Additional Damage Reports Impacting the Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg

• Sacred Heart Catholic School, in Pinellas Park had the roof blown off from high winds.
• St. Thomas Aquinas Academy, in Tampa had windows shattered from high winds.
• Incarnation Catholic Church, in Tampa had major flooding.
• Incarnation Catholic School, in Tampa had the roof blown off from high winds.

Early Reports of Damage Impacting the Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg

The Diocese of Saint Petersburg offices will be closed until it can be deemed safe to reopen. The building sustained damage as high winds caused windows to shatter. There is also no power and no utilities. The area surrounding the offices also suffered damage such as home and business flooding, trees down, and property damage. Other early reports of damage include:

• Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, in St. Petersburg had significant water intrusion.
• St. Joseph Vietnamese Catholic Church in the Town and Country area sustained flooding and the property is not reachable at this time.
• The St. James Chapel at the Bethany Retreat Center, in Lutz has flooded. The surrounding lakes have overflowed onto the grounds and parking lot. There are many trees down and one has landed on the Youth Center.
• St Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Spring Hill has had damage to the church, including roof leaks.
• St. Anthony Catholic Church, in San Antonio has had roof leaks and debris damage.
• St Jerome Catholic Church, in Largo has had considerable roof damage including lost shingles and various roof leaks.
• Foundations of Life Pregnancy Center, Dade City has has roof leaks.
• Pinellas Hope suffered significant damage.

Diocesan leadership and Catholic Charities leadership are evaluating where the greatest need is and how to respond. The Diocese of St. Petersburg implemented an Employee Assistance Reimbursement Program to help employees recoup some disaster related costs related to Hurricane Helene. This will also be a resource for survivors of Hurricane Milton.

Parishes and schools that are able to do so, will be checking in with their communities to see what the needs are.

• Live camera feeds are available throughout our counties during Hurricane Milton. Find a list with the links to the live feeds here.

• Catholic Schools to Remain Closed through Friday, October 11th.
• Current predictions show Hurricane Milton will make landfall early Thursday (10/10) morning. Given the large number of people evacuating and the necessity of checking buildings before welcoming staff and students back, Bishop Gregory Parkes has decided that Catholic School buildings in the Diocese of St. Petersburg will remain closed through Friday, October 11.
• This includes Catholic Schools and Early Childhood Centers in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus Counties.
• We hope to be back in session on Monday, October 14.

• Bishop Gregory Parkes Prays for All in the Storm’s Path as Hurricane Milton Strengthens to a Category Five.
• Bishop Gregory Parkes (@BishopParkes) is active on Facebook and Instagram. Today, he shared a video praying for all in the path of Hurricane Milton.
• In the video, he acknowledged that many of us are feeling stressed and anxious and he asked for God’s protection upon the people of our community.
• The video was recorded on the afternoon of October 7th outside of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg office in St. Petersburg.
• Bishop Parkes posts several times a week on Facebook and Instagram to connect with people from across the region and across the country.
• Click here to view the video.

• SCHOOLS UPDATE
  • Catholic Schools and Early Childhood Centers will be closed on October 8th and 9th.
    • Due to the impending threat of the storm and the need for families to prepare and possibly evacuate, Bishop Gregory Parkes has decided that Catholic School buildings in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg will be closed on Tuesday, October 8th and Wednesday, October 9th.
    • This encompasses Catholic schools and Early Childhood Centers in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus Counties.
    • This decision will enable school families and employees time to prepare their homes or leave the area in preparation for the storm. Information about a reopening date is to be determined. Families, teachers, and staff are encouraged to monitor their individual school communications via phone, email, and social media.
    • Schools are encouraged to cancel aftercare and after school activities on Monday, October 7th to allow for additional preparation time.
  • Saint Leo University will be closed and classes canceled Monday, October 7, through Thursday, October 10, at its Tampa -area locations: 
    • University Campus (33701 County Road 52, St. Leo, FL 33574)
    • Tampa Education Center (1403 N. Howard Ave., Tampa, FL 33607)
    • Center for Adult Learning (University Campus and Pasco-Hernando State College locations)
    • All Saint Leo employees are to report to work on Monday, and prepare their workspace for the storm. 
  • St. John Vianney Catholic School Update
    • The students of St. John Vianney Catholic School, in St. Pete Beach that was flooded by Hurricane Helene were scheduled to begin classes on October 7th at three new locations in St. Petersburg (Cathedral School of St. Jude, St. Petersburg Catholic High School, and the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg). But now, their start date has been postponed until further notice.
• PASTORAL CENTER / PARISHES UPDATE
  • Pastoral Center offices in St. Petersburg will close at 2 p.m. on Monday, October 7th, and will remain closed through Wednesday, October 9^th.
  • Individuals should check with their parishes regarding specific Mass and event cancellations.
• CATHOLIC CHARITIES UPDATE
  • Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg will close their offices Monday, October 7th – Wednesday, October 9^th. 
  • Residents of Pinellas Hope in Clearwater will be evacuated to emergency shelters on Monday, October 7^th.
  • The Catholic Charities Distribution Center at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church (5340 High Street, New Port Richey) will also be closed October 7^th-October 9^th.

