About Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament · Altoona, Pennsylvania
The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, located at One Cathedral Square in Altoona, Pennsylvania, atop Gospel Hill overlooking the city. Built largely as a 20th-century academic interpretation of Italy's early Renaissance cathedrals, it is dominated by a 198-foot dome inspired by St. Peter's Basilica and the Florence Cathedral. The parish has served the people of Altoona since 1851 — originally as St. John the Evangelist Church for the laborers who built the Pennsylvania Railroad — and was elevated to cathedral status when the Diocese of Altoona was erected in 1901. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property of the Downtown Altoona Historic District in 1992.
- Established
- 1851
- Patron
- The Blessed Sacrament
- Rector
- Rev. Monsignor Stanley B. Carson, Rector
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
Cathedral Parish combines the historic gravitas of the diocese's mother church with a genuinely welcoming, working community: weekday noon Masses make daily Eucharist accessible, a robust Christian Initiation (RCIA) process welcomes newcomers and returning Catholics, and an unusually rich roster of liturgical and service ministries — choirs, cantors, extraordinary ministers, ushers, lectors, altar servers, a bereavement ministry, prayer shawl team, Lenten fish luncheons, coat collection, and Advent sponsor families — gives virtually every parishioner a way to serve. The parish's calendar balances the cathedral's grand traditions (the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, Eucharistic Adoration, communal Penance Services in Advent and Lent, Stations of the Cross) with the everyday rhythms of Catholic life on Gospel Hill.
Mass times at Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday at 7:00 PM
- Saturday at 12:30 PM
- Communal Penance Services during Advent and Lent
- By appointment: call or text 814-937-8240
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Exposition on Sundays (check bulletin for current time)
- Eucharistic Day celebrated on the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)
History of the Cathedral Parish
Cathedral Parish traces its roots to 1851 and the dedication of St. John the Evangelist Church, the first Catholic church in Altoona, established to serve the laborers who built the Pennsylvania Railroad. The first resident pastor, Rev. John Tuigg, was assigned in 1853 by Bishop Michael O'Connor of Pittsburgh; he built the parish school and brought the Sisters of Charity to staff it before being named Bishop of Pittsburgh in 1876. When the Diocese of Altoona was erected on May 30, 1901, St. John's became the pro-cathedral of the new diocese under its first rector, Rev. Morgan Sheedy. The present cathedral was begun under Bishop John McCort's direction; St. John's Pro-Cathedral was razed in 1923, ground was broken on September 17, 1924, and the cornerstone was laid on May 30, 1926. Construction was halted by the Stock Market Crash of 1929, and the unfinished building was opened for public worship on September 7, 1931. After Bishop Richard Guilfoyle spent 28 years accumulating the funds to complete it but died before work could begin, and his successor Bishop Howard Carroll also died within a year of starting the work, Bishop J. Carroll McCormick formally opened the completed Cathedral on November 13, 1960.
- 1851 — St. John the Evangelist Church dedicated
- 1853 — Rev. John Tuigg assigned as first resident pastor
- 1901 — Diocese of Altoona erected; St. John's becomes pro-cathedral
- 1923 — St. John's Pro-Cathedral razed for the present building
- September 17, 1924 — Ground broken
- May 30, 1926 — Cornerstone laid (25th anniversary of the diocese)
- 1929 — Construction halted by Stock Market Crash
- September 7, 1931 — Unfinished cathedral opened for public worship
- November 13, 1960 — Cathedral formally opened by Bishop McCormick
- July 24, 1992 — Listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Downtown Altoona Historic District
- May 31, 2026 — 125th anniversary Mass of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown scheduled at the Cathedral
Architecture and Interior
The Cathedral is an academic interpretation of Italy's early Renaissance cathedrals, designed by Philadelphia architect George I. Lovatt, Sr., and constructed by local contractor Alfred D. Reid. Steel and reinforced concrete are sheathed in courses of smooth-faced Indiana limestone ashlar. Forty-eight stone steps rise in sections along a broad terrace, and the main façade features a portico of six Ionic columns in antis with a pediment reminiscent of Santa Maria Novella in Florence. The cruciform plan (roughly 264 by 120 feet) is dominated by a 198-foot dome modeled on St. Peter's Basilica and the Florence Cathedral, with 24 windows and a pinnacle skylight. The modern interior — completed 1959–60 in aluminum, glass, and marble — is organized around a 12-foot altar beneath a golden tester, with six large piers dividing the nave into three sections. Etched-glass doors by Baut Studios of Pittsburgh depict the Last Supper flanked by the symbols of the four Evangelists, while seven sanctuary stained-glass windows portray the Annunciation, Nativity, Last Supper, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, and the Crowning of Mary.
