On this holy day of obligation, we commemorate that from the moment of her conception, the Blessed Virgin Mary was in a state of grace and free from all original sin. Mary, as the Immaculate Conception, is the patroness of the United States. Read more. In 2019, this Solemnity is transferred from Sunday, December 8 …
On Sunday, November 17, 2019, an article about the Diocese of St. Petersburg African Catholic Ministry and local observances for National Black Catholic History Month appeared in the Tampa Bay Times. To read the article, click here. (You might be required to subscribe in order to read the article.)
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) meeting this week for their Fall General Assembly in Baltimore have voted on nine action items. The bishops voted to approve the 6th edition of the Program of Priestly Formation for use in the dioceses of the United States with 226 votes in favor, 4 against, and 3 abstentions. The vote …
After many years away from the Church, Angie Ducker returned to the faith renewed and eager to be a more faithful, dedicated follower of Jesus. What she didn’t expect was the invitation to become a leader. Initially hesitant, Ducker answered the call to head up Sacred Heart Parish’s Eucharistic Ministry at Tampa General Hospital. She …
Continue reading “Tampa Women Steps Outside Her Comfort Zone to Live the Gospel Courageously”
Ashley Russell has always been pro-life, but after having a baby she became even more aware of how fragile and beautiful life is in the early stages. “Having my own children and seeing those sonograms at six weeks got me thinking about how can I make a difference and how can I make sure that …
Continue reading ““Unplanned” Movie Inspires New Ministry at Christ the King Parish”
Pam Popson trains hospitality ministers at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Dunedin and she views her volunteer “work” as essential to the mission of the Church. “Everyone wants to feel loved and accepted. It’s the greeter’s job to welcome people so they can come to know God’s love and share it with others,” said …
If you are reading this article, you are probably one of the 7%! This is the number of Catholics who are highly engaged in the Church today. Research conducted by Dynamic Catholic and its founder Matthew Kelly, show that 7% of Catholics do 80% of the work to build up and grow the Church, which …
From starting a refugee ministry to welcoming back Catholics who have been separated from the Church, Claudia McIvor is living the priorities of Courageously Living the Gospel, to proclaim, invite and encounter. “God does not always show me exactly where I’m going in ministry,” said Claudia McIvor. “God points a direction and sends me, and …
The Catholic bishops of the United States convened their Fall General Assembly in Baltimore this morning. The meeting began with remarks by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops delivered his last address as president of the Conference. The …
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Bishop Gregory Parkes will honor and thank parish representatives for distinguished and outstanding service to their church and community by presenting them the St. Jude the Apostle Medal Award on November 24, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg. The prayer service will be live video streamed …
Continue reading “Bishop Gregory Parkes to Honor Parishioners for Selfless Service”
The AfricanMass on Sunday, November 10, 2019, from 2:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m. will be an opportunity to unite the African Community of the Tampa Bay region and to celebrate the faith of local African Catholics The Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, (1203 North Nebraska Avenue, Tampa) with prayers and music …
Continue reading “All Are Invited to the 2nd Annual Diocese of St. Petersburg African Mass”
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida has granted a temporary stay of execution to allow Mr. Dailey’s newly appointed federal counsel time to present his substantial claims of innocence. Dailey was scheduled to be executed on Nov. 7 for the 1985 murder of 14-year-old Shelly Boggio. The eight Catholic bishops of Florida …
Continue reading “James Dailey granted stay of execution until Dec. 30”
Eight-hundred people attended the Diaconate Ordination Mass and more than 2,000 watched the live video stream on Facebook and dosp.org. Click here to view photos. Eight men stood at the front of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg on October 19, 2019 and committed to serving the Catholic Church with humble …
Continue reading “Eight Great Men Answer the Call to Become Deacons”
Last week, the National Council on Disabilities (NCD) released a federal study revealing that assisted suicide laws are dangerous to people with disabilities. In its report, “The Danger of Assisted Suicide Laws,” NCD provides several policy recommendations including urging states to not legalize any form of assisted suicide or active euthanasia. The NCD is an …
