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Spiritual notes — Jan. 2

Free lunch served Fourth Street Church of God will serve the monthly lunch from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3. The New Year’s meal will include sauerkraut with pork and hot dogs, mashed potatoes, drink and dessert. Food pantry available The food pantry at Twenty-eighth Street Church of the Brethren, 28th Street and Union Avenue, is available for those in need. Distribution will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16 and Friday, Jan. 30, by appointment only. Call Deb at 814-207-8293. Free soup program begins St. Michael Catholic Church, Montgomery and Spruce streets, ...

US faith leaders brace for year ahead

For faith leaders supporting and ministering to anxious immigrants across the United States, 2025 was fraught with challenges and setbacks. For many in these religious circles, the coming year could be worse. The essence of their fears: President Donald Trump has become harsher with his contemptuous rhetoric and policy proposals, blaming immigrants for problems from crime to housing shortages and, in a social media post, demanding “REVERSE MIGRATION.” Haitians who fled gang violence in their homeland, as well as Afghans allowed entry after assisting the U.S. in Afghanistan before ...

Christian artists winning over listeners

NEW YORK — It is one of the most surprising music stories of the year. While streams of new music — releases from the last 18 months — were down from last year, one genre is on the rise: Christian and gospel music, according to industry data and analytics company Luminate’s 2025 ...

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 ...