Come home...
The desire to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church begins with Baptism. Feel free to browse and take some excellent Adult Faith Formation Classes. If you are in Johnstown area, please feel free to contact the pastor of Saint Andrew (Fr. Peter Crowe) to discuss your desire to become Catholic, as preparation is often based on one’s individual history and background. If you are not from the Johnstown region or in the diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, please contact your local parish priest to discuss what you would need to do to receive the Sacraments. He will be happy to help you!
If you would like to learn more about the Faith, check out the helpful links on the right, under the column titled “I have questions about the Faith”
Email: pcrowe@dioceseaj.org
Phone: (814) 288-4324 Ext. 5
The Catholic Faith is the one, Holy, Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ. People tragically fall away for a number of reasons, but there is a way to return to the Sacraments!
Catholics Come Home is a wonderful apostolate for people who have been away for a while. Check out the webpage for many great resources.
If you are in a marriage that is not blessed by the Catholic Church, please contact your priest to work to remedy this situation. If there is no previous marriage, usually this can be a simple remedy called a convalidation. Until your situation is resolved, you must abstain from receiving the Eucharist, since for Catholics, the Sacrament of Marriage must be done under certain conditions (i.e a marriage performed in another denomination or by a judge is not a valid marriage).
Here is a helpful website that discusses aspects of marriage, including ideas to improve your marriage.
If you are not in such a situation, go to confession and let the priest know about how long you have been away. If it has been a number of years, it may be helpful to contact a priest to arrange an appointment since this confession may take a little bit longer than a person who is regularly going to confession.
Before you go to confession, check out:
Forgiven: The power of Confession
That’s ok! We learn and grow by asking honest questions.
Catholic Answers is an excellent resource that helps people answer their easy or difficult questions about the Faith.
Saint Paul Street Evangelization provides lots of great resources to help grow in the Faith. They will even pray for your prayer requests you submit.
EWTN is available through most cable providers. Locally in Johnstown it is available on cable channel 21. It can also be viewed online.
Check out the series called “The Search” hosted on Formed.org. A preview is available here!
There are several videos below that examine several common questions. Check them out!
Your parish priest is also very happy to answer any questions you may have.
I still have some questions....
Free and Excellent Resources Below:
If you’ve struggled to read the Bible, this podcast is for you.
Ascension’s Bible in a Year
Podcast, hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz and featuring Jeff Cavins, guides
Catholics through the Bible in 365 daily episodes starting January 1st,
2021.
Each 20-25 minute episode includes:
- two to three scripture readings
- a reflection from Fr. Mike Schmitz
- and guided prayer to help you hear God’s voice in his Word.
Unlike any other Bible podcast, Ascension’s Bible in a Year Podcast for Catholics follows a reading plan inspired by the Great Adventure Bible Timeline® learning system, a groundbreaking approach to understanding Salvation History developed by renowned Catholic Bible teacher Jeff Cavins.
Tune in and live your daily life through the lens of God’s word!
One may find the podcast using your favorite podcast app, or click here to access the daily talks.
Use this helpful guide for daily reading assignments.
Saint Andrew subscribes to Formed.org. Take advantage of this excellent resource.
Go to formed.org/signup to sign up today! If you wish to watch excellent content like “The Search” (preview above), signup for FREE today!
Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself. By faith “man freely commits his entire self to God. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1814)
Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1817)
Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1822)