Eucharistic, Investiture Ceremonies Incorporate Catholic Heritage, Faculty, Staff, Students Saint Leo University’s 10th president in its 130-year history was inaugurated Friday, October 11, in a ceremony in the Marion Bowman Activities Center that incorporated the university’s Catholic heritage and its commitment to student-centered education. In a Mass celebrated by Abbot Isaac Camacho, OSB, and a …
Continue reading “Saint Leo University Inaugurates 10th President, Jeffrey D. Senese”
Saint Leo University will again offer the Catholic Promise Scholarship, which helps make higher education more accessible to Catholic high school students in Florida. The scholarship will be offered for undergraduate students for the Fall 2020 Semester at University Campus. The Catholic Promise Scholarship will award Florida students who have attended four years at a …
Transfiguration Parish will close on October 21, 2019 and will reopen in 2020 as Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Parish. When Father Carlos Rojas learned that his parish, Transfiguration, would be closing its doors, he went through a period of mourning, prayer and discernment. He agonized over what would happen to his tiny but mighty community …
Continue reading “Transfiguration Parish Community Experiences Loss and Transformation”
Reverend Jacob Monteleone was announced as the recipient of the 2019 Fr. Luis Distinguished Priestly Service Award on Tuesday, October 8, during the annual Convocation for Priestly Renewal. This award is given annually to a priest serving in the Diocese of St. Petersburg who best exemplifies selfless and dedicated service to the people of God. The recipient of the award …
Open, broken, and full – that’s my heart before, during and after, when I am graced to journey with my incarcerated sisters and brothers in California state prisons. About a year ago a good friend of mine asked me if I would be willing to think about teaching in California prisons in place of her. …
The Youth and Family Ministries of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Inverness aligned their missions for the launch of a dynamic family-centered program designed to connect Catholics of all ages through inter-generational events and family activities that build community and strengthen personal Catholic identity. Missionary Disciples, Youth and Family Ministries hosted the first “Bring …
When Bishop Gregory Parkes asked Father Stephan Brown to serve as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in St. Petersburg, he asked him not to see the parish as it was, but as it could become. Since that day in 2017, Father Brown has been envisioning a bold new future for St. Joseph that includes embracing …
Bishop Gregory Parkes and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather for the 2019 Fall General Assembly in Baltimore, November 11-13. News updates, vote totals, texts of addresses and presentations and other materials will be posted to www.usccb.org/meetings during the general assembly. Those wishing to follow the meeting on social media …
Continue reading “U.S. Bishops to Meet November 11-13 in Baltimore, Maryland”
On September 25, 2019, Bishop Gregory Parkes issued a check in the amount of $250,000 to provide support to the victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas. The check was mailed to Archbishop Patrick Pinder of the Archdiocese of Nassau for the specific purpose of relief and recovery efforts in the Bahamas following the devastating …
Each October the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is observed as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. During the …
A Reflection for Respect Life Month 2019 From the time we are knit together in our mothers’ wombs until we take our final breaths, each moment of our lives is a gift from God. While every season of life brings its own challenges and trials, each season also gives us new opportunities to grow in …
When it came to planning a Catholic Impact Initiative for Courageously Living the Gospel, the parishes of the North Central Deanery decided to think outside the box, or actually just outside. They chose to start an inter-parish sports league with the hope of attracting families and instilling values of faith on the field. Their first …
Continue reading “Parishes Team Up for New Youth Sports Program”
The Storyteller’s Catechism by Father Timothy H. Sherwood An increasingly secular world has made our search for God more challenging. But the basic message of this book is that God also searches for us; that the awareness from faith reveals manifestations of the Divine Presence. Parish priests are privileged to have a daily front-row seat …
The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) “Tampa Bay Guild of St. Philomena” invites all physicians, medical students and other healthcare professionals to the Annual White Mass and Dinner on Saturday, October 26, 2019 at Christ the King Parish in Tampa. The Vigil Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Parkes at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Dinner …
