“LARGO (FOX 13) – When Walid Daaboul left for Turkey months ago he could only think of two things: getting medical care for his sick baby boy and saving his family from the bombing and gunfire exploding just steps outside him home in Halab, Syria. Daaboul’s journey began when Syrian Army forces showed up to …
Continue reading “Catholic Charities helps settle Syrian refugee family”
Pope Francis visited the United States from September 22 through September 27, 2015. He visited Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia, where he participated in the closing of the 2015 World Meeting of Families. Immediately prior to his visit to the United States, Pope Francis visited Cuba. Read Bishop’s Lynch’s reflections on his visit here and here. …
The Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family, the second of two Synods, starts on October 4, 2015 to discuss topics related to the family and evangelization. The first synod occurred in October of 2014. Read more about the synods on the USCCB’s website. In late 2013, the Vatican asked bishops …
September 19 was “Thank a Police Officer Day.” Blessed Sacrament Catholic School celebrated by honoring 17 active and retired police officers. Their Student Council led the school in a prayer service where they asked for God’s continue blessing to watch over all of our police officers and keep them safe. The students made cards and letters, survival bags and special treats.
“By now, most of you have heard that Pope Francis has “made annulment of marriages cheaper and easier,” as one news source hastily reported. This report has resulted in many questions concerning what was actually stated in the Pontiff’s Apostolic Letter issued motu proprio (of his own initiative), which was released on, September 8th, although …
Students & families of St. Cecelia Interparochial Catholic School (SCS) recently collected over 10,000 pairs of used shoes. Why you might ask would they do such a thing? SCS has partnered with an organization, Funds 2 Orgs, in order to help the environment, those in need and their school. The shoes are sent to people …
Continue reading “Saving the World 1 Pair of Shoes at a Time!”
Pope Francis is visiting the United States from September 22 through September 27. He will be visiting Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia, where he will be joining the 2015 World Meeting of Families. Schedule for the Holy Father’s Visit United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)’s Full Coverage Website Catechetical/Teaching Resources How You …
As the refugee and migrant crisis grows in Europe, Catholic Relief Services and their partners like Caritas are there on the ground, providing assistance to families in need. As the difficult images fill the news, many people and parishes have asked what they can do to help. Here are seven tangible actions you can take to …
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“By now, most of you have heard that Pope Francis has “made annulment of marriages cheaper and easier,” as one news source hastily reported. This report has resulted in many questions concerning what was actually stated in the Pontiff’s Apostolic Letter issued motu proprio (of his own initiative), which was released on, September 8th, although …
St. Petersburg Catholic High School’s Baron Gala, “Boots & Bling”, will be held on Saturday, October 17, 2015 in the St. John Bosco Fine Arts Center, starting at 6:30pm. Plans call for a fun-filled Country evening with music, great food, and an array of items in our Silent and Live auctions. Tickets can be purchased …
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Students respond the Pope Francis’ call to prayer and action living the mission of Christ The students of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School celebrated World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on Tuesday, September 1st, in a school-wide morning assembly. Father Gary, students, faculty, and parents of the school community listened to …
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The Diocese of St. Petersburg announces the appointment of Chris Pastura as Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Centers. Pastura comes to the diocese from the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, where he has served as Assistant Superintendent: Director of School Strategic Planning since 2011. Pastura holds a Master of Nonprofit Administration degree from the Mendoza College of …
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Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch, Bishop of St. Petersburg, announces the following clergy changes: Appointments: Parochial Vicar Rev. Joseph Eddy, O. de M. to Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg, effective August 31, 2015. Rev. Daniel Bowen, O. de M. to Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Pinellas Park, …
Pope Francis will be visiting the United States from September 22 – 27! We will be sharing how our the faithful in our diocese participate in this historic visit, whether it’s photos from diocesan pilgrims at one of the events in Washington, D.C., New York City, or Philadelphia, or via Flat Francis selfies, watch party …
Continue reading “Papal Visit around the Diocese Photo Album”
Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the United States via video teleconference. The Holy Father spoke with students at Christo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago, with immigrants along the border at a parish in McAllen, Texas, and with a group of homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. The virtual audience aired on …
Pope Francis made a surprise visit to the United States via video teleconference. The Holy Father spoke with students at Christo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago, with immigrants along the border at a parish in McAllen, Texas, and with a group of homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. Full video is scheduled to …
Continue reading “Pope Francis on Upcoming Broadcast of ABC’s “20/20””
We are happy to announce that we have accepted four new seminarians for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. These four men entered St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami earlier this month as Pre-Theologians. The seminarians pictured (left to right) are Donald Amodeo (Holy Family Parish); Zachary Brasseur (St. Paul Parish, St. Petersburg); Peter Gonzalez …
