About St. Rose of Lima · Altoona, Pennsylvania
St. Rose of Lima is a Roman Catholic parish in Altoona, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. The parish serves the Catholic faithful of the city with daily Mass, a Monday evening Mass, and two Sunday Masses, supported by an active schedule of Eucharistic Adoration, Stations of the Cross in Lent, and parish-based outreach. It is a supporting parish of Holy Trinity Regional Catholic School (pre-school through grade five) and Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School (grades six through twelve), and it runs its own Religious Education program for public-school children in grades 1 through 11. Ministries rooted in service — including the Legion of Mary, the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, the St. Mother Teresa visiting ministry, OCIA, S.T.A.R., ACTS retreats, the Thursday Club, and The Gathering for adults with special needs — give the parish a strong culture of faith-in-action.
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Very Rev. John Lynam, VF
- Diocese
- Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima welcomes Catholics and visitors into a parish family 'guided by the Spirit, blessed with an abundance of talents that we use in service for God and our diverse parish community.' Beyond its daily and Sunday Masses, the parish offers weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Thursday mornings and evenings), Friday Stations of the Cross in Lent, the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Mondays, Saturdays, and by appointment, and a thriving network of lay ministries — from the Legion of Mary and St. Vincent de Paul food pantry to The Gathering for adults with special needs and S.T.A.R. for those recovering from cancer — that make it easy for new parishioners to find fellowship, formation, and a way to serve.
Mass times at St. Rose of Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday — 6:00 PM
- Saturday — 12:00 Noon
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday morning — after 8:30 AM Mass until 10:00 AM
- Thursday evening — 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM
Welcome & Mission
St. Rose of Lima describes itself as 'the people of Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church: guided by the Spirit, blessed with an abundance of talents that we use in service for God and our diverse parish community, and united together as a Catholic faith family living Christian values.' The parish emphasizes deepening one's relationship with God through worship (the Sacraments) and prayer, education and evangelization, and the support and spiritual growth of its members. Visitors are greeted with the simple invitation that appears at the top of the parish website: 'Please … Come in … and be … Welcome!'
- Parish mission: worship, education, evangelization, and mutual spiritual support
- Open invitation to new parishioners and visitors
- Parish description: 'guided by the Spirit … united together as a Catholic faith family'
Parish History & Pastoral Leadership
The parish community has been devoted to its Catholic faith and to serving the Lord for over a century, and in 2024 the parish organized a 100th Anniversary Recipes and Memories cookbook project, with a final submission deadline of May 1, 2024, drawing on memories from parishioners across the decades. The parish has experienced a recent pastoral transition: on September 14, 2023, the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown announced that Father John Lynam, a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh released for pastoral ministry in Altoona-Johnstown, was appointed Pastor of Saint Rose of Lima, succeeding Monsignor Michael Becker, who moved to Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Altoona.
- Parish has served the Altoona Catholic community 'for over a century'
- 100th Anniversary cookbook project in 2024 — final submissions May 1, 2024
- Monsignor Michael Becker — previous pastor, reassigned September 14, 2023
- Very Rev. John Lynam, VF — appointed Pastor September 14, 2023
Catholic Schools
St. Rose of Lima is a supporting parish of two diocesan Catholic schools: Holy Trinity Regional Catholic School, which serves students in pre-school through grade five, and Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School, which serves grades six through twelve. In the 2024–2025 school year the parish anticipated that Holy Trinity and Bishop Guilfoyle would merge into a single school, consolidating Catholic education in the area.
- Holy Trinity Regional Catholic School — pre-school through grade 5
- Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School — grades 6 through 12
- Merger of the two schools anticipated for 2024–2025
Religious Education (CCD)
Because many parish children attend public schools, St. Rose of Lima runs its own Religious Education program on-site for public-school students in grades 1 through 11. The 2024–2025 Religious Education classes began the weekend after Labor Day, on September 8, 2024, and meet every week at the parish. Parents with questions are invited to contact the parish office.
- Religious Education for public-school students, grades 1–11
- Classes held at St. Rose of Lima
- 2024–2025 classes began September 8, 2024 (weekend after Labor Day)
Sacraments
The parish prepares Catholics for the reception of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Matrimony, and Reconciliation. Parents are encouraged to contact the rectory well before an expected Baptism — ideally before birth — so that preparation and scheduling can be arranged. Confirmation preparation is a two-year formal program beginning in the ninth grade and continues while a young person is enrolled in Religious Education or in the parish's supporting Catholic schools. Couples interested in celebrating Matrimony must meet with a priest at least nine months before the proposed wedding date. Reconciliation is offered at the scheduled times (Monday 6:00 PM, Saturday 12:00 PM, or by appointment) and as part of OCIA formation.
