tibi”, translated “Peace to you”, which is a common greeting used by Jesus with His disciples. To his right stands a pedestal holding a small replica of the winged lion which also happens to be the emblem of Venice. To the top left of St. Mark is a copy of the coat of arms of Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958-1963, around the time these windows were installed, and the church was remodeled according to the reforms of Vatican II. (Prior to being elected Pope, he was the Cardinal Patriarch of Venice.) The components which make up this coat of arms from top to bottom are as follows: The Papal tiara (triple crown) represents the Pope’s three functions as supreme pastor, teacher and priest; the keys, a part of every Pope’s coat of arms, represent the Pope’s dual authority of binding and loosing; the winged lion holding St. Mark’s Gospel opened to the words “Pax Tibi, Marce, Evangelista Meus”; the Fleur De Lys can refer to Mary and also the Trinity because of its three parts forming one figure; the Tower of St. John is located in the Vatican Gardens, a place of quiet meditation and reflection for the Popes. Pope John XXIII chose this tower to be his hermitage; his coat of arms adorns the main door. Below this seal, a gondola floats in one of the canals of Venice. The bottom left pane pictures a ship symbolizing Mark’s missionary journeys or the Church. The banner in the middle pane contains the Latin greeting mentioned above “Pax Tibi, Marce, evangelist meus”, translated as “Peace to you Mark my Evangelist”. This greeting has its origin in the legend that, on the night before his martyrdom, while St. Mark was in prison, an angel appeared to him, strengthening him with the assurance that “Your name has been written in the book of life”. After the angel departed, as Mark thanked God for sending the angel, Jesus himself appeared to him with the greeting, “Peace be to you, Mark, my disciple and evangelist”. St. Mark started to shout, “Oh my Lord Jesus”, but the vision disappeared. On the right pane is pictured a golden reliquary containing, it is said, a fragment of the original Gospel in the handwriting of St. Mark. Around 815 A.D. Venetian merchants trading to Alexandria, Egypt, carried off (stole) the relics of St. Mark which they deposited in the city of Venice where the stately Basilica Church of St. Mark was built over them. Since then Saint Mark has been honored as the patron saint of Venice. COME VISIT SAINT MARK'S AND SEE THE WINDOWS AND JOIN US FOR MASS. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME TO PRAY AND SING WITH US. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY, WATCH OVER US. SAINT MARK, PRAY FOR US. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COOKBOOKS MAKE A NICE GIFT COOKBOOKS – Just a reminder that Saint Mark’s125th Anniversary Cookbooks are for sale at a reduced price of $5 each – they are available at the Rectory. They make a nice wedding, shower, or a “just because” gift. An observation from a parishioner: "I had some extra time just sitting around and I decided to look through this cookbook again. I was so impressed with the number of recipes and started to think that I should be making some of those things. The cookbook is outstanding and thanks to everyone who had anything to do with its publication. I understand there are still some copies left and I would suggest that you stop at the Rectory and buy a few." The cookbook has 381 recipes which includes a few celebrity recipes by Lauren Kudlawiec who was the 2nd place winner cooking contestant on the Rachel Ray Show; Mary Balkavich who had a recipe published in Country Woman Magazine, and Keith Auker, the head chef at UPMC, Altoona. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISE – One of Saint Mark’s Arise Groups recently made some “blessing bags” that were distributed to those in the City of Altoona who were in need. On the bag were the words “A Big Hug from Saint Mark’s.” The bags which included many items of need and use were given to the Altoona Police Department to distribute. The story of this group has been featured on Proclaim! TV by the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese “Faith Forward” which is an E-News Series which highlights individuals or groups who are putting their Catholic faith into action by sharing their time and talent to help others. God Bless You and Thank You to this special group of women. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOLY ROSARY – Did you remember to bring a non-perishable food item for the St. Vincent Food Bank? There is a basket in the Vestibule at Holy Rosary inside the front door for donations. Thank you, donors! GARVEY MANOR AND OUR LADY OF THE ALLEGHENIES RESIDENCE are currently recruiting volunteers for a variety of positions. Even an hour or two a week or month for an individual's time can make a difference. Please contact KATHY LaVALLE, volunteer coordinator at 695-5571. HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWS Campus Locations: HTCS Altoona (Saint Therese’s Site- 814 381-7011) - 424 Wopsononock Avenue HTCS Hollidaysburg (St. Michael’s Site – 814 695-6112) – 321 Spruce Street; and HTCS Middle School – (St. Rose Site- 814 942-7835) 5519 6th Avenue, Altoona. For those of you who are interested in learning more about Holy Trinity Catholic School or are thinking of enrolling your children, we encourage you to call and schedule a tour at one of our two elementary buildings or the middle school campus. We cannot think of a better way for you to learn about the school then to come and see for yourself the awesome power of our Catholic School Family. Telephone numbers are listed in the above paragraph. HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWS – Bingo on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Saint Rose of Lima basement. Doors open at 5 pm, games start at 7 pm, admission package is $35 which includes 18 cards for 24 regular games and 5 special cards. Any questions can be directed to Anita Zeth or Jan Crossman: 814 942-7835 |