Category Archives: Faith Fest

Faith Fest day for Diocese of St. Petersburg

Parking and Location Info

Location
New location for family faith fest 

Florida State Fairgrounds
4800 U.S. Highway 301 North
Tampa, Florida 33610

Phone: 813-621-7821

Parking
Click here for directions to the Florida State Fairgrounds. There will be free parking! Enter parking lot through Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Once you enter the Fairgrounds there will be Parking Attendants and signage to direct you to Gate three.

Why location has changed 
A wetter than normal fall season has caused the grounds at Al Lopez Park to become overly saturated and park officials have informed us that our event plans would have to be greatly modified and limited if we remain at Al Lopez Park. For the safety, enjoyment and comfort of all, we have decided we must relocate the Family Faith Fest.

Bus Transportation

BUSES
Some parishes have arranged bus transportation for their community to attend this historic event as a group.

Arranging a bus pilgrimage will:

  •  Create enthusiasm for the event and build community among participants
  •  Give people with transportation challenges the ability to participate
  • Give the participants a chance to deepen their understanding of the universal

    Thank you to the following parishes that have arranged bus transportation for their community! We look forward to welcoming you to the Family Faith Fest

  • Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Mission, Largo
  •  Sacred Heart Parish, Pinellas Park
  •  St. Anne Parish, Ruskin
  •  St. Anthony the Abbot Parish, Brooksville
  •  St. Catherine of Siena, Clearwater
  •  St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, Spring Hill
  •  St. John Vianney Parish, St. Petersburg
  • St. Joseph, Zephyrhills
  • St. Stephen Parish, Riverview

If your parish is bringing a bus and is not listed here, please contact tlp@dosp.org.

Team

Here is the Family Faith Fest planning committee – at your service!

John Morris
Station Manager, Spirit FM 90.5

Meegan Wright
Executive Director, Stewardship and Development, Diocese of St. Petersburg

Diane Kledzik
Associate Director for Evangelization, Small Christian Communities and Adult Faith Formation

Chris Pastura
Superintendent of Catholic Schools

Teresa Peterson
Executive Director of Communications, Diocese of St. Petersburg

Danielle Wright Landry
Spirit FM 90.5

Father Gary Dowsey
Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunedin

Father Brad Reed
Associate Pastor, Espiritu Santo Catholic Church, Safety Harbor

Deacon Jim Grevenites
St. Raphael Parish, St. Petersburg and Assistant Director, Office of the Diaconate, Diocese of St. Petersburg

Douglas J. Reatini
Director, Office of Worship, Diocese of St. Petersburg

Sylvia Sanchez
Associate Director, Office of Worship, Diocese of St. Petersburg

Jan Weldon
The Link Events

Tara Liaschenko
The Link Events

Outreach

Help the Hungry and Homeless

Jesus said that whenever we help someone in need we are helping Him! As Christians, we stand with our brothers and sisters who are hungry, homeless and hurting and walk with them so they know they are not alone.

That’s why we are asking everyone who takes part in the Family Faith Fest to bring a food donation that will make a difference in someone’s life who is served by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Catholic Charities serves over 100,000 meals each year. We are only able to feed our many homeless or low-income clients through the kindness of generous people like you. Your gift of non-perishable items or canned goods will not only eliminate hunger for those in need but will also bring them hope in their time of need. Your donation of food will go to assist people being housed and helped by the following Catholic Charities ministries:

  • Pinellas Hope – adult homeless shelter in Clearwater (Pinellas County)
  • Mercy House, a home for HIV/AIDS positive mothers and their children located in Tampa (Hillsborough County)
  • Pasco Women’s Shelter in Hudson and Bethany Family Apartments in Dade City (Pasco County)
  • Citrus County Outreach Center Soup Kitchen in Homosassa (Citrus County)

Please bring any combination of the food items listed below:

  • canned vegetables, fruits and soup
  • boxed & bagged [dried] pasta and rice
  • peanut butter and jelly
  • instant coffee and breakfasts (oatmeal)
  • breakfast cereal
  • cookies and crackers
  • dried fruits and nuts
  • shelf-stable drinks (like Gatorade)

About

OUR STORY

The Family Faith Fest is a one-of-a-kind experience for families and adults of all ages that will bring together thousands of people from across Tampa Bay and West Central Florida. We hope you will join us on Saturday, October 27th from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 US Highway 301 N, Tampa for live music, food (for sale) exhibits, activities for children and teens, the celebration of Mass, shopping, health displays and much more. By joining together as one Body of Christ, we can all grow in faith and grow in unity!

This is a free event and open to all. Free entertainment. Free parking. So bring your family, bring your friends, bring your church and school and stay for the day! Food and gift items will be available for purchase. Click here to view a map of the Family Faith Fest.

This event is organized by the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg in recognition of their 50th anniversary. The Diocese has been so blessed by the generosity and love of this community and we are celebrating with our first ever region-wide festival! All are welcome to celebrate with us the tremendous blessings that God has brought into our lives. Join us as we remember the past with gratitude, celebrate the present with joy and look to the future with hope.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg is comprised of over 470,000 Catholics and includes 74 parishes, 6 missions, 48 schools and early childhood centers, a university, and a variety of social service, health care, housing and pastoral ministries located within the five counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus. Mass is celebrated in 11 languages and we are led by our fifth bishop, Most Reverend Gregory Parkes who was installed on January 4, 2017

To find a parish near you, visit:
www.dosp.org/find-a-church.

To find a Catholic school near you, visit:
www.dosp.org/find-a-school.

DIOCESE OF ST. PETERSBURG