The Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle Celebrates 75 Years of Faith, Growth, and Community
Pete and Kathy Lefferson were both 25 when they moved to St. Petersburg in 1965 and joined St. Jude Parish.
Pete and Kathy Lefferson were both 25 when they moved to St. Petersburg in 1965 and joined St. Jude Parish.
It was s sleepy town that would be transformed over time by swarms of new arrivals, new residences, new shopping centers, and of course, a new baseball stadium, Tropicana Field that opened in 1990.
One thing hasn’t changed. Sixty years later, the Leffersons still belong to St. Jude Parish. Over the years, they have been involved in dozens of ministries including St. Vincent de Paul Society, Hospitality, Women’s Guild, Liturgy, Fall Festival, and Cursillo. They also sent three children to the parish school.
Shortly after joining the parish, Pete volunteered to go door-to-door to conduct a census of Catholics in the area. He knocked on one door and saw an elderly man wearing jeans and a t-shirt. He inquired if the resident was Catholic.
“The man said, ‘Yes, I’m Catholic. I built St. Jude’s.’ It turned out to be Monsignor James Meehan,” explained Pete with a chuckle.
Monsignor Meehan was pastor at St. Jude the Apostle from 1953 to 1969, and he oversaw construction of St. Jude’s current church that was completed in 1963. One of the church’s most unique design features is a large gold dome that rises 62 feet above the sanctuary. Father Meehan also oversaw the opening of the Cathedral School of St. Jude that opened in 1954.
In 1968, Pope Paul VI elevated St. Jude the Apostle Parish to a cathedral for the newly established Diocese of Saint Petersburg.
During its 75-year history, the church has seen 12 pastors or rectors, including Father Tom Morgan, who currently servers as rector. Five bishops have also served during these seven and a half decades.
Changes in leadership are a natural part of the Catholic faith. Amid change, parishioners provide a strong foundation that helps the community thrive.
“The legacy of St. Jude is the people who went before us and built the church for us. These are the little people, the servants who serve. It's the people who have kept it going, and who will keep it going, building on the history and moving it forward,” said Kathy.
One example of the “little people who serve” are the 100 parish volunteers who agreed to go door-to-door to raise funds for a new church building in the late 1950s.
The little church that started with 75 people gathering for Mass at a garage on the property of Admiral Farragut Academy has grown to become a vibrant parish community with more than 4,000 parishioners, a thriving school, and a beautiful cathedral. The church also serves as a beacon of hope to so many who benefit from the spiritual, educational, and charitable service provided to the community.
“The parish community of St. Jude the Apostle has effectively provided for the spiritual needs of Catholic families in St. Petersburg and beyond. The clergy and lay members of the Cathedral parish have been steadfast supporters of the local community, particularly in providing assistance to those in need regardless of their background or religious beliefs,” said Bishop Gregory Parkes, who was installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese at the Cathedral on January 4, 2017.
St. Jude the Apostle has lived out the vision of Archbishop Joseph Hurley who established the parish on December 12, 1950. He stated:
“There in the intersection of two of St. Petersburg’s great traffic arteries a greater St. Jude’s will stand as a lighthouse of the Faith, showing forth to the thousands who pass by, the truth, the love, and the goodness of God.”
Bishop Gregory Parkes Will Celebrate Mass for the 75th Anniversary of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle
All are invited to participate in a joyful 75th Anniversary Mass on Sunday, October 19th at 11:30 a.m. The Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle is the “mother church” of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, a sacred space where people from all across West Central Florida come to worship God and gather as a spiritual family. The word cathedra means chair, a reference to the bishop’s chair, a symbol of his authority to teach, govern, and sanctify the local Church entrusted to him.
The Mass will also be livestreamed at dosp.org/livestream, Facebook.com/DioStPete, and YouTube.com/DioceseofStPete.
