Pastoral Bulletin ~ March 20, 2023

Vol. 38: No. 12 ~ March 20, 2023

Official Announcement

Office of the Bishop

Save the Date for "Mary and the Eucharist" on Saturday, May 13, 2023

Bishop Gregory Parkes invites you to the fifth annual Diocese of St. Petersburg Marian Congress! The theme this year is "Mary and the Eucharist.” The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith, and we encounter the risen Christ each time we receive our Lord in Holy Communion. Our Blessed Mother has a special role in leading us to her Son, Jesus, in the Eucharist.

Save the date to participate in the Marian Congress on May 13, 2023 at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, 5815 5th Avenue N., St. Petersburg. This day of joy, renewal, and prayer will include dynamic speakers, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a multicultural Rosary, and Mass with Bishop Gregory Parkes. Also, you will have an opportunity to renew your consecration or to be consecrated to Jesus through Mary for the first time.

To learn more, visit www.FloridaMarianCongress.org.

Separa la fecha para “María y la Eucaristía” el sábado, 13 de mayo de 2023

¡El Obispo Gregory Parkes te invita al Quinto Congreso Anual Mariano de la Diócesis de St. Petersburg! El tema de este año es "María y la Eucaristía". La Eucaristía es la fuente y culmen de nuestra fe y nos encontramos con Cristo resucitado cada vez que recibimos a nuestro Señor en la Sagrada Comunión. Nuestra Santísima Madre tiene un papel muy especial al guiarnos a su Hijo, Jesús, en la Eucaristía.

Separa la fecha para participar en el Congreso Mariano el 13 de mayo en la Catedral de St. Jude the Apostle, 5815 5th Avenue N., St. Petersburg. Este día de gozo, renovación y oración incluirá oradores dinámicos, la adoración al Santísimo Sacramento, el rezo del rosario multicultural y la misa con el Obispo Gregory Parkes. También tendrá la oportunidad de renovar su consagración o consagrarse a Jesús a través de María por primera vez.

Para obtener más información, visite www.FloridaMarianCongress.org.

Ministry Update

Office of Life, Justice and Advocacy

Abortion Limitation Bill Passes First Committee in the House

HB 7 (Persons-Mulicka) passed its first stop in the Florida House of Representatives on Thursday when the Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee found it favorable on a 13-5 vote. Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, sent a letter in support of the bill, and Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life, testified on behalf of the FCCB.

The measure would reduce the harm of abortion and assist pregnant women and families with young children. The bill further limits when abortions can take place in Florida to the first six weeks of pregnancy - the stage in development when a heartbeat is first detectable. Exceptions to the bill’s six-week abortion ban are allowed for saving the life of the mother, for avoiding an irreversible and substantial impairment of a major bodily function of the mother, for fatal fetal abnormalities up to the third trimester, and for rape and incest up to 15 weeks gestation. While imperfect, the bill would be a tremendous improvement over current law and is strongly supported by the FCCB.

The bill also includes several provisions providing vital pregnancy and parenting support for families, including an increase from $4 million to $25 million to support pregnant women and their young children. Additionally, the measure prohibits state funding from assisting women traveling out of state to obtain abortion services and prohibits telehealth from being used to provide abortion services.

The Senate companion bill, SB 300 (Grall), is on the agenda for the Health Policy Committee on Monday, March 20th.

TAKE ACTION: Urge your Florida Senator to vote "yes" on SB 300.