St. John's website: http://webpages.charter.net/stjohnschool/

CONFESSIONS - Lent is the time of Reconciliation and many opportunities are provided in the parish and throughout the area for Confession prior to Easter. Our Penance Service will be held on Monday, March 15^th at 6:30 PM. A number of priests will be here for our penance service as well. Our students (St. John School and Religious Education) are asked to attend the Monday evening service with their families. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an essential part of our spiritual lives and necessary for the mature spiritual life. I pray all of us celebrate this wonderful Sacrament of healing during this penitential season.

Stewardship at St. John’s

Remember in Prayer-Your prayers are requested for the repose of Hilda McGuire, mother of Sandy Kee, of our parish. Mrs. McGuire died this past week.

Liturgical Reflection…All who exercise a role within the liturgical assembly need proper preparation for their responsibilities. All liturgical ministers are to have the competence to perform the particular role entrusted to them. Although the formation of a liturgical minister varies in extent and depth depending upon the nature of the particular role, it normally has liturgical, biblical, and technical components. Liturgical formation gives an understanding of the Mass as a whole, with particular emphasis on the parts of the Mass for which they are training. Biblical formation explains the three year cycle of Sunday readings and helps acquire the revealed message of the Scriptures through the light of faith. Through training in the particular skills of a particular ministry, liturgical ministers learn to make the best use of their personal gifts and strengths in order to communicate the mystery of our redemption in Jesus Christ. Introduction to the Order of Mass numbers 7 & 8 2004-Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Liturgy Office 124 Logan Blvd, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648

Sacred Suds Everyone is welcome to join the Sacred Suds when we clean the church for Easter. We will meet at 9:00 am Saturday, April 3, to dust, scrub, polish and vacuum the church. Please bring a bucket, rags and any cleaning supplies you think we might need. Coffee, tea and snacks will be provided.

Last Sunday evening I wrote the Bishop thanking him for coming to St. John’s. In response he wrote, "Thank you for your kind hospitality during my visit to St. John’s. I extend that appreciation to your Pastoral Council and the choir (magnificent). It was a positive experience for me, as well. Know that I am deeply grateful to you for your thoughtful gift of the icon. The Gospel according to St. John is my favorite. So, the icon will hold a special place." I would like to thank everyone who helped make the Bishop’s visit a very good and healthy event in the life of our parish. I would like to especially thank the social committee for the excellent social afterwards, and also thanks to Deacon Gene for carefully preparing for Mass.

We are looking for participants for the Relay For Life (Cancer fundraiser) event this June 11th and 12th. Last year a number of our youths did a splendid job of raising $1300.00 (est) for the Relay event.

Rosary Gathering - Our next time to gather and pray the Rosary and for a catechesis on the Rosary will be Monday April 12th at 7:00 in the Chapel. I very much look forward to our getting together to discuss and to pray this prayer that will move us deeply into the mystery of Christ.

The Cathedral Parish will be celebrating Evening Prayer and Benediction throughout the Lenten and Easter seasons. Please feel free to join us in our celebration Sunday evenings at 6:30 PM from Mar. 7^th through May 30^th. The Cathedral Parish is located on 13^th St. and Cathedral Square in Altoona.

Girls come join the Girl Scouts - Girls in grades 4-6 meet at Jaggard United Methodist Church on Wed. from 6:30-8:00. Girls in grades 1-3 meet on Thursdays from 6-7:30. Call Karen Garmon for more information at

Dinner served from 4:30 to 7:00 PM or until sold out

Lenten Prayer Retreat: Do you feel a lack in your prayer life? Do you need to take some time away in order to give your spiritual life a boost? St. John the Baptist Retreat Center, New Baltimore, and the director, Fr. Allen Zeth, would like to invite you to come and spend time and renew yourself during the Lenten season. The retreat will begin Friday, Mar. 19^th with Stations of the Cross at 7 PM and will conclude at 6 PM Saturday evening, Mar. 20^th, with an option to stay Saturday night. The cost for the overnight is $55 and you can make reservations by calling 814-733-2210.

Piecing Together the Scraps of Life - A Lenten Day of Reflection will be offered a the CCW Incarnation Center from 9 - 3 PM on March 20^th. Using the concept of quilting, spend a day reflecting, praying and piecing together the many ways God comes to you in life. Overnight accommodations available. Pre-registration is required. Contact: Sr. Marilyn 886-4098 or Sr. Jane at 684-3553 for additional information and/or registration.

RCIA UPDATE - On Sunday, March 14th and 28th, at the 11:00 Mass, OUR ELECT - Samantha Reinhardt, Michael Reinhardt, Derek Liebal and Russel Millen, and OUR CANDIDATES - David Reinhardt, Sarah Reinhardt, John O'Connor, Diane Galanti, Karl Brustle, Barbara Reinhardt and Dean McDowell, Stefan Genzor will participate in the RITE of SCRUTINY - a celebration of the power of Christ over the power of wrong in the world and the lives of the Elect and Candidates.

Longaberger Basket Bingo - St. Rose of Lima Home School Association will sponsor a Basket Bingo on Monday, March 29 at their social hall from 6 - 9 PM. Tickets are $20 with an additional value package available for $35. Tickets may be purchased at the St. Rose of Lima School Office or by calling 942-7835.

Think Summer - Mark your calendars - St. John's Day at the Altoona Curve will be Friday, July 16, at 7:05. More on this later.

