Trending
Novena celebrated
The second novena of 2024 to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Therese (the Little Flower) offered by the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Loretto will open Thursday, Feb. 22, and end Friday, March 1.
The public is invited to attend Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament at 4 p.m. Sundays in the chapel.
Petitions may be said to Mother Prioress, Discalced Carmelite Monastery, P.O. Box 57, Loretto, PA 15940.
Free lunch offered
Providence Presbyterian Church at 2401 Broad Avenue, Altoona, invites the public to come in to our church for a lunch meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. The lunch will include a sloppy joe sandwich, soup, a dessert and fruit. All are welcome at our church, so come in and eat in our social hall for lunch and fellowship with others.
Food pantry open
The food pantry at Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren, 2800 Union Ave., Altoona, will be open with pickup times between 9 and 11:30 a.m. Fridays, Feb. 16 and Feb. 23, by appointment only. Call by Wednesday for a Friday appointment. For more information or to make an appointment, call the pantry at 814-207-8293.
Free movie night planned
The movie "Sister Act" will be shown Friday, Feb. 16, at the Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren, 2800 Union Ave., Altoona. Snacks are available at 6:30 p.m. with the movie to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Ministry series continues
Holy Spirit Ministry will host the third evening in the series "Kingdom Gifts for Kingdom Builders" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at St. Michael Church, Hollidaysburg.
Teacher and evangelist Fr. David Tickerhoof, T.O.R., will present the message.
The evening starts with praise and worship music. Prayer ministry is available following the teaching.
Stations of the Cross schedule set
Catholics are invited to pray Stations of the Cross during the season of Lent. The following is a schedule of opportunities at various Blair County parishes. Schedules for parishes elsewhere in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown are available on the diocesan website and Facebook page.
– Holy Rosary Parish, Altoona - Feb. 16, March 1 and March 15 at 6:30 p.m.
– Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Altoona - Sundays at 6 p.m.
– Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Altoona - Fridays (except Good Friday) at 2 p.m.; Fridays (except Good Friday) at 5:30 p.m. at Assumption Chapel
– Sacred Heart Parish, Altoona - Fridays at 5:30 p.m.
– St. Catherine of Siena, Duncansville - Fridays at 5:30 p.m.
– St. John the Evangelist Parish, Altoona - Fridays at 5 p.m.
– St. Joseph Parish, Williamsburg - Fridays (including Good Friday) at 7 p.m.
– St. Mark Parish, Altoona - Feb. 23, March 8 and March 22 at 6:30 p.m.
– St. Mary Parish, Altoona - Fridays at 7 p.m.
– St. Mary Parish, Hollidaysburg - Fridays (except Good Friday) at noon.
– St. Michael Parish, Hollidaysburg - Fridays (except Good Friday) at 6:30 p.m.
– St. Patrick Parish, Newry - Fridays at 2:30 p.m.
– St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Altoona - Fridays (except Good Friday) at 7:30 p.m.
Fish lunches available
Beginning Ash Wednesday, Feb. 14, and continuing on Fridays during Lent, except for Good Friday, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament will have fish fry lunches available. The meal is $10 and includes a fish sandwich, mac and cheese and coleslaw. Meals can be picked up from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. via the drive-
thru at the Cathedral alley door. Orders of 10 or more can be delivered for those who call ahead by 814-944-4603.
Lenten lunches, speakers series offered
Lenten lunches will be held at noon Wednesdays, Feb. 21 through March 27, at Wehnwood United Methodist Church.
The theme is "In the Shadow of the Cross," reflections of Luke 22.
The schedule of speakers include Feb. 21, Sue O'Brien, of Mardorff UMC, Luke 22:1-6; Feb. 28, Heather Manges, Titus 2 Ministry, Luke 22:7-23; March 6, Carol Gathagan, retired, Luke 22:24-30; March 13, Randy Willis, Wehnwood UMC, Luke 22:39-46; March 20, T.J. McCabe, Greenwood UMC, Luke 22:47-53; March 27, Ray Kovach, retired, Luke 22:54-62.
Fish fry dinners offered
– St. Patrick's Lenten Seafood Buffet will be held every Friday during Lent starting Friday, Feb. 16, including Good Friday,
March 29. The school is at 731 Patrick Lane, Newry. The doors will open at 4 p.m. The buffet includes baked fish, fried fish, shrimp, macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes, french fries, pierogies, green beans, coleslaw, soup and beverage, as well as an array of desserts. Cost is $20 for adults, $18 for those older than 60 years of age, $10 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for kids 4 years old and younger.
– St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Altoona, will hold Lenten fish fry dinners from 4 to 7 p.m. on Fridays during Lent,
Feb. 16 to March 22, at Father Kelley Hall on 25th Avenue and Fifth Street. Dinners will be available for either eat-in or take-out. Menu includes choice of baked or fried fish, stewed tomatoes, choice of coleslaw or applesauce, choice of macaroni & cheese or french fries, and dessert. Cost is $14 per dinner.
– The Second Avenue GMC Youth Group, 130 Second Ave., Altoona, will host their annual fish fry fundraiser from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Fridays during Lent, except Good Friday. The all-you-can-eat buffet is $17 for adults and $12 for children younger than 10 years of age. Single takeout meals are $14. The buffet includes baked fish, fried fish, crab cakes, mac and cheese, stewed tomatoes, coleslaw and more. Call 814-943-2072 to order ahead beginning at 3:30 p.m.
