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25 YEARS

Most Rev. Gregory L. Parkes

Born in Mineola, New York, Bishop Parkes was ordained to the priesthood on June 26, 1999 for the Diocese of Orlando, where he would eventually become the founding pastor of Corpus Christi Parish, in Celebration. Nearly 13 years after his ordination, he was appointed Diocesan Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee by Pope Benedict XVI and was ordained to the episcopacy by Most Reverend Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami, on June 2, 2012. In November 2016, Bishop Parkes was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg by Pope Francis and was installed as our fifth diocesan bishop on January 4, 2017. His episcopal motto is Nomine Tuo Da Gloriam (“To your name give the glory”), based on the words of Psalm 115:1.

 

Rev. Rodolfo Ramón-Cabrera, O.F.M.

Father Ramón-Cabrera was born in Holguín City, Cuba. He professed final vows with the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor and was ordained to the priesthood on November 29, 1999. After serving in parish communities in Cuba, he came to Florida in 2006, where he assisted in parishes in the Diocese of Orlando, as well as in Silver Spring, Maryland; Wilmington, Delaware; and Macon, Georgia. Father Ramón-Cabrera arrived in our Diocese in April 2023, where he resides at St. Anthony Friary and provides assistance to local parishes, as needed.

 

Rev. Agustinus Seran, S.V.D.

Originally from Indonesia, Father Seran was ordained to the priesthood on October 7, 1999 for the Society of the Divine Word (Societas Verbi Divini). Following his arrival in the United States, he joined the S.V.D. Southern Province. Before coming to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, he served as Pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish, in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, after which he was presented by his Provincial Superior for the office of Pastor of St. Peter Claver Parish, in Tampa, where he has served since July 2021.

 

Rev. Pedro Zapata

Father Zapata was born in Antioquia, Colombia and was ordained for the Diocese of Orlando on June 26, 1999, along with Bishop Parkes. He served in six parishes throughout the Orlando Diocese, including as Pastor of St. Lawrence Parish, Bushnell. He came to the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 2017, where he served as Parochial Vicar of St. Clement Parish, Plant City (2017-2020), Parochial Administrator and later Pastor of St. Rita Parish, Dade City (2020-2022), and once again at St. Clement Parish, where he has served as Pastor since July 2022. Following a period of discernment, Father Zapata became an incardinated priest of our Diocese on July 1, 2021.

 

40 YEARS

Rev. Pierre Dorvil, S.M.M.

A product of Saut-D’eau, Haiti, Father Dorvil is proficient in French, Creole, and English. He was ordained on July 1, 1984 for the Montfort Missionaries and served in parishes in Haiti from 1984 to 1987 and from 2005 to 2007. From 1988 to 1996, Father Dorvil was the Novice Master for the Monfort Missionaries and later served as the Superior for the Seminarians of the community. Since October 2007, he has been the Administrator of the Immaculate Conception Haitian Mission, in Tampa, which meets at St. Peter Claver Church. Father Dorvil also assists at Epiphany of Our Lord Parish, Tampa, where he is in residence.

 

Very Rev. Thomas T. Morgan

The eldest of four children, Father Morgan was born in Thibodaux, Louisiana. In 1961, his family relocated to Tampa, where he graduated from St. Lawrence Catholic School and Tampa Catholic High School. Father Morgan is one of our three 40-year jubilarians who was ordained to the priesthood by Most Reverend W. Thomas Larkin on May 19, 1984. He has served as Parochial Vicar of the following parishes: St. Jerome, Largo (1984-1987), St. Lawrence, Tampa (1987), St. Michael the Archangel, Clearwater (1987-1990), Holy Family, St. Petersburg (1990-1992), and Espiritu Santo, Safety Harbor (2000-2002), and as Pastor of St. Scholastica, Lecanto (1992-2000), St. Clement, Plant City (2002-2007), St. Lawrence, Tampa (2007-2015), St. Jerome, Largo (2015-2023), and currently as Rector of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg. Between 1990 and 1991, Father Morgan also served as a Marine Corps Chaplain during the Persian Gulf War.

 

Rev. Randall Roberts, O.F.M.

Gulfport, Mississippi is the birthplace of Father Roberts, who attended elementary, middle, and high school in Memphis, Tennessee. He discerned a call to join the Franciscan Friars and made his final profession with the order in 1983. He was ordained to the presbyterate on June 24, 1984. His assignments include service as a U.S. Air Force chaplain, a V.A. hospital chaplain and Guardian (Local Superior) of the Holy Name Friary, in Chicago. In November 2022, he was assigned to residence at St. Anthony Friary, St. Petersburg.

 

Rev. John. G. Tapp

Born in Philadelphia, Father Tapp’s family moved to St. Petersburg in his early teenage years, where he graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic High School. His family attended the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, where his father, Bill, served as Director of Music for many years. Father Tapp was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of St. Petersburg on May 19, 1984. Over the past four decades, Father Tapp’s assignments include Parochial Vicar of Incarnation, Tampa (1984-1989); and Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunedin (1993-1996), as well as Chaplain at Clearwater Central Catholic High School (1989-1996). He has also served as Pastor of St. Timothy, Lutz (1996-2001); Holy Family, St. Petersburg (2003-2014); Nativity, Brandon (2015-2022); and Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunedin (2022-present). Father Tapp has also shared his expertise in Liturgy by serving as Director of the diocesan Office of Worship from 1996 to 2014. He has also been a member and key supporter of the Faith in Action for Strength Together (FAST) movement in Pinellas County.