Do you have a dog, cat, fish, hamster or horse? For the fifth year in a row, the Communications Office of the Diocese of St. Petersburg is putting together a photo album of your pets to post on the diocesan website along with a special prayer for animals for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi …
Deacon Kevin Yarnell was born in Pennsylvania and, while in the 4th grade, moved to Florida where he attended a Methodist Church and actively participated in their youth program. Following high school Kevin attended Florida Southern College where he earned his BS in Physics and Mathematics. He later received his master’s degree from Shenandoah …
Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch, Bishop of St. Petersburg, announces the following clergy changes, effective July 1, 2015, unless otherwise indicated: APPOINTMENTS Upon presentation by Very Reverend Anthony Schueller, S.S.S., Provincial Superior, Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, Reverend Peter Van Tuong Nguyen, S.S.S. as Priest in Charge of St. Joseph Vietnamese Mission, Tampa. Reverend Dennis …
Thursday, June 18, 2015 – The Diocese of St. Petersburg’s Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute (LPMI) sent forth another group of lay ministers to serve in the diocese. In Our Lady’s Chapel at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg, five members of the LPMI were commissioned during an evening prayer service. Bishop …
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The Church teaches that creation is a gift from God, and that we show respect for our Creator by taking care of the environment. Building on a long tradition of Church teaching, Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, Praised Be in English explores our unique relationship with the earth, the devastating impacts of climate change on the most …
The Office of Communications is working on a project for Bishop Lynch’s upcoming retirement in May 2016. We want to know how Bishop Lynch has touched your life or if you have a favorite story to share about working with him, meeting him, or of your interactions with him. If you have photos or videos …
Continue reading “Send in Your Photos and Memories of Bishop Lynch”
Jason Poulos a 2nd Grade student of St. Cecelia Catholic School has a summer birthday and as a result does not get to celebrate his birthday during the school year. Jason’s mother in conjunction with the 2nd grade teachers decided to plan a celebration for Jason and other classmates who also have summer birthdays. Mrs. …
Continue reading “Students of St. Cecelia Celebrate Clearwater’s 100th Birthday”
“The 2nd grade class from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Dunedin recently visited Nurses Helping Hands and Mease Manor Continuing Care assisted living facilities. The students sang and engaged the residents by teaching them the songs, sign language, clapping and chant patterns. After their performance, the children interacted with the residents and drew …
Continue reading “Our Lady Lourdes Catholic School Students Live the Gospel of Jesus”
On Tuesday, May 26, 2015, Brett Brattvet, a student at the Cathedral of St. Jude Catholic School, received the Esther and Jack O’Brien Family Scholarship. For 25 years, the scholarship has been awarded to a local 8th grade graduate from the school. The scholarship provides a deserving student the opportunity to continue their Catholic education …
Continue reading “Student Awarded The 25th Annual Esther & Jack O’Brien Family Scholarship”
Tampa, FL, June 9, 2015 – The leaders of the home Catholic dioceses for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Tampa Bay Lightning have bet iconic foods from their cities on the outcome of the National Hockey League championship. Archbishop Blase J. Cupich has promised enough Chicago deep dish pizzas to feed the 300 guests of …
The Fortnight for Freedom: Freedom to Bear Witness will take place from June 21 to July 4, 2015, a time when our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power—St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, …
Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch, Bishop of St. Petersburg, announces the following clergy changes, effective July 1, 2015: APPOINTMENT Upon notification by Very Rev. Thomas A. Dunne, S.D.B., Provincial for the Salesians of Don Bosco, Reverend Richard F. Rosin, S.D.B., from Director of Guidance to President of St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg. RELIEVING …
Reverend Ryan Boyle, Reverend Curtis Carro, Reverend Steven “Chuck” Dornquast, Reverend William “Bill” Santhouse, and Reverend Anthony Ustick were ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Robert N. Lynch on Saturday, May 16 at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. This is the largest ordination class in our diocese since 1991. Reverend Ryan Boyle will return to Rome after his …
Learn more about our five soon to be priests below. Deacon Ryan Boyle Ryan Christopher Boyle, of Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon, was born at Yokota Air Base, Japan in 1976. He grew up in a military family with his parents Gary and Sheryl, and his younger brother, Matthew. After his graduation from Bloomingdale High …
Bishop Lynch will ordain Deacon Ryan Boyle, Deacon Curtis Carro, Deacon Steven “Chuck” Dornquast, Deacon William “Bill” Santhouse, and Deacon Anthony Ustick to the priesthood at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. All are invited to attend, but please note that seating is limited. The ordination will be …
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Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch, Bishop of St. Petersburg, announces the following clergy appointment, effective July 1, 2015: Parochial Vicar Rev. Msgr. Cesar Petilla [Palo, Philippines] from Parochial Vicar, St. Lawrence Parish, Tampa, to Our Lady of Grace Parish, Beverly Hills. —— Vol. 30 No. 18 May 11, 2015
Florida lawmakers will be deciding in June whether to expand health care coverage to close to a million low-income, working Floridians. Our community has a responsibility to ensure accessible, quality health care for all. Please take action by sending a message to your state legislators, urging them to extend health coverage to uninsured, low-income Floridians. …
