About St. John Gualbert · Johnstown, Pennsylvania
St. John Gualbert Cathedral is the co-cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown, located at 117 Clinton Street in downtown Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1835, it is the oldest Roman Catholic parish in the city of Johnstown. The present Italianate/Romanesque Revival cathedral was completed in 1895 at a cost of $75,000 and is notable for its pioneering steel-frame superstructure—almost 590,000 pounds of steel allowed the cross atop its 180-foot campanile to be placed before the cornerstone was laid. The cathedral is a contributing property in the Downtown Johnstown Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to the Proclaim! TV Mass Ministry, which has broadcast Sunday Mass to local and regional television audiences since 1987–88. Since 2021 the parish has shared its rector with St. Patrick Parish in Moxham.
- Established
- 1835
- Patron
- St. John Gualbert
- Rector
- Very Rev. Matthew Baum
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown
Why belong here
St. John Gualbert Cathedral offers a rare combination of deep history and active parish life. As the oldest Catholic parish in Johnstown (founded 1835) and the co-cathedral of the Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown, it provides multiple daily and weekend Masses, a robust OCIA/Christian Initiation process (formerly RCIA), partnership-based religious education for children, and the only locally produced Catholic televised Sunday Mass in the United States through its Proclaim! TV Ministry. The parish is also deeply engaged in the wider community, hosting an annual 'Blue and White Mass' to honor first responders and emergency personnel, and is active in the Saintly Six African-American sainthood cause movement. Whether you are drawn by its architectural significance, its televised outreach, or simply daily and weekly Mass in a historic downtown cathedral, there is a clear path to belong.
Mass times at St. John Gualbert
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 8:30 AM
- Sunday: 3:00 PM
- Thursday before First Friday: 3:00 PM
About St. John Gualbert Cathedral
St. John Gualbert Cathedral is the co-cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown, located at 117 Clinton Street in downtown Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1835, it is the oldest Roman Catholic parish in the city. The present Italianate/Romanesque Revival cathedral, completed in 1895, is celebrated for its pioneering steel-frame superstructure and its 180-foot Venetian-inspired campanile. It is a contributing property of the Downtown Johnstown Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places and is the home of the Proclaim! TV Mass Ministry. Since 2021, the parish has shared its rector with St. Patrick Parish in Moxham.
- Oldest Catholic parish in Johnstown, founded 1835
- Co-cathedral of the Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown since 1957
- Contributing property in the Downtown Johnstown Historic District (NRHP, 1992)
- Designated Jubilee Church in 2016 and 2025
History of the Parish
The parish was founded in 1835, making it the oldest Catholic congregation in Johnstown. An earlier church building was lost during or shortly after the catastrophic Johnstown Flood of 1889. The present cathedral was begun in August 1895, with the cornerstone laid October 13, 1895, and was completed at a cost of $75,000 by architects Louis and M. J. Beezer of Altoona. Its revolutionary use of a steel superstructure allowed the cross to be hoisted atop the campanile before the foundation walls were even built. On November 11, 1957, the Diocese of Altoona was renamed the Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown, and the church was elevated to co-cathedral status.
- 1835 — Parish founded
- 1889 — Earlier church lost in the Johnstown Flood
- 1895 — Construction began August 7; cornerstone October 13
- 1957 — Elevated to co-cathedral of the Diocese of Altoona–Johnstown
- 1992 — Added to the National Register of Historic Places
Architecture
The cathedral combines Italianate and Romanesque Revival influences. Its pioneering steel-frame superstructure—about 590,000 pounds of steel—enabled wide-span interior spaces with rounded arches, a circular wheel window on the façade, pressed brick and rough-faced terra cotta exterior, and a coved and coffered interior ceiling. The 180-foot campanile was inspired by St. Mark's Campanile in Venice.
- Architects: Louis and M. J. Beezer of Altoona
- Style: Italianate / Romanesque Revival
- Materials: pressed brick, brownstone, rough-faced terra cotta, steel frame
- Dimensions: 124 ft (Locust St.) × 66 ft (Clinton St.); nave 47 ft tall
- 180-ft campanile inspired by St. Mark's, Venice
- 104-ft north tower housing 3,200-lb recast bell (1890)
- Bronze doors cast in Italy, installed 1965
Interior & Furnishings
Inside, round-arch windows and pilasters with Corinthian capitals frame a coved and coffered ceiling; the bishop's cathedra is centered on the apse wall. The Shrine of Saint Anne, a 32 × 48 ft chapel at the rear, was designed by Pittsburgh firm Comes, Perry, and McMullen in 1895.
- Round-arch windows with Corinthian-capped pilasters
- Coved and coffered ceiling
- Bishop's cathedra centered on the apse wall
- Shrine of Saint Anne chapel at the rear (1895)
- 1897 pipe organ (Carnegie donation via Charles Schwab)
Organ
The cathedral's pipe organ was donated in 1897 by Andrew Carnegie through the influence of Charles Schwab. New stops were installed in 1915; the instrument was electrified and rebuilt in 1922 and again by Tellers Organ Company of Erie in the 1950s into a three-chambered electro-pneumatic instrument of 1,929 pipes. The choir loft also houses the studio and control room used by Proclaim!.
