Each year, the Diocese of St. Petersburg is blessed with gifts of time, talent and treasure from our faith family across the five counties that make up our diocese. As Bishop Parkes explains in his introductory note, “The generosity that you have shown through your support of our ministry and services here in the Diocese …
Parish leaders have spent months planning and diligently working to complete recommended activities and run a successful and positive Catholic Ministry Appeal active phase. And now, the first parish has officially exceeded its goal for our new Catholic Ministry Appeal. Congratulations St. Brendan Parish Family for surpassing goal in record time! “This accomplishment has little …
Throughout January, parishes and missions began sharing information about the new Catholic Ministry Appeal through the bulletin, from the pulpit, on their websites and via social media channels. In addition, parishioners received a mailing from Bishop Parkes and a follow-up communication from their pastor. All of this laid the groundwork for pastors to ask parishioners …
An integral part of our diocesan vision to courageously live the Gospel is to equip our people as Missionary Disciples inspired to invite and accompany others in their journey to Christ. The question is, in times when we are encouraged to maintain distance, how do you accomplish this? The Office of Evangelization & Missionary Discipleship …
Marking the fifth anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), Pope Francis has asked the Church to celebrate the family. The “Year of Amoris Laetitia Family” is meant to be an opportunity for reflection on the important role of families, which has been highlighted during the COVID pandemic. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ …
As a member of the Holy Family, St. Joseph is a powerful intercessor when it comes to marriage, children and family life. And while many parishes are offering opportunities to learn more about this incredible saint during the Year of St. Joseph, the community at St. Joseph Parish in Tampa is quite literally inviting him …
Continue reading “Tampa Families Welcome St. Joseph into their Homes”
The theme for the 2021 Annual Pastoral Appeal is “Hope in the Lord”, inspired by Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Through hope, we find strength, …
Christ the King Parish in Tampa is leading men “Into the Breach.” That’s the name of a formational program developed by the Knights of Columbus that urges Catholic men to wholeheartedly embrace masculine virtues in a world in crisis. The program is based on an Apostolic Exhortation written by Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix who …
Continue reading “Christ the King Ministry Guides Men to be Leaders for Christ”
In the past year, the Sunday Faith Formation program at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish was adding one to two new families each week and nearly 100 women signed up for the Walking with Purpose Bible Study – more than three times the attendance of previous years. There is a growing number of men joining …
Susana Caruso has been a parishioner at Our Lady of the Rosary in Land O’ Lakes for 11 years. Since she and her family are unable to physically go to church because of the pandemic, she has embraced the call to nurture the domestic church. What is the domestic church? In a 1995 homily, Pope …
Continue reading “Nurturing the Domestic Church During COVID-19”
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, November 29, 2020. 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 …
“Grown in Love, Strengthened by Faith and Protected by the Loving Hands of Jesus Christ” is how St. Stephen Parish in Riverview is describing their new Family Ministry that started as a response to the diocesan vision, Courageously Living the Gospel. Anthony & Cindy Basilicato, parents of two young children, are leading the initiative and have …
Continue reading “New Family Ministry at St. Stephen is a Success”
In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis refers to a parish as a “center of constant missionary outreach.” St. Patrick Parish & School in Largo demonstrated one way to do missionary outreach by co-sponsoring a block party with the City of Largo on Saturday, July 20th to celebrate the reopening of Trotter Road. The …
Continue reading “Local Parish & School Host Neighborhood Block Party for Missionary Outreach”
This reflection was written by Kathleen Billings for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Click here to download a PDF of this article. As a family, one of our favorite summer activities is swimming in our pool. Having an inground pool within a few steps of our backdoor has been a sweet blessing. We splash, …
Continue reading “Creating and Maintaining Balance in Your Marriage”
The North American Forum for Small Christian Communities (NAFSCC) invites you to share the Good News of your Small Christian Community with others throughout the world at www.facebook.com/nafscc. This space is also a great place to ask questions regarding SCC development. Dioceses, parishes, individuals and organizations can become members of NAFSCC, too. See registration form …
Over 280 couples from 57 parishes in the Diocese of St. Petersburg celebrated milestone anniversaries by renewing their vows and receiving a special blessing on Feb. 10 at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg. Paul and Janet Friederich of St. Patrick Parish in Largo have attended the Marriage Jubilee Mass 11 …
Continue reading “Married Couples Renew their Sacramental Love”
In an effort to align with the Diocese of St. Petersburg’s Vision of Courageously Living the Gospel, a re-structured Office of Marriage and Family Life has been established to help parishes provide more effective evangelization and family ministry strategies, one of the goals set forth by the vision’s action plan. This new emphasis on marriage …
Espiritu Santo Parish in Safety Harbor has started offering Family Counseling as part of their effort to align with the diocesan vision of Courageously Living the Gospel. This counseling is intended to provide spiritual and emotional healing for families experiencing difficulties within family and marital relationships, including the trauma of divorce. The parish is also …
Continue reading “New Program Helps Families at Espiritu Santo Parish”
Local Worldwide Marriage Encounter leaders are planning a Marriage Anniversary Gala to celebrate the 50th anniversary of both the Diocese of St. Petersburg and the founding of the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement. The gala will be held at Higgins Hall in Tampa on November 10, 2018, in partnership with Spirit FM. The theme of their …
Continue reading “Worldwide Marriage Encounter Celebrates Golden Anniversary”
The figures on the table appear to be typical wooden dolls that fit perfectly into the hands of a child for a wonderful game of make believe. But these dolls are praying and they are gathered around a tiny altar. The altar is draped with a linen cloth. A miniature chalice and ciborium fit perfectly …
Continue reading “Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Lets Children Explore and Discover Christ”
July 25, 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, a papal encyclical written by Blessed Pope Paul VI in 1968 that provides beautiful and clear teaching about God’s plan for married love and the transmission of life. In Humanae Vitae, Blessed Pope Paul VI reflects upon how God designed the nature of married love. …
Continue reading “Church Celebrates Gift of Married Love and Transmission of Life”