 

Rev. Alan C. Weber

Father Weber is a native of Tampa, where he was baptized in Christ the King Parish, where he attended school through eighth grade. He graduated from Jesuit High School, Tampa, after which he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of South Florida. After discerning a possible vocation to the priesthood, Father Weber was ordained for the Diocese of St. Petersburg on May 19, 1984. He was first assigned as Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Parish, St. Petersburg (1984-1990), after which he went to Corpus Christi Parish, Temple Terrace, where he served as Parochial Vicar and later as Pastor from 1990-1996. This was followed by 17 years as Chaplain of the Catholic Student Center at USF, Tampa (1996-2013). For the past 11 years, Father Weber has served as Pastor of All Saints Parish, Clearwater. His diocesan assignments include Director of the Permanent Diaconate Office from 1997 to 2005 and Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia from 2003 to 2005.

 

50 YEARS

Rev. Francis X. Buu

Father Buu was born in Quang Nam, Viet Nam and was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Da Nang on December 22, 1974. After arriving in the United States, Father Buu was incardinated into the Archdiocese of New York, where he served until his retirement in 2020. Since that time, he has resided in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, where he assists the parish community of Holy Martyrs of Vietnam, St. Petersburg.

 

Rev. Bruce Craig. S.D.B.

A member of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Father Craig was born in Baltimore and ordained for the community on March 30, 1974. He first came to Tampa in 1997, where he was assigned to Mary Help of Christians School and Camp until 2002. He returned to our diocese three years later and was eventually appointed Pastor of Good Shepherd Parish, Tampa, which, in 2008, was renamed Mary Help of Christians Parish. Since 2013, Father Craig his resided with other members of the Salesian Community in the St. Philip Residence, in Tampa.

 

Rev. Andrzej Gorczyca, M.I.C.

A native of Poland, Father Gorczyca is a member of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, based in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He is no stranger to the Diocese of St. Petersburg, having provided annual summer assistance to the Mercy of God Polish Mission, in St. Petersburg since 2009. Upon the untimely death of the Mission’s Administrator, Father Janusz Burzawa, in 2017, Father Gorczyca has been a stable presence to the Polich-speaking community, both in St. Petersburg and Port Richey. He resides in St. Paul Parish, St. Petersburg.

 

Rev. Paul Kochu

Father Kochu, a native of Kannimala, India, began his priestly of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines), ordained on October 23, 1974. For almost five years, he served as a Pastor in St. Lucia, West Indies. He came to the U.S. in 1998 and began serving in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, first as Parochial Vicar of Holy Cross Parish, St. Petersburg (1998-2000), where he would later be appointed as Pastor (2007-2010). He has also served as Parochial Vicar of Most Holy Name of Jesus, Gulfport (2000-2002) and as Pastor of St. Peter Claver, Tampa (2002-2007). Since 2010, Father Kochu has provided pastoral leadership to the parish community of St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, Palm Harbor. From 2003 to 2021, he was also Assistant Director and later Director of the Propagation of the Faith Office for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, overseeing the support of missionary efforts around the world.

 

Rev. Vincent A. Laviano, O.F.M.

In 1969, Father Laviano, a native of Albany, New York, made his First Profession with the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor and was ordained to the priesthood for the Franciscans on September 14, 1974. After many years in parish work throughout New York and New Jersey, he came to the Diocese of St. Petersburg in November 2013 and was assigned as Guardian (Local Superior) of the Franciscan Friars at St. Anthony Friary, a responsibility he faithfully held until 2023.

 

Rev. Michael R. Lydon

Pinellas County was the birthplace of Father Lydon, who was baptized in St. Paul Parish, St. Petersburg. He graduated from Bishop Barry High School (later St. Petersburg Catholic High School) in 1965. On May 18, 1974, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, by Most Reverend W. Thomas Larkin. During his 43 years of active ministry, Father Lydon served as Parochial Vicar of the following parishes: St. Patrick, Tampa (1974-1976); St. Paul, St. Petersburg (1976-1977); St. John Vianney Parish, St. Pete Beach (1977-1981) and the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg (1985-1987). He was also Parochial Administrator of St. Cecelia, Clearwater (1982) and later Pastor of Corpus Christi, Temple Terrace (1982-1985). He served as the founding Pastor of St. Justin, Martyr, Seminole (1987-1998), and finally as Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas, New Port Richey from 1998 until his retirement in July 2017. He currently resides in Citrus County, where he assists our northern parishes, as requested.

 

Rev. Salvator M. Stefula, T.O.R.

