During the Annual Convocation for Priestly Renewal, Bishop Gregory Parkes presented this award to Father Eugeniusz Gancarz, a retired priest in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg who currently provides assistance as needed to the Spanish-speaking population in parishes of east Hillsborough County.

The Diocesan Priestly Growth and Enrichment Commission chooses the priest and submits the name to Bishop Parkes for final approval.

About Father Gancarz

Eugeniusz Gancarz was born on July 12, 1946, in Mechowiec, Poland, the fourth of seven sons born to Stanislaw and Rozalia Gancarz. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Tarnow on May 30, 1971, after which he continued his studies at the Pontifical Institute of Theology, in Krakow, graduating with a Master’s degree in Theology in 1974, while Pope St. John Paul II was still Archbishop of Krakow.

The first nine years of his priestly ministry were spent as an Associate Pastor of parishes in the Diocese of Tarnow, while teaching full-time in Catholic elementary and high schools, and in a local community college.

Along with his native Polish, Father Gancarz, or “Father Eugene,” as he is best known, is also fluent in Spanish and English and comprehends Russian. His Spanish-speaking skills improved immensely during his mission work in Argentina from 1980 to 2001, where he served as Associate Pastor and Pastor of parishes in the Dioceses of Lomas de Zamora and Santa Rosa de Lima. While in Argentina, he was responsible for the construction of one parish church, three chapels, and one elementary school.

In October 2001, Father Gancarz came to the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, where he served as Parochial Vicar of Incarnation Parish, Tampa for nine years, followed by one year as Parochial Vicar of St. Clement Parish, Plant City, working primarily with the Spanish-speaking communities in both parishes. He became an incardinated priest of our Diocese on April 1, 2007. In July 2011, Father Gancarz was appointed Pastor of Resurrection Parish, Riverview, following the retirement of its long-time founding Pastor, Monsignor Antonio Diez.

During his eight years as Pastor, Father Gancarz witnessed the steady growth of the parish community, due to the increase in construction in the Riverview area. Under his leadership, the number of registered families increased from 478 to over 1,000.

On July 1, 2019, Bishop Parkes granted retirement status to Father Gancarz. Since then, he has continued to provide assistance as needed to the Spanish-speaking population in parishes of east Hillsborough County.

About Father de Cancer

Father Luis de Cancer is one of the Martyrs of La Florida, a cause for canonization for 58 men, women, and children who were killed because of their Catholic faith between 1549 and 1712. Father Luis de Cancer, a native of Spain, was martyred in Pinellas County while seeking to spread Christianity in the New World.

He came to the New World in 1518 and worked successfully among the native peoples of Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and Guatemala. A disciple of the famed Indian protector, Bartolomeo Las Casas, Father de Cancer had particular success in Guatemala. His efforts were so successful in an area known for its bellicose natives, that it was renamed the “Province of True Peace.” De Cancer believed that aggression and violence were counter-productive to the spread of the Gospel and that the native peoples needed to be treated with dignity.

Having read of several failed expeditionary attempts to Florida, de Cancer became convinced that a true missionary effort needed to be undertaken. By late 1547 he had received permission to undertake such an expedition. The Santa Maria de la Encina set out from Vera Cruz, Mexico in early 1549 with de Cancer and three other Dominicans bound for Florida. He insisted that it be an unarmed vessel.

Father de Cancer’s high ideals were put to the test as he arrived on the shores of Tampa Bay in May 1549. Undoubtedly marred by previous contacts with Spanish Conquistadors, the native peoples were very suspicious of this latest venture. Despite warnings from the captain, de Cancer pressed onwards and continued to make contact with the natives despite the fact that one of the Dominicans had already disappeared. Just a few days after celebrating a Corpus Christi Mass ashore, Father Luis de Cancer, a remarkable man of peace and Gospel virtue, was martyred on June 26, 1549, by a band of Indians shortly after setting ashore in the sight of his companions.

To view the list of previous award recipients, click here.

To learn more about the Martyrs of La Florida, click here.