- Baptism of Infants and Young Children — contact the rectory before birth when possible
- Confirmation — two-year preparation beginning in grade 9
- Marriage — priest meeting at least nine months before the wedding
- Reconciliation — Monday 6:00 PM, Saturday 12:00 PM, or by appointment
OCIA (RCIA) — Becoming Catholic
St. Rose of Lima offers OCIA — the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly known as RCIA) — a spiritual journey for adults and children who are uncatechized or who were baptized in another Christian denomination and who wish to become Catholic. Through prayer, study, and fellowship, participants prepare to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Catholic sponsors willing to share their faith experiences with new members are always needed; those seeking to become Catholic may contact the rectory.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and Children
- Preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
- Welcomes uncatechized adults and those baptized in another Christian denomination
- Parish sponsors are always needed to walk with candidates
Ministries & Outreach
Ministries are the heart of parish life at St. Rose of Lima, where faith is lived out through service, love, and community. The Legion of Mary is a lay Catholic organization dedicated to serving the Church through prayer, study, and acts of service, with a special focus on teaching children, fostering community, and offering spiritual support to those in need. The St. Vincent de Paul Ministry runs a food pantry and offers outreach programs, financial aid, and emotional support to individuals and families facing food insecurity, homelessness, and personal hardships. The St. Mother Teresa Ministry supports elderly and isolated parishioners with companionship, help with errands, and transportation to Mass, so that no one is left behind. The Gathering provides a safe, fun, and engaging day for individuals with special needs such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke recovery, dementia, or those who are homebound. S.T.A.R. (Stitching to Assist Recovery) creates handmade comfort items for individuals recovering from cancer, delivered through the American Cancer Society. ACTS offers transformative weekend retreats focused on Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service. The Thursday Club welcomes all parishioners aged 50 and over, meeting on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month with a covered pot-luck on the 1st Thursday. Other ministries include Gratia Plena, Back to Bethany, and the Vocations Committee.
- Legion of Mary
- St. Vincent de Paul — food pantry and outreach
- St. Mother Teresa Ministry — visiting elderly and homebound parishioners
- The Gathering — day program for adults with special needs
- S.T.A.R. (Stitching to Assist Recovery) — handmade items for cancer recovery
- ACTS — retreat ministry
- Thursday Club — parishioners 50+, 1st and 3rd Thursdays
- Gratia Plena
- Back to Bethany
- Vocations Committee
Online Giving & Stewardship
St. Rose of Lima offers parishioners a safe and secure online giving system as an alternative to weekly envelopes. Donors can start, stop, and change their contributions at any time, with gifts transferred from a preferred payment method directly to the parish. The parish encourages all parishioners, neighbors, friends, and family to consider registering for online giving, particularly when they are unable to attend Mass at Saint Rose.
- Online giving registration available through the parish website
- Flexible — start, stop, or change contributions at any time
- No need to share sensitive account information with parish staff
Contact & Locations
The parish has three main locations in Altoona, all in ZIP code 16602. The church's front entrance is at 5519 6th Avenue; the Parish Office / Rectory is at 5514 Roselawn Avenue; the Maria Parish Center and Social Hall are also part of the parish campus. The Rectory can be reached at (814) 944-8509, the Social Hall at (814) 942-1323, and the Maria Parish Center at (814) 942-7844. The parish uses the email [email protected] and, for one staff member, [email protected]. The official website is https://stroselima.net, with the legacy www.stroselima.com address redirecting to it.
- Church (front entrance): 5519 6th Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602
- Parish Office / Rectory: 5514 Roselawn Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602
- Maria Parish Center: (814) 942-7844
- Social Hall: (814) 942-1323
- Rectory: (814) 944-8509
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stroselima.net
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Michael Becker
Predecessor pastor; reassigned September 14, 2023 to serve as Pastor of Saint John the Evangelist Parish, Altoona.
- Very Rev. John Lynam, VF2023–present
Appointed Pastor of Saint Rose of Lima Parish effective September 14, 2023; also serves as Dean of the Altoona Deanery and as Administrator of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Altoona.