DIOCESAN OFFICES

From the Office of Life, Justice & Advocacy
For Immediate Attention

As you may know, the State of Florida executed a Death Row prisoner last Thursday.
Please share the following Prayers of the Faithful with the person that prepares your prayers for daily and weekend Masses. It is important that we pray for those who have died and for an end to the use of the death penalty in our state.  You can find our Office’s webpage on the death penalty at this link.

Prayers of the Faithful

That our nation will end the use of the death penalty in response to violence, and that the merciful love of God will convert the violent and heal the victims, 

We pray to the Lord.

For Victims’ families and for all who have lost loved ones through violent crimes, that they may know God’s healing power and be transformed by it. 

We pray to the Lord.

That all whose lives have been taken by the State, especially Gary Bowles, who was executed last Thursday, may he be granted Eternal rest. 

We pray to the Lord.

Life, Justice and Advocacy Day
Saturday, October 5, 2019, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm. St. Patrick Parish (4518 S. Manhattan Ave. Tampa). How to Talks to Kids about Things No One Wants to Talk About- Dr. Lori Puterbaugh will help parents and parish leaders learn to discuss difficult subjects with kids. The Church’s Response to Human Trafficking with Micah Washinski and Natalie Kehn from the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking. Lunch included. Optional afternoon breakout on Respect Life Ministry in the Parish.  Register at: https://www.dosp.org/life/upcoming-events/.

State Respect Life Conference:
You are invited to attend the 33^rd Annual State Respect Life Conference, “In the Heart of Our Mother” in historic St Augustine. National and State speakers like Star Parker and Vincent Rue, Ph.D. will challenge, inspire, and educate with their expertise and real truth.

Our goal is to claim leadership of this culture through the power of truth and with thoughtful and nurturing hearts. A Youth Pro-Life Leadership track is available, including a concert by Sean Forrest. Register at www.dosafl.com/respectlifeconference.  Hotel discounts expire in early September.

PARISHES AND ORGANIZATIONS

4^th Annual Tampa Bay Blue Mass
The 4^th Annual Tampa Bay Blue Mass will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Timothy Catholic Church (17512 Lakeshore Rd, Lutz FL 33558). The Blue Mass is an ecumenical and interfaith event to honor the men and women serving in the Tampa Bay region as firefighters, EMTs, sheriff deputies, police officers, troopers, special agents, security professionals and 911 operators. Family members, friends and those in support of such professionals are also invited. For more information, contact HSCO Col. Ciro Dominguez at 813-247-8131 or cdomin01@hcso.tampa.fl.us.

FLYER at this link.

Blue Mass at St. Stephen Parish
St. Stephen Parish (10118 Saint Stephen Circle, Riverview) and the Knights of Columbus Council 14084 would like to extend a heartfelt gratitude by hosting a “Blue Mass” to all Law Enforcement and Fire Rescue personnel at the local, county, state, and federal levels. St. Stephen’s 9th annual celebration of Emergency Personnel will take place Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 at 6:30 pm and will be the third “Blue Mass” in our new church.

All Emergency Personnel, their families, and friends as well as our community are cordially invited to take part in this celebration. If you are a police officer, firefighter, paramedic, or other Emergency Personnel please honor this celebration in Class “A” uniform, if able, or display your agency’s identification if possible.

Flyer at this link.

The Cornerstone Catholic Scripture Study
You are invited to join The Cornerstone Catholic Scripture Study to study the Letters of James, Peter and John. This is a Catholic Scripture Study open to men and women and meets on Wednesday mornings beginning September 18th from 9:30 AM until 11:30 AM at the DuBois Center at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Dunedin. For more information visit our website at www.TheCornerstoneScriptureStudy.org or call Mary at 727-791-3240.

Catholic Bulls Are Invited to Help Kick-Off the New School Year!
The Catholic Student Union at the University of South Florida is having a Welcome Home Weekend for students, parents, alumni, and friends of the CSU.

• Saturday, August 24, 5:00 p.m. – Vigil Mass followed by a followed by a festive event with food trucks, a live band, and games!
• Sunday, August 25, 10:00 a.m. – Bishop Parkes celebrates the Red Mass, followed by fellowship and fun.

For more information visit catholicusf.org or contact office@catholicusf.org.

Graphics: Horizontal, Square, Vertical

Open Wide the Doors to Christ: Be Not Afraid
The Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary invite you to their Fourth International Congress in honor of the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth of St. John Paul II, May 15-17, 2020 in Miami. They have brought together an inspirational line up of speakers from across the world, such as George Weigel, author of “Witness to Hope,” the New York Times best-selling biographical book about St. John Paul II.  To learn more visit www.piercedhearts.org.

PILGRIMAGES AROUND THE DIOCESE
The pilgrimages are posted in the Diocesan website under Pilgrimages–bottom of the homepage under FAQ or by following this  link: https://www.dosp.org/pastoralbulletin/pilgrimages/.