DIOCESAN OFFICES

Celebrate the Start of the Jubilee Year of Hope on Sunday, January 5, 2025
The year 2025 will be a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church with the theme of hope. Bishop Gregory Parkes will celebrate the Opening Mass of the Jubilee on Sunday, January 5th, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle,  5815 5th Ave. N., St. Petersburg.  All are welcome! Also, children are invited to dress as one of the Three Kings and arrive by 11:15 a.m. to participate with their families in a procession. 

Find promotional graphics at these links:  Graphic 1 and graphic 2.

Serve as a Hope Ambassador during the Jubilee Year of Hope
Would you be willing to serve as a Hope Ambassador for your parish, school, or ministry? You will help spread hope in your community by promoting Jubilee Year events, activities, and prayers.  To serve as a Hope Ambassador, visit dosp.flocknote.com/HopeAmbassadors or text Hope2025 to 84576.  Thank you for helping in this important mission and may hope fill your heart always!

CRS Rice Bowl Grant Opportunity
CRS Rice Bowl is celebrating its 50^th Anniversary this Lent! Millions of Catholics in the U.S. donate each Lent in support of CRS international anti-poverty relief and development projects in over 120 countries. 75% of the collection is used overseas and the 25% retained by our Diocese is made available for small grants of up to $1,000.00. Diocesan entities may apply for grants to help fund innovative hunger and poverty alleviation efforts or justice education projects. Applications are due by January 22, 2025.Please go to the following link to download the application https://www.dosp.org/life/catholic-relief-services/.

Bilingual poster at this link:  https://shorturl.at/M9jLw.

Marriage and Family Life

Annual Marriage Jubilee Mass The Marriage Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving will take place at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, 5815 5th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM.  This event honors couples throughout the diocese who will celebrate their 25^th or 50^th anniversary as well as those celebrating 51 or more years of marriage during the 2025 calendar year.  Please RSVP by calling our parish office by Wednesday January 15th.

PARISHES/ORGANIZATIONS

Winter Concert Series 2025:  “Good Tidings”
The 2025 series at Saint Mary, Our Lady of Grace Parish, 515 4th St. S. in St. Petersburg, kicks off on Sunday, January 12, 2025 at 3:00 pm with a holiday concert by local actress and singer Paula Broadwater.  This one-hour concert is FREE and family-friendly.  For more information, please contact the parish office at 727-896-2191 ext. 208.

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