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 …
Throughout Fall 2022, the Office of Stewardship and Development reached out to those who have historically supported diocesan ministries, programs and outreach to make sure they were aware of the upcoming change from Annual Pastoral Appeal (APA) to the new Catholic Ministry Appeal. That communication process revealed thousands of families and households willing to share …
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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 …
Fr. Chuck will host the next Zoom Chat with Seminarians on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 7pm. All men, ages 15-35, are invited to attend this online event that includes vocation stories from our seminarians and the opportunity for you to ask them questions. Please see the flyer below and RSVP to attend to Fr. …
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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 …
In spite of many obstacles caused by COVID-19, there are hundreds of individuals in the Diocese of St Petersburg who have been moved by the Holy Spirit to say “Yes” to becoming Catholic this year. Everyone has a unique faith story, including Adam Finley. The 21-year-old was baptized, confirmed and received first Holy Communion on …
Continue reading “Young Adult Becomes Catholic Before Leaving for Military Service”
Sharvil Verma was born in India to a Hindu family and as a child he started to have doubts about his faith and about the existence of God. From the age of 10 until he was 22, Verma said he became aggressive towards God and sought to prove He was not there. “I didn’t feel …
Continue reading “Becoming Catholic: A USF Student’s Conversion Story”
Single men ages 15-35 are invited to join Fr. Chuck for the next session of the Tools of Discernment Micro-Retreat on Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 10am-2pm at the Bethany Center in Lutz. The theme for this month will be Men of Communion. Please click here to register to attend. If you have any questions, …
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In recognition of Pope Francis declaring 2021 as the Year of St. Joseph, teens from St. Jerome Parish in Largo are preparing for consecration to St. Joseph. But just as St. Joseph was part of the Holy Family, this consecration is also focused on the family, with parents and children reading, praying, and discussing together. …
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Fr. Chuck will host the next session of the Tools of Discernment Micro-Retreat on Saturday, February 27, 2021 from 10am-2pm at the Bethany Center in Lutz. This retreat is for single men, ages 15-35. The theme for this session is The Virtuous Life. Please click here to register to attend. If you have any questions, …
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The Youth Altar Server Appreciation Mass will be on Sunday, March 21, 2021 at 3:00pm at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. While we realize many parishes have not been having altar servers on a regular basis since last year, we still wanted to recognize those that have been serving over the years and …
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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, …
Men, ages 15-35, are invited to attend our next discernment opportunity, Zoom Chat With Seminarians, on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 7pm. Fr. Chuck will be the host and each month includes vocation stories from different seminarians. Please see the flyer below for more information and future dates. RSVP to Fr. Chuck at spvocation@dosp.org in …
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All are welcome and invited to attend the next Abundance Holy Hour for Vocations on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 6:30 pm, at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. The Holy Hour will be lead by Fr. Drew Woodke. Fr. Drew is the Parochial Vicar at St. Timothy Parish in Lutz. Following the holy hour …
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The Office of Vocations and the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry are hosting Encounter, a night of prayer for Vocations with Eucharistic Exposition, Praise and Worship on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 6:30 pm, Holy Family Catholic Church (200 78th Avenue NE, St. Petersburg). All are welcome and invited to attend. This is …
The next session of the Tools of Discernment Micro-Retreat, hosted by Fr. Chuck is on Saturday, January 16, 2021 at the Bethany Center in Lutz from 10am-2pm. This retreat is for single men, ages 15-35. The theme for this session is True Masculinity. Consider attending one of these retreats to enrich your discernment. Please see …
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Please note that the Zoom Chat with Seminarians scheduled for January 11, 2021 has been cancelled. Men, ages 15-35, are invited to attend our next Zoom Chat With Seminarians, on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 7pm. Fr. Chuck will be the host and you will hear vocation stories from different seminarians and also have the …
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All are welcome and invited to attend the next Abundance Holy Hour for Vocations on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 6:30 pm, Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. The Holy Hour will be lead by Deacon Izzie Hernandez, a seminarian for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Following the holy hour Deacon Izzie will lead a …
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Fr. Chuck, Director of Vocations, is offering an Advent Men’s Retreat on Saturday, December 19, 2020 from 10am-7:30pm at the Bethany Center in Lutz. Men, ages 15-35 are invited to attend. There is no cost to you, however, please be sure to RSVP to hlv@dosp.org. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of …
Fr. Chuck Dornquast, Director of Vocations, is offering four Micro Discernment Retreats this year. The first retreat will be on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at the Bethany Center in Lutz from 10am-2pm. This retreat is offered to men, high school age and above. Each retreat will have a different area of focus and you can …
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You are invited to join Fr. Chuck Dornquast, Director of Vocations, for our virtual discernment group, Zoom Chat with Seminarians. This discernment opportunity is open to all young men high school age and above. The next session is on Monday, November 9, 2020 at 7:00 pm. Fr. Chuck will be the host and each month will …
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You are invited to join Bishop Gregory Parkes, Fr. Chuck Dornquast, Director of Vocations and the Serra Club of St. Petersburg, in praying for an abundance of vocations in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. On October 28, you can attend via live stream or in person. If you wish to join us in praying for …
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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 …
