The Rev. Monsignor Mark L. Bartchak, the judicial vicar for the Erie diocese, has been appointed the bishop-elect in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, outoing Bishop Joseph V. Adamec announced Friday.
Adamec said Bishop-elect Bartchak, 56, was appointed to the position early Friday at the Vatican. A native of Cleveland, Bartchak will be installed formally as the Altoona-Johnstown bishop on April 19, Ademec said at a news conference in Hollidaysburg.
The Altoona-Johnstown diocese includes the State College area. Bartchak will be the eighth bishop in the history of the diocese.
At age 75, Adamec has been bishop in the diocese for nearly 24 years. He said he plans to remain in the Hollidaysburg area after his retirement as bishop.
StateCollege.com was at the news conference and will post a more thorough report this afternoon.
