Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I pray you and your loved ones are safe. Now that Milton has passed and assessments are coming in from across our diocese, we know that millions experienced long-term power and water outages and the stress of fuel shortages, while hundreds of thousands of families have experienced damage and loss to their homes and personal property. Within our diocesan family, we grieve for one of our own staff members and her son who passed away due to the storm. Our diocese has also sustained damage among its own properties, with a third of our parishes and schools reporting moderate to severe leaks, roof damage, wind damage, and water intrusion. My heart is breaking for all who are suffering.

It is natural to feel overwhelmed, but God’s grace IS shining down on us. I feel it as I have traveled to some of our hardest hit areas and see hundreds gathered together to celebrate Mass, in some cases outside because of power loss or building damage. I see it as our priests, deacons, lay staff, lay volunteers, and seminarians serve to assist their neighbors. I see it as faith communities from other areas of the diocese, state and country reach out to us to serve meals and provide for basic relief and necessities. And I hear it in the laughter of our St. John Vianney Catholic School students now attending classes at our diocesan Pastoral Center as their school building is being restored. 

For those experiencing hardship, I pray you will experience God’s grace as I have over the past few weeks. For those who are called right now to help others in need, there are so many opportunities to serve all around us. Please do not hesitate to answer the call to be the hands and feet of Christ to those most in need. This can be done by helping your neighbors clear debris, assisting your parish in their outreach efforts, serving meals at one of our short-team comfort stations or long-term shelters, donating to one of the Catholic Charities collection sites, or by making a contribution to our Disaster Relief Fund which will be directed to some of our hardest hit areas. 

I am so grateful for your help during this critical time. I know we are stronger when we work together in communion.

You and your family continue to be in my prayers.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+ Most Reverend Gregory Parkes
Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg