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Spiritual notes

Jubilee Year 2025 closes The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown will join other dioceses around the world in closing the Jubilee Year 2025 on Dec. 28, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Bishop Mark Bartchak will celebrate Mass that day at 11 a.m. at Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown, which will be broadcast live on WATM ABC 23. The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona will also join cathedrals around the world on Dec. 28 with special prayers to close the Jubilee. A Jubilee Year is a time of grace and renewal that occurs in the Catholic Church ...

Pope to faithful: Shed indifference

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV during his first Christmas Day message on Thursday urged the faithful to shed indifference in the face of those who have lost everything, such as in Gaza, those who are impoverished, such as in Yemen, and the many migrants who cross the Mediterranean Sea and the ...

Spiritual notes — Dec. 19

Messiah sing-along The Academy of Sacred Music will present a Messiah Sing-along at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at Hollidaysburg Church of the Brethren, 1028 Penn St., Hollidaysburg. There is no admission charge; an offering will be accepted. The music is the familiar G.F. Handel’s ...

Trendng Up: Faith-based entertainment sees revival in Hollywood

LOS ANGELES — At the movies this fall, Josh O’Connor plays a hot priest with a complicated past, Keanu Reeves is an angel who lost his wings and Elizabeth Olsen has a romantic dilemma in the afterlife. Hollywood, it seems, has found God. But it’s not just starry big-budget Netflix ...

Altoona-Johnstown Diocese sets broadcasts

The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is welcoming Christmas with special broadcasts in the coming days. The annual Proclaim! TV Christmas special “Joy to the World: Christmas in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown” will air at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 at on WWCP FOX 8. The one-hour show, hosted by ...

Brought to light: Portion of Hasmonean wall from Hanukkah era found

JERUSALEM — Archaeologists have finished uncovering the longest continuous remains of an ancient wall that encircled Jerusalem, including possible evidence of a 2,100-year-old ceasefire between warring kingdoms. Last week, archaeologists finished excavating the most complete part ever ...