Encounter is a prayer event put on by the Offices of Vocations & Youth and Young Adult Ministries. We gather to pray for vocations in front of the Blessed Sacrament and with praise and worship. All are invited to this night of prayer. We hope to see you there. We begin at 7:00pm. For future …
Two University of South Florida students, Elizabeth Cottle and Amelia Becerra, spent five weeks of their summer in Saint Paul’s Outreach (SPO) Leader Internship program in Minnesota. The Leader Internship program is a one-month immersion experience to equip students for lifelong mission on campus and beyond. After the program, participants are ready and equipped to …
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, …
Isabella Jacus is entering her senior year at Saint Leo University. In addition to carrying a full course load as a double major in biology and religion, she is also working 12 hours a week as a science tutor and has leadership roles in the Pre-Med Club, the National Leadership Honor Society and the Biology …
The Catholic Student Union at the University of South Florida invites you to join them for their annual Welcome Home Weekend events. On Saturday, the 22nd of August, following the 5:00 p.m. vigil mass there will be a socially distant meet and greet for all students, parents, and alumni along with complimentary refreshments, lawn games, music, …
Continue reading “Welcome Weekend with the Catholic Student Union at USF – August 22 and 23, 2020”
In 2019, parishes in the Diocese of St. Petersburg took the Disciple Maker Index survey and utilized the information they received to develop pastoral plans in union with the diocesan vision, Courageously Living the Gospel. Recently, I checked back with two of the parishes to see how they are doing today. I was not surprised …
Continue reading “Parishes Find Creative Ways to Fulfill Mission”
The horrific killing of George Floyd has reminded us that racism is a contemporary problem–on the streets, in our workplaces, in our schools, and in our churches. Though peaceful protests are often a necessary means to social change, coming together to build consensus and a clear path forward is also crucial. In order to assist …
While the world has been practicing social distancing over the past several months, students at St. Joan of Arc high school youth group have been growing closer than ever. This is partly due to the creativity and adaptability of youth minister Nancy Lovelock who has taken to social media and virtual meetings to keep the …
Continue reading “St. Joan of Arc Teens Grow Closer than Ever during Pandemic”
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 …
It’s possible that the Catholic Student Union at USF has never been more grateful for technology. When the coronavirus pandemic began to affect the U.S., face-to-face ministry was no longer an option. The CSU had to go virtual, shifting the entirety of their ministry to an online format. As with all that God has his …
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When asked if she had ever livestreamed before, Mary Chapman, Director of Faith Formation at St. Theresa in Spring Hill, answered with a humble and direct “no.” In recent weeks, churches everywhere have had to learn how to livestream Masses, prayers, and other events. Although she had no previous experience, Mary and her colleague, Bruce …
Continue reading “In the Midst of a Pandemic, Local Churches Learn to Livestream”
“Just give it a year.” These are the words that Israel “Izzie” Hernandez clearly heard the Lord speak to him during Eucharistic Adoration the summer after he graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing. “Before I started thinking about priesthood, all I wanted was to find a good …
If Barb Caleca closes her eyes during the Prince of Peace livestreamed Mass and hears the familiar voices of the priests and cantor, she says she can almost imagine being present in the church, in the same pew where she and her husband have sat every week for the last six years. Though grateful for the …
Continue reading “Drive-thru Confession Offers Mercy and Peace to Parishioners”
A new group in St. Petersburg is providing opportunities for local young adults to stay connected to the Church and each other. In the past few months, they have hosted an All Saint’s Day bonfire, an Advent Young Adult Mission, Meals After Mass, and other monthly events where young people gather in fellowship and prayer. …
Continue reading “New Young Adult Ministry in St. Petersburg Mixes Faith and Friendship”
College Freshman Eric Bright has only been Catholic about a month but he’s already showing others what it means to have courageous faith. He is currently serving as president of the newly established Catholic Bulls Club at USF’s St. Pete Campus. USF in Tampa has had a Catholic Campus Ministry for over 50 years and …
Thousands of children in Pinellas County go to bed hungry each night. One St. Petersburg parish is on a mission to change that. In their efforts to Courageously Live the Gospel, parishioners and staff have identified food insecurity for teens and children as a need that has to be addressed. A local government agency, the …
The BLUE Mass is an Ecumenical and Interfaith event to honor the men and women serving the Tampa Bay region as federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel and emergency responders, including Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Sheriff Deputies, Police Officers, Troopers, Special Agents, Security Professionals and 9-1-1 Operators. Family members, friends, and all supporters are …
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The Catholic Student Union at the University of South Florida is having a Welcome Home Weekend for students, parents, alumni, and friends of the CSU. The fun and faith-filled celebration will kick-off the start of a new school. See the list of activities below: Saturday, August 24, 5:00 p.m. – Vigil Mass followed by a relaxing …
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What started as a Lenten devotional opportunity has become a daily practice at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. The Cathedral now offers Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament weekdays from 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and it has brought new blessings and graces upon the parish community. The bold leap of faith to introduce …
Continue reading “Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle Taps into the Power of Prayer”
