DIOCESAN OFFICES

Synod Listening Session
Bishop Gregory Parkes cordially invites you to a Synod Listening Session focusing on church structures and our pastoral vision.  This event will be at St. Timothy Parish, 17512 Lakeshore Rd., Lutz, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and it is open to all parish ministry leaders, including directors/coordinators of faith formation, religious education, and RCIA, youth and young adult ministry leaders, pastoral councils, liturgical ministry coordinators, and others. 

Please register by March 1, 2024 at this link: https://www.dosp.org/rsvp-3-7-2024-synod-listening-session/.

2023/24 Rice Bowl Mini Grant Recipients
The Office of Life, Justice and Advocacy is pleased to announce the following recipients of the 2023/24 Rice Bowl Mini Grants, made possible by 25% of local Rice Bowl contributions retained for local use. 

Congratulations to the following parishes and organizations: Nativity Catholic Church – Food Bank; Nativity Catholic Church – Pastoral Care Ministries; Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church – Maternal Food Support Program; Resurrection Catholic Church Food Pantry – Filling the Gap; San Juan Diego Mission; St. Joseph Catholic Church (St. Petersburg) Food Pantry; St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church – Wonder of Eve Program; St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, St. Vincent de Paul Society – Pack a Sack Food 4 Kids; Catholic Charities Foundations of Life Pregnancy Center; Catholic Charities Food Pantry – Pasco County; Catholic Charities – Knights Women’s Center; Catholic Charities Foundations of Life Pregnancy Center – Hernando County; St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church – Society of St. Vincent de Paul Holiday Conference.

From the Office of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship

Roar of the Rosary
The “Roar of the Rosary” is an evening of worship that will take place on Friday, May 10, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., in Morsani Hall at the Straz Center, in Tampa. Speakers will include His Eminence Raymond Cardinal Burke, Bishop Gregory Parkes, Mother Adela, and Gus Lloyd. Additional information and registration details for this free event may be found at the following link: https://www.dosp.org/roar/.

A flyer for your parish media channels is included at this link: http://tinyurl.com/5364pjf3.

Did You Know? 
Prevalence of Child Sexual Abuse 
Child sexual abuse is a great deal more prevalent than many imagine. In fact, studies tell us that one in ten adult men and one in five adult women say that they were molested before the age of 18. That means that, directly or indirectly, child sexual abuse will touch most of us during our lifetime. And although we would like to believe that most accusations are false, the facts tell us that children rarely lie about being molested. In fact, they rarely tell anyone at all. An adult study about the prevalence of sexual abuse found that 42% of the men and 33% of the women who were victimized as children had never told anyone. 

For particular help you may call: Michael Craig, Safe Environment Program Manager at (727) 344-1611, ext. 5377. 
__________
Source: Sharon Womack Doty, “Refresher from the Protecting God’s Children® Program,” featured January 7, 2008, at www.virtusonline.org/virtus. 

Sophia Institute for Teachers
Catechetical Workshop
Saturday, March 16, 2024 (8:30 am – 2:30 pm) at the Bethany Center

Created in His Image: Exploring the Theology of the Body
Catholic School Teachers, Catechetical Leaders, and Catechists from the Diocese of St. Petersburg are invited to join us for a FREE one-day program on the Theology of the Body. Explore St. John Paul II’s teachings on the Theology of the Body and how you can lead your students to understand what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God, male and female. You’ll also explore ways to appropriately teach about purity, human sexuality, biological sex, and other topics related to Theology of the Body in age appropriate ways.

Registration Link:  http://tinyurl.com/3c4sbe8c.
Flyer available at this link:  http://tinyurl.com/yc2j74cy.

PARISHES/ORGANIZATIONS

“Set Apart” retreat for Young Adults
Young adults of the Diocese, YOU are invited to “Set Apart”, a retreat for those in their 20s – 30s at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 5225 N Himes Ave, Tampa.  The half-day retreat will begin with Mass at 8:30 AM and go on until 2:00 PM.  This retreat will be a Saturday of spiritual enrichment and growth alongside other young adults just like you.

To register, scan the QR code on the graphic below or click the link to the Thrive webpage and register online: https://stlawrence.org/thrive.

Hope to see you there!