ST. LEO, FL – This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saint Leo University is welcoming students to its campus over several days in order to protect the health and safety of everyone. The process began with a “move-in day” on Tuesday, August 18. New and transfer students will move to campus, 33701 State Road …
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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, …
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“This is one of my favorite weeks of the year.” That’s what one of the students, Mikayla Croissant, said after experiencing a week long local mission trip that 20 students from St. Timothy Youth Ministry attend in June 2020. We joined other students from all over the Diocese in a program called the Good Samaritan …
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 …
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Is the Lord inviting you to take a step toward him? The Office of Vocations is offering you the opportunity to visit the minor seminary to experience the life of our seminarians. The weekend will take place March 13-15, 2020. Transportation is provided and there is no cost to you. To register to attend please …
Our Annual Altar Server Appreciation Mass will be held on Sunday, March 29, 2020 at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle at 3:00 pm. A light reception will follow in the Parish Center. All parishes throughout the Diocese of St. Petersburg are invited to attend. All information will be submitted online for your Altar …
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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. …
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When Liv, a freshman at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, attended the National March for Life in Washington D.C. last year, she saw something that she will never forget. “At the March, people were showing images of babies after a failed abortion and that really opened my eyes,” said Liv. “It showed me what world …
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 …
How does one become a Father? Unmarried men of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, between the ages of 15-35, are invited to a one day retreat hosted by the Office of Vocations. The Advent Discernment Retreat is for any man seeking to grow in his identity before the Father and discernment of God’s call. The …
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Is the Lord inviting you to take a step toward him? The Office of Vocations is offering you the opportunity to visit the minor seminary to experience the life of our seminarians. The weekend will take place November 8-10, 2019. Transportation is provided and there is no cost to you. For more information please contact …
The Office of Vocations will host Chosen by Him – A Day of Reflection & Discernment for Women on Saturday, October 26, 2019 from 10am until 2pm at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg. Hear the stories of the women religious who have courageously served in the Diocese of St. Petersburg! …
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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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As a parish youth minister for more than a decade, I know well the innate desire for justice and the natural ability to create change that is inherent within many youth and young adults. They know injustice when they see it and want to say or do something about it. In his recent Post-Synodal …
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Would you like to meet new friends and grow in your faith at the same time? Then this is the retreat for YOU! This retreat is hosted by Apostles of the Eucharist young adult group. This will be the fourth annual retreat offered to young adults all over the diocese. The basic details are below …
Each year, the Pastoral Juvenile Ministry of the Diocese of St. Petersburg celebrates the Atrevete Retreat in Spanish for young adults. This year’s retreat will be held at the Bethany Center, July 26-28, 2019. Young adults will have the opportunity to encounter Jesus and to experience the happiness that only He can offer during this …
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 …
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Summer of Service – Over 300 Catholic Teens Make a Difference More than 300 teens representing 19 schools and parishes in Tampa Bay chose to spend part of their summer vacation serving others as part of the Good Samaritan Project organized by the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office. The students volunteered June …
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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More than 300 students and chaperones are heading to Washington D.C. for the 46th national March for Life that will take place Friday, January 18. Speakers include Abby Johnson, a pro-life activist who formerly worked for Planned Parenthood and Dr. Alveda King, the niece of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. The March for …
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 …
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”
Thousands of people from across the United States who work with young people gathered for the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry (NCCYM) from December 6 – 8 at the Tampa Convention Center. The conference was planned in part by the Diocese of St. Petersburg Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, headed by Ryan …
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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 …
On October 8, the Feast Day of Blessed John Henry Newman, patron of Catholic Campus Ministry in the United States, the USCCB Secretariat of Catholic Education issued a report highlighting the key findings from the National Study on Catholic Campus Ministry. The Secretariat commissioned the study seeking to advance Catholic identity in higher education and to …
The Catholic Committee of Boy Scouts would like to thank the following our newest Religious Emblem Coordinators from the September 22, 2018 training. Rebecca Walczak Troop 148 St. Mark the Evangelist Kathy Domey Pack 776/Troop 678 St. Francis of Assisi Ted Domey Jr. Pack 776/Troop 678 St. Francis of Assisi John Mazuchowski Troop 61 Nativity …
The Diocese of St. Petersburg is hosting the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry for the first time ever. The conference is organized by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and is held every two years to form, inspire and strengthen youth ministers and all who seek to accompany young people as they encounter …
August 23, 2018 WASHINGTON—To mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first and only World Youth Day (WYD) in the United States (in Denver, Colorado, in August 1993), the official World Youth Day Cross and Marian Icon will make a five-city tour across the United States in August 2018. From August 19 to 27, the WYD …
Continue reading “World Youth Day Cross Now on Historic Tour of U.S.”