Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg is a Roman Catholic diocese
in Florida
. It was founded on March 2, 1968.
and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
. It is a suffragan see for the Province of Miami. It comprises 3177 square miles (8,228.4 km²), and it includes the five counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough
, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus on the west central coast of the State of Florida, along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. The total population is 2,660,220, with a Catholic population of 398,702. The principal cities are Tampa
, St. Petersburg
, and Clearwater
.
initial discovery of Florida and Tampa Bay
in 1513, explorers over the next several decades such as Panfilo de Narvaez
in 1528 and Hernando de Soto in 1539 came here, bringing with them priests and religious in the hope of native conversions. Fr. Juan Xuárez O.F.M. (sometimes written "Suárez") lead a group of thirteen Franciscan
and diocesan priests in the Narváez expedition
which came ashore in April 1528.
The hostility of the native peoples in this area, however, continued to frustrate Spanish missionary and expansionist plans as demonstrated by the martyrdom of Fr. Luis de Cancer
on the shores of Tampa Bay in 1549. Spain finally gained a firm foothold on the Florida peninsula with the establishment of the St. Augustine colony in 1565. This prompted another missionary effort to this area that was begun by the Jesuits in 1567, though it was abandoned five years later because of the poor living conditions and the continued hostility of the native tribes. Spanish missionaries then turned their attention to the friendlier tribes of north Florida.
remained largely unpopulated until Florida became a territory of the United States in 1821. Shortly thereafter, the Ft. Brooke
military garrison was established in what is today downtown Tampa. The founding of St. Louis Catholic Church in Tampa in 1860 provided a focal point for Catholics.
After a serious outbreak of yellow fever in Tampa in 1888 that killed three of the four priests there, Bishop Moore
of the Diocese of St. Augustine
turned to the Jesuits from New Orleans for help. Not only did the Jesuit Fathers take over St. Louis Church, but they were responsible for founding many of the early parishes and schools of the area. In 1905, a new Church was constructed in Romanesque style and the parish was renamed Sacred Heart. It is the oldest parish and church within the diocese.
After the establishment of the Catholic colony of San Antonio
and the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua in the 1880s, the Benedictine monks and nuns who came to Pasco County
later in the decade became another important religious community in the history of the diocese. Based at Saint Leo Abbey
and Holy Name Priory
respectively, they founded, and staffed for many years, most of the parishes of Pasco
, Hernando
and Citrus
Counties. Other early pioneer Religious include the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
, who founded the oldest Catholic school in 1881, The Sisters of St. Joseph
, who came to educate Black children, and the Redemptorists
and Salesians
, both of whom worked in the immigrant Latin community.
The growing population and economic boom following World War II
brought major changes to the area, much of it under the tutelage of the sixth bishop of St. Augustine, Joseph P. Hurley
. Archbishop Hurley presided over the largest institutional build-up in the history of the Florida Church. Not only did the Archbishop purchase property for future investment or development, he also established many new parishes and schools and recruited many priests from Ireland and the north United States to staff them. More than 40% of the parishes within our diocese today were founded during the Hurley years.
was chosen instead of the Tampa Bay area
and the new diocese was created in south Florida in 1958. Barely five years later, plans were drawn up for two new dioceses in central Florida.
as its first and founding bishop and the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle
in St. Petersburg as its seat. The newly created diocese stretched from Crystal River
to Ft. Myers
encompassing eleven counties. The first task of the Bronx
native and former auxiliary bishop of Raleigh
, North Carolina was to establish a new diocesan structure to unify priests, personnel, policy, and people from the two dioceses. He also faced the challenge of dealing with the rapidly increasing population within his diocese.
McLaughlin inherited many priests from the Diocese of St. Augustine and Miami and relied on their cooperation and assistance. He also fostered native vocations and was a strong supporter of the Floridian seminaries. McLaughlin had the responsibility of meeting the pastoral demands of over two hundred miles from end to end. McLaughlin, who was a pilot, often flew from event to event to try to keep pace with this task, a characteristic that earned him the nickname "Hurricane Charlie."
He died on December 14, 1978.
, the Vicar General
of the diocese and interim diocesan administrator, was appointed the Second Bishop of St. Petersburg on April 17, 1979. He was ordained to the episcopate on May 27 by his former classmate, Pope John Paul II
. Bishop Larkin was formally installed as the diocese's second bishop on June 28. A period of tremendous growth occurred during Bishop Larkin's tenure. Larkin's ambitious pastoral plan resulted in the establishment of fifteen new parishes and three new schools.
