Category Archives: Parish News

U.S. Bishops Urge National Leaders to Address Scourge of Gun Violence

March 20, 2018JPIC, Parish NewsFrGeorge

For many years, the USCCB has supported a federal ban on assault weapons, limitations on civilian access to high-capacity weapons and ammunition magazines, further criminalizing gun trafficking, certain limitations on the purchase of handguns, and safety measures such as locks that prevent children and anyone other than the owner from using guns without permission.

In the aftermath of the tragic attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, Chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop George V. Murry, S.J., of Youngstown, Ohio, Chairman of the Committee on Catholic Education, once again urge national leaders to finally come together and address the crisis of gun violence in a comprehensive way. Their comments are below:

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Order Your Easter Memorials and Tributes

March 11, 2018Parish NewsLynda Marsh

Remember a loved one during the Easter season with a floral memorial used to decorate our sanctuary. A long-standing tradition, each plant that you see has been given in remembrance or honor of loved ones whose names will be memorialized online.

Request forms can be found on the table near the church entrance, or download one here. All forms, along with the suggestion donation of $15 per plant, must be received by Monday, March 26th.

Friends of Sacred Heart thanks everyone for their participation in this seasonal project. Proceeds are used for maintenance, repair, and upkeep of our beautiful, historic church.

A Special Look at the Women of Jerusalem

March 11, 2018Parish NewsLynda Marsh

Looking for another way to enrich your Lenten journey? Join us on Tuesday, March 20th, at 7:00 pm in the church for an evening of meditation and reflection centered on the “Women of Jerusalem.” Through word, music, and meditation, we will look at Jesus’ journey to the Place of the Skull from the viewpoint of the women whose lives had been impacted by the words and actions of Jesus.

If you’ve never attended this event, see what two of our parishioners who’ve had a role in the past had to say.

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Parking Announcement for Gasparilla Events

February 28, 2018Parish NewsLynda Marsh

Please be advised that over the next two weekends, there will be two Gasparilla events at Curtis Hixon Park that will affect parking in downtown Tampa:
– Gasparilla Festival of the Arts / March 3rd – 4th
– Gasparilla Music Festival / March 10th – 11th

Due to the increased traffic in and around downtown Tampa, parking may be more difficult to find. Options include:
– Using the Madison Building parking garage
– Finding available street parking
– Paying the asking rate at one of the nearby commercial parking lots

Please note: The parking lot located at the corner of W. Kennedy Blvd. and N. Florida Ave. will not be available for parishioners on either weekend. The parking garage in the Madison Building will be available for Mass, however, if you plan to stay after Mass to attend either event, please pay the posted rate or move your car. Thank you.

Your Voice is Needed

February 23, 2018JPIC, Parish NewsDreamersFrGeorge

Please participate in the Call-in Day to Congress on Monday, February 26th.
Your advocacy is critical to help the nearly 1.8 million Dreamers, young people who were brought into the United States by their parents as children. They may face deportation as soon as March 6, unless Congress reaches a bi-partisan deal to protect them. Bishop Parkes of the Diocese of St. Petersburg and your own Franciscan Friars urge you to be part of this “call to action.”

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Our Sacred Heart Lenten Mission with John Angotti

February 21, 2018Parish NewsLynda Marsh

Enrich your Lenten journey with an evening of uplifting music and reflection with renowned Catholic music artist, John Angotti. The Sacred Heart Lenten Mission is open to all in the parish and offers something for all ages.

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Make the Most of Lent

February 11, 2018Parish NewsLynda Marsh

Are you looking to do more this Lent beyond giving something up? If whatever you give up makes more room in your life for God, then let’s be intentional about dedicating that space for God.

Sacred Heart has several ways you can get involved during this Lenten season, and we encourage you to join us in one or more of the suggestions below. Happy Lenten journey!

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Plaza Art Project: The Wolf of Gubbio

February 6, 2018Parish NewsLynda Marsh

Since the arrival of the Franciscan Friars at Sacred Heart in 2005, the church has taken on several projects – most notably our plaza renovation in 2013 – which truly brought to life the sense of welcome and engagement for which the parish has become known.

The project extended the “front porch” to the very edge of Florida Avenue and Twiggs Street. In its own way, the “Wolf of Gubbio” project is a continuation of the basic renovation, with artwork that is inviting and tells a story about our community. Among the most beloved and popular stories about St. Francis is that of the Wolf of Gubbio. At the heart of the story is the willingness and capacity of the Saint to enter, with humility, into the heart of conflict in order to create a place that is holy, hospitable, and healing, and where hope can grow and take root in the lives of all people. We hope you take a moment to read the story, as well as learn a little bit about the artist commissioned to undertake the work. Continue reading Plaza Art Project: The Wolf of Gubbio →

Mass & Parking Announcement for Gasparilla Weekend

January 23, 2018Parish NewsLynda Marsh

Please be advised there will be two events affecting downtown Tampa this weekend, the Gasparilla Parade of Pirates on Saturday and the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday. Because of the pirate invasion on Saturday, January 27th, the church will be closed all day and there will be no 5:30 pm Mass. The Sunday Mass schedule remains unchanged.

Due to the increased traffic in and around downtown Tampa for both events, parking may be more difficult to find. Parking options in and around Sacred Heart can be found here.

Please note: The 717 Parking lot at the corner of N. Florida Ave. and W. Kennedy Blvd. will not be available for parishioners during any Masses on Sunday, January 28th.

Franciscan Statement at the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

January 20, 2018JPIC, Parish NewsFrGeorge

As Franciscans, our approach to social issues is always to seek deep solidarity with those who are vulnerable or on the margins of society. This stance was embodied by our founder, St. Francis of Assisi, who ignored the norms of his society and made direct encounter with the most despised and vulnerable of his time a priority. When we embrace our world, we seek to repair broken relations that lead to a variety of social issues and maladies: turning away the stranger/the immigrant; the challenge of climate change; lack of care for the elderly and disabled – both physically and mentally; a dis-ease with the dying process; the death penalty; and, as we mark the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, a particularly tragic one, abortion. Our approach is in line with the leadership of the Catholic church in that we utilize the rubric of the consistent ethic of life.

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