St John the Evangelist Catholic Church

St John the Evangelist Catholic Church Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Catholic Church, 309 Lotz Avenue, Altoona, PA.

We live in an age of cancel culture: people sharing someone else's perceived faults in public with the goal of removing ...
09/06/2026

We live in an age of cancel culture: people sharing someone else's perceived faults in public with the goal of removing them from their position. Cancel culture isn't an attempt to bring someone to the truth; it's an attempt to remove them because they are considered an obstacle.
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As Jesus makes clear in today's Gospel, "cancel culture" is not the way of Christians. This doesn't mean there aren't times when we shouldn't go public with someone's wrongdoings. But this comes only after we have first spoken with them privately, and then within our Church.
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Why does Jesus insist on first bringing up someone's sin against you one-on-one? Because the goal isn't punishment or removal; it's reconciliation.
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Let's follow Christ's lead, St. John's family, and seek to reconcile with those who've wronged us--not cancel them.

It's World Beard Day! And what better way to celebrate than taking a look at what Sacred Scripture has to say about faci...
09/05/2026

It's World Beard Day! And what better way to celebrate than taking a look at what Sacred Scripture has to say about facial hair?
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In the Bible, beards are a sign of dignity and maturity. In fact, Jewish priests were instructed to let their facial hair grow.
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"They shall not shave their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor lacerate their bodies." -- Leviticus 21:5
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And the Psalms reference beards in connection with the priesthood and blessing.
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"Like precious ointment on the head, running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, upon the collar of his robes." -- Psalm 133:2
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Shaving one's beard could be an expression of shame or lamentation. After the fall of Jerusalem to Babylon, Jeremiah noted the following:
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"Everyone has shaved his beard, torn his garments, and gashed himself..." -- Jeremiah 41:5
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The Bible doesn't explicitly say that Jesus had a beard, but it was the norm among Jewish men in the 1st century. Nonetheless, the New Testament shifts the focus away from external appearance to what's on the inside.
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"Your adornment should not be an external one...but rather the hidden character of the heart." -- 1 Peter 3:3-4
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So should Catholic men have beards today? It's increasingly more common. But while it can be a symbol of wisdom and maturity, one's character and virtue are truly what count.
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Now that you're an expert on the Bible and beards, make sure to let Monsignor Michael Becker know what you've learned!

September 15 - October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. And the Catholic Church in the United States has a lot to celebrat...
09/04/2026

September 15 - October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. And the Catholic Church in the United States has a lot to celebrate when it comes to our Hispanic community! About 36% of Catholics in the U.S. are Hispanic, a number that rises to a whopping 60% when we consider Catholics under the age of 18!
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Here at St. John's, we are grateful for the contributions and presence of all of our parishioners with roots in the Spanish-speaking world, and we encourage you to start making plans to celebrate today!

Hey St. John's, ever wonder how "Gregorian Chant," the unaccompanied, monophonic singing of sacred songs in Latin, got i...
09/03/2026

Hey St. John's, ever wonder how "Gregorian Chant," the unaccompanied, monophonic singing of sacred songs in Latin, got its name? Well, the style was formalized and promoted by St. Gregory the Great, a 7th-century pope whose feast day we celebrate today.
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Gregorian Chant isn't outdated--in fact, Pope Leo XIV is promoting its usage throughout the Church. Read the accompanying article to learn more about this style of sacred music and how you can "sing with the Pope." Learn more here: https://www.ncregister.com/features/lets-sing-with-the-pope-gregorian-chant

It's the start of a new month! So how can all of us at St. John's pray for you this September? Let us know in the commen...
09/02/2026

It's the start of a new month! So how can all of us at St. John's pray for you this September? Let us know in the comments below!

Sheen was born on May 8, 1895. His birth name was Peter John, but he eventually took the name Fulton, his mother's maide...
09/01/2026

Sheen was born on May 8, 1895. His birth name was Peter John, but he eventually took the name Fulton, his mother's maiden name.

St. John's, let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equa...
09/01/2026

St. John's, let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.

09/01/2026

September always has so much in store, but this year it's even better: Fulton Sheen, the great American archbishop and evangelist, will be beatified on Sep. 24!
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See what else is going on in the Church this month in this video.

Let us know in the comments, St. John's!
08/31/2026

Let us know in the comments, St. John's!

God is in the details - always. And here's an incredible detail that often gets misinterpreted. Throughout the centuries...
08/23/2026

God is in the details - always. And here's an incredible detail that often gets misinterpreted. Throughout the centuries, Christians have often taken the idea that "the gates of hell shall not prevail" against the Church as a defensive metaphor. This means that the Church will be assaulted but remain standing.
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But the "gates of hell" themselves are defensive structures. Our Lord is noting that his Church, rather than standing still and being battered by sin, is meant to "go on the offensive" against evil. This is most clearly shown in the Acts of the Apostles, when the disciples go out with great joy and energy to proclaim the Good News. We're asked to do the same at St. John's!

Address

309 Lotz Avenue
Altoona, PA
16602

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 3pm
Friday 9am - 3pm

Telephone

(814) 942-5503

Website

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