Announcements ~ March 3, 2025
DIOCESAN OFFICES
Social Media Alert
Someone is impersonating Bishop Gregory Parkes on Facebook. Please be sure you are following the REAL Bishop Gregory Parkes accounts on Facebook and Instagram. Stay vigilant! Here are the REAL and OFFICIAL accounts for Bishop Gregory Parkes: www.facebook.com/bishopparkes and www.instagram.com/bishopparkes. Bishop Parkes will never send you a friend request, send you a Direct Message, or ask for money or a gift card via social media.
Join the Bishops’ Advocacy Network
The annual Florida legislative session starts soon and your elected officials need to hear from you.
Are you a Florida Catholic who wants to put your faith into action? The Florida Catholic Advocacy Network (FLCAN) provides opportunities to stay informed and use your voice to advocate for the protection of human life and dignity in our state’s law and public policies. As an FLCAN subscriber, you will receive important updates and calls to action directly from the public policy office of the Bishops of Florida. Sign up now and start advocating on behalf of vulnerable and marginalized populations who often have no voice of their own, including preborn babies, low-income families, children, individuals who are sick and dying, immigrants and refugees, persons who are incarcerated, and others in need.
To learn more and opt in to receive FLCAN emails and/or text messages, visit www.flaccb.org/flcan.
Promotional Graphics are found here.
Catholic Days at the Capitol
Now is the time to register to attend Catholic Days at the Capitol which will be held March 18-19, 2025. The Bishops of Florida invite you to advocate for the protection of human life and dignity as lawmakers continue the important work of shaping Florida’s laws and future for the common good. Events include a legislative briefing, awards breakfast, and the 50th Annual Red Mass of the Holy Spirit.
For more information and to register, please click here. If you have questions, please email: lifeministries@dosp.org.
A flyer is available at this link.
SEPARA LA FECHA – 7a Conferencia Anual Hispana para Hombres:
“SER CATÓLICO EN UN MUNDO QUEBRANTADO: Conociendo, Defendiendo, Evangelizando”
Esta conferencia es presentada por la Diócesis de St. Petersburg y Suncoast Catholic Ministries. El evento será el sábado, 17 de mayo de 2025, de 7:30 a.m. a 3:00 p.m., en el salón social de Nativity Catholic Church (705 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon). Los boletos incluyen el almuerzo. Boletos individuales: $35. Combo de padre/hijo: $25 cada uno. Para obtener boletos y más información visita: http://suncoastcatholicministries.com/espanol.
SAVE THE DATE – 7th Annual Hispanic Men’s Conference:
BEING CATHOLIC IN A BROKEN WORLD: Knowing, Defending, Evangelizing”
Presented by the Diocese of St. Petersburg and Suncoast Catholic Ministries. The event (in Spanish) will be held on Saturday, May 17, from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., in the Social Hall of Nativity Catholic Church, 705 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon). Cost is $35 per individual ticket, and $25 per ticket for father and son attending together. To buy tickets and obtain more information, visit: http://suncoastcatholicministries.com/espanol.
Promotional graphics: Slide; Flyer: PDF | JPG
Upcoming events ~ Office of Vocations
The Office of Vocations invites young men to events that help them learn more about priesthood and how to discern the Lord’s will for their life.
The first event is the St. Andrew’s Dinner, on March 25th at St. Catherine Catholic Church, 1955 S Belcher Rd, Clearwater. This dinner is a casual way to hear priests’ vocation stories, meet Bishop Parkes, and ask questions.
The next event is Come and See, from April 10 ~13, 2025 to St. Joseph Seminary College in Louisiana. There men can experience what seminary is like and meet seminarians from our diocese and surrounding states. You can register to both by going to www.dospvocations.org/events.
If you have any questions, reach out to the Office of Vocations at jp@dosp.org.
Promotional graphics available at these links: St. Andrew’s Dinner / Come and See.
Miriam Dinner – You are invited!
The Miriam Dinner, hosted by Sr. Sherly Vazhappilly, FSSE, Vicar for Religious, is an event for women, ages 16 to 35, who are discerning consecrated life. It is typical for women discerners to be accompanied by their pastor and/or a consecrated member of a religious institute. The evening begins with prayer, followed by dinner with consecrated women sharing their vocations testimonies. The Miriam Dinner is an opportunity for women discerning religious life to come learn more about what religious life is like while enjoying food and conversation with some of our religious from around the diocese.
Please register at this link: https://dospvocations.org/upcoming-events/.
Date: March 21, 2025
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: St. Timothy Catholic Church, 17512 Lakeshore Rd., Lutz
PARISHES/ORGANIZATIONS
Saint Leo University Holding Info Session for Doctor of Theology Program
Saint Leo University will hold a virtual information session for its Doctor of Theology in Applied Theology Program (ThD) on Wednesday, March 26th. The Zoom session will be held from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. and will be hosted by Dr. Stephen Okey, Associate Professor of Theology and Director of the ThD program.
Saint Leo will waive the $500 seat deposit for students who attend the March 26 info session and enroll by July 1st. Participants must register at this link: https://shorturl.at/Tpphi.
For more information, email stephen.okey@saintleo.edu or call (352) 588-8374.
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.