St Scholastica Catholic Church

 Emergency Management for Citrus county.

Prayers for Protection during Hurricane Season

As the Tampa Bay area prepares for what could be a direct hit from a major hurricane, Bishop Gregory Parkes is calling everyone to prayer. In a newly released video, Bishop Parkes calmly recites a prayer for protection in the midst of a storm and offers a blessing.

“As Hurricane Ian approaches our area, as we make our final preparations, and as we begin to feel the effects of the storm, I invite you to pray with me,” Bishop Parkes states in the video that includes captions for the hearing impaired. 

Bishop Parkes, spiritual leader of 500,000 Catholics who live along the Suncoast, Tampa Bay and the Nature Coast, is hoping everyone will take a minute to pray to God for the protection of life and property as we all face this serious threat. 

The Christian faith is rooted in prayer. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God” (2559). 

The bishop’s prayer for protection from Hurricane Ian will air on Spirit FM 90.5 and it was shared on the diocesan websiteand Facebook page. The video was recorded on September 26th at the Diocese of St. Petersburg Pastoral Center, which is closed September 27th through September 29th.