Our mutually-shared vision of Courageously Living the Gospel calls us to think outside the walls of our churches in pursuit of ministering to families and young people and serving those in need.

That’s why Bishop Gregory Parkes has asked parishes to address local community issues and mobilize cross-parish creativity to make a difference!

These projects are called “Catholic Impact Initiatives” and to date, nine new ideas have been submitted to Bishop Parkes that enable parishes to work together to make an impact and meet a need. The initiatives are in various stages of development and some will take many months to implement. Stay tuned for additional details once they are available.

Overview of the Diocese of St. Petersburg Catholic Impact Initiatives 

PROJECT: Provide an array of educational classes offered by the local Catholic community to support the daily life needs of individuals and families within our parishes and surrounding communities.

PARTICIPATING PARISHES: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Dade City, St. Anne Catholic Church, Ridge Manor, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, San Antonio, St. Anthony the Abbot, Brooksville, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Zephyrhills, St. Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Massaryktown, St. Rita Catholic Church, Dade City (East Central Deanery)

PROJECT: Provide counseling services to families and individuals at a convenient location and time to help those struggling with family and divorce difficulties, stress, anxiety or other issues. (Read more here.)

PARTICIPATING PARISHES: Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor; Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Dunedin; St. Matthew Catholic Church, Largo; St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Clearwater; St. Brendan Catholic Church, Clearwater, Light of Christ Catholic Church, Clearwater, All Saints Catholic Church, Clearwater, St. Michael the Archangel, Clearwater, St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Tarpon Springs, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, Palm Harbor. (Central Deanery)

PROJECT: Develop a Catholic Youth Sports League with a focus on good sportsmanship, fun and faith. Read more here.

PARTICIPATING PARISHES: Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Temple Terrace;  Epiphany of Our Lord, Tampa; Immaculate Conception Haitian Mission, Tampa, Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Tampa; Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Land O’Lakes; Santa Maria Mission, Tampa, St. Joseph Vietnamese Mission, Tampa, St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, Tampa; St. Mary Catholic Church, Tampa; St. Paul Catholic Church, Tampa; St. Timothy, Lutz;  USF Catholic Student Center, Tampa (North Central Deanery)

PROJECT: Upgrade the cabins at Our Lady of Good Counsel Camp in Citrus County to better serve youth in the community. Read more here.

PARTICIPATING PARISHES: Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Inverness; Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Beverly Hills; St. Benedict Catholic Church, Crystal River; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Citrus Springs; St. Scholastica Catholic Church, Lecanto; St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Homosassa Springs

PROJECT: Develop a comprehensive Campus Ministry to the catholic Students at the University of Tampa and those interested in the Catholic Faith.

PARTICIPATING PARISHES: Christ the King Catholic Church, Tampa; Incarnation Catholic Church, Tampa;  Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Tampa; Our Lady of the Bay Chapel MacDill AFB, Tampa; Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Tampa; St. Joseph Catholic Church, Tampa; St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Tampa; St. Patrick Catholic Church, Tampa; St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, Tampa   (South Central Deanery)

PROJECT:  Relocate, rebuild the area Food Bank in order to better serve the hungry in southeast Hillsborough County. A new location and a new facility will allow for a more robust response to the 40 (plus) Food Pantries in that geographical area – including seven Catholic parishes.

PARTICIPATING PARISHES: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Tampa; Mary, Help of Christians Catholic Church, Tampa; Nativity Catholic Church, Brandon; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Wimauma; Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Sun City Center; Resurrection Catholic Church, Riverview; St. Anne Catholic Church, Ruskin; St. Clement Catholic Church, Plant City; St. Francis of Assisi, Catholic Church, Seffner; St. Stephen Catholic Church, Valrico (Southeast Deanery)

PROJECT: Establish a Catholic Campus Ministry for University of South Florida-St. Petersburg Campus.

PARTICIPATING PARISHES: Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, St. Petersburg; Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg; Holy Family Catholic Church, St. Petersburg; Mercy of God Polish Mission. St. Petersburg; Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, Gulfport; St. John Vianney Catholic Church, St. Pete Beach; St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Petersburg; St. Mary Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, St. Petersburg; St. Paul Catholic Church, St. Petersburg; St. Raphael Catholic Church, St. Petersburg; Transfiguration Catholic Church, St. Petersburg (Southern Deanery)

PROJECT: Provide increased assistance to the homeless population of Pinellas Hope to include direct service, education and financial support.

PARTICIPATING PARISHES: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Seminole; Holy Cross Catholic Church, St. Petersburg, Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Pastoral Mission, Largo; Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Pinellas Park; St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Clearwater; St. Jerome Catholic Church, Indian Rocks/Largo; St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church, Seminole; St. Matthew, Largo; St. Patrick Catholic Church, Largo (Southwest Deanery)

PROJECT: Support youth in the community by offering special faith enrichment, social and service events.

PARTICIPATING PARISHES: Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, New Port Richey; St. Frances X. Cabrini Catholic Church, Spring Hill; St. James the Apostle Catholic Church, Port Richey; St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Spring Hill; St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Hudson; St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, Trinity; St. Theresa Catholic Church, Spring Hill; St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, New Port Richey; St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Holiday (West Central Deanery)