• Bishop Gregory Parkes Issues Statement about Hurricane Helene
  • In light of great loss and a long road for recovery, Bishop Parkes has written a message about how our Diocese was impacted by Hurricane Helene and how we can find hope and provide help in the aftermath.
  • English Statement | Spanish Statement
• Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg is Providing Medical Care in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
  • October 3- October 6, from 8 am to 6 pm at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 5340 High Street, New Port Richey
  • October 7-October 9, from 9 am to 4 pm at Daystar Life Center, 6751 W Gulf to Lake Hwy, Crystal River
  • This effort is made possible with the help of medical volunteers from SCORE (Special Commission on Relief and Education) Mission Team, a humanitarian foundation of the Filipino Association of Toledo and the Diocese of Toledo Catholic Charities.
  • Emergency supplies, such as water, cleaning kits and diapers are also being given to individuals and families at the New Port Richey location.

• Catholic Charities Opens a Community Distribution Center in Pasco County for Hurricane Helene Victims
  • Where: Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church (5340 High St., New Port Richey)
  • When: October 3- October 16, 2024
  • What: Catholic Charities is distributing emergency supplies and offering a laundry truck to those impacted by the storm Also, medical services will be available from 10/3-10/6/2024.
• Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon operates an 11,000 square foot Food Bank in Dover, FL.  Due to the devastation from Hurricane Helene, Nativity would like to get the word out that they do have help available for parish and school communities that may need it. 
  • Offering water, MRE’s (military meals), food, dog food, paper towels, toilet paper, and assorted hygiene products.
  • If your parish or school is in need, please contact Chris Bartolomeo at (813) 928-2726 or chris@nativitycatholicchurch.org.  Inventory changes daily so please contact Chris to see what is available.

• People are in shock grieving from devastating loss and we are accompanying them.
• Based on initial assessments, 15 churches have had some sort of damage – whether it’s flooding, roof damage, trees down, or something else.
• Based on initial assessments, seven schools have had some sort of damage.
• St. John Vianney Catholic Church and School, in St. Pete Beach have cancelled Masses and classes until further notice. Their pastor posted a video message on social media.
• St. Brendan Catholic Church, in Clearwater Beach has also cancelled Masses until further notice.
• Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, in Gulfport has cancelled Masses September 28 and 29 because there is no electricity.
• Our bishop had to leave his home and take temporary shelter elsewhere. He has posted prayers and a status update on his social media. (@BishopParkes)
• Some areas can’t be reached because of restricted access.
• Our leadership is also working to help file insurance and FEMA claims, avert scammers, and provide assistance to clergy, religious and employees.
• We are raising money to help victims. Our disaster relief fund is open and taking donations.
• Parishes that can, are helping others. One parish is on stand-by to be a longer-term Red Cross emergency shelter. Another hosted a neighborhood clean-up (news report here). Others are finding out what the needs are and trying to meet the needs.
• Bishop Parkes has recommended that a special collection be taken in parishes either this weekend (September 28-29, 2024) or next weekend (October 5-6, 2024), if possible.
• Our Diocese of Saint Petersburg Catholic Charities are providing immediate assistance throughout the five counties for those who have been displaced from their homes.
• We are praying for and uniting our community. As Father Curtis Carro, who organized the neighborhood cleanup said, “We are in this together.”

