“Families are the foundational element of our society and they must be able to stay together.” – Cardinal Daniel DiNardo Read Cardinal DiNardo’s full statement here. Ask Congress to protect immigrant children and families who are seeking safety and shelter from violence by keeping them together. Send a message to your lawmakers here.
During his general address on Sunday, June 10, 2018, Pope Francis prayed for the Korean people. The Holy Father also prayed that the upcoming summit between the leaders of the United States and North Korea “may contribute to the development of a positive path to assure a future of peace on the Korean peninsula and …
Father Rajeev Philip was ordained to the priesthood for the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese at St. Paul Catholic Church in Tampa on Saturday, June 2, 2018! He grew up in the Tampa area and graduated from Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School. Read more in this article from the Florida Catholic. Photo credit: Babu Thomas
Volcan de Fuego–Fire Volcano–erupted Sunday, June 3, 2018, in Guatemala, burying one whole community in ash and blocking roads with a deadly flow of rocks, ash and hot gas. Roads, bridges and houses have been destroyed, families have evacuated the area and at least 33 people have been killed. Catholic Relief Services’ local partner Caritas …
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“I get all my Ninja powers from Jesus.” – Father Stephen Gadberry, aka “Father Flex” Check out how Father Stephen, a priest of the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, is evangelizing and spreading the Good News through fitness and competing on American Ninja Warrior! Read more: https://s.dosp.org/2sEOFde.
June 1 marks the start of the Hurricane Season. Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected in the event of a storm in our area. Now is the time to plan ahead. Mass Attendance: All parishioners are urged to use good judgement when planning to travel to and from Mass. In the event that …
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Deacon Rajeev Philip grew up in our diocese and will be ordained a priest for the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Tampa. All are invited to attend! If you are unable to attend the ordination, you can watch it live on Shalom America …
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Bishop Gregory Parkes will ordain Deacon Kyle Bell, Deacon Lou Turcotte, and Deacon Tim Williford to the priesthood on Saturday, May 19 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg. Learn more about the upcoming ordination here. Watch the videos below to learn about Deacon Kyle’s, Deacon Lou’s, and …
Bishop Gregory Parkes will ordain Deacon Kyle Bell, Deacon Lou Turcotte, and Deacon Tim Williford to the priesthood on Saturday, May 19 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg. All are invited to attend this joyous celebration! If you cannot join us in person, you are invited to …
Continue reading “Three Men to be Ordained to the Priesthood on May 19, 2018”
Over 1,300 people gathered at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle on Sunday, May 6, 2018 to pray during a Holy Hour as Bishop Parkes consecrated the Diocese of St. Petersburg to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “It brings great joy to my heart as your bishop to gather with you here this afternoon …
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Looking for a family-friendly event to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Saturday? Catholic Charities’ Cinco de Mayo Fiesta is the answer! Join Catholic Charities at the Lake House (1202 Kenlake Ave., Spring Hill, FL 34606) on Saturday, May 5, 2018, from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. for family fun, including water slide and bounce house …
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Wonder what a Marian Consecration is about? Watch this video from Father Rojas to find out ahead of Bishop Parkes consecrating the Diocese of St. Petersburg to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Sunday, May 6! All are invited to attend the consecration at 3:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. Unable …
The 3rd Annual Blue Mass was celebrated at St. Timothy Parish in Lutz on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Bishop Gregory Parkes was the main celebrant. The Blue Mass is a celebration of law enforcement and first responders. The very first Blue Mass was celebrated by Rev. Thomas Dade as part of his duties with the …
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On Saturday, April 14, 2018, our seminarians Anthony Astrab and Joshua Hare will be ordained transitional deacons at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Boca Raton! All are invited to participate by watching the live video stream here. Read the bios for the men below. Anthony Astrab’s bio Joshua Hare’s bio Please …
Continue reading “Two Seminarians to be Ordained Transitional Deacons on Saturday, April 14, 2018”
New document from Pope Francis! Read the full text of our Holy Father’s new apostolic exhortation, “Guadete Et Exsultate”, which means “Rejoice and Be Glad” in Latin, here. This document is about holiness in everyday life. Check out top five take aways from the new document as presented by Father James Martin, SJ and America The Jesuit Review …
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Three of our Catholic schools made the Tampa Bay Times’ Top 100 Workplaces in Tampa Bay list. Guardian Angels Catholic School was the top employer in the small category (minimum of 50 local employees). On the list of the top 50 small employers, Clearwater Central Catholic High School was number 42 and St. Cecelia Interparochial …
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See some photos of how Easter was celebrated around the diocese below. To submit your photos to the album, post them on social media publicly with the hashtag #DOSPEaster or email them to socialmedia@dosp.org. Please note that we must have release forms signed to include any photos of minors. Click on the album below to …
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At 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, Bishop Gregory L. Parkes will preside at the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. All are invited to attend. During this Mass, the priests of our diocese, along with Bishop Parkes, will renew their commitment to priestly service and the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of …
Help protect all schoolchildren from gun violence. Join us by contacting our Florida legislators to urge for additional provisions in school and gun safety bills, HB 7101/SB 7026. Contact legislators here: http://bit.ly/2FEtgGY.
