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. For more information go to https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1377752
Be sure to join an exclusive presentation/slide show on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. in the cathedral’s hall.
PRAYER FOR POPE LEO XIV
O God, who in your providential design willed that your Church be built upon blessed Peter, whom you set over the other Apostles, look with favor, we pray, on Leo XIV our Pope and grant that he, whom you have made Peter’s successor, may be for your people a visible source and foundation of unity in faith and of communion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen. Excerpt from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010 International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
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
Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 12, 2025
GOSPEL MEDITATION
A priest friend of mine received a call from a family whose elderly mother was dying. Within thirty minutes, he was at her bedside, offering the consolation of the sacraments, anointing her with the oil of the sick, and commending her soul to God. She passed not long after, and for months, her family spoke of their deep gratitude for his presence. When I phoned him to commend his faithful ministry, he simply said,
“I was just doing my job.”
His words brought to mind Jesus’ teaching this week in Luke 17:10: “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” In a world that often seeks recognition and applause, the Lord invites us into a different mindset— one of humble service. The priest did not see his response as extraordinary; he saw it as a grace to fulfill his vocation.
How tempting it is to seek affirmation for doing what I ought to do! Yet Jesus reminds us that true discipleship is not about grandstanding but about quiet faithfulness. It is enough to have served. It is enough to have loved. It is enough to be grateful that we were given the chance to do our duty in the first place. Whether in priesthood, parenthood, or any vocation, what peace-soaked freedom there is in simply doing what is asked of us. No more, no less. Jesus, that is how you quietly love us.
– Father John Muir
EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP
Gratitude is the key to a stewardship way of life. Today’s readings demonstrate the power and vital importance of gratitude in the life of the Christian disciple, for gratitude leads us to worship God who offers us salvation.
The truth is that our very lives and every breath we take are His gifts to us. But we can get so caught up in the stresses and distractions of daily life that we lose touch with this truth. Gratitude begins within our minds and hearts when we take the
time to recognize how blessed we truly are and when we have the humility to recognize where these blessings come from – our merciful and loving God.
The Samaritan from our Gospel today reacts to his gift of healing in much the same way as Namaan from our First Reading, and demonstrates the proper response to our loving God. Recognizing what he had just received from the Lord, he
“returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked Him.” He was grateful for what God had done for him and this gratitude led to worship.
2025 Catholic Stewardship Consultants
PRACTICING CATHOLIC – RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS
Mini reflection: I have enough faith to know that God can heal me. But do I have enough faith to embrace the purpose for which He heals me?
Your Faith Has Saved You
Your faith has saved you. These are the words I pray I will hear when my heart stops beating when the last breath has left my lungs.
We hear Jesus say these words, or words like them, several times in the Gospels: to the woman bold enough to grasp for his cloak in a crowd, to the men who testify to their belief that he can restore their sight, to the leper kneeling before him in thanks.
These are some of my favorite passages in all of Scripture, because they illustrate so beautifully what salvific faith is — and what it is not.
It’s so easy to think that I have done all the necessary work by simply believing. Yes, Christ is my Savior. Yes, the Church is his bride. Yes, this doctrine is true, that dogma is infallible, so on and so forth.
I believe!
Well, so what? Satan believes, too. It doesn’t do him any good.
The lepers had faith — so they begged Jesus to heal them. They had faith — so they followed his instructions and went to the priests. Their faith was sufficient to motivate these actions, which led to their physical healing. But only one had faith strong enough to understand that physical healing doesn’t mean anything without spiritual results. Only one had enough faith to go back to the source of his healing and say, “Thank you. Now what?”
I have enough faith to know that God can heal me. But do I have enough faith to embrace the purpose for which He heals me?
If Jesus tells you that your faith has saved you, he isn’t talking about faith as merely an internally held belief. In each of these Gospel passages, he’s talking about faith as a conviction that is making itself seen. Heard. Felt. He’s talking about an arm that is reaching for the hem of a garment, a voice that says “I believe” or a knee that is bent in gratitude.
He’s talking about faith that is so strong it becomes action. This is the faith I hope I can have.
– Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman