“Pope Francis is calling on the faithful not to let the Lenten season of grace pass in vain, and to live as children of God acknowledging and obeying His law, in particular in regards to our brothers and sisters and to creation. In this year’s Lenten message, the Pope invites believers to prepare to celebrate …
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“The historic Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church enabled the global leadership of the Catholic Church to clearly hear the voices of victims of sexual abuse. Those voices will forever influence our decisions so that no one will again feel the pain of being abused and the additional wounds of being abandoned or …
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has issued the following statement on the final day of a four-day meeting attended by Presidents of Bishops’ Conferences from across the globe. Cardinal DiNardo’s full statement follows: “The Lord is near to all who call …
The “Protection of Minors in the Church” Meeting concludes with a Press Briefing in the Vatican and the announcement of concrete commitments and initiatives to protect children and to combat abuse. By Vatican News There have been four Press Conferences, coinciding with the four days of the Meeting. Each one has provided a synthesis of the …
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In a major address on Sunday, Pope Francis contextualizes the “scourge” of abuse, and appeals for an “all-out battle against the abuse of minors, both sexually and in other areas.” By Vatican News “The time has come, then, to work together to eradicate the evil” of child abuse, Pope Francis said, in a speech delivered …
Following the lead of Pope Francis, Catholic Relief Services invites Catholics across the country to take part in the second year of Share the Journey, a global campaign launched by the pope to raise awareness and inspire action on behalf of migrants and refugees worldwide. This Lent, the Operation Rice Bowl Program has been formatted to …
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A Press Conference at the Holy See Press Office presents the “Protection of Minors in the Church” Meeting, which will take place in the Vatican, between 21 and 24 February 2019. By Barbara Castelli Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna is Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and a member of the …
A Press Conference at the Holy See Press Office presents the “Protection of Minors in the Church” Meeting, which will take place in the Vatican, between 21 and 24 February 2019. By Barbara Castelli Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna is Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and a member of the …
The Holy See announces sanctions against former American Cardinal, Theodore Edgar McCarrick, including dismissal from the clerical state. By Vatican News The Holy Press Office has published a statement from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, concerning the case of Theodore Edgar McCarrick. The Congresso of the CDF, which investigated the accusations, …
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February 16, 2019 WASHINGTON— Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the following statement upon the decision of the Holy See announced today regarding Theodore McCarrick. Cardinal DiNardo’s Full Statement Follows: “The Holy See’s announcement regarding Theodore McCarrick is a clear signal that abuse …
The bishops of Florida join with Catholics and others of goodwill in reacting in horror and disgust to the recently passed law in New York State that legalizes abortion essentially for any reason through all nine months of pregnancy?and removes any protection for children born alive after abortion.?Sadly, similar bills were proposed in Virginia and …
Continue reading “Florida Bishops Unite to Rally Pro-Life Floridians”
The Holy Season of Lent will be observed starting March 6, Ash Wednesday and continues until the Easter Triduum—from the evening of Holy Thursday to the evening of Easter Sunday. During Lent, we are asked to devote ourselves to seeking the Lord in prayer, service and charity, and sacrifice through fasting. For ideas on celebrating Lent …
Sabrina Burton Schultz, Catholic Relief Services’ Diocesan Director for the Diocese of St. Petersburg in Florida is the recipient of the 2019 CRS Rice Bowl award. Schultz is being recognized for her efforts to increase local involvement and generate new funds through CRS Rice Bowl. “This award is actually for the Diocesan Office of Life, …
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Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, KS and Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities has issued the following statement in response to the introduction of a bill in the Virginia legislature that would allow a baby to be aborted at nine months. Although the bill was defeated there, a similar bill …
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston and President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services USA and Chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, have issued the following statement in response to the January 27 bombings in and around the Cathedral of …
Continue reading “U.S. Bishops Condemn Philippine Cathedral Bombings as “Act of Terrorism” “
Each year, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops offers a Creating on the Margins contest to help schools and parishes engage youth in learning about the root causes of poverty and the Church’s response. The theme of this year’s contest, “A Time to Heal Racism,” invites Catholic youth in grades 7-12 to respond to racism …
The bishops of Florida recently released a statement in advance of this year’s Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, Tuesday, January 22nd. Click for English PDF or Spanish PDF. “So great is the value of a human life, and so inalienable the right to life of an innocent child growing in …
Youth and young adults from the Tampa Bay area are about to experience a life-changing event: World Youth Day in Panama, January 22-27. This encounter with the pope, Jesus and thousands of other Catholics is a time of deep and spiritual renewal. More than 200,000 participants from 155 countries are expected at this year’s World …
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Bishop Joseph Vásquez, of Austin, Texas, Chairman of the Committee on Migration issued the following statement calling for the President and Congressional leaders to create a border solution and end the government shut-down. Bishop Vasquez’s full statement follows: “Secure borders and humane treatment of those fleeing persecution and seeking a better life are not mutually exclusive. …
“We must never forget, however, that migrants, rather than simply being a statistic, are first of all persons who have faces, names and individual stories.” – Pope Francis National Migration Week will be observed in dioceses around the country Jan. 6-12, 2019. This year’s theme, “Building Communities of Welcome,” encourages us to discover opportunities to engage with migrants as …
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A major focus of our mutually-shared vision is to accompany youth and young adults to help them be courageous in their faith. Ryan Phelan, the Diocesan Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry is tasked with helping parishes understand this process of accompaniment that is highlighted in the Vision. Pope Francis has often spoken about …
Prior to the Scheduled Execution of Jose Antonio Jimenez Jose Antonio Jimenez is scheduled to be executed by the State of Florida on Thursday, December 13, 2018, at 6:00 p.m. for the murder of Phyllis Minas. Prior to Jimenez’s scheduled execution, Catholic faithful and members of the community plan to gather to pray for the …
Continue reading “Prayer Vigil to End the Death Penalty to be held on December 12 & 13”
WASHINGTON–Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued the following statement on the passing of President George Herbert Walker Bush. Cardinal DiNardo’s full statement follows: “We join with people across the nation as we mourn the passing of President George H.W. Bush. We remember with …
MonsignorJohn Kennedy will be the 2019 CMC keynote speaker. Monsignor Kennedy is an Irish priest who was appointed by Pope Francis in 2017 to lead the disciplinary section of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He has served on the CDF since 2003. His presentation will provide updates on events relevant to the clergy …
On Tuesday, November 13, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ independent lay advisory panel on the protection of children and young people delivered a special report to the body of U.S. bishops regarding the abuse crisis in the Church. In an address to the bishops who have gathered in Baltimore for the …
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops addressed the body of bishops at the opening sessions in Baltimore for the General Assembly taking place in Baltimore. Cardinal DiNardo’s full address follows: “Saint Augustine wrote, ‘In order that weakness might become strong, strength became weak.’ My dear brothers, …
WASHINGTON— Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, of Austin, Texas, Chairman of the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration, Sister Donna Markham, OP, Phd, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, Jeanne Atkinson, Executive Director of Catholic Legal Immigration Network, and Sean Callahan, President and CEO of Catholic Relief Services issued an statement reiterating that …
WASHINGTON— Today, leaders of diverse faiths and religious nonprofits asked Congress to repeal a recent change to the Internal Revenue Code in Section 512(a)(7) that threatens to tax nonprofit organizations—including houses of worship—for the cost of parking and transit benefits provided to their employees. Many have referred to this provision as the “parking lot tax”. …
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February 27, 2019 WASHINGTON–Monday night, the Senate failed to advance the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act—legislation that prohibits infanticide by ensuring that a child born alive following an abortion would receive the same degree of care to preserve her life and health as would be given to any other child born alive at the same …
BALTIMORE— The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved today, during its November General Assembly, the formal statement, “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love,” A Pastoral Letter Against Racism. The full body of bishops approved it by a two-thirds majority vote of 241 to 3 with 1 abstention. The USCCB Cultural Diversity …
At their November 2018 meetings, the U.S. Bishops were presented information on the petition for the cause for canonization of Sr. Thea Bowman. The Bishops voted on favor of the advancement cause at the local diocesan level. Click on the LINK to read the story and to learn about Sr. Thea Bowman.
