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.
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
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION DURING HOLD WEEK
Palm Sunday: 3:00 P.M.
Wednesday of Holy Week: 8:00 A.M., 12:30 P.M. and 7:00 P.M.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross will be prayed on the Fridays of Lent at 5:30 P.M.
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.
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
March 29, 2026
GOSPEL MEDITATION
Just prior to this week’s Passion narrative in St. Matthew’s Gospel, there is a small, striking story describing a woman’s scandalous action toward Jesus: “A woman came up to him with an alabaster jar of costly perfumed oil, and poured it on his head” (Matthew 26:7). The ointment was pure ard, worth more than 300 denarii. A year’s wages. Maybe a dowry, maybe a family inheritance. In any case, she breaks it. She does not measure or ration. She pours it all out, irreversibly, over Jesus. Why does this image begin Holy Week?
Because what she does with the jar, Jesus will soon do with his life. The jar must be broken so the fragrance can be released. Jesus’ body will be broken so his priceless divine and human love can be poured out. She gives everything, just as he is about to give everything. And He sees it: “She has done a good thing for me” (Matthew 26:10). Her act is lavish,
impractical, scandalous in its apparent wastefulness. And he loves it. It is what Holy Week is all about.
What jar are you still holding onto? Your time? Your comfort? Your plan for how life should go? Don’t just wave palms today. Let yourself be broken open so your love, too, can be poured out.
Lenten Challenge: Offer something costly to Jesus this Holy Week — not out of guilt, but love. Your attention. Your forgiveness. Your time. Break the jar. Trust that nothing poured out for him is ever wasted
EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP
We begin this Holy Week with the reading of the Lord’s Passion from the Gospel of Matthew. It is fitting that we Christian stewards focus our minds and hearts intensely this week on the steps of our Brother and Savior as He laid down His very life for us.
Throughout this story, there are several small acts of stewardship by those who encountered Jesus during this most eventful week. Each of these were simple acts of good stewardship, yet God used them in mighty ways. God invites each of us, too, to cooperate with Him in small ways through the sharing of our time, talents and material gifts. Small gifts can become mighty deeds when placed in God’s service.
2026 Catholic Stewardship Consultants
REFLECTION
We have all sold Jesus out, at one point or another. Some of us have done it more than once, and we’ve done it for a lot less than 30 pieces of silver.
We have all denied Christ, and we have done it more than three times and under much less pressure than Peter, who feared for his life when he shouted, “I do not know the man!”
We have all struck the face of God — out of anger? Fear? Confusion? All of the above? — screaming, in agony, “Prophesy for me!”
At one point or another, we have all looked at our Lord beaten and betrayed, and we have all said, as Pilate did: “What shall I do with Jesus called Christ?”
And we have all hung on the cross chosen for us, crying out in bewilderment: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Holy Week is a week where we see humanity, in all its vulnerability and ignorance. We see it in the “villains” of the piece, like Judas, and in the morally neutral characters like Pilate and the Jews who have been misled about Jesus. We even see it in the “good guys” like Peter.
In this, the holiest week of the year, we see ourselves at our very worst. The chasm between man and his Creator is an ancient one, and it is driven deep and wide — by the pridefulness of Adam and Eve, yes, but also by every poor choice you and I have ever made.
Every “I don’t know the man!”
Every “Prophesy!”
Every “What shall I do with Jesus?”
These cries echo forth from the depths of this chasm.
But this week — this Holy Week — a bridge is built across the chasm. And God reaches out His hand.