FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER at St. Raphael Catholic Church

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER on Sunday, May 10, 2020, streamed live from St. Raphael Catholic Church with Fr. Tim Sherwood, Fr. Kevin Mackin and Deacon Jim Grevenites. Lector: Tara Kipp. Organist: Paul Dixon. Cantor: Elizabeth Ricketts. Recording posted afterward on Saint Raphael Messenger blog, YouTube and the parish website.

FOURTH SUNDAAY OF EASTER at St. Raphael Catholic Church

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER on Sunday, May 3, 2020, streamed live from St. Raphael Catholic Church with Fr. Kevin Mackin and Deacon Jim Grevenites. Lector: Ashley Fox. Organist: Paul Dixon. Cantor: Elizabeth Ricketts. Recording posted afterward on Saint Raphael Messenger blog, YouTube and the parish website.

The scriptural quotations are taken from the Lectionary for Mass, Copyright ©1970, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; All rights reserved.

The prayers are from the English Translation of the Roman Missal © 2010 International Committee on English in the Liturgy Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-727773.

Directed by the grace, actions, and Good News of Jesus Christ, St. Raphael Catholic Church seeks to be an open, inviting, and spiritual community commissioned through our Baptism and the Eucharist.

http://st-raphaels.com
http://saintraphaelmessenger.blogspot.com

St. Raphael Catholic Church
1376 Snell Isle Boulevard NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33704

 (727) 821-7989

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER st St. Raphael Parish

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER on Sunday, April 26, 2020, streamed live from St. Raphael Catholic Church with Fr. Tim Sherwood, Fr. Kevin Mackin, and Deacon Jim Grevenites. Lector: Laura Lieffers. Organist: Paul Dixon. Cantor: Elizabeth Ricketts. Recording posted afterward on Saint Raphael Messenger blog, YouTube and the parish website. Sound improves at 17:37.

The scriptural quotations are taken from the Lectionary for Mass, Copyright ©1970, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; All rights reserved.

The prayers are from the English Translation of the Roman Missal © 2010 International Committee on English in the Liturgy Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-727773.

Directed by the grace, actions, and Good News of Jesus Christ, St. Raphael Catholic Church seeks to be an open, inviting, and spiritual community commissioned through our Baptism and the Eucharist.

http://st-raphaels.com

http://saintraphaelmessenger.blogspot.com

St. Raphael Catholic Church
1376 Snell Isle Boulevard NE
St. Petersburg, FL 33704

(727) 821-7989 

EASTER SUNDAY MASS 2020 as streamed live on Facebook

EASTER SUNDAY MASS on Sunday, April 12, 2020, streamed live from St. Raphael Catholic Church with Fr. Tim Sherwood, Fr. Kevin Mackin, and Deacon Jim Grevenites. Lector: Niki Smith. Organist: Paul Dixon. Cantor: Elizabeth Ricketts. Recording posted afterward on Saint Raphael Messenger blog, YouTube and the parish website.

The scriptural quotations are taken from the Lectionary for Mass, Copyright ©1970, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; All rights reserved. 

The prayers are from the English Translation of the Roman Missal © 2010 International Committee on English in the Liturgy Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved.

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-727773.

Palm Sunday Mass 2020 as live streamed from St. Raphael

Palm Sunday Mass on Sunday, April 5, 2020, streamed live from St. Raphael Catholic Church with Fr. Tim Sherwood, Fr. Kevin Mackin, and Deacon Jim Grevenites. Recording posted afterward on Saint Raphael Messenger blog and YouTube.

The scriptural quotations are taken from the Lectionary for Mass, Copyright © 1970, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; All rights reserved.

The prayers are from the English Translation of the Roman Missal © 2010 International Committee on English in the Liturgy Inc. (ICEL). All rights reserved. 

"Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-727773."

Deacon Jim's Homily for the First Sunday of Lent

Deacon Jim Grevenites' homily for the First Sunday of Lent at St. Raphael Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, delivered on Sunday, March 1, 2020. Preceded by the Gospel of St. Matthew 4:1-11. Video by T. Allan Smith.

Deacon Jim's Homily: God's mercy is not a competition

Deacon Jim Grevenites' homily for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time  at St. Raphael Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, delivered on Sunday, October 27, 2019. Video by T. Allan Smith. Audio by Jeff Keller.

Deacon Jim's Homily: The choices we make

Deacon Jim Grevenites' homily for the 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time at St. Raphael Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, delivered on Sunday, June 30, 2019. Video by T. Allan Smith. Audio by Jeff Keller.

Deacon Jim's Homily: Transformation in the Holy Family

Deacon Jim Grevenites' homily for Holy Family Sunday at St. Raphael Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, delivered on December 30, 2018. Video by T. Allan Smith. Audio by Jeff Keller.

Deacon Jim’s Homily: To whom shall we go?

Deacon Jim Grevenites' homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time at St. Raphael Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, delivered on August 26, 2018. Video by T. Allan Smith. Audio by Eric Foreman.

Deacon Jim's Homily: That simple sign says it all

Deacon Jim Grevenites' homily for Most Holy Trinity Sunday at St. Raphael Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, delivered on May 27, 2018. Video by T. Allan Smith. Audio by Ted Scarpino.

Deacon Jim's Homily: Our own Transfiguration

Deacon Jim Grevenites' homily for the Second Sunday in Lent at St. Raphael Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, delivered on Sunday, February 25, 2018. Audio by Jeff Keller. Still images by T. Allan Smith.

Deacon Jim's Homily: Teaching from the heart

Deacon Jim Grevenites' homily for the Feast of the Holy Family at St. Raphael Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, delivered on December 31, 2017. Audio by Jeff Keller. Still images by T. Allan Smith.