- Architect: George I. Lovatt, Sr. (Philadelphia)
- Interior designer: Alfred Reid (Pittsburgh)
- Style: Renaissance Revival
- Materials: Indiana limestone over steel and reinforced concrete
- Dome height: 198 feet (60 m); floor to eye: 152 feet (46 m)
- Dimensions: 264 ft × 120 ft
- Dome windows: 8 round at base, 8 dormer on second tier, 8 eyebrow near top, plus a pinnacle skylight
- Staircase inscription: 'Ecce tabernaculum Dei cum hominibus'
- Façade statues: St. John Neumann (left) and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (right)
- Dome inscription: 'Hoc est enim Corpus Meum. Hic est enim Calix Sanguinis Mei. Mysterium Fidei.'
- Eucharistic symbols carved at base of dome: wheat, grapes, wine, loaves, fish, monstrance, chalice and host, pelican
- Etched-glass doors: Baut Studios of Pittsburgh (installed 1972–1987)
- Stained glass since 1986: Hunt Studios, Pittsburgh
Music and the Steinmeyer Organ
Music is central to the Cathedral's liturgy, with the historic G.F. Steinmeyer & Co. organ (Opus 154) serving as a focal point of the worship space. Donated by Mrs. Annie L. Wolf, the organ was commissioned and installed July 1, 1931, with the dedication recital played by Ludwig Berber. It contains 62 stops and 83 ranks across four divisions, with a four-manual console featuring 17 blank stop tabs reserved for a planned Sanctuary division that was never realized. The instrument was mechanically repaired by the Aeolian-Skinner firm in 1959, restored to its tonal integrity by Columbia Organ Works in 1992, and featured on the program 'The Joy of Music' in 1997 with the festival choir under the direction of Robert Long. The organ stands beneath the stained-glass window of St. Cecilia, patroness of music.
- Builder: G.F. Steinmeyer & Co. (Germany), Opus 154
- Installed: July 1, 1931
- Donor: Mrs. Annie L. Wolf
- Stops: 62; Ranks: 83; Divisions: 4; Manuals: 4
- Restorations: Aeolian-Skinner (1959), Columbia Organ Works (1992)
- Director of Music: Bob Long (Phone: 814-944-2044)
Mass and Sacrament Schedule
The Cathedral offers a daily noon Mass Monday through Saturday, in addition to the Saturday Vigil at 5:00 PM and three Sunday Masses at 8:00, 10:00, and 5:00 PM. Holy Days are marked by a 5:30 PM Vigil and 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM liturgies; Christmas has a 5:00 PM Vigil, Midnight Mass, and morning Masses at 8:00 and 10:00 AM (with no noon or 5:00 PM Mass on Christmas Day). The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM and Saturdays at 12:30 PM, with communal Penance Services celebrated during Advent and Lent, and by appointment by calling or texting 814-937-8240.
- Weekend: Sat Vigil 5:00 PM; Sun 8:00, 10:00, 5:00 AM
- Daily: Mon–Sat 12:00 Noon
- Confessions: Wed 7:00 PM; Sat 12:30 PM; by appointment
- Communal Penance: Advent and Lent
- Holy Days: Vigil 5:30 PM; 8:00 AM; 12:00 Noon
- Christmas: 5:00 PM Vigil; Midnight; 8:00 AM; 10:00 AM
Clergy and Staff
The Cathedral is served by Most Reverend Mark L. Bartchak, J.C.D., Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown, and its current Rector is Rev. Monsignor Stanley B. Carson. Lay staff support parish operations, faith formation, and music.
- Most Reverend Mark L. Bartchak, J.C.D. — Bishop
- Rev. Monsignor Stanley B. Carson — Rector
- Paula Clemens — Parish Secretary (814-944-4603)
- Chris Laraia — Director of Religious Education (814-946-3475)
- Bob Long — Director of Music (814-944-2044)
Christian Initiation (RCIA) and Joining the Parish
Cathedral Parish follows the four-stage Christian Initiation process for both children and adults — unbaptized, baptized in another tradition, or Catholic adults seeking fuller formation. The Inquiry stage usually begins in September, meeting on Sunday mornings after the 10:00 AM Mass in the Seton Suite (below the rectory on Fourteenth Street). Catechumens and candidates are formally welcomed into the Church during the Period of Catechumenate, dismissed after the homily of the 10:00 AM Mass to break open the Sunday scriptures. The Period of Purification and Enlightenment begins in Lent with the Rite of Election celebrated in the Cathedral with the Bishop, followed by three scrutinies (the Woman at the Well, the Man Born Blind, Lazarus Raised from the Dead) and a retreat, culminating in the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. Newly initiated members continue in Mystagogy. The parish also welcomes returning Catholics through its Come Home Team.