- 1897 — Original installation (Carnegie donation)
- 1915 — New stops
- 1922 — Electrified and rebuilt
- 1950s — Rebuilt by Tellers Organ Company of Erie; 1,929 pipes
Proclaim! TV Mass Ministry
St. John Gualbert is home to the Proclaim! TV Mass Ministry, the longest-running parish-congregation Sunday Mass broadcast in the United States. Launched in 1987 by Monsignor Philip Saylor and Deacon John Sroka, the ministry has broadcast the Sunday Mass on local and regional television for more than 35 years and is now carried live on WATM ABC TV 23 (Johnstown) and Cornerstone TV Faith and Family Channel (Pittsburgh). The broadcast is produced by an all-volunteer television crew led by Executive Producer Dino Tessari, with engineering and graphic support from local professionals. A 2019 Proclaim! TV Ministry Endowment, administered by the Independent Catholic Foundation, was established to help sustain the ministry in perpetuity.
- Founded 1987 by Msgr. Philip Saylor and Deacon John Sroka
- Live Sunday Mass on WATM ABC TV 23 (Johnstown) and Cornerstone TV (Pittsburgh)
- All-volunteer crew led by Executive Producer Dino Tessari
- Minute-A-Month sponsorship program
- Proclaim! TV Ministry Endowment (Independent Catholic Foundation, 2019)
Worship & Liturgy
The cathedral offers an extensive schedule of Masses throughout the week, including Vigil and three Sunday Masses, plus daily morning and midday Masses on most weekdays. Confession is offered Saturday morning, Sunday afternoon, and the Thursday before the First Friday. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin and an online calendar with full listings of events and minister schedules.
- Weekend Vigil: Saturday 6:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 7:00 AM, 11:00 AM (live on Proclaim!), 5:00 PM
- Daily Mass: Mon/Tues/Wed/Fri 7:00 AM; Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri 12:05 PM; Sat 8:00 AM
- Confession: Saturday 8:30 AM, Sunday 3:00 PM, Thursday before First Friday 3:00 PM
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is offered in partnership with neighboring parishes. Religious Education of Children is a joint effort of Resurrection, St. Claire, St. John Gualbert, and St. Patrick parishes, coordinated by Director of Religious Education Christine Babik. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) meets most Sundays at 6:30 PM in the Activities Center from September through June. Confirmation preparation is handled by the DRE, and the parish uses the FORMED digital platform for Baptism prep and many other parish-wide classes.
- Religious Education for Children — joint partnership, held primarily at Resurrection
- OCIA / Christian Initiation — Sundays 6:30 PM, September–June
- Confirmation Preparation — via DRE Christine Babik
- Adult Formation sessions — scheduled periodically, listed in the bulletin
- FORMED digital platform — Baptism prep and parish classes
Parish Ministries & Groups
Parishioners serve in a wide variety of liturgical and community ministries, including Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers, and Audio Operators. The Proclaim! TV Ministry is itself volunteer-staffed, drawing camera operators, graphic and sound techs, a program director, satellite engineers, and other media professionals.
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Audio Operators
- Proclaim! TV Ministry volunteers
- Saintly Six movement promoters
Community & Outreach
St. John Gualbert Cathedral is deeply engaged with the wider Johnstown community. It hosts an annual 'Blue and White Mass' honoring first responders, emergency officials, and medical professionals. The current rector, Father Matthew Baum, has been publicly involved in the 'Saintly Six' movement promoting six African-American candidates for sainthood, including distributing prayer cards at community events such as Johnstown's Juneteenth celebration.
- Annual Blue and White Mass for first responders
- Saintly Six African-American sainthood cause
- Participation in community events (e.g., Juneteenth)
St. Patrick Parish Collaboration
Since 2021, St. John Gualbert Cathedral has shared its rector with St. Patrick Parish, which serves the Moxham section of Johnstown and was founded in 1904. The two parishes share a rector (Father Matthew Baum), a weekly bulletin, and several formation programs. St. Patrick is located at 609 Park Ave, Johnstown, PA 15902 (phone: 814-539-2186; email: [email protected]).
- St. Patrick founded 1904 in Moxham
- Pastor-sharing began 2021
- Shared rector: Very Rev. Matthew Baum
- Shared weekly bulletin
- Joint Religious Education partnership
Contact & Visiting Information
The cathedral is open throughout the day for prayer and visitation, with peak activity during the published Mass and Confession schedule. Street parking is available on Clinton and Locust Streets and surrounding downtown blocks. The parish office can be reached at 814-536-0117 (the rector is also available by phone in an emergency).
- Address: 117 Clinton Street, Johnstown, PA 15901 (Mailing: PO Box 807, Johnstown, PA 15907)
- Phone: 814-536-0117
- Email: [email protected]
- St. Patrick office: 814-539-2186
- Located within the Downtown Johnstown Historic District
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. John Boyle, V.G.1891–1921
First rector of the cathedral parish after the 1895 building; served for 30 years.
- Msgr. John N. Codori, V.G., LL.D.1921–1947
Long-tenured rector who led the parish through the 1957 elevation to co-cathedral.
- Edward B. Daly1947–1968
Rector during the post-Vatican II era and the period when the high altar was removed.
- Msgr. Edwards J. Davis1968–1987
Rector for nearly two decades; oversaw the installation of the bronze doors (1965) era's aftermath.
- Msgr. Philip P. Saylor1987–1993
Co-founded the Proclaim! TV Mass Ministry in 1987 with Deacon John Sroka.
- Msgr. George B. Flinn, V.G.1993–2009
Vicar General; led the parish for 16 years.
- Very Rev. James F. Crookston2009–2021
Rector until the 2021 linking of St. John Gualbert with St. Patrick Parish.
- Very Rev. Matthew Baum2021–present
Current Rector; oversees both St. John Gualbert Cathedral and St. Patrick Parish.
