About Holy Rosary · Altoona, Pennsylvania
Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Altoona, Pennsylvania, is a historic parish established in 1901 as the first parish in the newly formed Altoona Diocese. It shares a close relationship with Saint Mark’s Catholic Church, with both parishes sharing a pastor and community resources. The church is known for its strong emphasis on Trinitarian spirituality, active ministries, and a vibrant parish life that includes youth, elderly care, and outreach. The parish is also home to a restored 19th-century bell with deep local historical significance, installed in a new tower in 2006.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- Saint Mark
- Rector
- Father Nelson Javier T.O.R.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
Join a parish that welcomes all — families, youth, elderly, and guests — and actively engages in community service, faith formation, and spiritual growth. With ministries like CCD, 21-Club, and outreach to the elderly, you’ll find opportunities to serve, pray, and grow in your faith alongside a supportive and family-oriented community.
Mass times at Holy Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, Month of July, 12 noon - 12:30 pm at Saint Mark's Church
History
Holy Rosary Parish was organized on December 2, 1901, by Reverend Father George Kim Bigley. The first church was a temporary structure on Sixth Avenue, built with donated labor and financial aid from Saint Mark’s Parish. In 1922, a new church was built, with the cornerstone laid that year and the building occupied the next. The old church property was sold in 1926. In 1951, the parish acquired and renovated a former Evangelical and Reformed Church to become a school, which opened in 1952 and closed in 1974. The parish also shares a bell with Saint Mark’s, originally from the Pennsylvania Railroad, which was restored and reinstalled in 2006.
Ministries
- CCD (Religious Education)
- 21-Club
- Activities
- Candle Intentions/Prayer List