Commissioned by Bishop Emeritus Robert Lynch in 1999, the St. Jude the Apostle Medal is given each year by the Diocese of St. Petersburg as a way to recognize parishioners who show outstanding service to their respective parishes. At a 3 p.m. ceremony on Sunday, October 26, held at the Cathedral of St. Jude in St. Petersburg, long-time parishioner and Historical Society docent Pat Alchediak will receive this year’s distinction from Bishop Gregory Parkes, alongside pastor Fr. Mike Jones, OFM.
For more than 60 years, Pat Alchediak has had a strong connection to our parish, and has served in liturgical and social ministries for nearly 40 years. “It was Fr. (Michael) Kennelly who approached me in the eighties asking me to become a Eucharistic Minister, and that’s where I started to get more involved,” said Alchediak, who expressed surprise about receiving the letter from the bishop about the award. “I’ve been a docent with the church since 1995, so it would be hard to guess just how many tours I’ve assisted or led since then.” The Historical Society averages 10 to 12 public tours each year, but with this Jubilee Year of Hope, and the designation of Sacred Heart as a pilgrimage site for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, groups from neighboring churches and dioceses have requested private tours regularly, which has increased our docent’s workload, including Pat’s. “I love being able to share with our parishioners and visitors the history and context to why we are the way we are here at Sacred Heart.”
Pat grew up as both a parishioner and a student at Sacred Heart Academy, graduating from the all-girls high school as a member of the class of 1959. An alumnus of the University of Tampa, Alchediak taught history for several years before life took her away from the Tampa area for the better part of a decade. She returned to Tampa in 1975, and found her way back to Sacred Heart. “When I came back, I regularly attended Mass at Sacred Heart again, along with my parents.”
Over the last several years, Pat has also assisted the parish through the Historical Society as an archivist, working with her fellow docents and even external partners, like the University of South Florida, on collating and digitizing all sorts of historical records, photos, newspaper articles, and memorabilia from the last 120 years since the church opened and beyond. “I get really excited by this stuff, finding out new details, and being able to share them with others,” Alchediak stated. She says if anyone else may be interested helping preserve and share the history of the parish, help is always welcome.
The parish would like to thank Pat for her continued efforts, and congratulate her on receiving this year’s award. Click here to see the list of each recipient from across the diocese.
Want to know more about our Historical Society? Click here.
