{{Short description|American Catholic prelate (born 1964)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2012}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = Bishop | honorific_prefix = His Excellency, The Most Reverend | name = Gregory Parkes | honorific_suffix = JCL | title = Bishop of Saint Petersburg | image = | alt = | caption = | church = Catholic Church | archdiocese = | province = Miami | diocese = Saint Petersburg | see = | appointed = November 28, 2016 | enthroned = January 4, 2017 | retired = | predecessor = Robert Nugent Lynch | successor = <!-- Orders --> | ordination = June 26, 1999 | ordained_by = Norbert Dorsey, C.P. | consecration = June 5, 2012 | consecrated_by = Thomas Gerard Wenski, John Gerard Noonan, and Felipe de Jesús Estévez | rank = <!-- Personal details --> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|4|2}} | birth_place = Mineola, New York, US | death_date = | death_place = | previous_post = Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee (2012-2016) | motto = {{langnf|la|Nomini Tuo da gloriam|To Your name give the glory|break=yes}} | module = {{Infobox bishopstyles | embed = yes | dipstyle= *His Excellency *The Most Reverend | offstyle=Your Excellency | relstyle=Bishop | image = Coat of arms of Gregory Lawrence Parkes (Saint Petersburg).svg | image_size = 200px }} }}
'''Gregory Lawrence Parkes''' (born April 2, 1964) is an American Catholic prelate who serves as the fifth bishop of Saint Petersburg in Florida. He previously served as bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee in Florida from 2012 to 2016.
==Early life and education== Parkes was born on April 2, 1964, in Mineola, New York. His brother Stephen Parkes is bishop of the Diocese of Savannah; they are one of only 11 pairs of sibling-bishops in American Catholic history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hinds |first=Haley |date=2020-08-30 |title=Bishop brothers; Stephen and Gregory Parkes to become 1 of 11 sibling-bishops in U.S Catholic history |url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/bishop-brothers-stephen-and-gregory-parkes-to-become-1-of-11-sibling-bishops-in-u-s-catholic-history |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=FOX 13 News |language=en-US}}</ref>
For primary school, Gregory Parkes attended St. Rose of Lima School in Massapequa, New York. He graduated from Massapequa High School and attended Daytona Beach Community College in Daytona Beach, Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Finance degree from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, and worked in banking in Tampa, Florida for seven years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Previous Bishops of the Diocese|url=https://ptdiocese.org/previousbishops|access-date=2021-11-28|website=Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Most Reverend Gregory L. Parkes |url=https://www.dosp.org/bishop/most-reverend-gregory-l-parkes/ |access-date=2021-11-28 |website=Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg |language=en-US}}</ref>
Parkes later stated that he heard God's call to the priesthood while a parishioner at Christ the King Parish in Tampa.<ref name="tampabay.com">{{Cite web |title=Gregory Parkes, new bishop of Diocese of St. Petersburg, heard call to priesthood at Tampa's Christ the King |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/parkes-to-succeed-lynch-as-bishop-of-diocese-of-st-petersburg/2304304/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref> He studied for the priesthood at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida. In 1996, Parkes entered the Pontifical North American College while studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He received a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1998 and a Licentiate in Canon Law in 2000.<ref name="usccb">{{cite web |title=Pope Accepts Resignation of Bishop Doran of Rockford, IL, Names Msgr. David Malloy to Succeed Him; Names Father Gregory Parkes of Diocese of Orlando, FL, as Bishop Of Pensacola-Tallahassee, FL |url=http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-050e.cfm |access-date=August 17, 2012 |publisher=United States Conference of Catholic Bishops}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Pope meets United States' newest and tallest bishop |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/24905/pope-meets-united-states-newest-and-tallest-bishop |access-date=2021-11-28 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref>
== Priesthood == On June 26, 1999, Parkes was ordained a priest at Saint James Cathedral in Orlando for the Diocese of Orlando by Bishop Norbert Dorsey.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Bishop Gregory Lawrence Parkes [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bparkes.html |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref><ref name="GCatholic">{{cite web|url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/pens0.htm|title=Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee|publisher=GCatholic.org|access-date=August 17, 2012}}</ref>
After his 1999 ordination, the diocese assigned Parkes as the parochial vicar of Holy Family Parish in Orlando. He was transferred in 2005 to become the founding pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Celebration, Florida. That same year, Thomas Wenski appointed Parkes as chancellor of the diocese. He also became its vicar general in 2009.<ref name="usccb" />
===Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee=== <!-- Deleted image removed: center|thumb|200px|Coat of Arms as Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee --> On March 20, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Parkes as the fifth bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Parkes attended his first ''ad limina'' meeting with Benedict XVI at the Vatican prior to his consecration. Parkes was installed and consecrated on June 5, 2012, at St. Paul's Church in Pensacola, Florida. Archbishop Thomas Wenski was the consecrating prelate. Bishops John Noonan and Felipe Estévez were the co-consecrators.<ref name=":2" />
In March 2015, Parkes led a public procession on Palm Sunday. He helped carry a large wooden cross through the streets in Gulf Breeze, Florida. The procession stopped along the way to observe the stations of the cross.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Ann Catholic Church Palm Sunday Way of the Cross Procession |url=https://www.pnj.com/picture-gallery/news/religion/2015/03/29/st-ann-catholic-church-palm-sunday-way-of-the-cross-procession/70637852/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Pensacola News Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
