Pastoral Bulletin ~ June 14, 2021

Vol. 36: No. 23 ~ June 14, 2021

Official Announcements

Office of the Bishop

Clergy Changes

Most Reverend Gregory Parkes, Bishop of St. Petersburg, announces the following clergy appointments, effective July 1, 2021:

APPOINTMENTS

Reverend Monsignor Robert F. Morris, V.G. to President of Catholic Charities, Diocese of St. Petersburg, continuing other assignments.

Reverend John B. Lipscomb to Director of Diaconal Formation, Diocese of St. Petersburg, continuing other assignments.

Deacon James Grevenites from Associate Director, Permanent Diaconate Office to Director of Deacon Personnel, Diocese of St. Petersburg, continuing other assignments.

RELIEVING

Deacon John Alvarez from Director, Permanent Diaconate Office and Director of Diaconal Formation, Diocese of St. Petersburg, continuing other assignments.

Deacon Peter Andre from Director of Prison Ministry, Diocese of St. Petersburg, continuing other assignments.

Deacon James (Ben) Hooks from Coordinator of Pastoral Care pro tempore, St. Peter Claver Parish, Tampa, continuing other assignments.

Also effective July 1, 2021, all correspondence and inquiries regarding Prison Ministry in the Diocese of St. Petersburg will be handled through the Permanent Diaconate Office.

Pastoral Center Personnel Change

Most Reverend Gregory Parkes, Bishop of St. Petersburg, has also announced the hiring of our new diocesan Executive Director of Operations. Mrs. Lois Locey has been selected to join our Pastoral Center executive team, effective June 21, 2021. Mrs. Locey will assume many of the responsibilities currently held by Mr. Frank Murphy, who will retire effective July 1, 2021. We are indeed grateful to Mr. Murphy for his 16 years of service to the Diocese of St. Petersburg. To read a brief biographical summary on Mrs. Locey, along with news of Mr. Murphy’s retirement, please click here.

Ministries Updates

Office of Life, Justice & Advocacy

International Day of the Seafarer is June 25, 2021

Each year, the Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking (CCOAHT) launches a campaign to raise awareness of forced labor in the fishing industry. This year, due to the global pandemic, a new humanitarian crisis has emerged. Hundreds of thousands of seafarers have been stranded aboard ships beyond the length of their contracts. To read more about how the USCCB and other organizations are working to eradicate human trafficking and to promote the rights of seafarers, please read the document at this link, which also contains liturgical resources for the observance of the International Day of the Seafarer.

Office of Stewardship and Development

40 Sessions Announced for Stewardship Conference in September!

With five tracks featuring presentations, panel discussions and workshops from leading professionals in the stewardship and communication fields, the 3-day International Catholic Stewardship Conference (ICSC) is packed with resources and tools for those serving in diocesan ministries, parishes and Catholic schools as we prepare for the Church’s transformational future in the COVID-19 environment. The 40 sessions will feature a variety of topics, such as:

Offertory Enhancement in the Age of Covid-19: A Panel Discussion
The Goal of Communication is Communion (presented by our diocesan Executive Director of Communication, Teresa Peterson!)
The Spirituality of Stewardship: The Heart of Catholic School Development
An Introduction to Do-It-Yourself or Peer-To-Peer Fundraising
And many more!

The Office of Stewardship & Development invites you to consider this opportunity to gather, network, develop relationships, investigate, and reflect on the life of stewardship in the Catholic Church. And since it is being held at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Hotel, September 12 to 15, 2021, travel will not be difficult for participants from all parts of our diocese. Full Conference schedule at this link.

For more conference information or to register, please click here.