Welcome to
St. Benedict Church
Johnstown, PA
The Mass for Sept. 13 is posted.
This Week
- Join us for breakfast on Sunday, September 13 from 8:30am – 12:00pm (last seating immediately following 10:30am Mass.) Proceeds benefit the Backpack Project which provides children in the local area with healthy and sustainable food options over the weekend. The full menu and other details may be found on pg. 5 of the bulletin.
- Our Prayer Ministry will be available after all Masses this weekend, Sept. 12/13, to pray with you and for you. Gather in the St. Joseph transept immediately following Mass.
- Envelopes were attached to last weekend’s bulletin to benefit Fr. Don Bosco’s mission in India. Please take a moment to read Father’s heartfelt letter of gratitude to our parish family.
- Elementary CCD begins on Sunday, September 13. If you missed the registration opportunities, please contact Sr. Delphine at 814-266-9718 ext. 302 or srDelphine@stbenedictchurch.org.
- High School CCD for students in grades 9, 10, and 11 begins on Sunday, September 13. Please contact Sr. Cindy at 814-266-9718 ext. 301 or srcindy@stbenedictchurch.org as soon as possible.
Traveling Chalice
The chalice, a symbol of both the priesthood and the Eucharist, will travel from household to household throughout our parish, serving as a daily reminder to pray and to consider your own vocation while the chalice is in your home
To participate, please use the sign-up sheet located in the Vocations Chapel at the back of the church to select the week you would like to take the chalice home. During your selected week, please take the bag containing the chalice and accompanying materials to your home. A booklet containing instructions on how to handle the chalice, along with age-appropriate prayers, is also included.
We kindly ask that you return the chalice to the Vocations Chapel no later than 3:00pm on Saturday of your selected week.
On behalf of St. Benedict Church, we thank you for participating in the parish’s Traveling Chalice Program and for your continued prayers for vocations.
Forty Hours Celebration
Sunday, Sept. 20 –
Tuesday, Sept. 22
The Forty Hours Devotion is a special forty-hour period
of continuous prayer made before the Blessed Sacrament.
Check out the videos below to find out more about the history of
Forty Hours and the special vessels and vestments used in this celebration.
Sunday, September 20
10:30am Mass Sung by the choir followed by
outdoor Eucharistic Procession
*Noon – 7:00pm Adoration
7:00pm Evening Prayer and Benediction
We welcome Deacon Wally Zapotoczny
Monday, September 21
7:00-7:45am Adoration
8:00am Mass followed by Confession
*Noon – 7:00pm Adoration
7:00pm Evening Mass
We welcome Fr. Canice McMullen
Tuesday, September 22
12:05pm Mass followed by Confession
*1:00 – 7:00pm Adoration
7:00pm Evening Prayer, Procession & Benediction
We welcome Fr. Canice McMullen
*We invite you to come and spend some quiet time with
our Lord at Eucharistic Adoration during Forty Hours.
To ensure the Blessed Sacrament is never left alone,
please use the sign-up sheets in the
vestibule and sacristy or the links below.
We kindly ask you to visit for at least 30 minutes,
and you may sign up with others for the same time.
During adoration, please sit in the front center pews.
Your presence and prayers are an
important part of this special time in our Parish
Sunday: https://stbenedictpa.
Monday: https://stbenedictpa.
Tuesday: https://stbenedictpa.
Each week at Alpha we provide meals for our guests, and we could use a little help with the cooking. If you’d like to donate something from our menu, please click the button below and log in with the following credentials:
Coordinator: Alpha
Password: Alpha2026
Choose the item(s) you’d like to contribute and provide your contact information. Drop off the food, ready-to-serve, at the school gym by 5:30pm on the day you selected. We recommend using disposable containers and trays when able. We’re also looking for volunteers to help clean up.
Why Be Catholic?
Join Fr. Ken Geraci for a 4-night mission for parish renewal on
October 4 – 7 at 7:00pm in the church.
Fr. Ken is the author of “Why Be Catholic?”
and Spiritual Director of Hopes Garden.
He is also the host of the podcast series “Why Be Catholic?”
and “The Catholic Corner” with “The Whole.”
