Following a beautiful time of praying Vespers (Evening Prayer) together, individuals and couples selected by their parish received the St. Jude the Apostle Medal, recognizing the impact their service has on the Church.

“Our reading, which the deacon just proclaimed from St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians, reminds us that Christ has given different gifts and ministries to His Church, ‘to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,’” said Bishop Gregory Parkes in his homily. “These words offer a beautiful understanding of what we celebrate here today. Ministry is not simply about what we do, but rather it is also about who we are and who we have been called to be as members of Christ’s Church.”

The St. Jude the Apostle Medal was commissioned for the Diocese of Saint Petersburg in 1999 at the request of Bishop Emeritus Robert Lynch, who retired in 2017. The medal acknowledges the great gift of the Church: its people, exemplified in individuals who in their generosity and love of their faith have greatly contributed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their parishes.

Pastors select the award recipients who gather at the Cathedral to meet the bishop so that he may express his gratitude and present the award to them. Recipients have improved many areas of parish life, from the small and often unseen ways to visible acts of service.

“Each of us has received gifts from God: Some serve as catechists teaching the faith to children and adults; visit the sick in hospitals or nursing homes; comfort the grieving when they lose a loved one; welcome newcomers to our community and to our parishes; serve the poor; prepare liturgy; or simply pray for your parish, pray for your priests, pray for our diocese,” said Bishop Parkes. “Every act of service has value in the eyes of God. Your service is a blessing to your parish, as well as to our diocese. May this recognition encourage you to continue serving with humility, joy, and a renewed commitment. And may it inspire others to engage in meaningful and necessary ministry in our parishes.”

As he concluded his homily, Bishop Parkes encouraged all in attendance to continue to serve and remember that it is the love of Christ that is doing the work within each person.

“May everything we do serve to build up the body of Christ until we all grow into the fullness of Christ's love. St. Jude, pray for us.”

To view some of the photos from the Evening Prayer and Conferral of Medals, click the arrows on the photos below.