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The largest ministry at All Saints Parish in Clearwater involves outreach to the sick as parishioners and clergy seek to meet an urgent need that surrounds them. Mease Countryside Hospital is only about 10 minutes away. Plus, within the parish boundaries there are six nursing homes and more than 100 assisted-living facilities. “Our research shows …
For the past three years, Hispanic leaders in the Diocese of St. Petersburg have been volunteering to serve on parish committees to bring the joy of the Gospel to the peripheries of our community. This process of encountering people in our families, neighborhoods and work places who don’t have a relationship with Jesus and taking …
Continue reading “Hispanic Leaders Receive Training on Missionary Discipleship”
To welcome new students and their families to a new school year at the USF main campus, the Catholic Student Union (CSU) and the Catholic Bulls Alumni Society hosted “Welcome Home Weekend” on August 24-25, 2019. This two-day event focused on food, fun, faith and hospitality! After the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday evening, students, …
Father Jim Johnson became a camp counselor at Our Lady of Good Counsel Camp in Floral City at the age of 18. Nine years later he was ordained a Catholic priest. “The camp definitely had a role in my vocation to the priesthood,” said Father Johnson. This Catholic youth camp, that is owned by the …
Candlelight Vigil, Counseling, Relief Drive, Comfort Food Dinner Helps Following Dorian While Hurricane Dorian did not strike Saint Leo University, its impact on the Bahamas is strongly felt by the university community located north of Tampa. Nearly 150 Bahamian students attend Saint Leo, with 64 members of the Class of 2023 being from the country. …
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The BLUE Mass is an Ecumenical and Interfaith event to honor the men and women serving the Tampa Bay region as federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel and emergency responders, including Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Sheriff Deputies, Police Officers, Troopers, Special Agents, Security Professionals and 9-1-1 Operators. Family members, friends, and all supporters are …
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Reflection by Deacon Joseph Krzanowski, CAC As a deacon who serves as a chaplain at Tampa International Airport, I am privileged to meet many people who have various needs. I think back, for example, to a woman who was standing near the Traveler’s Aid window. She was with her son who was fast asleep. As we …
Continue reading “Uplifting Spirits: Local Deacon Serves Travelers at Tampa International Airport”
For 50 years, Morning Star School has provided much-needed services to thousands of children with special needs in Tampa Bay, while continually growing. The school welcomes students of all faiths in grades Kindergarten to high school. In the beginning, the school mostly served children with physical disabilities and Down syndrome but has since expanded to …
Day of Prayer and Reflection on Saturday, November 9, 2019 Many of the saints who came before us courageously lived the Gospel and they can inspire us to do the same! That’s why the Diocese of St. Petersburg is presenting a Day of Reflection that will focus on the lives of six American candidates for …
Continue reading “Courageously Living the Gospel: The Road to Sainthood”
In response to the devastation that has impacted the Bahamas and other areas that have yet to be impacted, the Diocese of St. Petersburg is asking for donations for their Disaster Relief Fund. One hundred percent of these disaster relief funds will benefit people affected by natural disasters. In 2018, the Diocese of St. Petersburg …
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In response to the high rate of suicide in the Tampa Bay area and Suicide Prevention Month, three local churches are hosting workshops to educate individuals on how they can help with the prevention of suicide. Topics to be addressed include: How can we encourage family and friends who are struggling with mental illness? What …
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Faithful from throughout the five-county Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg are expected to take part in a day of Praise and Worship featuring prayer, music, liturgy and nationally renowned speakers Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, 5815 5th Avenue North, St. Petersburg. According to event co-coordinator Frank Esposito, Jr., of …
Please watch local news for updates about Hurricane Dorian. We will post the latest updates affecting our Diocese on this blog post. Our Diocesan radio station Spirit FM 90.5 will broadcast those updates as well. Should the radio station go off the air, please stay tuned to your television at WFLA Channel 8 for updates. Find helpful …
