More than 400 priests, deacons, religious sisters and ministry leaders attended five training sessions facilitated by Catholic Leadership Institute during September and October. They learned about Courageously Living the Gospel and how each person is needed to make the Vision a reality. They also learned about PIE, the acronym for the Vision’s three priorities: Proclaiming – knowing and sharing …
Continue reading “Parishes Start Aligning with Vision and PIE”
Parishes in the southeast part of Hillsborough County are seeking to expand food distribution to families who are in great need. This is one example of how they are Courageously Living the Gospel. “This is the dream for our deanery-wide Catholic Impact Initiative, that we can make a difference in the lives of people in …
Continue reading “Parishes Explore Building a Food Bank in Southeast Hillsborough”
Twenty-four delegates from the Diocese of St. Petersburg participated in the Fifth National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry on September 20-23, at Grapevine, Texas. Together with 3,000 delegates, leaders, religious brothers and sisters, deacons, priests and bishops of the United States, our delegates worked to identify strategies to serve the growing Hispanic/Latino community so that the Church can …
Continue reading “Delegates Encounter Christ and Seek to Share Christ”
In order to foster new paths of collaboration that can create a stronger, more relevant and connected Church, Courageously Living the Gospel calls for nine Catholic Impact Initiatives that will change lives in our communities. These new initiatives are a goal of the new mutually shared vision that will be led by the nine vicars …
Continue reading “Deans Start Dreaming of a Catholic Impact Initiative”
The first of five parish training days for the implementation of Courageously Living the Gospel was held on Sept. 15 at St. Stephen Parish in Riverview. “It is you who will bring this vision to life in our diocese,” Bishop Gregory Parkes told the 50 parish leaders and clergy who attended during opening remarks. “You’re …
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More than 100 students and staff of Morning Star Catholic School in Tampa surprised Bishop Gregory Parkes with a strong show of support for the new diocesan vision, Courageously Living Gospel. On September 19, Bishop Parkes arrived at the school to celebrate their 60th anniversary Mass and found them all wearing matching blue t-shirts with a call to …
Renewed and sustained by the Spirit of God, representatives from 16 parishes in the Diocese of St. Petersburg will join Bishop Gregory Parkes for a national gathering in Grapevine, Texas from September 20 -23 that is hoped to assist with rebuilding the Church. Dioceses from across the country will also participate in the V National …
Continue reading “Gathering Seeks to Move Church into Permanent Missionary Mode”
Close to 30 individuals with experience in affordable housing gathered at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of St. Petersburg on August 14th to discuss how to address an important community need – housing for low-income, working families and individuals. “We believe every person has the right to a decent place to live and a …
Continue reading “Diocese Hosts Community Forum on Affordable Housing”
As was announced at parishes on June 17, 2018, the new Mutually Shared Vision for the Diocese of St. Petersburg is Courageously Living the Gospel – an invitation for each of us to be bolder in how we live our faith. Our new Vision defines our sacred purpose (also known as a Mission Statement), three …
Continue reading “Bishop Parkes Announces Implementation Plan for Courageously Living the Gospel”
Shortly after Bishop Gregory Parkes was installed as fifth bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg on January 4, 2017, people began to ask about his vision for the Diocese. Bishop Parkes set out to learn from the priests, religious, deacons, employees, and parishioners about their hopes and concerns. Through listening sessions, gatherings and online …