Congratulations to the valedictorians and salutatorians for the 2018/2019 school year from the seven Catholic high schools in our diocese! Note: The first year that Cristo Rey High School will have a class of seniors is 2020. Academy of the Holy Names Valedictorian Salutatorian Lauren Dingle Sydney Lowman Salutatorian Katherine Taulbee Bishop McLaughlin Catholic …
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All are invited to attend the “A Weekend of Healing and Hope with Immaculé Ilibagiza” retreat on Friday, March 8 from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday, March 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The retreat is being hosted by the Magnificat St. Petersburg Florida Chapter. Tickets and itinerary information are available through …
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On Saturday, January 26, the first Catholic Church in Cuba to be built in 60 years was dedicated. St. Lawrence Parish in Tampa helped make it all possible. In 2010, St. Lawrence initiated a fundraising campaign for the church with parishioners and Cubans from throughout Tampa and the country contributing. They raised $95,000, most of …
Continue reading “Six Decades after the Cuban Revolution, A New Sign of Faith”
After nine months of construction, the expanded Christ the King Catholic Church reopened its doors the weekend of January 19 & 20. The parish of over 3,500 families had been using a parish hall as their place of worship since construction began last spring, the day after Easter. (Photo above courtesy of Christ the King …
Continue reading “Bishop Parkes Blesses Newly Expanded Christ the King Parish”
Now in its ninth season, the 2019 WINTER CONCERT SERIES at Saint Mary, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Saint Petersburg will begin on Sunday, January 13, 2019 at 3:00 pm. The opening concert will feature the Lumina Voce Youth Choirs, a Tampa-based ensemble with an offering of music for the post-Christmas and winter …
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It has been nearly six months since Bishop Gregory Parkes announced the mutually-shared vision of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Courageously Living the Gospel. Parish, schools and diocesan leaders have been learning about the priorities and goals of the vision and prayerfully discerning how they can contribute to the vision, renew their faith and boldly …
Continue reading “New Year, New Training Opportunities for Parish Leaders”
Father Justin Paskert is often seen on the campus of USF sitting on a bench waiting to hear confessions and offer God’s healing Sacrament of Reconciliation. When “business” is slow, he passes the time by praying for the students who are strolling the campus. This idea of praying for random students led him to spearhead …
Continue reading ““Pray for USF Students” Campaign Garners Thousands of Prayers”
As we await the birth of our Lord and Savior on Christmas Day, we strive to remember the true meaning of the season. As there are many people in our community who will be going without Christmas gifts or even basic everyday necessities, many of our parish and school communities have taken to heart those words …
Continue reading “Reaching Out to Our Community this Christmas Season”
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 …
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On Monday, December 10 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, you are invited to take a break from your hectic schedule and rest in the Lord during an evening of Eucharistic Adoration with Bishop Gregory Parkes. This special Advent ADORE event at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle will feature contemporary and traditional Advent …
More than 400 priests, deacons, religious sisters and ministry leaders attended five training sessions facilitated by Catholic Leadership Institute during September and October. They learned about Courageously Living the Gospel and how each person is needed to make the Vision a reality. They also learned about PIE, the acronym for the Vision’s three priorities: Proclaiming – knowing and sharing …
Continue reading “Parishes Start Aligning with Vision and PIE”
Parishes in the southeast part of Hillsborough County are seeking to expand food distribution to families who are in great need. This is one example of how they are Courageously Living the Gospel. “This is the dream for our deanery-wide Catholic Impact Initiative, that we can make a difference in the lives of people in …
Continue reading “Parishes Explore Building a Food Bank in Southeast Hillsborough”
On Monday, August 27 from 7:00 pm-8:00 pm all are invited to the Cathedral of St. Jude for ADORE, an evening of Eucharistic Adoration and prayer accompanied by contemporary praise and worship music. “ADORE is a time of adoration, prayer, praise, and worship intended not only for our parish community but for all people within …
Continue reading “The Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle Announces First-Ever ADORE Event”
Congratulations to the valedictorians and salutatorians for the 2017/2018 school year from the seven Catholic high schools in our diocese! Note: The first year that Cristo Rey High School will have a class of seniors is 2020. Academy of the Holy Names Valedictorian Salutatorian Emma Gibbs Heston Evelyn Nicole Martinez Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High …
Continue reading “Congratulations to our 2018 Valedictorians and Salutatorians”
On April 11, 2018, ground was officially broken for the new field house and football locker room facility at Clearwater Central Catholic High School. The building will be completed about halfway through the 2018-19 Marauder football season, with an estimated completion date of October 2018. The new structure will be alongside the current football field and …
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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March 1 was Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. See how some of our Catholic schools and centers spent Ash Wednesday. If you have photos from Ash Wednesday at your school that you would like to be included in the photo album, please email them to socialmedia@dosp.org. We also encourage you to send in …
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Catholic Schools Week 2017 was January 29 through February 4. See how our Catholic Schools and Centers celebrated in the photos below. If you have photos from your school that you would like to be added to the album, please email them to socialmedia@dosp.org. Photos will be added as they are received. Please note that in order …