Diocese of Saint Petersburg Assessing Damage from Hurricane Helene

After Hurricane Helene brought historic amounts of storm surge to West Central Florida, leaders of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg are assessing how employees, school families, and community members are managing the aftermath. Diocesan leaders are surveying schools, parish properties, and rectories to see what damage has occurred and what assistance is needed. We have learned that the winds have destroyed tents at Tampa Hope, and Pinellas Hope has lost electricity, and has experienced damage and flooding.  Read the article to learn more here.

American Red Cross

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg

Citrus County Emergency Management

Florida Department of Emergency Management

Hernando County Emergency Management

Hillsborough County Emergency Management

Hillsborough Storm Recovery Resources

Pasco County Emergency Management

Pinellas County Emergency Management

Facebook Pages/Groups:

• Florida Division of Emergency Management
• Pinellas – Rescue Assistance/Help

Catholic Charities

Feeding Tampa Bay

St. Raphael Catholic Church Neighborhood Clean-Up

Bay News 9

City of Tampa

Tampa Bay WFLA

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Parishioners are encouraged to gather for Mass as a community this weekend at their local parish, if it is safe to do so. Reopening will be a local decision based on the Church building’s safety, status of power and sanitation, and staffing availability. Please check your parish website for Mass schedule changes. All parishes will be having Mass according to the regular schedule unless listed on their website or below. Some parishes will be having outdoor Masses, in order to continue to gather for the Eucharistic Celebration, if power is not available. If your parish has indicated they are having an outdoor Mass, please bring blankets or lawn chairs. If your parish is not able to have Mass at the campus this weekend, and it is safe to do so, please consider attending at a neighboring parish.

Masses at all parishes will be offered on October 12 & 13 as regularly scheduled unless indicated:
Christ the King, Tampa: Regular schedule of Masses but without power.
Holy Family, St. Petersburg: Modified Mass Schedule:  We are planning to have the 4:30pm Vigil on 10/12, and the 7:30am, 9am, and 5pm on Sunday 10/12
Holy Martyrs of Vietnamese, St. Petersburg: Regular schedule of Masses but without power.
Incarnation, Tampa: Masses are canceled this weekend
Most Holy Redeemer, Tampa: Regular schedule of Masses but without power.
Nativity, Brandon: Masses will be celebrated in front of the Youth Center at 4:00 PM on Saturday as well as 8:30 AM & 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM (Spanish) and 5:00 PM on Sunday. Please bring a blanket or a lawn chair. 
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, Wimauma: Modified Mass Schedule. Please check their website: GuadalupeMission.org
Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunedin: Mass Scheduled as follows: Sat Vigil: 5pm, Sunday: 7:30am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 5pm
Sacred Heart, Pinellas Park: No scheduled confessions or vigil Masses. Sunday: 2 Masses, 8am and 9:30am.
St. Anthony the Abbott, Brooksville: Saturday Vigil canceled due to no electricity. Power restored. Sunday Regular Mass schedule resumes.
St. Brendan, Clearwater: All Masses, meetings, and events are canceled until further notice. 
St. John Vianney, St. Pete Beach: All Masses, meetings, and events at their campus are canceled until further notice.
St. Lawrence, Tampa: Regular schedule of Masses except it will be held in Higgins Hall. (Church has lost power).
St. Matthew, Largo: regular schedule of Masses but without power.
St. Paul, Tampa: Regular schedule of Masses but without power.
St. Timothy, Lutz: The campus is still without power but all Masses will be celebrated this weekend. BRING A CHAIR as we may need to be outside due to the power outage. Please note that restrooms will not be available for use.
University of South Florida Catholic Student Center: Regular schedule of Masses but without power.

All parishioners are urged to use good judgment when deciding whether to travel to and from Mass. In the event that roadways are not clear and weather conditions are unsafe to travel, the faithful are reminded that, according to Church Law, the obligation to attend Sunday Mass does not apply when there is grave difficulty in fulfilling this obligation.

When it comes to weather, a parish will typically cancel Mass if evacuations are issued in the area, the area is deemed unsafe, or a curfew is in effect.