In the summer of 1984, one of two new Florida dioceses was created out of the lower portion of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. After the establishment of the Diocese of Venice on October 25, the Diocese of St. Petersburg comprised Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties.
Larkin expanded the outreach of the social ministries of the diocese, established a radio station (WBVM
90.5 FM), and further sought to keep pace with the population growth and economic expansion of the 1980s. His pastoral plan to develop new parishes had to be curtailed due to mounting debt and a general economic downturn.
Larkin announced his retirement for health reasons in November 1988. He died in November 2007.
, was installed as the Third Bishop of St. Petersburg on May 16, 1989. He directed his time toward administrative reorganization to manage demands brought on by the rapid growth of the 1980s. Initially, Favalora consolidated the various administrative functions of the diocese through the reorganization of the Chancery and the consolidation of diocesan social outreach programs through Catholic Charities. He also established a second radio station (WLMS 88.3 FM) to reach the northern portions of the diocese.
Favalora made Catholic education a priority within the diocese. He gave his leadership to the Catholic Education Foundation to ensure the continued existence of the Catholic schools within the diocese. He also took an active role in planning for the future construction of new Catholic schools.
Declaring "A Year of Favor From The Lord," Favalora presided over a fourteen-month celebration marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Bishop Favalora closed the Jubilee Year with a solemn Pontifical Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle on April 17, 1994. In November, Favalora was named the Third Archbishop of Miami and was installed on December 20.
the Fourth Bishop of St. Petersburg on December 5, 1995. A priest of the Archdiocese of Miami, former rector of the St. John Vianney College Seminary
in Miami, and former General Secretary to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Lynch was already well known in the diocese. He was consecrated bishop in his own Cathedral, only the fourth time in Florida history and the first time in seventy-four years, on January 26, 1996, by Archbishop John C. Favalora. Bishop Lynch's consecration brought the largest number of bishops to the diocese at one time. Cardinal Joseph Bernardin delivered the homily.
Lynch continued the reorganization and management of the diocese begun under Favalora. Lynch commissioned the building of a new Pastoral Center, and on March 31, 2000, the newly erected Bishop W. Thomas Larkin Pastoral Center was formally dedicated. The purpose of this new edifice was rededication to service in one space, one place," and it brought together under one roof ministries from several locations throughout the diocese. Like Favalora, Lynch made Catholic education, in the Catholic schools as well as in the religious education programs of the parishes, a top priority in the diocese. He also took an active role in planning for the future construction of new Catholic high schools, and improvements to the existing schools.
From the beginning of his episcopacy, Lynch expressed the belief that a bishop's responsibilities are primarily to the diocese where he serves. This belief was soon made visible in the way he made himself present to the priests, deacons, religious, and faithful of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He recognized the talents and abilities of priests, religious, and laity alike. That recognition crossed the boundaries of gender, age, and ethnicity. It was apparent in the appointments he made to positions within the diocesan structure.
In the summer of 1998, as preparation for the Jubilee Year 2000, Lynch began the program, Renew 2000, in the diocese. At the heart of this program is the development of small Christian faith-sharing communities. This program, as well as other programs of spiritual renewal already present in the diocese, was intended to create an active and informed Catholic laity in the diocese. In addition, in the Fall of 1998, Lynch lent his earnest support to the Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute, a program of training for the laity which included studies and formation in the areas of theology, spirituality, and pastoral ministry.
In further preparation for the great Jubilee Year, Lynch focused on the Jubilee concepts of forgiveness, freedom, and release from burden. To do this, he presided at communal celebrations for the sacrament of penance throughout the diocese. He also instituted a "debt-forgiveness" program by which he released parishes in need from the burden of millions of dollars of construction debt, its payment and its longevity.
In establishing the first Capital Campaign of the diocese, Lynch focused on his responsibilities on the people of the diocese. He put in effect a plan to increase the priests' retirement fund; started plans for the building of a Family Life/Spirituality Center for the spiritual growth of the people; established an endowment fund for Catholic Charities with special emphasis on support for senior citizens; and established two endowment funds for youth ministry: one for the youth ministers themselves, and the other for leadership development and scholarships for the youth under their care.
On April 3, 2001, at the diocesan Chrism Mass, Lynch announced the first Diocesan Synod to convene on the Second Sunday of Easter, 2002, and to end with a first-ever diocesan Eucharistic Congress in the Fall of 2003. At this same Mass, Lynch also announced the establishment of a diocesan Pastoral Council. This would ensure further collaboration among the people of the diocese.
s of the diocese are:
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It was founded on March 2, 1968.
Background
The Diocese of St. Petersburg was established on June 17, 1968, from the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. AugustineRoman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine
The Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine is a diocese of the Catholic Church's Latin Church in the U.S. state of Florida. Part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami, it covers much of North Florida, including the cities of St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and Gainesville. The bishop's seat is the...
and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
The Archdiocese of Miami is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. Its ecclesiastic territory includes Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami,...
. It is a suffragan see for the Province of Miami. It comprises 3177 square miles (8,228.4 km²), and it includes the five counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough
Hillsborough County, Florida
As of the census of 2000, there were 998,948 people, 391,357 households, and 255,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 951 people per square mile . There were 425,962 housing units at an average density of 405 per square mile...
, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus on the west central coast of the State of Florida, along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. The total population is 2,660,220, with a Catholic population of 398,702. The principal cities are Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, and Clearwater
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
.
History
The Church's presence in this part of Florida stretches back nearly five hundred years to the arrival of the Spanish explorers and the missionaries who accompanied them. After Juan Ponce de Leon'sJuan Ponce de León
Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer. He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown. He led the first European expedition to Florida, which he named...
initial discovery of Florida and Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
in 1513, explorers over the next several decades such as Panfilo de Narvaez
Pánfilo de Narváez
Pánfilo de Narváez was a Spanish conqueror and soldier in the Americas. He is most remembered as the leader of two expeditions, one to Mexico in 1520 to oppose Hernán Cortés, and the disastrous Narváez expedition to Florida in 1527....
in 1528 and Hernando de Soto in 1539 came here, bringing with them priests and religious in the hope of native conversions. Fr. Juan Xuárez O.F.M. (sometimes written "Suárez") lead a group of thirteen Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
and diocesan priests in the Narváez expedition
Narváez expedition
The Narváez expedition was a Spanish attempt during the years 1527–1528 to colonize Spanish Florida. It was led by Pánfilo de Narváez, who was to rule as adelantado....
which came ashore in April 1528.
The hostility of the native peoples in this area, however, continued to frustrate Spanish missionary and expansionist plans as demonstrated by the martyrdom of Fr. Luis de Cancer
Luis Cancer
Father Luis Cancer or Fray Luis de Cancer was a Dominican priest and pioneer Spanish missionary to the New World.He was born at Barbastro, in Aragon...
on the shores of Tampa Bay in 1549. Spain finally gained a firm foothold on the Florida peninsula with the establishment of the St. Augustine colony in 1565. This prompted another missionary effort to this area that was begun by the Jesuits in 1567, though it was abandoned five years later because of the poor living conditions and the continued hostility of the native tribes. Spanish missionaries then turned their attention to the friendlier tribes of north Florida.
Catholic Arrival
The Tampa Bay AreaTampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...
remained largely unpopulated until Florida became a territory of the United States in 1821. Shortly thereafter, the Ft. Brooke
Fort Brooke
Fort Brooke was a historical military post situated on the east bank of the Hillsborough River in present-day Tampa, Florida. The Tampa Convention Center currently stands at the site.-Fort Brooke as a military outpost:...
military garrison was established in what is today downtown Tampa. The founding of St. Louis Catholic Church in Tampa in 1860 provided a focal point for Catholics.
After a serious outbreak of yellow fever in Tampa in 1888 that killed three of the four priests there, Bishop Moore
John Moore (bishop of St Augustine)
Bishop John Moore , was born in County Westmeath, Ireland and moved to Charleston, South Carolina at the age of 14. He served as Bishop of St. Augustine from 1877-1901...
of the Diocese of St. Augustine
Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine
The Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine is a diocese of the Catholic Church's Latin Church in the U.S. state of Florida. Part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami, it covers much of North Florida, including the cities of St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and Gainesville. The bishop's seat is the...
turned to the Jesuits from New Orleans for help. Not only did the Jesuit Fathers take over St. Louis Church, but they were responsible for founding many of the early parishes and schools of the area. In 1905, a new Church was constructed in Romanesque style and the parish was renamed Sacred Heart. It is the oldest parish and church within the diocese.
After the establishment of the Catholic colony of San Antonio
San Antonio, Florida
San Antonio is a city in Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is a suburban city included in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 655 at the 2000 census, although local officials claim the true population in 2000 was 842. As of 2004,...
and the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua in the 1880s, the Benedictine monks and nuns who came to Pasco County
Pasco County, Florida
Pasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 344,765. The July 1, 2007 census estimate according to the U.S. Census Bureau for the county is 462,715. Its county seat is Dade City, Florida which is in the northeast part of the county - somewhat...
later in the decade became another important religious community in the history of the diocese. Based at Saint Leo Abbey
Saint Leo Abbey
Saint Leo Abbey is a Benedictine monastery located in Saint Leo, Florida, United States.-History:Saint Leo Abbey, located in Pasco County, Florida, traces its founding to 1882 when Judge Edmund F. Dunne founded the Catholic Colony of San Antonio. Sent by Archabbot Boniface Wimmer, Father Gerard...
and Holy Name Priory
Holy Name Monastery
Holy Name Monastery is a Benedictine convent located in Saint Leo, Florida, United States.-History:In 1889 five sisters founded Holy Name Convent and Holy Name Academy in response to a need for teachers for the children of immigrants in the San Antonio and Saint Leo area of Pasco County, Florida....
respectively, they founded, and staffed for many years, most of the parishes of Pasco
Pasco County, Florida
Pasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 344,765. The July 1, 2007 census estimate according to the U.S. Census Bureau for the county is 462,715. Its county seat is Dade City, Florida which is in the northeast part of the county - somewhat...
, Hernando
Hernando County, Florida
Hernando County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 130,802. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 165,409 . Its county seat is Brooksville, Florida. The majority of the county's population is in Spring Hill, west portion of Hernando...
and Citrus
Citrus County, Florida
Citrus County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 118,085. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 141,416 . Its county seat is Inverness, Florida...
Counties. Other early pioneer Religious include the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary is a teaching order founded at Longueuil, Québec, Canada in 1843 by Blessed Mother Marie-Rose for the Christian education of young girls.Their motto is: "Jésus et Marie, Ma Force et Ma Gloire" .Since 1843, the...
, who founded the oldest Catholic school in 1881, The Sisters of St. Joseph
Sisters of St. Joseph
The title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
, who came to educate Black children, and the Redemptorists
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
and Salesians
Salesians of Don Bosco
The Salesians of Don Bosco is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the late nineteenth century by Saint John Bosco in an attempt, through works of charity, to care for the young and poor children of the industrial revolution...
, both of whom worked in the immigrant Latin community.
The growing population and economic boom following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
brought major changes to the area, much of it under the tutelage of the sixth bishop of St. Augustine, Joseph P. Hurley
Joseph Patrick Hurley
Joseph Patrick Hurley was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of St. Augustine from 1940 until his death in 1967. He also held diplomatic posts in Europe and Asia....
. Archbishop Hurley presided over the largest institutional build-up in the history of the Florida Church. Not only did the Archbishop purchase property for future investment or development, he also established many new parishes and schools and recruited many priests from Ireland and the north United States to staff them. More than 40% of the parishes within our diocese today were founded during the Hurley years.
Plans for the Diocese Emerge
Because of the growth of the Church in Florida, plans for a new diocese along the West Coast were developed as early as the mid-fifties. Contrary to Archbishop Hurley's recommendations, MiamiRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
The Archdiocese of Miami is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. Its ecclesiastic territory includes Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami,...
was chosen instead of the Tampa Bay area
Tampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...
and the new diocese was created in south Florida in 1958. Barely five years later, plans were drawn up for two new dioceses in central Florida.
Founding of the Diocese
On June 17, 1968, the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg was formally established with Bishop Charles B. McLaughlinCharles Borromeo McLaughlin
Charles Borromeo McLaughlin was the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg. After completing seminary, McLaughlin was ordained a priest in 1941 and ordained bishop in 1964. Bishop McLaughlin had the unenviable responsibility of meeting the pastoral demands of a flock strewn...
as its first and founding bishop and the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle
Cathedral of Saint Jude the Apostle (St. Petersburg, Florida)
The Cathedral of Saint Jude the Apostle is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. St. Jude Parish was founded in 1953. When Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Petersburg on March 2, 1968 it became the...
in St. Petersburg as its seat. The newly created diocese stretched from Crystal River
Crystal River, Florida
Crystal River is a city in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,485 at the 2000 census. . According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 3,539. The city was incorporated in 1903 and is the self professed "Home of the Manatee"....
to Ft. Myers
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
encompassing eleven counties. The first task of the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
native and former auxiliary bishop of Raleigh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh
The Diocese of Raleigh is a Roman Catholic diocese that covers the eastern half of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The bishop is seated at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh, North Carolina.- Establishment :...
, North Carolina was to establish a new diocesan structure to unify priests, personnel, policy, and people from the two dioceses. He also faced the challenge of dealing with the rapidly increasing population within his diocese.
McLaughlin inherited many priests from the Diocese of St. Augustine and Miami and relied on their cooperation and assistance. He also fostered native vocations and was a strong supporter of the Floridian seminaries. McLaughlin had the responsibility of meeting the pastoral demands of over two hundred miles from end to end. McLaughlin, who was a pilot, often flew from event to event to try to keep pace with this task, a characteristic that earned him the nickname "Hurricane Charlie."
He died on December 14, 1978.
Bishop Larkin
Monsignor W. Thomas LarkinWilliam Thomas Larkin
William Thomas Larkin was the Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida....
, the Vicar General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the diocese and interim diocesan administrator, was appointed the Second Bishop of St. Petersburg on April 17, 1979. He was ordained to the episcopate on May 27 by his former classmate, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. Bishop Larkin was formally installed as the diocese's second bishop on June 28. A period of tremendous growth occurred during Bishop Larkin's tenure. Larkin's ambitious pastoral plan resulted in the establishment of fifteen new parishes and three new schools.
In the summer of 1984, one of two new Florida dioceses was created out of the lower portion of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. After the establishment of the Diocese of Venice on October 25, the Diocese of St. Petersburg comprised Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties.
Larkin expanded the outreach of the social ministries of the diocese, established a radio station (WBVM
WBVM
WBVM, branded as Spirit FM 90.5, is a Christian-based radio station in Tampa, Florida, broadcasting on 90.5 FM with an ERP of 77 kW. It signed on in May 1986 and began broadcasting a second channel in digital HD radio in 2007. In June 2008, the station began additionally streaming its HD...
90.5 FM), and further sought to keep pace with the population growth and economic expansion of the 1980s. His pastoral plan to develop new parishes had to be curtailed due to mounting debt and a general economic downturn.
Larkin announced his retirement for health reasons in November 1988. He died in November 2007.
Bishop Favalora
Bishop John Clement Favalora, a native of New Orleans and former Bishop of Alexandria, LouisianaRoman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana
The Diocese of Alexandria is the Roman Catholic diocese for central Louisiana, based in Alexandria, with its see at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral...
, was installed as the Third Bishop of St. Petersburg on May 16, 1989. He directed his time toward administrative reorganization to manage demands brought on by the rapid growth of the 1980s. Initially, Favalora consolidated the various administrative functions of the diocese through the reorganization of the Chancery and the consolidation of diocesan social outreach programs through Catholic Charities. He also established a second radio station (WLMS 88.3 FM) to reach the northern portions of the diocese.
Favalora made Catholic education a priority within the diocese. He gave his leadership to the Catholic Education Foundation to ensure the continued existence of the Catholic schools within the diocese. He also took an active role in planning for the future construction of new Catholic schools.
Declaring "A Year of Favor From The Lord," Favalora presided over a fourteen-month celebration marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Bishop Favalora closed the Jubilee Year with a solemn Pontifical Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle on April 17, 1994. In November, Favalora was named the Third Archbishop of Miami and was installed on December 20.
Bishop Lynch
After nearly a year of vacancy in which Monsignor Brendan Muldoon administered the diocese, Pope John Paul II appointed Monsignor Robert N. LynchRobert Nugent Lynch
Robert Nugent Lynch is the current Bishop of St. Petersburg, Florida. He was ordained and installed as the fourth Bishop of St. Petersburg on January 26, 1996.-Education:...
the Fourth Bishop of St. Petersburg on December 5, 1995. A priest of the Archdiocese of Miami, former rector of the St. John Vianney College Seminary
St. John Vianney College Seminary
Saint John Vianney College Seminary is a Catholic institution, founded in 1959 by Archbishop Coleman Carroll, the first bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami. The goal of the institution is to form men for the diocesan priesthood by focusing on the pillars of formation: human, spiritual, pastoral, and...
in Miami, and former General Secretary to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Lynch was already well known in the diocese. He was consecrated bishop in his own Cathedral, only the fourth time in Florida history and the first time in seventy-four years, on January 26, 1996, by Archbishop John C. Favalora. Bishop Lynch's consecration brought the largest number of bishops to the diocese at one time. Cardinal Joseph Bernardin delivered the homily.
Lynch continued the reorganization and management of the diocese begun under Favalora. Lynch commissioned the building of a new Pastoral Center, and on March 31, 2000, the newly erected Bishop W. Thomas Larkin Pastoral Center was formally dedicated. The purpose of this new edifice was rededication to service in one space, one place," and it brought together under one roof ministries from several locations throughout the diocese. Like Favalora, Lynch made Catholic education, in the Catholic schools as well as in the religious education programs of the parishes, a top priority in the diocese. He also took an active role in planning for the future construction of new Catholic high schools, and improvements to the existing schools.
From the beginning of his episcopacy, Lynch expressed the belief that a bishop's responsibilities are primarily to the diocese where he serves. This belief was soon made visible in the way he made himself present to the priests, deacons, religious, and faithful of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. He recognized the talents and abilities of priests, religious, and laity alike. That recognition crossed the boundaries of gender, age, and ethnicity. It was apparent in the appointments he made to positions within the diocesan structure.
In the summer of 1998, as preparation for the Jubilee Year 2000, Lynch began the program, Renew 2000, in the diocese. At the heart of this program is the development of small Christian faith-sharing communities. This program, as well as other programs of spiritual renewal already present in the diocese, was intended to create an active and informed Catholic laity in the diocese. In addition, in the Fall of 1998, Lynch lent his earnest support to the Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute, a program of training for the laity which included studies and formation in the areas of theology, spirituality, and pastoral ministry.
In further preparation for the great Jubilee Year, Lynch focused on the Jubilee concepts of forgiveness, freedom, and release from burden. To do this, he presided at communal celebrations for the sacrament of penance throughout the diocese. He also instituted a "debt-forgiveness" program by which he released parishes in need from the burden of millions of dollars of construction debt, its payment and its longevity.
In establishing the first Capital Campaign of the diocese, Lynch focused on his responsibilities on the people of the diocese. He put in effect a plan to increase the priests' retirement fund; started plans for the building of a Family Life/Spirituality Center for the spiritual growth of the people; established an endowment fund for Catholic Charities with special emphasis on support for senior citizens; and established two endowment funds for youth ministry: one for the youth ministers themselves, and the other for leadership development and scholarships for the youth under their care.
On April 3, 2001, at the diocesan Chrism Mass, Lynch announced the first Diocesan Synod to convene on the Second Sunday of Easter, 2002, and to end with a first-ever diocesan Eucharistic Congress in the Fall of 2003. At this same Mass, Lynch also announced the establishment of a diocesan Pastoral Council. This would ensure further collaboration among the people of the diocese.
Bishops
The past bishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s of the diocese are:
- Charles Borromeo McLaughlinCharles Borromeo McLaughlinCharles Borromeo McLaughlin was the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg. After completing seminary, McLaughlin was ordained a priest in 1941 and ordained bishop in 1964. Bishop McLaughlin had the unenviable responsibility of meeting the pastoral demands of a flock strewn...
(1968–1978) - William Thomas LarkinWilliam Thomas LarkinWilliam Thomas Larkin was the Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida....
(1979–1988) - John Clement Favalora (1989–1994)
- Robert Nugent LynchRobert Nugent LynchRobert Nugent Lynch is the current Bishop of St. Petersburg, Florida. He was ordained and installed as the fourth Bishop of St. Petersburg on January 26, 1996.-Education:...
(1995—)
High schools
- Academy of the Holy Names, Tampa
- Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High SchoolBishop McLaughlin Catholic High SchoolBishop McLaughlin High School is a private high school in Spring Hill, Florida.-School Information:Bishop McLaughlin High School was established in 2003. The school was named after Bishop Charles Borromeo McLaughlin. Since he was nicknamed "Hurricane Charlie", BMCHS is the home of the...
, Hudson - Clearwater Central Catholic High SchoolClearwater Central Catholic High SchoolClearwater Central Catholic High School is a private college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12 and located in Clearwater, Florida, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg. Founded in 1962, the school enrolls approximately 500 students from the Tampa Bay area...
, Clearwater - Jesuit High School, Tampa
- St. Petersburg Catholic High SchoolSt. Petersburg Catholic High SchoolSt. Petersburg Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg.-Background:Mission Statement...
, St. Petersburg - Tampa Catholic High SchoolTampa Catholic High SchoolTampa Catholic High School is a Diocesan, Catholic, coeducational high school located in Tampa, Florida, USA, founded in 1962. It is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg. Its motto is "Veritas and Caritas," which means: "Truth and Charity."...
, Tampa