News Release

His Excellency, Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, will offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass this Wednesday, May 7, at 8:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown for the Papal Conclave.

On May 7th, the Conclave will begin. The term Conclave means “with a key,” and during this time, the cardinals will be isolated from the outside world, and will dedicate themselves to profound prayer, appealing to the same Holy Spirit that descended upon the Apostles at Pentecost.

In a gesture of solemn commemoration of the death of His Holiness Pope Francis, His Excellency, The Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, Bishop of Allentown, has directed the tolling of bells throughout the Diocese of Allentown on Friday, April 25 at noon.

Bishop Alfred Schlert will celebrate a Solemn Pontifical Mass for the Repose of the Soul of Pope Francis at 12:15 p.m., Friday, April 25, at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown.

The following is a statement by The Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, Bishop of Allentown, regarding the death of His Holiness Pope Francis:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I wish you a most blessed and joyful Easter Sunday, and I pray that the Easter season fills you with zeal for the Gospel and gratitude to Our Risen Lord.

In the wake of the Vatican’s announcement of Carlo Acutis’s upcoming canonization, Castletown Media has revealed the production of Carlo Acutis: Roadmap to Reality.

Join us for the Chrism Mass—a special celebration that takes place on the Wednesday of Holy Week—which will be held tomorrow, April 16, at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown.

2025 marks the 50th year of Catholic Relief Services' Rice Bowl, which was founded in the Diocese of Allentown by Monsignor Robert J. Coll. Since its inception in 1975, Rice Bowl has raised 350 million dollars in 12,000 parishes across the United States.

Parishes, schools, and other faith centers in the Diocese are invited to send their upcoming Lenten events for this list to [email protected].