Over 250 couples from over 60 parishes from the Diocese of St. Petersburg celebrating 25, 50 or more years of marriage participated in the Marriage Jubilee Mass on Feb. 11 at the Cathedral of St Jude the Apostle. One couple was celebrating 75 years of marriage. “You were here last year, right?” said Bishop Parkes …
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Bishop Parkes has received questions regarding whether a dispensation from the discipline of fasting and abstinence will be granted on Ash Wednesday as it coincides with Valentine’s Day. He is not inclined to grant a dispensation from this discipline for two main reasons: Ash Wednesday is one of the only two days on the liturgical …
Continue reading “Statement from Bishop Parkes Concerning Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2018”
In an effort to lead all people closer to the Heart of Jesus, Bishop Gregory Parkes has announced that he will consecrate the parishes, schools, charities, ministries and all people who live in the five counties of the Diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. To consecrate means to dedicate or set aside for a …
In their annual statement marking the January 22 anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, the bishops of Florida lament that a mother’s womb has become a place of vulnerability for the developing child rather than a place of safety and security. The bishops confirm that all life issues are interconnected. …
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WASHINGTON— The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, has issued the following statement in relation to the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Cardinal DiNardo’s full statement follows: “In recent years—including last summer in Charlottesville—we have glimpsed an appalling truth that lurks beneath the surface of our …
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Catholic Charities is helping to resettle refugees in our community. When refugees families and individuals arrive in the United States, they have very few possessions to their name. That is when Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg steps in. From the moment refugees arrive at the airport, Catholic Charities is there to guide them toward becoming …
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Calling All Men – want to be inspired, reinvigorated, and uplifted? Does your faith life need a boost? Join over a thousand other Catholic men, at all levels of faith, from parishes throughout the diocese as they gather to revitalize their spirits at the Suncoast Catholic Ministries’ 8th Annual Tampa Bay Men’s Conference on February 10, 2018! The …
On January 4, 2018, Bishop Gregory Parkes celebrated the one year anniversary of being installed as the fifth Bishop of St. Petersburg. We invite you to send well wishes to Bishop Parkes on any of his social media accounts – Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or via email to communicate@dosp.org. This video has highlights from his first year and …
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Because Catholics participate in Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, some are wondering whether a Sunday evening Mass on Christmas Eve would fulfill both the obligation for a Sunday Mass and the obligation for a Christmas Day Mass. The U.S. Bishop’s Committee on Divine Worship has said the faithful should participate in two …
On December 24 at 10:00 p.m., Bishop Gregory Parkes will be the principal celebrant at the Christmas Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg.
Monday, January 1, 2018, is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. Since it falls on a Monday, it is not a holy day of obligation. If you would still like to honor the Blessed Mother, we invite you to attend a daily Mass at your parish on Monday. Check with …
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December 15, 2017 – Following the USCCB General Assembly in November 2017, a group of ecumenical and interfaith partners gathered with bishops of the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage to discuss gender ideology. As a result of this discussion, faith leaders today issued an open letter entitled “Created Male and Female”. Archbishop Charles …
There is much work to be done between now and Christmas to protect Dreamers and help ensure humane treatment for all immigrants and refugees. Please consider participating in some important actions during the season of Advent: Our Lady of Guadalupe – December 12, 2017 On December 12, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast Day of …
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The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Friday, December 8, 2017. It is a holy day of obligation. Please check with your parish for Mass times (you can search for parishes around the diocese here). On this day, we commemorate that from the moment of her conception, the Blessed Virgin Mary was …
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Starting the Church’s liturgical year, Advent is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas. This year Advent begins on Sunday, December 3. Advent is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary …
Congratulations to all of the 2017 recipients of the St. Jude Medal Award! On Sunday, Nov. 19, Bishop Parkes honored one lay member from each of our parishes for their distinguished and outstanding service. Whether it’s running the food pantry at their parish or visiting the sick, these men and women share the love of …
Bishop Parkes visited a family who lives at the San Jose Mission in Dover. He listened to their story. The family’s oldest daughter is a DACA recipient and is afraid she will lose that status if Congress fails to act. After meeting with the family, Bishop Parkes celebrated Mass for all residents of San Jose …
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Patrick Hannon is scheduled to be executed Wednesday, November 8, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. for the 1991 murders of Brandon Snider and Robert Carter. In a November 6 letter on behalf of the bishops of Florida, Michael Sheedy, executive director, appealed to Governor Scott to commute Hannon’s death sentence to a life sentence without parole. “The victims, …
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel N DiNardo, of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has issued the following statement in response to today’s mass shooting during a church service in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Cardinal DiNardo’s full statement follows: “Earlier today, we heard of the mass shooting at the Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, …
During the past 10 months, Bishop Gregory Parkes has been listening to many people in an effort to learn about the people, parishes and schools entrusted to his care. Shortly after his installation as fifth Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, he began inviting the community to listening sessions. He took part in nine …
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October 31, 2017 WASHINGTON—Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has issued the following statement in response to this afternoon’s deadly attack on innocent people in Manhattan that has left at least eight people dead. Cardinal DiNardo’s full statement follows: “This afternoon we heard of what …
The Solemnity of All Saints is Wednesday, November 2017. It is a holy day of obligation. Please check with your parish’s bulletin or website for Mass times. Find a listing of parishes in our diocese, searchable by city and zip code, along with contact information, here.