Father Stefula is a member of the Third Order Regular of the Franciscan Friars. He was ordained to the presbyterate on May 12, 1974. Among his numerous assignments over the past 50 years, he served in parishes in the Diocese of Fort Worth for 20 years, after which he was transferred to the Diocese of Venice, where he last served as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, in Bradenton before coming to the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 2018, where he was appointed as Pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Tampa. Over the past six years, he has helped to strengthen the parish community and to increase its ministry to the local Spanish-speaking population.

 

Rev. William Keane, S.D.B.

In July 2013, Father Keane was assigned to Mary Help of Christians Center, Tampa, where he provides assistance, along with his fellow Salesians. A native of Brooklyn, New York, he was ordained in Columbus, Ohio on March 30, 1974, for the Salesians of Don Bosco. Prior to his arrival in our diocese, Father Keane served on the staff of the Salesian Boys and Girls Club, in the Archdiocese of Boston.

 

60 YEARS

Rev. Robert René Barczak, O.F.M.

Father Barczak was born in Saginaw, Michigan and was ordained for the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor in 1964. For over 50 years, he served in parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where he was also a long-time faculty member at Archbishop Ryan High School. He has resided at St. Anthony Friary since 2018.

 

Rev. Kevin E. Mackin, O.F.M.

Father Mackin, a Brooklyn native, was ordained in Washington, D.C. on February 22, 1964, for the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor. He arrived in the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 2014, after serving as President of Mount St. Mary’s College, in Newburgh, New York. Previous responsibilities include President/Rector of Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, New York, from 1982 to 1988, and President of Siena College, Loudonville, New York, from 1996 to 2007. From 2014 to 2020, Father Mackin served as Parochial Vicar of St. Raphael Parish, St. Petersburg and is currently in residence at St. Anthony Friary, St. Petersburg, while continuing to offer occasional assistance to parishes.

 

Rev. Msgr. Brendan Muldoon

A native of Ireland, Monsignor Muldoon was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Galway on June 21, 1964. He came to the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1969 and was assigned as Parochial Vicar of St. Paul Parish, St. Petersburg (1969-1974) and later St. Raphael Parish, St. Petersburg (1974-1975). He served as Pastor of Incarnation Parish, Tampa, from 1975-1981 and spent the last 32 years of his active ministry as Pastor of St. Jerome Parish, Largo (1983-2015). Monsignor Muldoon served as Chancellor and later as Vicar General for the Diocese of St. Petersburg under three bishops over a period of 23 years. After Bishop Favalora’s departure to the Archdiocese of Miami, Monsignor Muldoon was selected as Diocesan Administrator, a role which he held for over 13 months until the appointment of Most Reverend Robert N. Lynch as our fourth Diocesan Bishop.

 

Rev. John C. Murphy

Ordained a priest for the Order of Servants of Mary (Servites) on July 12, 1964, Father Murphy, a native of Cork, Ireland, came to the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1976 and was incardinated into our Diocese in 1981. Prior to his retirement in 2013, Father Murphy was appointed Parochial Vicar of the following parishes: St. Jerome, Largo (1976-1979); Most Holy Redeemer, Tampa (1979-1982); and the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg (1982-1983). He served as Pastor of St. Anthony the Abbot Parish, Brooksville (1983-1988); St. Luke the Evangelist Parish, Palm Harbor (1988-1989); St. John Vianney Parish, St. Pete Beach (1989-2005); and Sacred Heart Parish, Dade City (2005-2013).

 

Rev. Thomas G. Spillett

Father Spillett was ordained to the priesthood for the Capuchin Franciscan (O.F.M. Cap.) Order on January 11, 1964. He came to the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1976, where he was incardinated in January 1980. Following his arrival in Florida, Father Spillett served as Parochial Vicar of the following parishes: Most Holy Name of Jesus, Gulfport (1976); Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg (1976-1978, 1979-1981); and St. John Vianney, St. Pete Beach (1990-1992). He was assigned as Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunedin (1978-1979) and served as Pastor of St. Paul, St. Petersburg (1981-1990); St. Matthew, Largo (1992-1998); and St. Clement, Plant City (1999-2002). Following a brief period of retirement, Father Spillett returned to full-time ministry, as Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Lourdes, Dunedin (2004-2007); St. Raphael, St. Petersburg (2007-2010); and St. Scholastica, Lecanto (2010-2014).

 

Rev. Adam E. Szufel, O.F.M.

A native of Lublin, Poland, Father Szufel was ordained for the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor on June 16, 1964. He came to the Diocese of St. Petersburg in July 2016, where he currently resides at St. Anthony Friary, St. Petersburg.

 

65 YEARS

Rev. Msgr. Antonio Diez

Robledo de la Valduerna, Spain is the birthplace of Monsignor Antonio Diez, who was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of St. Augustine on June 21, 1959. In 1968, he was incardinated into the fledgling Diocese of St. Petersburg, where he was Pastor of St. Anne Parish, Ruskin from 1968 to 1973. From 1973 to 1979, he served as Director of the Hispanic Apostolate for the Diocese, Pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Tampa (1979-1986); and Pastor of a growing Resurrection Parish, Riverview from 1986 until his retirement in 2011. For years, Monsignor Diez has been known for his charismatic leadership style, often using the expression, “fire!” (fuego!), reminding others to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Several years ago, he returned to Spain, where he currently resides with his family.