Gannon University formally opened a new 80,000-square-foot academic building at its Ruskin, Fla. campus on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. About 220 people attended the Dedication and Blessing Ceremony at the campus, which is south of Tampa. “Today is a monumental step in the development of Gannon University’s effort in Ruskin, Fla. to advance the quality of healthcare delivery …
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Representatives from various Ministries of Mercy initiatives and programs around the Diocese of St. Petersburg gathered on August 17, 2019 for the annual Ministries of Mercy Mass and Luncheon at the Bethany Center in Lutz. The purpose of the event is to thank these leaders for their faithful service, update them on diocesan initiatives and …
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For four years, Father Chuck Dornquast has served as “team priest” for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That means he often has a front-row seat to the nail-biting plays, passes and field goals that make up the game of football. Father Chuck now has a front-row seat to how God is working in the lives of …
Continue reading “Buccaneers Team Priest is Drafted to Lead the Office of Vocations”
In what seemed a crushing blow to the pro-life movement, earlier this year states began to pass laws that permit unrestricted access to abortion. But according to Rose Llauget, there is still reason for hope. “These laws are accelerating the end to abortion because even the staunchest pro-abortion supporter realizes that this is too far,” …
Fr. Timothy Zak, SDB, Provincial Superior, Salesians of Don Bosco, Province of St. Philip the Apostle, and the Board of Members, announced that Scott Morreale has been appointed to the position of President of Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School effective August 19, 2019. “Scott brings professional qualifications and personal skills that he is ready to …
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During the week of July 8, 2019, the Diocese of St. Petersburg welcomed a visit from Deacon Bernie Nojadera, Executive Director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection, based in Washington D.C. The purpose of the visit was for Deacon Nojadera to learn how the Diocese of St. …
Continue reading “National Child and Youth Protection Leader Affirms Diocese of St. Petersburg”
Move-in Day for New Lions Set for August 15, Classes Begin August 20 There will be many new faces at Saint Leo University as the new academic year kicks off next week. Make that: There will be lots and lots of new faces! The university is expecting 815 new freshmen and 186 transfer students—1,001—when classes …
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Today, Bishops from three committees at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) expressed their deep concern about racism and xenophobia that apparently motivated this weekend’s massacre in El Paso and that have motivated numerous other recent mass shootings in the United States. The Chairmen called on our elected officials to exert leadership in …
Christmas is one of the most holy days of the Church year, because it is the day that Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Many believers participate in the celebration of Mass at Christmas and parishes welcome them, preparing for their arrival with additional Mass times. In some parishes, Mass is …
The Tampa Bay area was blessed to be spared the full force of Hurricane Irma, but other areas have been severely impacted by natural disasters. Your donations and prayers are greatly needed to provide humanitarian and pastoral support to our brothers and sisters who were directly in the path of Irma and other natural disasters …
Continue reading “Disaster Relief Donations after Hurricane Harvey”
September 13, 2017, 1:45pm – Most Rev. Gregory Parkes asks all pastors and parochial administrators to please check their emails for his post hurricane communication. If your email service is out, please contact Msgr. Morris, Vicar General, by phone.
September 12, 2017 – 2pm – Most Rev. Gregory Parkes has made the following revisions to the re-opening of the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of St. Petersburg: The Pastoral Center is still experiencing power and telephone outages, as well as other issues due to Hurricane Irma. Executive Directors are asked to report to the …
September 11, 2017 – 5:14pm – As we all recover from Hurricane Irma and begin reestablishing our routines, the Diocese of St. Petersburg is making plans for re-opening our Catholic schools and the Pastoral Center. For information regarding the re-opening of parishes in your area, please contact the parishes directly. Catholic Schools – Most Rev. Gregory …
September 9, 2017 – 9pm – The Office of Catholic Schools, in consultation with Most Rev. Gregory Parkes, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, announce all diocesan Catholic schools will be closed through Tuesday, September 12, 2017. All Catholic school families are encouraged to check back on this site for further information after the storm …
