Word reached the Chancellor’s Office of the passing of Reverend Ruskin S. Piedra, C.Ss.R., 90, on December 22, 2024, at St. John Neumann Residence, in Timonium, Maryland. Father Piedra was ordained to the priesthood for the Redemptorist Fathers on June 19, 1960.  During his 64 years of priestly ministry, Father Piedra had a local connection with the Diocese of St. Petersburg, having served as Assistant Pastor (Parochial Vicar) of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Tampa, from 1962 to 1969, and as Pastor of the same parish from 1969 to 1975. He also began the Cursillo movement in the Diocese of St. Petersburg and was the first priest in this Diocese to celebrate Mass in Spanish.  He was later assigned to Opa Locka, in the Archdiocese of Miami but returned to our Diocese on numerous occasions over the years to lead parish missions.

A full obituary is available at the following link.

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May his soul and the souls of all the faithful
departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace!