DIOCESAN OFFICES

Let the Children Come To Me
Pre-k and kindergarten students recently visited with Bishop Gregory Parkes to share their thoughts about Christmas during Take Five with Bishop Parkes. These young children are learning about the true meaning of Christmas and all of the joy that Christmas brings. This five-minute conversation can be seen on Tuesday, December 20^th at 7:00 p.m. on the bishop’s Facebook and Instagram (@BishopParkes).  View past episodes on the diocesan YouTube channel (YouTube.com/DioceseofStPete).
Promotional Graphic at this link:  shorturl.at/OY689.

How to Live with Joy
TV host, author and national speaker, Chris Stefanik recently visited with Bishop Gregory Parkes to share his thoughts about living with joy, even during challenging times. His new book, Living Joy, offers nine tips for keeping the joy of the Lord in your life. Learn more on Take Five with Bishop Parkes on Tuesday, January 3rd at 7:00 p.m. on the bishop’s Facebook and Instagram (@BishopParkes).  View past episodes on the diocesan YouTube channel (YouTube.com/DioceseofStPete).
Promotional Graphic at this link:  shorturl.at/cew56.

Annual Red Mass
Tampa Bay Catholic Lawyers Guild’s Annual invites you to their annual Red Mass at Christ the King Catholic Church, 821 S. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33609 on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 5:30 p.m.  The Mass will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Deacons Eugene Beil and John Schaefer, Sixth Judicial Circuit (Retired) will assist.
A reception* will follow the Mass for Guild members and all in attendance with the opportunity to renew your membership or become a new member of
The Tampa Bay Catholic Lawyers Guild.

*Please RSVP for the Reception to:  tomallisonlaw@hotmail.com.
Flyer at this link:  https://tinyurl.com/2s54z3r5.

Office of Marriage and Family Life

Marriage Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving
The Marriage Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving will take place at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle on Sunday, February 12th at 3:00 pm.  This event honors couples throughout the diocese who will celebrate their 25th anniversary as well as those celebrating 50 or more years of marriage during the 2023 calendar year.  Please RSVP with our parish office by Tuesday, January 17th.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend
The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is January 6-8, 2023, in Lutz.  For more information, contact Steve & Suzie Walden at 813-270-7832.  Apply for the weekend at www.wwme.org and use promo code Save50, for a discounted application fee.

PARISHES/ORGANIZATIONS

Encounter Tampa’s Catholic History at Sacred Heart this Christmas
Join the Historical Society of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa (509 N Florida Ave) on Monday, December 26, at 3 p.m. for a special Christmas tour of our Church.  Decorated splendidly for the Christmas season, including the historic creche, the tour will include multiple stations featuring our tour guides in period dress and special guests explaining extraordinary features of the church, including:  the motivation behind the significant donation of the altar and altar rail; unique architecture and design elements and other interesting facts.

Learn about these and so many more interesting aspects of this ecclesiastical jewel of downtown Tampa.  As always, our historical lectures and tours are free, and open to the public.  A reception will follow the Christmas tour in St. Francis Hall.  Donations are gratefully accepted and used to continue the renovation and restoration of the church.  All are welcome!

Promotional graphic at this link:  shorturl.at/jJMPR.

Save the Date:  Chris Brunelle in Concert
Chris Brunelle will be in concert in our diocese!  Please reserve the dates of January 23, St. Benedict Parish, 455 S. Suncoast Blvd., Crystal River and January 26th at St. Patrick Parish, 4518 S. Manhattan Ave., Tampa (flyer for this event here.)

Winter Concert Series
The 12th annual Winter Concert Series at Saint Mary, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Saint Petersburg begins on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at 3:00 pm with a concert entitled, “Epiphany:  Music to Celebrate the  Season.”

Come celebrate the official end of the Christmas season with the VOICES OF GRACE, the ARMONIC BRASS, and the Mighty Viscount organ in a concert of festive Epiphany and Christmas music!

The church is located at 515 4th St S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
This one-hour concert is FREE and open to all.  For more information call Michelle Rego at 727-896- 2191 ext. 208.

PILGRIMAGES AROUND THE DIOCESE

Parish Pilgrimages
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: https://www.dosp.org/pastoralbulletin/pilgrimages/.