CATHEDRAL OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Altoona, PA is a welcoming and compassionate community of believers striving to grow as God’s people.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we offer lifelong faith formation for children, youth, and adults; and we live out Christ’s invitation to serve our sisters and brothers.
We gather to worship in prayer and song and invite all to joyfully participate in word and sacrament, especially the Eucharist.
SERVING THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN THE CITY OF ALTOONA, PA SINCE 1851.
SUPPORTING THE MINISTRIES OF CATHEDRAL PARISH
By clicking on the Get Involved link, you will find valuable information on how to make a financial donation to the Cathedral. The weekly offertory, the annual Catholic Ministries Drive, Bequests, and contributions to our Endowments are ways by which the blessings God has given to you become a blessing to the parish.
PILGRIMAGE TO ROME AND THE SHRINES OF ITALY
You are invited to join Monsignor Stan Carson on a pilgrimage to Rome and the shrines of Italy from October 12-22 in 2026. Brochures are available at the entrances to the cathedral. Click this link for additional Information
DAILY MASSES
Monday-Saturday-Noon
WEEKEND MASSES
Vigil, Saturday at 5:00 P.M.
Sunday Masses at 8:00 A.M., 10:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Wednesday at 7:00 P.M.
Saturday: at 12:30 P.M.
By appointment: by calling or texting 814-937-8240
ASH WEDNESDAY
Ashes will be distributed during Masses at 8:00 A.M., Noon, and 5:30 P.M.
Ashes will also be distributed during a Liturgy of the Word prayer service at 3:00 P.M.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross will be prayed on the Fridays of Lent at 5:30 P.M.
SIMPLY SUNG EVENING PRAYER
Beginning on the Second Sunday of Lent, at 4:00 P.M.
LENTEN PENANCE SERVICE
Wednesday, March 25, at 6:00 P.M.
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 15, 2026
GOSPEL MEDITATION
A few years into my priesthood, I hit a wall. I had taken on too many commitments: Masses, meetings, ministries, projects. I couldn’t keep up. I was double-booking, forgetting things, running late, and letting people down. My boss at the time, a wise priest, and our shared secretary, noticed. For my birthday, the two gave me a stack of 100 flashcards, each with one word printed in a different language: “NO.” It was funny, but also painfully true. If I couldn’t say no, my yes was in danger.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the Evil One” (Matthew 5:37). He’s not just giving advice about polite speech. He’s showing us something about the freedom of Christian discipleship. The follower of Christ is called to speak clearly, simply, and honestly. There is joy in that kind of freedom.
The Church Fathers often linked this kind of straightforward truthfulness with spiritual maturity. The devil is the father of lies, but Jesus is the Word made flesh. When we hedge, latter, exaggerate, or avoid, we open space for the shadows to creep in. That little stack of flashcards reminded me that God does not want us enslaved to the expectations of others or to the fear of disappointing them. He wants us to enjoy the peace of saying yes and meaning it, and saying no, and meaning it, too.
Lenten Challenge: Practice one moment of honest, peaceful speech this week. Maybe it’s a sincere “yes” to something important, or a humble “no” to something you cannot do. Let it be a quiet step into the freedom Jesus offers.
EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP
Today’s readings challenge us to reflect on the true state of our hearts as it relates to stewardship. Do we think of stewardship as something we take care of once a year, simply a matter of ticking off boxes on a commitment card – or do we choose To embrace it as a spirituality and way of life that allows us to grow in conformity to Christ every day?
The concept of stewardship helps us to live out the fundamental choice to put God first. Stewardship is not meant to be a mere external exercise in which we participate on an occasional basis. It is meant to be embraced as a way of life that involved a continuous conversion of heart.
Our Lord is asking us not only for exterior acts, but for a true change of heart. In stewardship terms, that means seeing everything as a gift from Him, to be used for His glory and the good of others. In the week ahead let us examine the state of our hearts to ask ourselves if we have chosen to allow stewardship to become a way of life for us. Only then will we experience its true depth and heart-changing possibilities. The choice is ours.
2026 Catholic Stewardship Consultants
REFLECTION
My husband and I couldn’t believe our luck: our new house had a deck. It was more than a couple of broke millennials had ever dared to dream. Lounging in our patio furniture drinking coffee and watching the cars drive past, we felt like Kennedys at Hyannis Port. We had arrived.
Well, until it started falling apart.
To be fair, my husband knew this was going to happen all along, because he’s a person who uses words like “joist” and “weight-bearing” correctly. He took one look at the deck at the open house and knew it wasn’t up to code. “We’re going to have to reinforce this at some point,” he told me. “Whatever!” I replied, daydreaming about twinkle lights and porch parties.
Sure enough, our second summer in the house, he had to rip the rotting surface boards off. The biggest issue was that the joists were too far apart; when we stepped on the boards, they bowed and almost cracked, lacking adequate support beneath. But we weren’t going to redo the whole deck — we’re not actually Kennedys. We (okay, he) simply ripped the surface boards off, added the necessary joists, and replaced the decking with newer, better, stronger wood.
Simply put, my husband did not come to abolish the deck, but to fulfill it.
The law of Moses was like a good deck, admirably built. You could say “Raqa,” your heart filled with anger, and the law didn’t break. But that anger treads heavily on boards not adequately supported. Over time, the anger becomes too much to bear. And that board — that law, that heart — it’ll break. Just you wait.
And when it does, you’ll see why: there wasn’t anything beneath, holding it up.
So God sent a Carpenter to reinforce the law. The Carpenter crafted joists from prudence, fortitude, justice and temperance — strong virtues that can withstand a lifetime of battery, if properly maintained.
And the law still holds.