Thursday, December 19, 2013

St. Raphael Cub Scout Santa Breakfast

Photos by Jane Winstead 
St. Raphael parishioners gathered in the Parish Center for the Cub Scout Santa Breakfast recently.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Pope Francis: Time's Person of the Year

http://poy.time.com/2013/12/11/person-of-the-year-pope-francis-the-peoples-pope/

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Boy Scout Christmas Tree Sale is under way

 Photos by Jane Winstead 
Santa sayz: Don't forget to get your tree at the Boy Scout Christmas Tree Sale at St. Raphael.


Our seminarian home for the holidays

Photo by Jane Winstead 
It was a delight to see our seminarian, Chris Grevenites, at Mass on Sunday. He is visiting for the holidays.

The St. Vincent de Paul Giving Tree at St. Raphael

 Photos by Jane Winstead 
St. Raphael parishioners made short work of nearly clearing the St. Vincent de Paul Giving Tree of ornament tags on Sunday. Wrapped presents coming soon. 

Saturday, October 19, 2013

St. Raphael Festival -- Friday night

Photos by Jane Winstead 
Here are more photos from the St. Raphael Festival on Friday night.

St. Raphael Festival -- Friday afternoon

Photos by Jane Winstead 
The St. Raphael Festival got off to a rousing start Friday night, with throngs of parishioners and visitors coming for food, music and rides. The festival continues through Sunday. 

Thursday, October 3, 2013

St. Raphael Youth Ministry participates in 40 Days for Life


By Julie Musselman

Youth Minister, Kaitlin Berger, associate pastor, Fr. Sojan and  CCW member/parent chaperons ( Marybeth Finster, Julie Musselman, Donna Condon, Lisette Shields, Andrea Vigrass, Beatriz Crespo, Tonya Harrington ) escorted about 20 of our St Raphael School middle school students to pray for the end to Abortion during the diocesan wide 40 Days for Life campaign.

The group began by meeting for 8 am mass along w/ the entire 6th grade class . Fr. Sojan blessed all those who would be heading to the abortion clinic on Central Ave and reminded us our baptismal anointing of "priest, prophet and king." He told us we need to stand up and be seen for the unborn. Being the feast day of St Therese of Lisieux, her intercession was invoked.

The group joined about 20 other members of the diocese already there at Central Ave (Marlene and Sonny D'Abramo and Joanne and Bob Burkhardt, Maggie Moren, Susan Ugan, Rosemary Early, Kathy Guckenberger, Stephanie Graham, Peter Zareas, Mary Wilson, Tara Kipp and girls and Mary Lou Price),  and prayed the rosary, quietly holding 40 Days for Life Signs. Many cars passing by honked and waved to show their support.

As we left, one student commented how good he felt to have been there. Many thanked the chaperons for taking them.

Parishioners pray for life in 40 Days for Life

Photos by Jane Winstead 
St. Raphael parishioners participate in a prayer service at the All Women's Health Center in St. Petersburg on Tuesday to help bring a positive, upbeat pro-life message to the city. Parishioners will also participate in a day of prayer on Saturday, October 19 as part of the nationwide 40 Days for Life movement.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Finishing up the Annual Pastoral Appeal: What $5 a week could do



Fr.Tim's talk at 9:30 Mass Sunday about the Annual Pastoral Appeal offers some interesting facts about annual effort to raise money to support diocese programs. Fr. Tim noted that St. Raphael is only about $60,000 short. That's amazing, actually.

More finance-savvy parishioners should correct me if I'm wrong but this may be the smallest deficit in many years, certainly in recent memory.

 I think it represents an amazing opportunity. Here's the thing, as Fr. Tim notes in the video, about 33% of registered households in the parish have donated or pledged about $200,000. That leaves about 980 families who haven't given anything.

What if we had a culture of 100% giving in our parish? Here's the astounding math: If 980 families who haven't given anything gave $5 a week for the 14 weeks left in the year, St. Raphael would exceed its goal. In fact, money would come back to St. Raphael.

Yes, $5 a week for 14 weeks. Now I know that even that might be a stretch for some people, and that's fine. If everyone in our parish gave whatever they felt they could, no matter how small, it could still be done.

100%. Think of it!

Why give to the Annual Pastoral Appeal? APA supports many ministries of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Some services from the diocese even come back to the parish – every day, as Fr. Tim notes in the video.

This is just my opinion – one parishioner. It was not solicited by Fr. Tim, nor approved by him. Seems to me this is doable. And that it ought to be a matter of parish pride to be a 100% parish. What do you think?

 – T. Allan Smith

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Rest in Peace, Sir Knight Richard 'Dick' Haight

Photos by Jane Winstead 
Color Corps Commander
Richard "Dick" Haight, 72, who was known for his local service in the Knights of Columbus council, died Monday, September 2. He most recently served as Commander of the Color Corps and frequently led K of C ceremonies at St. Raphael. (Above is a photo tribute to Dick Haight assembled by Jane Winstead.)

He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and a former parishioner at St. Raphael.

 Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 5, at St. Paul's Catholic Church. The Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 6 at St. Paul's.

Please pray for Dick's wife, Glenda, and their family. Here is a link to the obituary for Dick Haight in the Tampa Bay Times. 

Knights prepare free pancake breakfast after Mass

Photos by Jane Winstead 
Knights of Columbus prepared a free pancake breakfast for St. Raphael parishioners on Sunday, September 1. It is just one more way in which the K of C give back to the parish and diocese community.

Fr. Sojan celebrates Children's Mass; Student Council makes presentation

Photos by Jane Winstead 
Fr. Sojan experienced his first St. Raphael Children's Mass last week. The Student Council made a presentation.

Fr. Tim celebrates first Children's Mass of the school year

Photos by Jane Winstead 
Things are back into full swing with school under way and numerous school activities being planned. Fr. Tim celebrated the first school Children's Mass of the year recently. Fr. Tim punctuated his homily with an amazing magic trick to make an important point.

Fr. Sojan's first Mass at the nursing home

Photos by Jane Winstead 
Father Sojan celebrated his first Mass at the Shore Acres nursing home on Wednesday, August 21. Parishioners assisted with the Mass.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Welcome, Father Sojan! We're glad you are here!

Photos by Mary Stoft 
A reception for Father Sojan Punakkattu, our new parochial vicar, was held on Sunday, July 7, in the Parish Center. Parishioners turned out to welcome him to St. Raphael. Members of the Knights of Columbus served a pancake breakfast to honor the occasion.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Farewell reception for Fr. Dominic: We'll miss you

Photos by Jane Winstead 
St Raphael parishioners said goodbye to Fr. Dominic Corona as he prepared to leave for his new assignment at St. Francis Xavier Cabrini parish in Spring Hill. We're thankful for the three years he spent with us and honored that St. Raphael was his first parish. Godspeed, Fr. Corona.

St. Raphael Catholic School Class of 2013 Graduation

Photos by Jane Winstead

Thursday, April 18, 2013

More photos from Easter activities at St. Raphael parish

Photos by Jane Winstead 
9:30 a.m. Mass Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013

11:30 a.m. Mass Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013

Easter Bunny Breakfast and Hunt, March 24, 2013

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

This is for couples, married or not!

Unleashing the Power of Marriage is a special afternoon event that will explore practical ways for couples to grow in their relationship with one another. Come join us! After the 5:30 Mass on Sunday. Click on the brochure to get a larger version of the registration form.

Monday, January 28, 2013

The beginning of Catholic Schools Week

 Photos by Jane Winstead
Catholic Schools Week got off to a rousing start on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Mass with St. Raphael Catholic School Children's Choir offering spiritual songs as part of the Mass and students participating in the readings. Kathy Bogataj, the school principal, spoke on the value of a Catholic education. The theme for this year's Catholic Schools Week is Catholic Schools Raise the Standards. The observance continues through Saturday, February 2. Principal Kathy Bogataj discusses the importance of a Catholic education.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

50th Anniversary Gala marks parish beginning

Photos by Jane Winstead
Parishioners celebrated the founding of St. Raphael Catholic Church with a 50th Anniversary Gala on Saturday at The Coliseum in downtown St. Petersburg. It was the fifth of six events marking the beginning of the parish in 1962. The final event in the series will be the Bishop's Mass and Reception on February 10.