SAINT PETERSBURG – The Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg has exceeded its ambitious goal of completing 1,000,000 Acts of Mercy (kindness) in 2025.
The diocese completed the challenge three months ahead of its Dec. 15 deadline.
“My heart is full of gratitude for all who have worked together to achieve this remarkable milestone that reflects our call to love as God loves and serve as Christ serves,” said Bishop Parkes, who established the Mercy Challenge in response to the Jubilee Year of Hope that was launched by the late Pope Francis.
The challenge encouraged Catholics to go above and beyond traditional efforts to show kindness and compassion.
Participants were asked to record all acts of service on the diocesan website (Mercy2025.org). They were challenged to focus on 14 categories of service that the Catholic Church describes as Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. These categories range from visiting the sick and sheltering the homeless to comforting the afflicted.
Examples include:
- Helping flood victims clean out their homes
- Bringing flowers to those who are ill
- Showing gratitude to veterans for their sacrifices
- Feeding the hungry
- Donating clothes to people in need
- Praying for people who are suffering
- Cleaning up gravesites
By the Numbers:
- 73 parishes participated
- 35 schools participated
- 2 mission churches participated
- 7 diocesan ministries participated
