The 28th Street Church of the Brethren’s next free soup will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The menu includes vegetable beef soup, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and dessert. The church is at 2800 Union Ave., Altoona.

St. Michael Catholic Church of Hollidaysburg, Montgomery and Spruce streets, will host the Hollidaysburg Free Soup Program Saturday and Feb. 23. The meal includes soup, bread, butter, beverage and dessert and is offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Buffet style ham and turkey dinner will be served at 5 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Upper Claar Church of the Brethren, Claysburg. Dinner will include all homemade trimmings, drink and dessert. Donations will be accepted at the door. Takeouts are available. For more information, call 239-5449.

The second Novena of 2019 to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Therese (the Little Flower) offered by the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Loretto will open on Feb. 22 and end on March 2. All intentions submitted to the nuns will be remembered with the special Novena prayers following the daily Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the nuns’ chapel.

Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament is held at 4 p.m. Sundays and the first Friday of each month. Everyone is welcome to attend the Benediction followed by the veneration of the relic of St. Therese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face.

Those who desire to share in the graces and blessings of these nine days of prayer, and in the private prayers of the Carmelite Nuns during the Novena, should send petitions to Mother Prioress, Discalced Carmelite Monastery, P.O. Box 57, Loretto, PA 15940.

A night of praise and worship with Eucharistic Adoration will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School.

The evening of prayer is a ministry of “Alive in the Spirit,” a BG student group, and will include a student witness talk.

For more information, contact Bob Sutton, Campus Minister, at 505-8817. The Cathedral Prayer Group will be leading the music. All in the community are welcome to attend.

The Great Commission Women of the Hollidaysburg Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, 2 Jefferson St., Hollidaysburg, will hold an indoor yard sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 23. In addition to household items, the group will be selling four kinds of soup and chili, plus hot dogs and cookies. The sale will benefit missionaries.

The Sacred Music Library, located in the First Presbyterian Church, 601 Walnut St., Hollidaysburg, will be open from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. The library will then be open from 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays and 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays.

Easter music is available. For more information, call the library at 695-5495.

Polish feast dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel P.N.C.C., 136 HIlltop Road, Lilly. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children and all take-out meals are $10.

The menu includes halupki, haluski, pierogies, soup, drinks and dessert. For more information, call 884-0205.

A Valentine’s spaghetti dinner will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Wehnwood United Methodist Church, 2511 Juniata Gap Road, Altoona.

The dinner, which is $5 per person, is sponsored by the PSU-Altoona chapter of Aevidum.

The Most Rev. Mark L. Bartchak, Bishop of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, has directed parishes in the Diocese to not distribute the Precious Blood in any form due to an advisory from public health officials that cases of the flu and similar contagious viruses remain a serious health concern at this time.

It is the belief of the Catholic church that the whole Body of Christ is present under either form of consecrated bread and wine.

The bishop has also directed that the faithful should avoid bodily contact, such as shaking hands, during the Sign of Peace. A genuine nod of the head with eye contact with others at Mass will be the temporary practice.

During this flu season, reception of Holy Communion on the hand is encouraged; however, reception on the tongue may not be denied. The bishop’s directives will be followed throughout the winter months or until the flu season ends. The Diocese will announce when parishes may return to their regular practices.

Religious organizations are invited to submit upcoming events, special speakers and other items to be published free of charge in Spiritual Notes. Items can be emailed to religion@altoonamirror.com or call Holly at 946-7451. Items may also be submitted online through the Mirror’s virtual newsroom

at vnr.altoonamirror.com.