DIOCESE OF ALTOONA-JOHNSTOWN
Office of Liturgy
925 South Logan Boulevard
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Telephone: 814-693-9870
Fax: 814-696-9516
TO:
Clergy
FROM:
Monsignor Robert C. Mazur
CONCERNING:
Plenary Indulgence during Year of Faith
DATE:
December 3, 2012
This mailing informs you of the Plenary Indulgence connected to the Year of Faith. You may
wish to share all or some of this information with your parish.
The Diocese has selected three sites for pilgrimage in this Year of Faith; the Papal Basilica in
Loretto and the two cathedrals in Altoona and Johnstown. This mailing notes additional
opportunities for the special indulgence. Events scheduled and to be scheduled during the year
will also be occasions for the Plenary Indulgence.
There is a brief bulletin insert to place in your weekly bulletin. This insert summarizes the
four conditions necessary for receiving the Plenary Indulgence.
Thank you for making the details of the Year of Faith Plenary Indulgence available to your
people.
During the Year of Faith, which will last from October 11, 2012 to November 24, 2013,
Plenary Indulgence for the temporal punishment of sins, imparted by the mercy of God and
applicable also to the souls of deceased faithful, may be obtained by all faithful who, truly
penitent, take Sacramental Confession and the Eucharist and pray in accordance with the
intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
Since the primary objective is to develop sanctity of life to the highest degree possible on this
earth, and thus to attain the most sublime level of pureness of soul, immense benefit may be
derived from the great gift of Indulgences which, by virtue of the power conferred upon her by
Christ, the Church offers to everyone who, following the due norms, undertakes the special
prescripts to obtain them.
Vatican City, October 5, 2012, Apostolic Penitentiary
Indulgences have been part of Catholic life for seven centuries. The doctrine and practice of
indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the Sacrament of Penance.
An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has
already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain
prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption,
dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.
An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal
punishment due to sin. Indulgences may be applied to the living and the dead.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Number 1471.
Conditions for Gaining the Year of Faith Plenary Indulgence:
(1) Celebrate the Sacrament of Penance leading to a genuine conversion of heart. (Go to
Confession within a suitable time period of completing the other three conditions.)
(2) Receive Holy Communion while participating fully, actively, and consciously at Mass.
(3) Make a pilgrimage to one of the designated sites in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown:
the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel, Loretto; the Cathedral of the Blessed
Sacrament, Altoona; Saint John Gualbert Cathedral, Johnstown.
(The plenary indulgence can apply to a visit to any church or chapel provided that you
visit someone in difficulty or need, such as the sick, imprisoned, elderly, and that the
prescribed prayers are offered.)
(4) Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI: Apostles’ Creed, Our
Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
The Vatican has offered other opportunities for the Plenary Indulgence:
(1) Attending at least three sermons during a Holy Mission, or at least three lessons on the
Acts of the Second Vatican Council or articles of the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
along with Confession, Communion, and the prescribed prayers for the Holy Father.
(2) Making a visit to the baptistery where one received the Sacrament of Baptism along with
Confession, Communion, and the prescribed prayers for the Holy Father.
(3) Attending one or all events scheduled by the Diocese for the Year of Faith: Pilgrimage to
Rome; Pilgrimage to Shrine of Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC; Days of
Reflection on the Mass and Evangelization; and additional Year of Faith events here in
the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
For those legitimately impeded (cloistered religious, prisoners, homebound, etc.) confessors can
commute both prescribed works and required conditions to make the indulgence available for all.
One must go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, and pray the Apostles’ Creed, Our
Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for the intentions of the Holy Father. In place of a pilgrimage,
those legitimately impeded could pray the rosary, the chaplet of Divine Mercy, read the Passion
Narratives from one of the four Gospels, or recite four Psalms from the Bible.
Bulletin Insert
YEAR of FAITH Plenary Indulgence
The conditions for gaining the Plenary Indulgence this Year of Faith involve the following steps.
(1) Celebrate the Sacrament of Penance leading to a genuine conversion of heart. Go to
Confession within a suitable time period of completing the other three conditions. (2) Receive
Holy Communion while fully participating at Mass. (3) Make pilgrimage to the Basilica of Saint
Michael the Archangel in Loretto or the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona or Saint
John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown. (The Plenary Indulgence can apply to a visit to any
church provided you visit someone in difficulty or need, such as the sick, imprisoned or elderly).
(4) Pray for the intentions of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, the Apostles’ Creed, Our
Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. Prayer cards are available at the three diocesan sites.
Times for availability, Confessions, and Mass at three diocesan sites; Prayer Cards for Plenary
Indulgence available at all three churches:
Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel, Loretto:
Basilica open daily: 7:00AM to 6:00PM, Monday through Saturday
7:30AM to 6:00PM, Sunday
Scheduled Confessions: Saturday, 11:30AM
Mass Schedule: Daily: 7:30AM, Monday through Friday; 8:00AM, Saturday
8:45AM, Holy Days and First Fridays
Sunday: 4:00PM (Vigil); 8:00AM and 10:00AM
Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Altoona:
Cathedral open daily: 6:00AM to 3:30PM, Monday through Friday
7:00AM to 6:30PM Saturday and Sunday
Scheduled Confessions: Wednesday, 7:00PM and Saturday, 12:30PM
Mass Schedule: Daily: 6:45AM; 8:00AM and Noon, Monday through Friday;
8:00AM and Noon, Saturday
Sunday: 5:00PM (Vigil); 8:00AM; 10:00AM, Noon, and 5:00PM
Saint John Gualbert Cathedral, Johnstown:
Cathedral open daily: 6:00AM to 3:00PM, Monday through Friday
6:00AM to 6:30PM, Saturday and Sunday
Scheduled Confessions: Saturday, 3:00PM; Thursday afternoon before First Friday, 3:00PM
Mass Schedule: Daily: 7:00AM and 12:05PM, Monday through Friday; 8:00AM, Saturday
Sunday: 5:00PM (Vigil); 8:00AM, 11:00AM; 5:00PM