Clergy Changes ~ Spring 2024 - Diocese of Saint Petersburg (2024)

Clergy Changes ~ Spring 2024 - Diocese of Saint Petersburg (1)

Most Reverend Gregory Parkes, Bishop of St. Petersburg, announces the following clergy changes, effective July 1, 2024, unless otherwise indicated:

RETIREMENT STATUS

Reverend Paul Kochu, from Pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, Palm Harbor, granted retirement status.

Reverend Eric G. Peters, from Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, New Port Richey, granted retirement status.

RELIEVING

Reverend Jonathan I. Loverita [Diocese of Catarman, Philippines], from Parochial Vicar of Corpus Christi Parish, Temple Terrace, effective April 22, 2024. Father Loverita is seeking an assignment outside the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Upon notification by Very Reverend Joseph Hindelang, S.M. Provincial Superior of the Society of Mary, U.S. Province, Reverend Hector J. Cruz Lesbros, S.M., from Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Tampa. The Society of Mary (Marists) will be leaving the Diocese of St. Petersburg after 38 years of service to the parish.

Upon notification by Very Reverend Joseph O’Reilly, I.C., Provincial Superior of the Institute of Charity, Irish American Province, Reverend Bruce King, I.C., from Pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Spring Hill. Father King will be providing service outside the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

APPOINTMENTS

Pastors

Very Reverend Krzysztof Gazdowicz, V.F., from Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Dade City and Vicar Forane of the East Central Deanery to Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, New Port Richey.

Reverend Bradley C. Reed, from Parochial Administrator to Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Pinellas Park.

Reverend Richard Rosin, from Parochial Vicar of Espiritu Santo Parish, Safety Harbor to Pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, Palm Harbor.

Reverend Kyle D. Smith, from Pastor of St. Mary Parish, Tampa to Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Tampa.

Reverend Anthony J. Ustick, from Parochial Administrator to Pastor of St. Timothy Parish, Lutz.

Upon presentation by Very Reverend Joseph O’Reilly, I.C., Provincial Superior of the Institute of Charity, Irish American Province, Reverend Edison Bernavas, I.C., from Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Seffner to Pastor of St. Theresa Parish, Spring Hill.

Upon presentation by Very Reverend Joseph O’Reilly, I.C., Provincial Superior of the Institute of Charity, Irish American Province, Reverend Paul A. Stiene, I.C., from Parochial Vicar of St. Theresa Parish, Spring Hill to Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Seffner.

Parochial Administrators

Reverend Robert G. Romaine, from Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Parish, St. Petersburg to Parochial Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, Dade City.

Reverend Jonathan E. Stephanz, from Parochial Vicar of St. Raphael Parish, St. Petersburg to Parochial Administrator of St. Mary Parish, Tampa.

Parochial Vicars

Reverend Augustine Adjen, [Archdiocese of Kumasi, Ghana] to Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Pinellas Park.

Reverend Andrew T. Burns [Diocese of Paterson], from Parochial Vicar of Christ the King Parish, Tampa to Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg.

Reverend Monsignor Michael Carruthers, from Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg to Parochial Vicar of Espiritu Santo Parish, Safety Harbor.

Reverend Dayan Machado, from Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish, Tampa to Parochial Vicar of Corpus Christi Parish, Temple Terrace.

Reverend Claudius M. Mganga [Archdiocese of Mwanza, Tanzania], from Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Inverness to Parochial Vicar of St. Raphael Parish, St. Petersburg.

Reverend Peter Okojie [Archdiocese of Abuja, Nigeria], from Parochial Vicar of St. Paul Parish, Tampa to Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Inverness.

Reverend Connor D. Penn, from Parochial Vicar of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Clearwater to Parochial Vicar of St. Timothy Parish, Lutz.

Reverend Marc W. Reszel, [Archdiocese of Chicago] to Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Parish, St. Petersburg.

Reverend Belisario Riveros [Diocese of Engativa, Colombia], from Parochial Vicar of Nativity Parish, Brandon to Parochial Vicar of St. Mary Parish, Tampa.

Reverend Louis G. Turcotte, from Parochial Vicar of St. Stephen Parish, Riverview to Parochial Vicar of Christ the King Parish, Tampa.

