Bishop Mark will join his brother bishops in the United States and Canada in renewing the consecrations of the two nations to the care of the Blessed Mother under her title of Mary, Mother of the Church.
Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will lead a brief liturgy with the prayer of re-consecration on May 1 at 3:00 p.m.
Bishops are invited to join in the prayer at that time from their respective dioceses, and Bishop Mark will happily participate.
He said history will be repeating itself for Altoona-Johnstown.
“The patron saint of our diocese, since its inception, is Mary, Mother of the Church, so our diocese was already consecrated to her for her protection and her patronage,” the Bishop reminded.
The faithful are invited and encouraged to participate.
The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown will broadcast Bishop Mark’s prayer of re-consecration live on the diocesan Facebook page on May 1 at 3:00 p.m.
An act of consecration reminds to the faithful of the Blessed Mother’s witness to the Gospel and asks for her intercession on behalf of those in need.
The prayer reaffirms and renews previous Marian entrustments, and it unites us in solidarity with our Holy Father, who recently established the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, as a source of protection and strength.