– Our Lady of Lourdes, 2716 Broad Ave., Altoona, will host a fish fry from Feb. 16 through March 29. Takeout is available at 3:30 p.m.; eat-in is from 4:30 to 7 p.m. or until sold out. The menu includes hand breaded fried or baked haddock, mac and cheese or fries, stewed tomatoes and coleslaw or applesauce and dessert.
Dinner, Bible study to be held
Duncansville Lutheran Church will have a Bible study, "Meeting Jesus at the Table," at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays during Lent. The study will be held in the chapel. Those attending are urged to bring a canned good to be given to the American Rescue Workers in Hollidaysburg.
A light dinner and fellowship will be held at 6 p.m. For more information, contact the church at 814-695-0508.
Free lunch, clothing giveaway set
Free lunch and a clothing giveaway will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at Bethany Lutheran Church, 200 Third Ave. All are welcome.
Lenten services planned
St. John's Reformed Church, 906 Maple Ave., Hollidaysburg, will host weekly Lenten services with the Rev. Timothy McNutt, pastor of St. John's. Mid-week soup and devotional reflections will be held at 6:30 p.m. downstairs in the social hall on Wednesdays. The focus of the Feb. 21 meeting is the Lenten Heart; Feb. 28, prayer; March 6, meditation; March 13, fasting; March 20, good works. For more information, contact the church at 814-695-5721.
Churches to host 10-session program
Two area Episcopal churches, Holy Trinity-Hollidaysburg and St. Luke's-Altoona, will co-host a free 10-session program called Transforming Questions from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, beginning Feb. 21, at the Hollidaysburg Masonic Hall, 1008 Edgar St. Each session will begin with a meal followed by a short presentation on God and faith and end with an hour of small group discussion around related questions.
St. Luke's and Holy Trinity received a Shaped by Faith grant last September from the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, and this collaborative program is a large part of their project. Meals will be prepared by members from both churches, and the presenters and small group facilitators also represent both.
Free child care during the sessions is available for those who preregister. Help with transportation is also available.
The sessions will run every week from Feb. 21 to March 20, take a two week break for Holy Week and Easter Week, and resume on April 10 for the final five sessions. The last session will be on May 8.
For more information or to preregister, call St. Luke's at 814-942-1372 or email the church at info@stlukes
altoona.org or visit https://bit.ly/3UHLqAe.
Chicken, biscuit dinner available
St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 335 Locust St., Johnstown, is holding a takeout dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. Meals are $10 and include chicken and biscuits, mashed potatoes, strawberry-spinach salad and cake. Meals must be ordered in advance by calling 814-535-6797 or email stmarks@atlanticbbn.net. Proceeds from the take-out dinner benefit St. Mark's Ministries
Wild game cook-off featured
A wild game cook-off will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at St. Lawrence of Brindisi Old Roman Catholic Church, St. Lawrence Village, 1985 St. Lawrence Road, Patton. There are 10 slots available for contestants, with a $5 registration fee. Call 814-523-4090 to register by Feb. 22.
There will be a 50-50 raffle and the event is free to attend, with attendees voting on the best game dish. First place wins $100; second, $50.
Life in the Spirit seminar planned
Holy Spirit Ministry will host a Life in the Spirit seminar from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at St. Mary Church, 312 Clark St., Hollidaysburg.
This retreat experience is an opportunity for participants to renew their faith in Jesus Christ and an introduction into a life lived in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. This retreat has been used worldwide by the Catholic Renewal since the mid-1970s
Lunch and dinner will be provided. The day starts with Holy Mass and includes spiritual teachings, testimonies, praise and worship music, small group faith sharing, Sacrament of Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration and christian fellowship.
Cost is $25; early registration is $20 if made before Feb. 25. Deadline to register is March 6.
To register, email Holyspiritministry20@gmail.com, send a message through the Holyspiritministry Facebook page, attend a bi-weekly gathering at St. Michael Church or call 814-814-207-9110 or 814-931-0192.
Youth host fundraising dinner
The Altoona Alliance Youth will serve a spaghetti dinner to raise funds to go on their annual summer missions trip. The meal will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, in the church activity center, 3220 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona.
Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 10 and younger. Tickets can be purchased at the table in the family room or by calling the church office at 814-944-0171.
The meal, available for eat in or take out, includes spaghetti, sauce, meatballs, salad, roll and dessert. Gluten free options are available and should be mentioned when purchasing tickets.
Churches host free soup program
The Hollidaysburg Free Soup Program will be hosted by First Presbyterian Church, Penn and Walnut streets, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 17. Hot soup, bread, butter, desserts and beverages will be served. There is no charge; offerings accepted.
This program is a mission of the churches in Hollidaysburg and is open to everyone.
In case of bad weather, cancellations will be announced on Seven Mountains Media stations or the website of lightnercommunications.com.
St. Mary Catholic Church, Mulberry and Clark streets, will host the meal on Feb. 24, March 2 and March 9.
St. Michael Catholic Church, Montgomery and Spruce streets, will host the lunch on March 16 and March 23.
Wild game feast set
Altoona Alliance Church, 3220 Pleasant Valley Blvd., will hold its 17th annual Wild Game Feast on Saturday, March 16. Doors open at 4 p.m. to look at the various vendors, and the meal consisting of various wild game dishes and traditional foods starts at 5 p.m.
Speaker Zeke Stroupe will tell some hunting and fishing stories and talk about his work with Fishers of Men. This past year, he was director of Game Changers Fishing Camp. Stroupe is a high school teacher and varsity wrestling coach in the Pittsburgh area.
Tickets are a donation of $15 and will be available starting Monday, Feb. 5, at the church office. Come for an enjoyable evening. For more information, call the church office at 814-944-0171.