Each year, Raytheon’s MathMovesU® awards 150 middle school students nationwide $1,000 scholarships to attend math and science camps and programs, or to save the money for college. Raytheon also donates a $1,000 matching grant to each winning student’s middle school for their math program. http://mathmovesu.org/about-mathmovesuscholarships/mathmovesu-middle-school-scholarship Guardian Angels Catholic School began participating in this program in …
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With the tragedy of the Nepal earthquake, students at OLL are putting their focus and efforts into helping Catholic Relief Services support those most in need. “The Student Council has taken the reins in leading our student body in putting our ‘Faith into Action’.” In lieu of the Middle School Dance, the Mother’s Day Carnation …
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Deacon Curtis Carro, Deacon Steven “Chuck” Dornquast, Deacon William “Bill” Santhouse, and Deacon Anthony Ustick graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach on Thursday, May 7, 2105. See photos from the graduation here. Deacons Carro, Dornquast, Santhouse, and Ustick, along with Deacon Ryan Boyle (who …
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Our seminarians William Augensen, Ralph D’Elia, Connor Penn, and Drew Woodke graduated with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree from St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami on May 6. William, Ralph, Connor, and Drew will begin their studies at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach in the fall. Please keep them in …
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The Most Reverend Robert Lynch, ’97, bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, urged Saint Leo University’s Class of 2015 to serve others during Baccalaureate Mass at University Campus on Friday, May 1. “Offer your hands, hearts, and lives in the service of humanity. Live your life for others,” Bishop Lynch said. In addition to …
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The students at Blessed Sacrament had an International Mass. The Spanish teacher, Mrs. Bauer, prepared the Liturgy. The students dressed up from their different heritages and brought up flags from those countries at the Offertory. They also spoke in different languages and sang in Spanish.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and their partner agency Caritas are responding to the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal just before noon on Saturday, May 2. The official death poll is over 5,000, with thousands more injured. Few outlying villages have been reached and widespread destruction, especially in hillside settlements, is feared. CRS has committed a minimum …
Clergy Appointment Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch, Bishop of St. Petersburg, announces the following clergy appointment, effective July 1, 2015: Parochial Administrator Reverend George Iregi [Eldoret, Kenya] from Parochial Vicar, Christ the King Parish to Parochial Administrator of Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Gulfport. ______ Reference: Vol. 30: No. 17 ~ Apr. 27, 2015
Three of our seminarians were ordained to the transitional diaconate on Saturday, April 18, 2015 by Bishop Felipe J. Estevez, Bishop of St. Augustine, at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Boca Raton. Congratulations to Deacon Felipe Gonalez, Deacon Jonathan Stephanz, and Deacon Kevin Yarnell! They will be ordained to the priesthood in May …
Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch, Bishop of St. Petersburg, announces the following clergy changes, effective July 1, 2015, unless otherwise indicated. RETIREMENT Reverend Jacob Monteleone from Pastor of Light of Christ, Clearwater, granted retirement status. Reverend Ignatius Tuoc from Pastor Epiphany of Our Lord , and Priest in Charge, St. Joseph Vietnamese Mission, Tampa, granted …
On Monday, March 23, our 2nd and 6th grade classes celebrated a Seder Meal under the direction of Father Jack Marino. The Seder Meal is the traditional retelling of the story of the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt as found in the Book of Exodus. Our students first celebrate this meal here in 2nd grade as …
On March 11th the entire Our Lady of Lourdes students, faculty and staff participated in a school-wide Respect Rally for the Special Olympics. This wonderful event affirmed our unity as the children of God. Each event stressed working as a team. There was a mixture of students and teachers from each grade. The crowd cheered …
The fourth grade choir class along with teachers, Ms. House and Mrs. Wong-Stark, celebrated Mass with the residents at Mease Manor Assisted Living facility. The students sang as choir with Father Gary Dowsey as celebrant on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, March 25th. Under the direction of their teacher, the students prepared …
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Meet the future cardiac surgeons in the 7th grade science class at Guardian Angel’s Catholic School. Culminating the Cardiovascular unit in class, the students dissected a lamb heart. They are able to identify the main structures of the heart; the 4 chambers, the main blood vessels, valves, chordae tendineae (heart strings), muscle, pericardium etc. They can also …
We are looking for photos that show how your parish celebrated the Sacred Triduum and Easter Sunday. Possible photos to submit might be from your parish’s Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper, from reenacting the Living Stations, photos from the Easter Vigil Mass, or from the Easter Sunday Mass. We will be adding these photos …
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The following Masses and prayer service will be live video streamed from the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle during the 2015 Holy Week. Click on the links below to watch the live video stream. Chrism Mass: 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31 Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper: 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April …
Continue reading “Holy Week & Easter Sunday Live Video Stream Schedule”