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Pastor recounts detention, release

WASHINGTON — Ezra Jin Mingri was inside a detention center in southern China on the morning of July 3, worrying that he would likely spend at least 15 years behind bars. The 57-year-old Chinese Christian pastor had even previously wondered whether he would live to see freedom again. In the span of 24 hours, Jin was 15 time zones away, digging into an In-N-Out hamburger in Los Angeles and watching fireworks with his family on the eve of Independence Day, marking America’s 250th anniversary. “It’s so dramatic. It’s unimaginable,” the pastor told The Associated Press outside ...

Spiritual notes

Blood drive is today Zion Lutheran Church, 500 Allegheny St., Hollidaysburg, is hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Friday, July 24. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: HBCOMM to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome. Festival, turkey dinner The church festival and turkey dinner postponed from last week due to the weather and a power outage, will be held Sunday, July 26, at St. Joan of Arc Church, 692 Glendale Valley Blvd., Fallentimber (Route 53, Frugality, nearly Prince Gallitzin State Park). The meal ...

Spiritual notes

Mass for married couples Bishop Mark Bartchak will celebrate the annual outdoor Mass for married couples at 7 p.m. July 19 at the Our Lady of the Alleghenies Shrine in Loretto. All husbands and wives, no matter how many years they have been married, are invited, along with their family. During the Mass, the couples will have the opportunity to renew their sacramental commitment to each other. Those attending are asked to bring their own lawn chair. If it rains, the Mass will be celebrated inside the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel, next to the Shrine. Churches host Bible ...

Divided Iran grapples with Khamenei’s legacy

CAIRO — He is the grandson of an influential Shiite cleric, born in Qom — the heart of religious studies in Iran — and raised in a traditional family that embraced the theocracy. But by his late 20s, he had stopped praying and given up on clerical rule. Now, he can barely discuss ...

Spiritual Notes

Saints Peter & Paul festival Ss. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church Festival will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 12. The church and festival grounds are located at 143 Church Drive, just off of Munster Road, Route 164, Portage Township. Those attending are urged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. That Oldies Band will perform hit songs from the past from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The food menu includes homemade ethnic dishes, barbecue chicken, halushki, halupki, piroghi, kielbasa, hot dogs and hot sausage, along with wing dings and french fries. The bake sale ...

Spiritual notes

Celebration service A special worship service centered on faith, gratitude and prayer for our nation will be held at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, July 5, at The Well Ministry Center, 605 Burns Ave., Altoona. Night of worship planned Holy Spirit Ministry will host a night of worship at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, at St. Michael Church, Hollidaysburg. Jo-Ann Semko will be the speaker on “I Am.” Semko is the diocesan director of schools and director of the diocesan Cursillo Movement. Praise and worship will be led by the worship team. A prayer ministry will be held after the ...