Wedding Planning Workshop for Couples: Ideas for a meaningful, inexpensive celebration! Monday, March 22 in Johnstown 7-8:30 PM at Our Mother of Sorrows; Wednesday, March 24^th in State College, 7-8:30 PM at Our Lady of Victory Activity Center (Meeting Room 2). Looking for ways to make your wedding unique, meaningful, and yet affordable? This free, informal workshop for couples will offer tips for a less stressed wedding celebration which can be planned with calm and confidence and which will speak to the depth of the commitment you are making. Included will be ideas on the bridal party, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception,

Attention Singles: The Altoona Catholic Singles Club is an organization for Catholic singles 21 years of age and older who are free to marry in the church. The club is having a get-together on Saturday, April 3 at Zach's Restaurant 5828 6^th Avenue, Altoona at 7:30 PM.

Rebuilding During and After Divorce - Five weeks of support and enrichment for separated/divorced persons. Held on Tuesdays, March 16, 23, 30, April 6, 13 from 7-9PM at the Family Life Office, two miles off Rt. 22 on Rt. 53, Lilly. This is not a therapy group, but a mutual self-help support group facilitated by Sr. Rosella Lacovitch, Assistant Director of the Family Life Office, Altoona-Johnstown Diocese. Cost is $25 for new participants which includes a book. Registration deadline: March 12. Call the Family Life Office - 814-886-5551

Commission for Life & Justice Workshop - The Commission for Life & Justice of the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese, is presenting a workshop on "Our best kept secret: "Catholic Social Teachings." The workshop is being held on Saturday, March 20^th from 8:30 to 2:30 PM at Our Lady of Victory Activity Center, State College. This is open to the public! Cost $5 includes lunch. Registration deadline is March 10^th. For more information or to register contact Sr. Rosella Lacovitch, CSJ at he Family Life Office 814-886-5551.

Lion King The Social Committee is

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament , Altoona will be celebrating a Communal Penance Service on Wednesday, March 31^st at 6:30. Bishop Joseph, along with his priests, invites you to join in this great preparation for the celebration of the Easter mysteries.

Are you a busy couple?? Treat yourselves to a weekend away from all the hustle and bustle. Spend some time focusing on the one you love. Attend the upcoming Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend in Altoona. Register early! 1-800-882-5024.

The Carmelite Community of the Word will sponsor the 2^nd Annual Paschal Festival - "A Celebration of Saints" on April 23 beginning at 6 PM at St. Francis of Assisi Parish Hall on Barron Avenue in Johnstown. The event includes a dinner, silent auction and a hilarious and energetic performance by Barbara Freeman an internationally famous story-teller. She will delight the audience with narratives and true legends of Christian saints and heroes and other stories to entertain and inspire. Reservations are required. Tickets are available for $30 per person through any CCW Sister or by calling Sr. Jane. 684-3553 or Sr. Nancy 535-7118.

A Workshop on story telling techniques will be offered on Saturday, April 24 from 9-11:30 AM at St. Aloysius Parish Hall in Cresson. The presenter: Barbara Freeman has published numerous educational publications and audio video recordings as well as has conducted fun and informative in service programs for educators, child-care providers and anyone interested in learning more about story-telling. Advance reservations are required. Registration forms may be obtained from the Carmelite Community of the Word 814-886-4098 or the Diocesan Education Office. Workshop is partially funded by IU8. Cost: $2 per person to defray cost of printing materials.

St. Francis University Institute for Ethics is proud to present "The Dimming of Lady Liberty's Welcoming Lamp: contemporary Immigration Trends and the Impact of U. S. Policies. " Presented by Mr. Mark Franken, Executive Director of Immigration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Tuesday, March 16^th at 7 PM in the J. F. K. Student Center Auditorium. The lecture is free of charge and open to the public.

Our Lenten journey of conversion continues this week with readings that reveal God's transforming power at work. Naaman's healing is much easier than expected. Azariah is protected in the fiery furnace. Moses reminds us how close God always is. Jeremiah encourages us to listen to God and walk in God's ways. Hosea pleads for conversion because God indeed is coming into our lives. In the gospels, Jesus rejection in Nazareth prefigures his rejection in Jerusalem. He reveals that true conversion requires unlimited forgiveness, fidelity to God's commandments, battling against evil, and genuine humility. Saints Patrick (Wed), Cyril, (Thurs), and Joseph (Fri) , the husband of Mary, show how God's grace transforms every life and leads to justice, compassion and service. Taken from - Living with Christ: Your Daily Spiritual Companion, a monthly booklet offering the daily Mass readings and other resources for a scripture based, liturgically centered spirituality you can share with others. For more information or to subscribe call 1-800-321-4411.

Tue. Mar 16: Dn 3:25,34-43;Mt 18-35

Thurs. Mar 18: Jer 7:23-28; Lk 11:14-23

Reading I 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a
The LORD said to Samuel: "Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons." As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is here before him." But the LORD said to Samuel: "Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him. Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart." In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any one of these." Then Samuel asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" Jesse replied, "There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here." Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them. He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance. The LORD said, "There--anoint him, for this is the one!" Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths for his name's sake. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side With your rod and your staff that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Reading II Eph 5:8-14
Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light."

Gospel Jn 9:1-41
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, "Go wash in the Pool of Siloam"--which means Sent--. So he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, "Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?" Some said, "It is," but others said, "No, he just looks like him." He said, "I am." So they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" He replied, "The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went there and washed and was able to see." And they said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don't know." They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a Sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see." So some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath." But others said, "How can a sinful man do such signs?" And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, "What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?" His parents answered and said, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself." His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, "He is of age; question him." So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner." He replied, "If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see." So they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?" They ridiculed him and said, "You are that man's disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from." The man answered and said to them, "This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything." They answered and said to him, "You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?" Then they threw him out. When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered and said, "Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he." He said, "I do believe, Lord, " and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind." Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not also blind, are we?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, 'We see,' so your sin remains."