Reverend Amaro Vásquez Ortiz [Diocese of Chimbote, Peru], from Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Pinellas Park to Parochial Vicar of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Clearwater.

Reverend Primus Weria, [Diocese of Moshi, Tanzania] to Parochial Vicar of St. Stephen Parish, Riverview.

Reverend Mark A. (Drew) Woodke, from Parochial Vicar of St. Timothy Parish, Lutz to Parochial Vicar of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Clearwater.

Upon presentation by Very Reverend Joseph O’Reilly, I.C., Provincial Superior of the Institute of Charity, Irish American Province, Reverend Diomedi L. Nitunga, I.C., to Parochial Vicar of St. Theresa Parish, Spring Hill.

Upon presentation by Very Reverend Joseph O’Reilly, I.C., Provincial Superior of the Institute of Charity, Irish American Province, Reverend Binu A. Palakapally, I.C., to Parochial Vicar of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Seminole.

Reverend George A. Gyasi [Archdiocese of Kumasi, Ghana], continuing as Parochial Vicar of Resurrection Parish, Riverview with residence at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Tampa, and assisting part-time with the parish’s Spanish Ministry. Relieved from part-time assistance to Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission, Wimauma

Clergy Changes ~ Spring 2024 - Diocese of Saint Petersburg (2024)

FAQs

Who is the bishop of the diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida? ›

Bishop Gregory Parkes is the spiritual leader of the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Who is the superintendent of the diocese of St Petersburg? ›

Christopher Pastura - Diocese of Saint Petersburg.

Is there a shortage of priests in the Catholic Church? ›

Over 85 percent of the population is Catholic, but one priest is expected to minister to approximately 7,000 followers. In the United States, where approximately one quarter of the population is Catholic, there is one priest per 2,000 Catholics. Pop.

Where is the largest Catholic Diocese in the United States? ›

With over five million professing members and weekly liturgies celebrated in 32 languages, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is numerically the single largest and most ethnically diverse archdiocese in the United States.

How big is the St. Petersburg Diocese? ›

Situated on Florida's west coast, along the Gulf of Mexico, the diocese covers 3,177 square miles in five counties: Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus. The principal cities of the diocese are St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Clearwater.

Who is the patron saint of the Diocese of St. Petersburg? ›

St. Jude is the patron saint of desperate cases, lost causes, and of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He is the patron of impossible causes because of his Apostolic ministry in the early Church.

Who is bishop Lynch Diocese of St. Petersburg? ›

Bishop Emeritus Robert Lynch was born in Charleston, West Virginia in 1941. He received his bachelor of arts degree from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Worthington, Ohio in May 1963 and his master of divinity degree from Pope John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts in May, 1978.

Who is the chief shepherd of the Diocese? ›

Jesus is the Chief Shepherd. Elders in the local church serve Christ by serving Christ's sheep: the men, women, and children He loves so dearly. So when Christ, the Chief Shepherd, appears in His glory at the "end of all things," He will bring rewards. For the elders there will be the unfading crown of glory.

Who is the head of each Diocese? ›

A bishop is a priest who carries the fullness of the sacrament of Orders (Decree on the Bishops' Pastoral Office in the Church, n. 15). He usually heads a diocese and is called an “ordinary” because he promotes order, and is in charge.

Who is Cardinal DiNardo? ›

His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo is the metropolitan archbishop of Galveston-Houston and pastor to its 1.3 million Catholics (and over 4 million non-Catholics) and 440 priests in 146 parishes and 60 schools spread over 8,880 square miles.

How many church fathers are there in the Catholic Church? ›

Sts. Augustine, Jerome, Ambrose, and Gregory are regarded as the most important Fathers of the Roman Catholic church. No Father of the Church had a more profound effect on Christian theology than did St. Augustine (see Augustine of Hippo).

How many priests are in the Diocese of Arlington? ›

About the Diocese of Arlington

Currently there are 446,500 registered Catholics and over 275 priests in the Diocese.

How many priests are in the archdiocese of St Louis? ›

St. Louis has 216 active diocesan priests for 514,178 Catholics, or 2,380 Catholics per active priest. The archdiocese also ranks second in terms of all diocesan priests — active or retired, totalling 330 — per capita, or 1,558 Catholics per priest.

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