Sunday, Oct. 4 – What did Jesus Do? Church or Spirituality
Monday, Oct. 5 – Why do we do that as Catholics
Tuesday, Oct. 6 – Two Obstacles to Healing
Wednesday, Oct. 7 – How to Pray the Mass
Admission is free.
A free-will offering will be taken.
This event is made possible through a grant from
The Independent Catholic Foundation
www.icfdaj.org
Bible Study Continues
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105
Join us as we continue our journey through Sacred Scripture.
Whether you have attended every session or
are joining us for the first time, all are welcome!
Come deepen your faith through prayer, discussion, and fellowship.
Bible Study is through the ZOOM program.
Deacon Michael will need your email address to send
the link and the weekly Bible Study Handouts.
Fall Bible Study Dates
August 15, 22, 29
September 5, 12, 26
October 3, 10, 31
November 14
December 5, 12
Classes meet from 9:30 – 11:30am.
Contact Deacon Michael for more information:
dcnmlr@icloud.com or 814-241-0576
Homily Library
Permanent Deacons
Ordained to
proclaim the Gospel,
serve at the altar,
minister in charity.
Could God be calling you to be a Deacon?
Oblates of St. Benedict
Johnstown Deanery of
St. Vincent Archabbey
The Oblates of St. Benedict are men and women who,
in the midst of daily life, seek to follow Christ
more closely by living the Rule of St. Benedict.
Next meeting – Monday, August 17 at 6:00pm
Resurrection Church Oratory
(formerly St. Rochus Church)
in Cambria City
Details announced for Spring 2027
Pilgrimage to Poland and Medjugorje
Our St. Benedict Family
is a Missionary Family
Father Kahlil visits the village to bless homes
and bring treats for the children – bananas!
Our plea to all parishioners is to help continue the work of Fr. Khalil as he works tirelessly to provide clothing, food, and medical care for the poor.
Please prayerfully keep the St. Benedict Foreign Mission Program at the top of your giving list. And remember that even small donations go a long way in this part of the world.
Scripture tells us, “That you do for the least of my brethren, you do for Me.”
Donations may be made by check payable to St. Benedict Church with Foreign Mission in the memo line.
You may also donate online through ParishSOFT using the link below. Select “One-time Gift” then “St. Benedict Parish Foreign Mission Projects” from the dropdown menu.
Thank you for your generosity!
St. Benedict
Foreign Missions Projects
In Pakistan, Christians are relegated to hard labor jobs working in the fields or in brickyards making bricks in the extreme heat. Child labor is common in Pakistan as children as young as four are often forced to help support their family. Families are given a quota of 1,000 to 1500 bricks per day to produce at wages of about $1.50 – $1.75 per day.
Recently we were able to help provide shoes for the children who labor in temperatures of close to 120 degrees F.
Contact Deacon Michael at dcnmlr@icloud.com or 814-288-3036 to find out how you can help.
In April of 2023, a parishioner and contributor to our foreign missions noticed in some photos of our Pakistani friends that some of the children had Strabismus, the turning of one’s eye either inward or outwardly.
When Father Khalil said that the surgery to correct the problem cost $400, the parishioner generously donated the funds to cover surgeries for 5 children and 1 adult. A new ministry was born!
To date, over 317 eye surgeries have been provided, and a free eye clinic has been opened.
Currently, the surgery costs $500 and can be completed in one day.
Contact Deacon Michael at dcnmlr@icloud.com or 814-288-3036 to find out how you can help.
Worldwide Rosary Ministry
Since the inception of our rosary ministry, we have distributed to Pakistan, Nigeria and India. We have sent over 76,000 rosaries in two years!
(Many thanks to Our Lady of Grace Rosary Makers!) Shipping costs are always a challenge. Even small donations, when combined, are a tremendous help in covering those costs.
International Seminarians
We are currently assisting seminarian Alvin Antony who is attending seminary in India. He is in his 5th year of seminary with 3 more years to go.
Contact Deacon Michael at michael.russo@atlanticbb.net or
814-288-3036
for information about contributing
Pray the Rosary with us
Daily Mass Online
Other Devotions