A fitting place for St. Joseph

• This article has been updated with additional information about the St. Joseph shrine.

Parishioner Greg Creamer has completed the altar for the statue of St. Joseph now installed on the south side of the church near the tabernacle.

The statue of St. Joseph and the baby Jesus now stands atop a three-foot mound of lava rock, cedar stone, river rock and slate in a fittingly masculine setting.

The two-day project began with a trip to the stone yard Friday afternoon to select materials. Greg knew what to look for because he would be matching the look of the altar for the statue of the Blessed Mother on the opposite side of the church.

Though he was using the same materials, Greg selected larger pieces to achieve the masculine look he wanted. It took two trips to the stone yard to get what he needed. He used about 1,200 pounds of material for the project.

A plywood base supports the whole structure and the statue is bolted to the stand. It’s a creative process to place the rocks just right to achieve the desired look but for Greg, who owns Artistic Flowers and supplies arrangements for the St. Raphael altar, that is a welcome challenge.

Each stone, with its unique shape and character, adds to the overall effect. Greg placed stones and removed them with an eye for the details and an understanding of what each piece added to the composition. He assembled the project in about two hours Saturday afternoon.

Greg built the altar for the Blessed Mother five years ago at the request of Monsignor Caverly. When Father Tim and Deacon Jim asked him to create an altar for St. Joseph using similar materials he was happy to oblige.

“It’s a blessing to be able to do this project for our parish,” he said. “Many people work many hours to make our church what it is and I am glad to do whatever I can to help.”

The shrine was made possible by the St. Raphael chapter of the Council of Catholic Women through a $3,000 bequest from CCW member Lily Manfredo Riconda. St. Joseph has special meaning for Lily, whose late husband, Leo Joseph Riconda, was born on March 19, the feast of St. Joseph.

• Click on photo of St. Joseph above to enlarge | Photos by Jane Winstead

What priests and deacons wear

In the last few weeks some have asked why the deacon is dressed like the priest.

The vestments are different; the priest wears a chasuble and the deacons wear a dalmatic during the celebration of the Eucharist. Although they look similar, they are different.

This article explains it a bit more.

Blessing of the Animals

Photos by Jane Winstead

Deacon Jim conducted the Blessing of the Animals Monday, October 4, to mark the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

Parishioners gathered behind the Parish Center with their dogs and cats and other pets for the occasion. At least one snake was observed in the gathering.

St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the environment. The ceremony is conducted in remembrance of St. Francis' love for all creatures.

St. Francis also was the founder of the Franciscan Order, whose members follow the saint's rules of a simple life dedicated to service of the Lord.

Want a photo?: If you would like to download any of the photographs from the slide show, please click on the slide show. You will be taken to the Picasa Photo Album Web site. Choose the photo you want to download and click the DOWNLOAD button at the top of the page. The photo will be saved to your desktop.

Parish Council begins work

Photo by Jane Winstead

Seated, from left, Ken Dandar, Father Tim Sherwood, Lynn Edmonds, Lloyd Abentroth. Standing, from left, T. Allan Smith, Pat McGuire, Celeste Brown, Marty Foreman, Ursula Abner, Michael McBride, Deacon Jim Grevenites and Valerie Wostbrock. Council members Shelly Shukys, Jon Campbell, Therese Johnson and Peggy Hawkins were not present.

The Parish Council has started a process to develop a mission statement and vision for the parish as well as a revision of the bylaws.

At the suggestion of Father Tim, the group will reflect on the broad mission of the parish, its direction and its future, and will make recommendations at its next meeting at the end of October.

All suggestions are welcome. You may send an e-mail to council president Ken Dandar or contact any council member.

Welcome, Deacon Jim

Photo by Jane Winstead

Father Tim with Deacon Jim at welcoming party in the Parish Center. • See slide show below

By Deacon Jim Grevenites

So, who is this new deacon and where did he come from?

That, of course, is one of the first questions someone new is asked, so, here is an answer to some of that.

It is a delight to be here at St. Raphael, not only is the location wonderful but most importantly, the energy and the excitement of the parishioners is great.

My wife Leslie and I, who lived in the Chicago area most of our lives, met more than 35 years ago on a blind date. Before moving to Florida in October 2001 most of my business career was spent in law enforcement and the corporate world of safety, security and sanitation for a major franchise retailer in the Chicago area.

I studied for the Permanent Diaconate in Chicago and was ordained by the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin in 1994.

2001 was the whirlwind year for us as we married off a daughter, sent a son to the Air Force, quit jobs, sold a house, moved to Florida, and bought a Ma & Pa Motel on Clearwater Beach.

While living in the Clearwater Beach area I immediately became active as a deacon at St. Brendan Church, and then in 2003, I began to work in all aspects of parish ministry and management until leaving this past August, moving from the gulf coast to the bay coast.

Along the way, we sold the motel and moved to the Largo area where we live with Baxter, (our dog).

In addition to my work at St. Brendan, in 2006 I was appointed the Assistant Director of the Diaconate for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, a position I still hold.

We have four wonderful grandchildren who live in Windemere, (near Orlando) with their mom and dad, otherwise known as our daughter Melonee and son-in-law, Brian. We also have a son, Chris, who works in the Quantico, Va. area.

As I mentioned, we are delighted to be here at St. Raphael and I am looking forward to many happy years as both the parish Business Manager and Deacon serving with Father Tim, Father Dominic, and the entire staff.

Please do not hesitate to call me or stop by to chat, even if it is because of business.

Photos by Jane Winstead