At their annual fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, MD, the U.S Bishops participated in a consultation on the cause for sainthood of the Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A. Bishop Robert P. Deeley, Chairman of the Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, and Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, Bishop of Jackson, Mississippi, the petitioner …
On Tuesday, November 13, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ independent lay advisory panel on the protection of children and young people delivered a special report to the body of U.S. bishops regarding the abuse crisis in the Church. In an address to the bishops who have gathered in Baltimore for the …
Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops addressed the body of bishops at the opening sessions in Baltimore for the General Assembly taking place in Baltimore. Cardinal DiNardo’s full address follows: “Saint Augustine wrote, ‘In order that weakness might become strong, strength became weak.’ My dear brothers, …
The Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held in most U.S. Catholic parishes on December 8-9. Now in its 31st year, the collection is coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO). Proceeds are distributed to eligible religious communities to help underwrite retirement and health-care expenses for senior members. Some 31,000 elderly Catholic sisters, …
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BALTIMORE — The U.S. bishops overwhelmingly approved a pastoral letter against racism Nov. 14 during their fall general meeting at Baltimore.The document, “Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love — A Pastoral Letter Against Racism,” passed 241-3 with one abstention. It required a two-thirds vote by all bishops, or 183 votes, for passage. …
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WASHINGTON—Following the tragic shooting early this morning in Thousand Oaks, California, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement calling for the enactment of reasonable measures to end gun violence. The full statement of Cardinal DiNardo follows: “Many of us learned at dawn today that at …
WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather for the 2018 Fall General Assembly in Baltimore, November 12-14. The assembly will begin with an address by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the USCCB and also an address by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre. The body of bishops will then adjourn to an on-site chapel for a full day of spiritual discernment and prayer. This …
WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather for the 2018 Fall General Assembly in Baltimore, November 12-14. The assembly will begin with an address by Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and President of the USCCB and also an address by the Papal Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre. The body of bishops will then adjourn to an on-site chapel for a full day of spiritual discernment and prayer. This …
Established 75 years ago as a result of the refugee crisis that unfolded during WWII, Catholic Relief Services, the international relief and development agency of the United States Catholic Church, has since grown into one of the largest humanitarian aid agencies in the world while responding to some of the most devastating modern crises of …
Continue reading “Catholic Aid Agency Looks Back on 75 Years of Service”
I am heartbroken and saddened by the horrific shooting that occurred at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Please know that the Catholic community stands in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters. An attack on one faith community is an attack on all communities of faith. I pray for the victims of this …
Continue reading “Bishop Parkes Issues a Statement on Shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue”
Sabrina Burton Schultz, director of the Diocese of St. Petersburg Life, Justice and Advocacy Ministry, has been selected by Catholic Relief Services as the recipient of the 2019 National CRS Diocesan Director Award for CRS Rice Bowl! The award is given to a well deserving and hardworking leader who exemplifies the work of solidarity by promoting …
The Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week, November 4-10. This annual event is a special time for parishes in the U.S. to foster a culture of vocations for the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life. Pope Francis, in his message for the 2018 World Day of Vocations, emphasized that it …
***** DIOCESAN OFFICES 2018 Candidate Questionnaire Project: An Informed Voter is a Responsible Voter The U.S. bishops remind us, “In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” To help parishioners become informed on where candidates stand on key issues, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops …
*** DIOCESAN OFFICES Parish Group Volunteers Needed The Family Faith Fest Committee is searching for parishes willing to volunteer as an organized group in these key areas: Eucharistic Exposition and Rosary – groups of 5-8 dedicated parishioners needed every ½ hour to participate in Exposition and the Rosary in the appointed areas in Faith Village. …
Casting your vote responsibly requires you to be informed. That’s why each election cycle, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops (FCCB) conducts the Candidate Questionnaire Project in an effort to assist Catholics and the broader community with the obligation to become informed voters. The FCCB invites all 2018 U.S. Congressional, Florida gubernatorial and Florida legislative …
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**** DIOCESAN OFFICES Civil Dialogue The Office of Life, Justice, and Advocacy has scheduled civil dialogues on racism as part of a larger initiative supporting the U.S. Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism and their upcoming pastoral letter. A civil dialogue is a moderated discussion that involves sharing personal experiences and Catholic Social Teachings. Dialogues are taking place …
Pope Francis has invited all Catholics to pray a rosary daily during the month of October “to join in communion and in penitence, as the people of God, in asking the Holy Mother of God and Saint Michael Archangel to protect the Church from the devil, who always seeks to separate us from God and …
**** DIOCESAN OFFICES Civil Dialogue The Office of Life, Justice, and Advocacy has scheduled civil dialogues on racism as part of a larger initiative supporting the U.S. Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism and their upcoming pastoral letter. A civil dialogue is a moderated discussion that involves sharing personal experiences and Catholic Social Teachings. Dialogues are taking place …
The Weekend Before World Mission Sunday (October 14, 2018) NEXT WEEKEND, we will celebrate World Mission Sunday. Pope Francis invites the entire Church to support the mission dioceses in Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Latin America and Europe, where priests, religious and lay leaders serve the world’s most vulnerable communities. Please keep …
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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 …
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”
BALTIMORE, MD, September 30, 2018 — A Catholic Relief Services (CRS) emergency response team is en-route to Palu, the city most affected by the tsunami that struck Indonesia on Friday, following a 7.5 earthquake, and has killed at least 800 people and toppled buildings, shopping malls and mosques. Infrastructure has also been badly damaged, and …
Pope Francis’ invitation The Holy Father has decided to invite all the faithful, of all the world, to pray the Holy Rosary every day, during the entire Marian month of October, and thus to join in communion and in penitence, as the people of God, in asking the Holy Mother of God and Saint Michael …
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