Very Reverend John D. Byrnes, JV, JCL
As we close the Christmas Season today, the month of January will be filled with numerous opportunities to witness to our faith in Jesus Christ! Her is what our parish is doing this month!!
January 14-15 End of Christmas / Help Needed - We will disassemble our Christmas manger, move flowers, etc. Monday and Tuesday January 14 and 15 at 10:00 AM. Anyone free at that time is welcome to help. The retired people of the parish are especially welcome! Many hands make light work!
January 22 Loretto PRO-LIFE March - On Tuesday January 22, we mark the sad anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade (1973) which legalized abortion. This day is observed in all diocese of the United States as a particular Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. It is a day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person through acts of abortion, and of prayer for full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. Personal acts of penance (prayer, fasting, etc.) are appropriate on this day. Our daily Mass is at 7:30 AM.
Here in Loretto, we will promote the Pro-Life message with the March on the Mountain at St. Francis University ! Our St. Michael School students and I will be at Saint Francis University, Immaculate Conception Chapel, for the Rosary at 10:30 AM,/the March around Campus at 11 AM. Mass is celebrated at 12 noon and Eucharistic Adoration starting at 12:30 PM. This is a great opportunity for all who want to make their voices heard and who are unable to attend the March For Life in Washington, D. C. on Friday, January 18.
January 26- Catholic Schools Week 2019 will be observed the week of January 27th – February 1rd. I look forward to our kick-off celebration Saturday January 26 with our St. Michael School Students attending our 4 PM Mass as a group, followed by a Pot Luck dinner in Our Lady of Loretto Community Hall, and Open House! I am looking forward to a great week!
January 31 Saint John Vianney Relic Pilgrimage Coming to Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown has been selected as one of the stops in the national Saint John Vianney Relic Pilgrimage. The Incorrupt Heart of Saint John Vianney, patron saint of priests, will be present at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona on January 31. The faithful will have the extraordinary opportunity to venerate the relic throughout the day between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at 6:45 AM, 8 AM, 12 Noon and 5:30 PM.
Mrs. Phister and I, and our 5th-8th Grade St. Michael School Students will be at the Cathedral for the pilgrimage and the celebration of the Noon Mass. My brother priests and I will be available throughout the day at the cathedral to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confessions). All are invited to the 5:30 PM concelebrated Mass — with Bishop Mark Bartchak presiding. A special indulgence has been granted to all those who will make the pilgrimage to the Cathedral for veneration of the first class relic of Saint John Vianney, patron of priests.
January 29 Father Bob Hiltz, TOR will offer a Healing Mass with Anointing of the Sick on Tuesday January 29 at 7 PM here in the Basilica. All are invited, especially those in need of spiritual healing.
LENT 2019 -Arise Together in Christ - As we begin 2019, we are very much in need of an opportunity for spiritual and pastoral renewal in our parish and diocese. What more could we desire in our diocese than parishioners with a greater understanding of our faith and a stronger relationship with the Lord, participating more fully in parish life and inviting others to join in? To accomplish this, Bishop Mark has requested our participation in Arise Together in Christ, beginning in 2018 and continuing into 2020.
We are currently forming Arise prayer groups for Lent . We will also need to order the books for the program. If you are considering a team please pray on it and contact me or the Parish Office. As for those who have signed up, we will be contacting you shortly to give further instructions.
Please consider being part of an Arise team or creating your own prayer team!”
~Thank You, Bob Chumrik, Arise Coordinator for Saint Michael the Archangel. 814-505-2735
February 2-3 Blessing of Throats - Deacon Rick and I will offer the traditional individual Blessing of Throats in commemoration of the feast of St. Blaise on the weekend of February 2- 3 following all Masses. We will follow the French custom and enjoy a piece of hard candy after the blessing….in thanks to God for the gift of taste, breath and speech!
January 14-15 End of Christmas / Help Needed - We will disassemble our Christmas manger, move flowers, etc. Monday and Tuesday January 14 and 15 at 10:00 AM. Anyone free at that time is welcome to help. The retired people of the parish are especially welcome! Many hands make light work!
January 22 Loretto PRO-LIFE March - On Tuesday January 22, we mark the sad anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade (1973) which legalized abortion. This day is observed in all diocese of the United States as a particular Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. It is a day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person through acts of abortion, and of prayer for full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life. Personal acts of penance (prayer, fasting, etc.) are appropriate on this day. Our daily Mass is at 7:30 AM.
Here in Loretto, we will promote the Pro-Life message with the March on the Mountain at St. Francis University ! Our St. Michael School students and I will be at Saint Francis University, Immaculate Conception Chapel, for the Rosary at 10:30 AM,/the March around Campus at 11 AM. Mass is celebrated at 12 noon and Eucharistic Adoration starting at 12:30 PM. This is a great opportunity for all who want to make their voices heard and who are unable to attend the March For Life in Washington, D. C. on Friday, January 18.
January 26- Catholic Schools Week 2019 will be observed the week of January 27th – February 1rd. I look forward to our kick-off celebration Saturday January 26 with our St. Michael School Students attending our 4 PM Mass as a group, followed by a Pot Luck dinner in Our Lady of Loretto Community Hall, and Open House! I am looking forward to a great week!
January 31 Saint John Vianney Relic Pilgrimage Coming to Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown has been selected as one of the stops in the national Saint John Vianney Relic Pilgrimage. The Incorrupt Heart of Saint John Vianney, patron saint of priests, will be present at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona on January 31. The faithful will have the extraordinary opportunity to venerate the relic throughout the day between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at 6:45 AM, 8 AM, 12 Noon and 5:30 PM.
Mrs. Phister and I, and our 5th-8th Grade St. Michael School Students will be at the Cathedral for the pilgrimage and the celebration of the Noon Mass. My brother priests and I will be available throughout the day at the cathedral to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confessions). All are invited to the 5:30 PM concelebrated Mass — with Bishop Mark Bartchak presiding. A special indulgence has been granted to all those who will make the pilgrimage to the Cathedral for veneration of the first class relic of Saint John Vianney, patron of priests.
January 29 Father Bob Hiltz, TOR will offer a Healing Mass with Anointing of the Sick on Tuesday January 29 at 7 PM here in the Basilica. All are invited, especially those in need of spiritual healing.
LENT 2019 -Arise Together in Christ - As we begin 2019, we are very much in need of an opportunity for spiritual and pastoral renewal in our parish and diocese. What more could we desire in our diocese than parishioners with a greater understanding of our faith and a stronger relationship with the Lord, participating more fully in parish life and inviting others to join in? To accomplish this, Bishop Mark has requested our participation in Arise Together in Christ, beginning in 2018 and continuing into 2020.
We are currently forming Arise prayer groups for Lent . We will also need to order the books for the program. If you are considering a team please pray on it and contact me or the Parish Office. As for those who have signed up, we will be contacting you shortly to give further instructions.
Please consider being part of an Arise team or creating your own prayer team!”
~Thank You, Bob Chumrik, Arise Coordinator for Saint Michael the Archangel. 814-505-2735
February 2-3 Blessing of Throats - Deacon Rick and I will offer the traditional individual Blessing of Throats in commemoration of the feast of St. Blaise on the weekend of February 2- 3 following all Masses. We will follow the French custom and enjoy a piece of hard candy after the blessing….in thanks to God for the gift of taste, breath and speech!