Vol. 34: No. 8 ~ February 25, 2019
Official Announcements
Office of the Bishop

Statement from Bishop Gregory Parkes on the "Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church" (February 21-24, 2019)
 “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 ignored.

I too have met with and heard from victim survivors and I commit to doing all that I can to seek justice for these brave men and women and to provide healing through counseling and pastoral support.

While the evil of child sexual abuse infects our entire society, and while the Church has made great progress in accountability and setting standards for a safe environment , we must do more within the Church and within society to make the protection of children our top priority.

As Pope Francis said, ‘if in the Church there should emerge even a single case of abuse – which already in itself represents an atrocity – that case will be faced with the utmost seriousness.’”

NEW PODCAST RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 19, 2019
Click here to listen to "A View from the Top with Bishop Gregory Parkes" as he discusses the recent Vatican ruling on former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the world Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church, the coming Lenten season and more.
News
900 Students Learn About Vocations at Fun, Focus 11 Event
Over 900 sixth graders from Catholic schools across the five counties of the Diocese of St. Petersburg participated in the annual Focus 11 event, February 12 -13, 2019, at St. Lawrence Parish in Tampa. A major part of this vocations awareness retreat is hearing from men and women who have said yes to God’s call to a priestly or religious vocation. Read more .
St. Anne Food Pantry Begins New Outreach to College Students
On February 13, 2019, volunteers from St. Anne Parish in Ruskin packed up their refrigerated trailer and headed to nearby Hillsborough Community College (HCC) to offer free food for the first time, serving a population that is sometimes overlooked. There is a need among students and staff who are “barely getting by,” according to Paul Wiskotoni, volunteer coordinator of the St. Anne Food Pantry. Read more.
Faith In Action: Participate in Operation Rice Bowl this Lent
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. By participating in Operation Rice Bowl you can Share the Journey and hear the stories of refugees and migrants. Read more.

 

For updates on Courageously Living the Gospe l, click here .
For the Faithful Departed
Let us keep the souls and the families of the faithful departed in our prayers:

-- Mrs. Mary (Collofello) Munchalfen , mother of Terri Wiles , Diocesan Accounting
Office
 
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Bulletin Announcements
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Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
Important Links
Rev. Msgr. Robert F. Morris
Vicar General
Diocese of St. Petersburg
727-344-1611