- Inquiry: Sundays 11:00 AM–Noon, Seton Suite
- Catechumenate: dismissal after homily at 10:00 Mass; 11:00 AM–Noon discussion
- Rite of Election: with the Bishop at the Cathedral
- Easter Vigil: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
- Mystagogy: post-Easter formation
- Come Home Team: for returning Catholics
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish offers lifelong faith formation for children, youth, and adults. The Religious Education program is coordinated by Chris Laraia (814-946-3475) and is paired with sacramental preparation, including a Confirmation Formation Group that partners with Catholic Charities on the Advent Sponsor Families in Need project. Altar-server formation begins in the fourth grade, and youth and adult choirs invite singers of all ages into the liturgical life of the Cathedral.
- Children's Religious Education
- Youth Faith Formation (including Confirmation prep)
- Adult Faith Formation
- Altar Server formation (begins in 4th grade)
- Youth Choir and Adult Choir
Liturgical Ministries
Cathedral parishioners are invited to share their time and talent in a wide range of liturgical roles. By baptism, all are called to be stewards of God's gifts; the parish provides formation and ongoing support for each ministry.
- Altar Servers (youth and adult, beginning in 4th grade)
- Lectors/Readers
- Cantors and Psalmists
- Choir (youth and adult)
- Instrumentalists (organ, piano, woodwinds, strings, brass, percussion)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Gift Bearers
- Commentators
- Ushers and Hospitality
Outreach and Service Committee
The Service Committee coordinates the parish's corporal works of mercy, both through ongoing collections and seasonal projects. Non-perishable food items, paper products, and cleaning supplies are gathered weekly for those in need; winter coats are collected during Advent; and the parish sponsors families in need at Christmas in conjunction with Catholic Charities and the Confirmation Formation Group. Funeral luncheons may be hosted in the cathedral hall at no charge.
- Collection of Food for the Needy (weekly bins at three doors)
- Coat Collection during Advent
- Sponsor Families in Need (Advent, with Catholic Charities)
- Lenten Fish Luncheons (drive-thru Ash Wednesday and Fridays of Lent; proceeds assist the poor)
- Prayer Shawl Team (handmade shawls for the sick and homebound)
- Bereavement Ministry (peer support)
- Confraternity of Christian Mothers (prayer and social group)
- Funeral Lunches (cathedral hall)
Giving and Supporting the Parish
Cathedral Parish is supported through the weekly offertory, the annual Catholic Ministries Drive, bequests, and contributions to parish endowments. Information on making a financial donation is available through the Get Involved section of the parish website.
- Weekly Offertory
- Annual Catholic Ministries Drive
- Bequests
- Parish Endowments
Visiting the Cathedral
Visitors are welcome at daily noon Mass and weekend liturgies. Located at One Cathedral Square atop Gospel Hill, the Cathedral is a defining landmark on the Altoona skyline and an easy walk from downtown. A illustrated Cathedral Booklet containing its history and pictures of its art is available at the Parish Office. Notable sights include the 198-foot dome with its Latin Eucharistic inscription, the seven sanctuary stained-glass windows, the etched-glass Last Supper doors by Baut Studios, the statues of St. John Neumann and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the Steinmeyer organ, and the central altar beneath its golden tester.
- Daily noon Mass, Monday–Saturday
- Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM; Sunday 8:00, 10:00, 5:00 PM
- Reconciliation: Wed 7:00 PM, Sat 12:30 PM, by appointment, Advent/Lent communal services
- Cathedral Booklet available at the Parish Office
- Forty-eight stone steps ascend from street to main entrance
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Walsh1850
Pastor of St. Mary Church, Hollidaysburg; offered the first Mass in the Altoona area, ca. 1850.
- Rev. John Tuigg1853–1876
First resident pastor; established the parish school and brought the Sisters of Charity to staff it; later became Bishop of Pittsburgh.
- Rev. John Walsh (parish, not Hollidaysburg)1876–1880
Pastor following Tuigg's departure.
- Rev. Thomas Ryan1880–1883
Pastor.
- Most Rev. John Tuigg1883–1889
Returned as Bishop-administrator.
- Nicholas O'Reilly and Thomas Smith1889–1890
Lay/administrator administrators during the sede vacante.
- Rev. Edward Bush1890–1894
Pastor.
- Rev. Morgan Sheedy1894–1939
Longest-tenured pastor; oversaw the razing of St. John's Pro-Cathedral and the construction of the present cathedral; named first rector in 1901.
- Rev. Msgr. Ildephonse Denny1939–1972
Rector.
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas Madden, P.A.1972–1987
Rector; oversaw the installation of the Baut Studios etched-glass main doors and new stained glass; served as Chancellor and Vicar General; Administrator of the Diocese three times.
- Rev. Msgr. Paul Panza, P.A.1987–1995
Rector.
- Rev. Msgr. Robert Mazur1995–2025
Rector.
- Rev. Msgr. Stanley B. Carson2019–present
Current Rector; joined alongside Msgr. Mazur in 2019, sole rector following Mazur's retirement in 2025.
