Ten priests comprise this year’s Proclaim! TV Christmas priests’ choir, which will be featured on the Proclaim! TV Christmas special “Joy to the World: Christmas in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown” at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 on WWCP FOX 8. Front row (from left): The Very Rev. Brian Saylor, VF; the Very Rev. Matthew Baum; the Very Rev. Alan Thomas, VG; and the Very Rev. Tom Stabile, TOR, VF. Back row (from left): Father Timothy Harris, TOR; the Very Rev. John Byrnes, JCL, JV; Father Jeremy Mohler; Father Albert Ledoux; Monsignor Michael Becker and Father Justin Treon. Courtesy photo

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 Tony DeGol at the historic Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel in Loretto, will include features that highlight the spirituality of Christmas and the lighter side of the season, including a gingerbread house decorating contest among four beloved religious sisters with a celebrity judge choosing the winner.

The show will also include beautiful Christmas music from Catholic school musicians and the Proclaim! TV priests’ choir comprised of various pastors from around the diocese.

The Proclaim! TV Christmas Mass from Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown will air live at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, on WATM ABC 23, with Bishop Mark Bartchak as celebrant and homilist.

Four religious sisters — (from left) Sister Jana Paula Sloboda, SSCJ; Sister Vivian Nchuaji, SSA; Sister Cindy Burns, CCW, and Sister Dolores Benitez, O. Carm. — competed in a gingerbread house decorating contest, which will be featured on the Proclaim! TV Christmas special “Joy to the World: Christmas in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown” at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 on WWCP FOX 8. Courtesy photo

Bartchak will also celebrate Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona. That Mass at the Cathedral will be broadcast live on radio station WRTA 98.5 FM/1240 AM.

Live radio broadcasts of Midnight Mass are also planned at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Altoona on radio station WKMC 96.1 Hank FM and at Saint Matthew Parish in Tyrone on radio station WTRN 96.9 & 100.7.