Graphic at this link:  http://tinyurl.com/4897jknw.

Concierto en la Iglesia de Blessed Sacrament, Tampa
Te invitamos al concierto de GE’LA (Angela Sandoval) el 27 de febrero de 2024 en la Iglesia de Blessed Sacrament, 7001 S 12th Ave, Tampa.  Comenzaremos a las 6:30 PM con la Santa Misa seguido por el concierto de 7:30 PM en adelante.  Boletos anticipados a $15.00.

Para más información, por favor de comunicarse con Irvin Torres al 813-391-7794 o a la oficina parroquial al 813-626-2984.

Flyer en este enlace:  http://tinyurl.com/39vdwy9c.

Concert at Blessed Sacrament Parish, Tampa
We invite you to a Concert by Ge’la (Angela Sandoval) on February 27, 2024 at Blessed Sacrament, 7001 S 12th Ave, Tampa.  The event will start with Mass at 6:30 PM followed by the concert starting at 7:30 PM.  Tickets $15.00.  For more information, please contact Irvin Torres at 813-391-7794 or call the parish office at 813-626-2984. 
Flyer here.

13h Annual Ave Maria University Marian Eucharistic Conference, May 10-12, 2024
All are invited to the 13h Annual Ave Maria University Marian Eucharistic Conference, “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord”,  from May 10-12, 2024.   Featured speakers will include Fox News and EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo, Fr. Robert Sirico co-founder of the Acton Institute, “Women of Grace” Founder Johnnette B. Williams, President and Co-Founder of “Foundation of Prayer for Priests” Kathleen Beckman. In addition to these great talks special Spanish sessions will also be offered including talks by Mother Adela Galindo, Founder of Servants of the Pierced Heart of Jesus, Fr. Joseph Mary Rogers SCTJM, Fr. Rafael Capo Director of the US Bishop’s Regional Office in Miami and Rev. David Vidal, Pastor of Ave Maria Catholic Church.  Music ministry will be provided by Jon Nevin.

The cost is $190 per person, which includes lodging, meals, and conference fee for the weekend all on the beautiful campus of Ave Maria University.  For more information about our speakers or to register for this event visit www.aveconferences.com or call (239) 348-4725, email: aveconferences@gmail.com.

Flyer at this link: http://tinyurl.com/3nmjv5p6.

St. Jude the Apostle’s Relic to Visit Tampa and St. Petersburg for the First Time
The arm of St. Jude the Apostle, also known as the Apostle of the Impossible will be available for veneration in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. The relic will be on display at St. Paul Catholic Church, 12708 N Dale Mabry Hwy. in Tampa on Wednesday, February 28th and at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, 5815 5th Ave N. in St. Petersburg on Thursday, February 29th.  At each location, veneration of the Relic begins at 2:00 p.m. and Mass begins at 7:00 p.m.

To learn more, visit apostleoftheimpossible.com.

Promotional graphics at this link.

Lenten Mission
As we embark on the solemn journey of Lent, we are delighted to invite you to mark your calendars for a spiritually enriching experience.  This Lenten Mission will take place on Monday, February 19th, and Tuesday, February 20th, starting at 7:00 pm each evening at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 750 San Salvador Drive, Dunedin. 

Our speaker for this mission is Fr. Nate Wills, CSC.  Fr. Nate brings a wealth of experience and spiritual insight. Currently serving as a chaplain to the University of Notre Dame football team and as a professor with the renowned Remick Leadership Program, Fr. Nate is uniquely positioned to guide us through the complexities of life and faith.

The central theme, “Calm Amidst the Chaos,” invites us to explore ways to find tranquility and strength in our relationship with Christ, even in the midst of life’s challenges. Lent is a season of introspection and renewal, and Fr. Nate will guide us in embracing this period as an opportunity for spiritual growth and a deeper connection with our faith.  Please contact the parish office for any questions, 727-733-3606.

Promotional graphics at this link.

PILGRIMAGES AROUND THE DIOCESE

If your parish is offering a pilgrimage within the coming months, we invite you to share this information with the Pastoral Bulletin: pastoralbulletin@dosp.org.  This allows readers to view opportunities to participate in an upcoming pilgrimage.  The pilgrimages are posted in the Diocesan website under the Pastoral Bulletin page at this link.