About Prince of Peace Chapel · Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania
Prince of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania (Cambria County), formed on July 5, 2000 when Bishop Joseph V. Martino of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown merged five historic ethnic parishes — Christ the King, Holy Cross, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Stanislaus Kostka — into a single faith community. The parish today ministers from two worship sites: the main church and parish office at 811 Chestnut Avenue and Holy Cross Chapel at 2410 Campbell Avenue. It is led by Father Mark E. Groeger (Administrator) with Deacon Gary F. Gill and a small lay staff, and serves Catholics across the former boroughs of Barnesboro and Spangler, which consolidated into Northern Cambria in 2001.
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Mark E. Groeger (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
Prince of Peace offers a full sacramental life in two worship sites — the main church at 811 Chestnut Avenue and historic Holy Cross Chapel at 2410 Campbell Avenue — with daily and weekend Mass, Friday confessions, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and time set aside each weekday for private prayer. It runs a religious education program for children, a multi-year Confirmation preparation track beginning in 9th grade, and an adult RCIA process directed by Deacon Gary Gill, making it a welcoming home for lifelong Catholics and newcomers alike.
Mass times at Prince of Peace Chapel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Fridays at 7:30 AM
- Saturday — 1/2 hour prior to Mass
- Sunday — 1/2 hour prior to Mass
- By appointment (call the parish office)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM (Church)
Parish History
Prince of Peace Parish was canonically erected on July 5, 2000, when the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown merged the five former ethnic parishes of Christ the King, Holy Cross, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Stanislaus Kostka into a single Roman Catholic community serving Barnesboro, Spangler, and the surrounding communities. Three of the original five churches were closed; the surviving worship sites became the main church on Chestnut Avenue and Holy Cross Chapel on Campbell Avenue.
- Formed July 5, 2000
- Predecessor parishes: Christ the King, Holy Cross, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Stanislaus Kostka
- Sacramental registers retained for Holy Cross, Most Precious Blood / Holy Incarnation, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Prince of Peace, St. Edward / Christ the King, St. John the Baptist, St. Patrick, and St. Stanislaus Kostka
- Three of five original worship sites closed in the merger
Worship Sites
The parish worships from two sites in Northern Cambria. The main church and parish office occupy the historic building at 811 Chestnut Avenue, while Holy Cross Chapel at 2410 Campbell Avenue continues the name of one of the founding parishes of the 2000 merger and is listed by GCatholic as 'Chapel of the Prince of Peace.'
- Main Church & Parish Office — 811 Chestnut Avenue, Northern Cambria, PA 15714
- Holy Cross Chapel — 2410 Campbell Avenue, Northern Cambria, PA 15714
Parish Staff
Prince of Peace is led by Father Mark E. Groeger as Pastor/Administrator, supported by Deacon Gary F. Gill, who also directs the parish's adult faith, marriage-preparation, and family-life programs. A small lay team handles music, religious education, parish administration, and accounting.
- Rev. Mark E. Groeger — Pastor/Administrator ([email protected])
- Deacon Gary F. Gill — Director of RCIA, Adult Faith, Marriage Prep & Family Life ([email protected])
- Georgette Weiland — Director of Music
- Janet Barnosky — Director of Religious Education
- Marissa Lashley — Administrative Assistant
- Mike Klapak — Accounting (contact through the church office)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education for the parish's children is coordinated by Janet Barnosky. Children prepare for First Penance, First Eucharist, and Confirmation through grade-level catechesis supported by parish catechists.
- Director of Religious Education: Janet Barnosky
- Sacramental preparation requires family registration in the parish
- Catechists drawn from the parish (e.g., Cheryl Searle, Sherry Delosh and others listed in parish bulletins)
Confirmation Preparation
The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown sets the regular age for Confirmation at 11th grade, and Prince of Peace follows a three-year preparation track beginning in 9th grade. Baptized adults over 18 may join the RCIA candidates' class and be confirmed either at a parish Mass or alongside the teens by the Bishop. Children older than 7 who are unbaptized enter the full Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
- Standard track: 9th, 10th, 11th grade — culminating with the Bishop
- Adult candidates (18+): join RCIA classes with option of parish or diocesan confirmation
- Older unbaptized children (7+): full RCIA process, culminating at the Easter Vigil
RCIA & Adult Faith Formation
Deacon Gary Gill directs the parish's RCIA program, welcoming unbaptized adults into the Catholic Church through the Easter Vigil sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, and accompanying already-baptized adults preparing for Confirmation or full communion with the Church. Adult faith enrichment, marriage preparation, and family-life programming are coordinated alongside it.
- RCIA Director: Deacon Gary F. Gill
- Adult Faith, Marriage Preparation, and Family Life ministries housed in the same office
- Inquirers invited to contact the parish office
Sacraments
Prince of Peace prepares parishioners for Baptism, Confirmation, First Penance, First Eucharist, and Matrimony. All sacramental preparation requires that the family be properly registered in the parish. The parish office also handles sacramental record requests, holding the historic registers from every predecessor parish.
- Baptism — register first at the rectory
- Confirmation — 3-year process starting in 9th grade
- First Eucharist & First Penance — through the Religious Education program
- Matrimony — preparation directed by Deacon Gary Gill
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment through the parish office
- Sacramental Records — call (814) 948-6842
Membership & Registration
The parish asks that every family be properly registered and notes that registration is a condition for admission to the sacramental preparation program and for the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, First Penance, First Eucharist, and Matrimony. New parishioners are asked to register at the rectory as soon as possible.
- Register at the parish rectory
- Required for sacramental preparation and reception of the sacraments
Office Hours & Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM and is closed on Fridays, Holy Days of Obligation, and National Holidays. Telephone, e-mail, and the parish bulletin are the official channels for parish news, with the website intended as the primary public information source.
- Office: Monday–Thursday, 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
- Phone: (814) 948-6842
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.popnc.net
- Corrections or questions welcome via phone or e-mail
Mission Statement
Prince of Peace Parish describes itself as 'a Roman Catholic faith community dedicated to giving praise and glory to the One God in Three Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,' through prayer and liturgical worship; proclaiming and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ; and sharing His new life through Word, Sacraments, and deeds. As the Body of Christ, the parish commits itself to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, marriage and family, Christian morals and ethics, social life, and fellowship in the Spirit.