In a heartwarming example of mercy, parishioners at Christ the King Catholic Church in Tampa hosted an event on July 23 titled “Mercy in Bloom,” bringing a tangible sign of hope to those who are homebound.  

Parishioners gathered to assemble floral bouquets accompanied by handmade spiritual bouquet cards, which were then delivered to the homebound. Collectively, they were able to share 40 bouquets and cards. Joy and hope blossomed as recipients were reminded that they are seen, known, loved, and valued.  

The impact of the event extended beyond the recipients—it left a lasting impression on the volunteers as well.  

“I’ve seen how Christ has shown up for me, even in tiny surprises,” shared Marian Cavabas, one of the volunteers and a Christ the King parishioner. “It was humbling to imitate that and do that for someone else.”

Parishioners of all ages participated, creating stunning arrangements of vibrant flowers and tangible signs of prayer. These signs, or “spiritual bouquets,” included cards documenting prayers such as rosaries, Mass intentions, time spent in personal prayer, fasting, and other devotions offered for the recipient. While floral bouquets are a visible image of beauty, spiritual bouquets are a visible expression of prayer.

The delivery of these bouquets lit up the face of each homebound recipient as they were surprised with the meaningful and unexpected gift, as well as eliciting smiles from everyone involved.

Each month, Christ the King Parish hosts a mercy event as part of their participation in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg’s 1,000,000 Acts of Mercy Challenge during the Jubilee Year of Hope. This event offered participants the opportunity to visit the sick, comfort the afflicted, and pray for the living– corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

The diocese has created a dedicated platform for tracking these acts of mercy at Mercy2025.org, enabling participants to see the growing impact of their combined efforts.

As expressed in the Scripture passage highlighted in the initiative materials, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).  

Through initiatives like this bouquet-making event, Christ the King Parish continues to be an instrument of God’s hope and mercy in the community.

Those who missed this event but wish to participate in future Acts of Mercy initiatives are encouraged to check parish and diocesan bulletins, websites, and emails for upcoming opportunities.