Hope, the Ministry & Life of the Deacons-
Bring the Hopeless to Hope-A Reflection for the Diaconate Community from Bishop Mark
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I recently read an online reflection written by Rev. Andrew Rampton, a priest of the Anglican Church of Canada and pastor of a parish in Hamilton, Ontario. The reflection focuses on the life and ministry of St. Jude the Apostle. Rampton explains that when we hear his name, we often think of the devotion to this saint as patron of hopeless causes. However, he did not acquire that title because he was hopeless. St. Jude refused to allow hopelessness to be a dominant power in his life. St. Jude is an example for deacons, priests, and bishops who are called to bring hope to the hopeless and remind the world that with God, all things are possible.
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Academic Weekend
March 28-30, 2025
Antiochian Village Retreat Center
Annual Diaconate Retreat
"The Gospel of Luke and the Jubilee Year of Hope"
Fr. James DiLuzio, CSP, Retreat Director
June 8-12, 2025
Antiochian Village Retreat Center
Annual Dinner with Bishop Mark for Deacons and Wives
Thursday, September 18, 2025
5:00 PM
U.S. Hotel Tavern, Hollidaysburg
Rite of Acolyte
Saturday, September 27, 2025
5:00 PM
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
Annual Marian Celebration
Sunday, October 5, 2025
3:00 PM
St. Benedict Parish, Johnstown
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SPONSORS OF HOPE
Deacons Rick Messina & John Roth
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The diaconate community of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown has embraced the “Jubilee Year of Hope” by embarking on a special mission of hope and reaching out to provide hope for those less fortunate, oppressed, living in abject poverty, and being persecuted for their faith. Through our Foreign Missions Program, we invite other individuals, organizations, and parishes to join us on our journey... join us in reaching out across the world to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ with love and support. We invite people to embrace a five-year odyssey to support people and communities in Pakistan, India, and Africa where need is dire.
Currently, we are looking for sponsors willing to commit for five years to help with a number of projects we are eager to undertake. The first being the “Brick Yard Children.” Today, there are 20,000 brick kilns across Pakistan. An estimated 3.5-4 million people work in the kilns as bonded slaves—many of them are Christians. Driven by poverty and need, these people take out loans or cash advances to pay hospital fees or get a sibling married, for example. In return, they are told to work on brick kilns until they can repay the amount borrowed. Children as young as four years old work in the brickyards to help their families pay down debt. The family is given a quota of 1,000 to 1,500 bricks and is paid the equivalent of $1.50-$1.75 US dollars per day. The children do not attend school.
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Please consider becoming a “Sponsor of Hope” and join us as we journey ahead on our Foreign Missions program. To find out more, please pick up one of our flyers or go to our Diaconate Website. Either provides information on becoming a sponsor to provide hope where there is little.
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Annual Diaconate Retreat
June 8 -12, 2025
The Gospel of Luke and the Jubilee Year of Hope
Directed by Fr. James DiLuzio, CSP
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FATHER JAMES DILUZIO, CSP is a Paulist priest and from 2003 to 2020, a missionary to the United States, traveling to parishes throughout the USA since 2002, offering his dramatic proclamation of the Gospel of Luke entitled Luke Live! in four distinct missions. He is currently the Paulist Fathers Liaison for Ecumenical and Multi-Faith Relations in New York City, and the Director of the Paulist Associates Organization, similar to a "Third Order" lay apostolate, with about 170 members.
Before his ordination in 1993, Fr. DiLuzio earned a B.A in English and Education from Montclair State University, New Jersey, an M.A. in Drama from the University of Southern California, followed by several years working as a teacher, actor, and director.
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1.3 million pilgrims pass through St. Peter’s Holy Door in jubilee’s first month
by Tessa Gervasini
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Since Pope Francis marked the beginning of the 2025 Jubilee Year, 1.3 million people have passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, according to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect for the New Evangelization section of the Dicastery for Evangelization.
Fisichella made the announcement at a Feb. 7 press conference for the Jubilee of the Armed Forces. The archbishop pointed out, however, that the numbers of pilgrims “are not a criterion of validity for the success of the jubilee. What counts is what is in the hearts of people.”
Holy Doors are usually only designated in the four papal basilicas in Rome — St. Peter’s in the Vatican, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. But this year, Pope Franics also opened another location at Rebibbia prison in Rome.
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Article is taken from Catholic News Agency
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A Reflection of Hope
by Wally Zapotoczny
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How would you describe hope? St. Paul in his letter to the Colossians tells us about a hope that is held in store for us in heaven, a hope that is found through the Gospel, the message of truth for us as followers of God. How is it possible to sustain everlasting hope in a world that is marred by sin and death, destruction, and evil at every turn? To answer this question, we must define what hope is not before we look at what hope is.
Optimism and faith are two words we often use as synonyms for hope, but they have distinct meanings. Though they are related, there are things that set them apart. Optimism is defined as the general attitude or outlook on life that focuses on positive aspects, or good outcomes – it is what we usually describe as someone’s personality or mindset, particularly in difficult situations. For instance, we can say that someone is a real optimist or always optimistic.
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Office of the Permanent Diaconate
609 Park Avenue
Johnstown, PA 15902
(814) 361-2000
Deacon Michael L. Russo, Director
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