Bishop Parkes visited and prayed with refugee families from the Congo who now live in St. Petersburg. The families have been helped and supported by Refugee Outreach Ministry of St. Mary Our Lady of Grace Parish in St. Petersburg.
Bishop Parkes ordained eight men to the permanent diaconate on October 7, 2017, at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. Congratulations to Deacon Eugene Beil, Deacon John Carter, Deacon Ronald Fly, Deacon M. Scott Huang, Deacon Paul Koppie, Deacon Edward LaRose, Deacon John Schaefer and Deacon John Ustick. Learn more about our new deacons here. Ordination Photos | Ordination Video
October 3, 2017 – Rev. Msgr. Joseph Pellegrino became the 21st recipient of the Fr. Luis Distinguished Priestly Service Award at the annual Convocation for Priestly Renewal. He was selected by his peers to receive the award in recognition of his dedicated ministry and service to the faithful and community of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Msgr. Joseph Pellegrino …
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After over three decades on death row, Michael Lambrix is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, October 5, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. Lambrix received two death sentences for the 1983 murders of Clarence Moore and Aleisha Bryant. In a September 28 letter on behalf of the bishops of Florida, Michael Sheedy, executive director, Florida Conference of …
Bishop Parkes will ordain Eugene Beil, John Carter, Ronald Fly, M. Scott Huang, Paul Koppie, Edward LaRose, John Schaefer and John Ustick to the permanent diaconate at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 7, 2017, at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. All are invited to attend! Please note that seating is limited. The ordination will be live streamed …
Continue reading “Eight to be Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on October 7”
All are invited to the annual Hispanic Mass to gather with Bishop Parkes to celebrate the beauty of our faith and to celebrate the many contributions of the Hispanic Catholic community to building up the local Church in the five counties of West Central Florida. This is the first Hispanic Mass with Bishop Parkes in …
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Meet the eight candidates who will be ordained to the diaconate at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 7, 2017, at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. The ordination will be broadcast on Spirit FM 90.5 (listen online at http://www.spiritfm905.com/). Our prayers are with them as they prepare to embark on this next step of their spiritual journey. Eugene …
A global campaign to be in solidarity with immigrants and refugees is now underway and support for this campaign comes from all the way at the top. Speaking to the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the weekly General Audience on Sept. 27, Pope Francis urged governments and all men and women of goodwill …
For nine years, Sandy Ferreira has participated in the 40 Days for Life campaign in Tampa Bay. Even when the heat is sweltering or the rain is falling or she is tired, she will keep her commitment to stand outside an abortion clinic in downtown St. Petersburg and pray for an end to abortion. She …
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All are invited to the blessing and dedication of the brand new Bellarmine Newman Hall at USF, which opened for students in the fall semester of 2017. The ceremony will include tours of the modern new residences, a reception and remarks from the president of the Newman Student Housing Fund, the USF Campus Minister and …
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100% of funds raised goes directly to relief and recovery efforts Sister Donna Markham, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) was at Pinellas Hope in Clearwater on Tuesday, September 19 to present $2 million to local Florida Catholic Charities agencies to assist those impacted by Hurricane Irma. Generous people across the country donated to …
After eighteen months with no executions in our state, Mark Asay is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, August 24, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. The inconsistent and arbitrary application of the death penalty has only become more apparent since Florida’s most recent execution in January 2016. Defendants whose death sentences were finalized after June 2002 …
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“The abhorrent acts of hatred on display in Charlottesville are an attack on the unity of our nation and therefore summon us all to fervent prayer and peaceful action,” said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, of Galveston-Houston, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Read the full statements from the U.S. Bishops in response to …
The U.S. bishops and the Korean bishops’ conference are calling for talks to secure the peaceful future of the Korean Peninsula. Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, New Mexico, the chairman of the bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, said that diplomacy and political engagement is necessary to resolve the differences between the United …
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