
Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
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A Pilgrimage in Celebration of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope in the Catholic Church
The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown invites the faithful to join in a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. on Friday, October 17th, 2025
Bishop Mark will celebrate Mass in the upper church at 2:00 PM and visitors will be able to tour this historic Catholic landmark throughout the day
--REGISTRATION AND BUSING INFORMATION--
Those interested in participating in the diocesan pilgrimage are welcome to travel on their own OR register and pay to ride on one of the diocesan-organized busses that will leave from various locations around the diocese
We ask that all who are traveling on their own and meeting us in Washington, D.C. RSVP themselves or their carpooling group through the menu below so that we are aware of how many people will be present with us at the basilica
If you are riding a diocesan bus, visit the menu below to learn how to reserve your seat and remit payment to the parish that is organizing your bus
Individuals or groups are welcome to travel to the basilica on their own at no cost. You are asked to RSVP yourself or your group in order for the diocesan planning committee to have an accurate count of how many guests will be traveling in Washington, D.C. Click HERE to RSVP online.
October 17, 2025 Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown Jubilee Pilgrimage Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
RESERVATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED BY PARISHES BEGINNING AUGUST 4
BUS RESERVATIONS:
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ALTOONA AREA BUSES
ALL BUSES LEAVING AT 7:00AM FROM PNG FIELD PARKING LOT
$60.00 per person for all seats. This includes the tip for Bus Driver.
***Bus #1 50 seats available
Call to reserve seat (s) and make payment to Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament: One Cathedral Squar, Altoona, PA 16601
814-944-4603 Paula Clemens, Secretary
Cathedral Parish, Our Lady of Fatima, Sacred Heart, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, St. Mary (Immaculate Conception)
***Bus #2 50 seats available
Call to reserve seat (s) and make payment to: St. John the Evangelist, Lakemont: 309 Lotz Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602
814-942-5503 Diane Ryan, Secretary
Saint John the Evangelist, Our Lady of Lourdes, Saint Catherine of Siena, Saint Rose of Lima
***Bus #3 50 seats available
Call to reserve seat (s) and make payment to St. Michael the Archangel, 301 Spruce Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648: 814- 312-0887, Lisa Georgiana or georgianagroup@gmail.com
Saint Mary, Hollidaysburg, Saint Michael, Hollidaysburg, Saint Joseph, Williamsburg, Saint Patrick, Newry, Saint Thomas, Roaring Spring, Most Holy Trinity, Huntingdon
*** Bus #4 50 seats available ALSO LEAVING AT 7:00AM FROM PNC FIELD PARKING LOT – DIOCESE OF ALTOONA-JOHNSTOWN: RETIRED PRIESTS AND DEACONS, RELIGIOUS BROTHERS AND SISTERS, DIOCESAN STAFF Call to reserve seat (s) Jeanne Thompson, 814-317-2672, 814-695-5579 Suzanne Barry, Secretary
***Bus #5 50 seats available
Departing from OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL, 806 11th Street, Altoona PA 16602
Call to reserve seat (s) and make payments to: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 814-942-8501, Lynn Parson, Secretary
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Holy Rosary, Saint Mark, Saint Joseph, Bellwood, Saint Matthew, Tyrone
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EBENSBURG
$60.00 per person for all seats. This includes the tip for the Bus Driver.
LEAVING AT 7:00AM FROM GIANT EAGLE/McDonald’s Parking Lot,
3- Buses – 150 total seats available.
Call to reserve seat (s) and make payment to: Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, 2713 W. Chestnut Avenue, Altoona, PA 16601
Jeanne Thompson – 814-317-2672, jthompson@dioceseaj.org or Suzanne Barry – 814-695-5579. sbarry@dioceseaj.org
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JOHNSTOWN
$50.00 per person for all seats. This includes the tip for Bus Driver.
LEAVING AT 6:30AM FROM Home Depot, Galleria Extension Drive, Johnstown
(Advised to carpool to parking area)
Call to reserve seat (s) and make payment to: Visitation of the B.V.M. 1127 McKinley Avenue, Johnstown, PA 15905 814-536-6110 EX.1, Catherine Bennett, Secretary
3 Buses – 150 seats available
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SOMERSET
$50.00 per person for all seats. This includes the tip for Bus Driver.
LEAVING AT 6:30AM FROM Saint Peter Somerset
Call to reserve seat (s) and make payment to: Saint Peter Parish, 433 W. Church Street, Somerset, PA 15501 814-443-6574, Linda Gattian, Secretary
1 Bus – 50 seats available
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STATE COLLEGE
$75.00 per person for all seats. The tip for the Bus Driver is a freewill offering “pass the hat”
LEAVING AT 6:00AM FROM WALMART Parking Lot, Benner Pike
Call to reserve seat (s) and make payment to: St. John the Evangelist Parish, 134 E. Bishop Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823 814-355-3134, Lorraine Fello and Rose Truglio, Secretaries
2 Buses – 100 seats available
Schedule of Events for the Pilgrimage
The following schedule will be followed by all guests traveling via bus:
11:00 AM-Diocesan Arrival at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
11:30 AM-Welcome from Monsignor Vito Buonanno and Bishop Mark in Upper Church
12:00 PM-Lunch
12:30 PM-Confessions in Upper Church Chapels with Our Diocesan Priests
1:00 PM-Liturgy and Music Rehearsal
2:00 PM-Mass in the Upper Church with Bishop Mark as Celebrant and Homilist
4:00 PM-Departure
All visitors are welcome to participate in self-guided tours of the Basilica throughout the afternoon
The gallery below contains photos from the last time the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown held a diocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in 2016







