Mark Leonard Bartchak

Mark Leonard Bartchak (born January 1, 1955) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as bishop of Altoona-Johnstown in Pennsylvania since 2011.

Bartchak has also served on the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the highest court of the Vatican, since 2021 and is considered an authority on canon law.

Biography

Early life and education Mark Bartchak was born on January 1, 1955, in Cleveland, Ohio, the fifth of eight children of Leonard Bartchak and Rosemary (nee: Beck) Bartchak-Shay. He attended Catholic elementary and secondary schools, graduating in 1973 from Bradford Central Christian High School in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

After graduating from high school, Bartchak decided to become a priest. He entered St. Mark Seminary in Erie, Pennsylvania, and started his studies at Gannon University, also in Erie. He received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Gannon in 1977. Bartchak continued his preparation for the priesthood at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, New York, receiving a Master of Arts in theology in 1981. After his ordination, the diocese assigned Bartchak as temporary parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish. In August 1981, he was named parochial vicar at St. Francis Parish in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. During this period also served as assistant principal and theology teacher at St. Francis School in Clearfield and as part-time chaplain at the Clearfield Hospital.

Bishop of Altoona-Johnstown On January 14, 2011, Bartchak was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as bishop of Altoona-Johnstown; Bartchak was consecrated bishop at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona, Pennsylvania, by Cardinal Justin Rigali on April 19, 2011. He stated:I apologize to all who have suffered from sexual abuse, especially perpetrated by some members of the clergy. I apologize to your families and loved ones. I apologize to all who feel shock, disgust, anger, confusion, disappointment, and betrayal. Bartchak has lectured on canon law at Catholic University of America, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin in Lublin, Poland, and Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario. He teaches at the Institute on Matrimonial Tribunal Practice, held each summer at Catholic University.