The Diocese of Altoona was established in 1901, with the Most Reverend Eugene A. It was renamed the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown in 1957. Eight counties comprise the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown -- Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clinton, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset. The Church of Altoona-Johnstown is home to 87 parishes, which are served by diocesan priests and permanent deacons. The Diocese
is further served by priests from various Religious communities, including the Third Order Regular Franciscans, the Conventual Franciscans, the Order of Saint Benedict, and the Capuchin Franciscans. Communities of nuns and sisters have served locally since 1848, and today engage in a variety of ministries including Catholic education, healthcare, social services and contemplative lives of prayer. There are two Cathedrals in the Diocese -- the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona and Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown -- as well as the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel in Loretto, which Pope John Paul II named a Minor Basilica in 1996. Additionally, the Diocese has three shrines -- the Prince Gallitzin Chapel House/Our Lady of the Alleghenies Shrine in Loretto, Saint Joseph Mission Church at Hart's Sleeping Place in Carrolltown, and Immaculate Conception Shrine in Bitumen. Since its establishment in 1901, eight Bishops have led the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. The current Bishop, the Most Reverend Mark L. Bartchak, was ordained a Bishop on April 19, 2011, at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona, and installed as the eighth Bishop of the Diocese on that day. The Diocesan Pastoral Center, located in Altoona, serves as the administrative offices to the Bishop and the majority of his staff. The Church of Altoona-Johnstown boasts a proud education tradition with 13 Catholic elementary schools and four independent Catholic high schools. Religious Education programs at each parish serve students not enrolled in Catholic schools. There are two Catholic colleges/universities located in the Diocese and Diocesan-sponsored Catholic Campus Ministy at all colleges/universities in the Diocese. The Diocese has an active television ministry, which includes the production of Proclaim!, a weekly 30-minute program featuring Diocesan news and newsmakers. on WATM ABC 23 followed by the live broadcast of the Sunday Mass from Saint John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown at 11:00 a.m. -- one of the few live, hour-long Mass broadcasts in the country.
