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
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.
Third Sunday of Lent
March 8, 2026
GOSPEL MEDITATION
Recently I received a note from a teenager I met years ago. He wrote, “Dear Father Muir, you probably do not remember me, but I wanted to thank you for your inspiring and humorous homilies at the parish. They helped me appreciate the beauty of Catholicism, which I have now embraced in a personal way.” That small note moved me more than he probably imagined. I had no idea my words had taken root in him. I was simply sowing seeds — week by week, Mass by Mass. Someone else — his parents, a youth minister, or God Himself — was doing the deeper work. Now this young man is joyfully reaping a harvest of faith.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers living water to a Samaritan woman whose life had been full of searching and disappointment. By the end of their encounter, she becomes a bold and joyful evangelist. Then Jesus turns to his disciples and says something easily overlooked: “One sows and another reaps” (John 4:37). He is helping them — and us — understand how evangelization works. Often, the one who sows the seeds of faith is not the one who sees the fruit.
This Lent, ask yourself: Are you in a sowing phase or a reaping phase? If you are sowing — raising children, praying for someone, mentoring — be patient. Your work matters. If you are reaping — seeing someone come alive in faith — be grateful. You are standing on sacred ground, tilled and watered by others.
Lenten challenge: Thank someone who once sowed faith into your life. And keep sowing, even when the harvest is unseen.
EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP
Today’s readings on this third Sunday of Lent presents us with the theme of “thirst” and show us that a stewardship way of life can both satisfy our spiritual thirst for Christ and help us to satisfy Christ’s thirst for souls.
For some mysterious reason, God has chosen to include us in His plan for bringing all people to salvation through Him. We live out our part in His plan through a stewardship way of life. It is an indescribable privilege to live this way. Yet, our Lord does not wish us to be concerned about our unworthiness for such a high calling. He demonstrates this throughout the Scriptures by calling the “unworthy.” In today’s passage, He chooses the Samaritan women. She is a woman with a “past” and even a current living situation that is scandalous. But He calls her to conversion, and she responds to His call, becoming a disciple for her whole village.
He is calling to us too, to live as His modern-day disciples. This Lent, let us resolve to respond to His call with passion and commitment. Let us do our part to quench His thirst for the salvation of all.
2026 Catholic Stewardship Consultants
REFLECTION
When God Asks for Water
One of my earliest memories is of my mother weeping.
The last few months of her pregnancy with my little brother were tremendously painful for her, and more than once the pain brought her to tears. I have a hazy image of her in my mind, belly swollen with a 12-pound baby lying transverse in the womb, sitting on the edge of her bed, dabbing at her face with toilet paper.
I had brought her the toilet paper. I would do that when I saw her crying, to wipe away her tears. I have a hazy memory of that, too — of the way my heart was wrenched by the sight of her suffering, of my desperation to do something to help, and of my immense satisfaction when she would take the toilet paper, smile and say, “Oh, thank you, sweetheart!” as if I had just airlifted her out of a war zone.
What a powerful gift to give to a child still learning the meaning of compassion and selflessness — the gift of being able to feel that she has, even in some small way, “rescued” a person she worships. Her smile of gratitude lives, immortal, in my mind, along with the swell of satisfaction it produced in the deepest corner of my heart. This was when I learned that it feels good to help people, and this memory is a perpetually replenished well of living water for me. I draw from it daily, three decades later.
This is a gift that Christ gives, over and over again, in the Gospels. He allows us to encounter him tired, afraid, sad and hungry. Omnipotent power subjected to the utter vulnerability of human form.
Before the Incarnation, God looked down from Heaven and said, “You are thirsty. Here is something to drink.”
After the Incarnation, God sits down beside us and says, “I’m thirsty. Give me something to drink.”