DIOCESAN OFFICES

A View From the Top
In this week’s A View From the Top, Bishop Gregory Parkes addresses keeping the Lord’s Day holy, how the church addresses political issues and candidates, and the two-year update on the diocesan vision, Courageously Living the Gospel. To listen to the podcast please follow this link:  https://bit.ly/3m0Z4L4.

How Is West Central Florida Courageously Living the Gospel?
In a newly released video, Bishop Gregory Parkes shares a two-year update on Courageously Living the Gospel, the mutually-shared vision of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He highlights what we have been able to accomplish with God’s grace and guidance and what has been delayed due to COVID-19. To view this video, visit youtube.com/dioceseofstpete.

(Note to Editors: To include a letter from Bishop Parkes providing a Two-Year Update on Courageously Living the Gospel, click below.)
https://www.dosp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-08-25-Bishop-Parkes-CLG-Two-Year-Update-English-REV-.pdf
https://www.dosp.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-08-25-Bishop-Parkes-CLG-Two-Year-Update-Spanish-REV.pdf

Ensuring Your Child’s School Is Safe
Every teacher, coach, and volunteer who works with children in the parishes and schools of the Diocese of St. Petersburg must have a background check before he or she is permitted to work in any school- or parish-related job or activity that involves contact with children. But what about the children who attend non-Catholic private or public schools?

Talk with school administrators and find out what steps they take to protect children from harm.  Suggest that they review other abuse prevention programs to ensure that their policies and practices are up to date. And demand that all employees and volunteers who work in the school be properly screened, including background checks, before they are allowed to be near your children.

For particular help you may call: Michael Craig, Safe Environment Program Manager at (727) 344-1611, ext. 5377.

Office of Life, Justice & Advocacy
Mass of the Angels
The annual Diocesan Mass of the Angels for children (born or unborn) who have gone to be with the Lord will be celebrated on Saturday, October 3, 2020, at 11:00 am. Our location this year will be St. Timothy Parish, 17512 Lakeshore Rd, Lutz. Please wear a face mask. For more information or to have a child’s name added to the program, please contact Diane at 727-344-1611, Ext.5308 or email:  dcs@dosp.org.

34^th Annual Culture of Life Conference, Conception to Natural Death
The annual Florida Culture of Life Conference, formerly known as the state Respect Life Conference, will be hosted by the Diocese of Palm Beach on Saturday, October 24, 2020. The virtual conference promises to be an informative and uplifting event with speakers on a variety of life topics, including the unborn, theology of the body, end of life, and the death penalty. 
More information along with registration can be found at: www.ccdpb.org/respectlife2020.  A $25.00 donation is suggested.

Civilize It: Dignity Beyond the Debate
With another election cycle in full swing, we are faced with the difficult question of what it means to love our neighbors in the midst of such a divisive climate. The Diocese of St. Petersburg is challenging Catholics to model love for neighbor through respect, and compassion during the 2020 election cycle and beyond. Put your faith into action and make room in your heart for those with whom you disagree. Watch our Diocesan video and pledge dignity beyond the debate today: https://www.dosp.org/pledging-dignity-beyond-the-debate/

Office of the Propagation of the Faith
Vatican Confirms World Mission Sunday 2020 will be observed on October 18, 2020
“Several worldwide observances of the Catholic Church have been postponed and rescheduled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. … In response to some requests about the celebration of World Mission Day 2020, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples confirms that it will be celebrated this year at the universal level on Sunday, October 18, with no change in the calendar.” Read more at this Vatican News Story

PARISHES AND ORGANIZATIONS

Capital Campaign Morning Star Catholic School, Pinellas Park
Morning Star Catholic School of Pinellas Park, a K-12 school in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, serves students with special educational needs in the Tampa Bay Area. Morning Star recently launched the Creating Our Future Capital Campaign to expand its programs and facilities to meet the growing need and demand in our community for a nurturing, Catholic faith-based Transition Program that will help students with varying abilities successfully navigate young adulthood by providing them the opportunity to continue their education until the age of 22. We invite you to invest in the lives of these young people. To give or for more information, visit www.morningstarschool.org or contact Principal Sue Conza, sue.conza@morningstarschool.org or (727) 544-6036

St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary
Join us for our first virtual Friends of the Seminary!
This special virtual event will take place on Friday, October 23, 2020 and willn include several elements. Beginning with a live link to Mass from St. Vincent Chapel, with our homilist this year being former Rector, Bishop David L. Toups of the Diocese of Beaumont, Texas, then followed by an online auction.

You will hear from our Acting Rector/President Fr. Alfredo I. Hernández and hopeful messages from some of our seminarians. We hope that these different elements will combine to let us experience some of the spirit of our FOS dinners, even if in a very different way.

For additional information, please contact the Office of Development at development@svdp.edu or at (561)732-4424.   Visit our website at www.svdp.edu/FRIENDS2020.