In October 2015, Parkes authorized a petition for Pope Francis to canonize 86 Native Americans, priests, religious lay brothers, and men, women and children known as Martyrs of La Florida.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pope |first=Margo C. |title=Canonization sought for martyrs from early Florida including some from St. Augustine |url=https://www.staugustine.com/story/lifestyle/faith/2015/10/23/canonization-sought-martyrs-early-florida-including-some-st-augustine/16260337007/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=St. Augustine Record |language=en-US}}</ref> A month later, Parkes presented the petition to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). which subsequently endorsed the petition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Catholic |first=Todays |date=2015-11-20 |title=U.S. bishops endorse three sainthood causes; vote moves process forward |url=https://todayscatholic.org/u-s-bishops-endorse-three-sainthood-causes-vote-moves-process-forward/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Today's Catholic |language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2023, that petition advanced from the diocese to the Vatican, where officials will determine if the individuals named in the petition qualify as martyrs, a prerequisite for their beatification.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Florida Martyrs get one step closer to beatification |url=https://aleteia.org/2023/11/16/florida-martyrs-get-one-step-closer-to-beatification |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture |language=en}}</ref>
In May 2016, a group of parents protested the appointment of Roy C Marien as principal of John Paul II Catholic High School in Tallahassee, Florida. The parents objected to several teen novels authored by Marien that they felt were sexually explicit. In response, Parkes cited Marien’s excellent record as a pastor and school administrator.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Call |first=James |title=Priest's novels upset parents at John Paul II High School |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2016/05/26/priests-novels-upset-parents-john-paul-ii-high-school/84992450/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=Tallahassee Democrat |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Bishop of Saint Petersburg=== On November 28, 2016, Pope Francis appointed Parkes as bishop of St. Petersburg, succeeding Bishop Robert Lynch.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/34987/pope-taps-tallahassee-bishop-to-lead-st-petersburg-diocese | title=Pope taps Tallahassee bishop to lead St. Petersburg diocese | agency=Catholic News Agency| access-date=January 6, 2017 |first=Elise|last=Harris | date= November 28, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Parkes was installed at the Cathedral of Saint Jude the Apostle on January 4, 2017. For his pastoral motto, Parkes chose “To your name give the glory” from Psalm 115, Verse 1.<ref name=":1" /> On November 14, 2018, Parkes was elected USCCB treasurer, serving in that role from 2019 to 2022.<ref name=":1" />
In 2018, Parkes hosted a listening session, a day-long workshop, and a series of civil dialogues where local Catholics could discuss how racism was impacting their lives in the Catholic Church and the community. Bishop Shelton Fabre, chair of the USCCB Ad-Hoc Committee Against Racism, was also present for the listening session.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop 'shocked' at anecdotes during Catholic discussion on race |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/Bishop-shocked-at-anecdotes-during-Catholic-discussion-on-race_171527546/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>
In response to the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report released in August 2018, Parkes issued a statement asking forgiveness on behalf of fellow clergy who had not protected children. He also directed diocesan officials to launch an accountability website detailing the safeguards the diocese put in place for those working with children and vulnerable adults, such as background screening and fingerprinting. <ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Petersburg diocese responds to abuse scandal with new accountability website |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/St-Petersburg-diocese-responds-to-abuse-scandal-with-new-accountability-website_172804928/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>
On October 17, 2018, Parkes and the diocese were named in a sexual abuse lawsuit by Mark Cattell, a Virginia resident. Cattell alleged that, at age nine, he had been abused in 1981 by Robert D. Huneke from Christ the King Parish in Tampa. In 1980, Huneke had sent a letter to the Bishop of Rockville Centre in New York, saying he had abused a boy named John Salveson years earlier in New York. On August 7, 1981, Salveson, now an adult, had written Bishop William Larkin, then Bishop of St. Petersburg, about Huneke. Despite Salveson's complaints, the diocese did not remove Huneke from ministry until 1982.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Waveney |first=Ann Moore |date=October 17, 2018 |title=Man files suit against Diocese of St. Petersburg saying a Tampa priest sexually abused him in the 1980s |url=https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2018/09_10/2018_10_17_Waveney_Times_Man_in.htm |access-date=2021-11-28 |website=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref> The diocese and Parkes defended against this action; it was dismissed on March 29, 2019, by agreement of the parties.<ref>{{Cite court|litigants=Cattell v. Diocese of Rockville Centre et al|opinion=Notice of voluntary dismissal|court=M.D. Fla.|date=03/29/2019}}</ref>
Parkes attended his second ''ad limina'' visit to the Vatican in 2019. While Francis met with Parkes, the pope noticed Parkes' 6'8" height and asked if he ever played basketball. Parkes started a "View from the Top" podcast, giving an overview of the diocese, and his "Invitation to Worship" podcast, giving a quick overview of the weekly reading. In May 2021, Parkes blessed the new altar and celebrated Mass at a new parish, the first of its kind for Vietnamese Catholics in Tampa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Life in Time of Coronavirus: Welcoming a new parish |url=https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/coronavirus/2021/05/13/life-in-time-of-coronavirus--welcoming-a-new-parish |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=baynews9.com |language=en}}</ref> In June 2022, surgeons amputated Parkes's right leg below the knee after years of unsuccessful treatment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-10 |title=Bishop Gregory Parkes 'doing great' after surgery to amputate right foot |url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/pinellascounty/bishop-gregory-parkes-amputate-right-foot-surgery/67-cf292b73-f4d4-4fec-b0b1-14a2751297f9 |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=wtsp.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In September 2022, he reported being able to drive and walk unassisted again and to live independently.<ref name="tampabay.com" />
In September 2023, Parkes presented Catholic Charities with a $100,000 donation to assist the victims of Hurricane Idalia within the diocese.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeHaan |first=Brittany |date=2023-09-07 |title=Bishop Gregory Parkes Provides $100,000 to Catholic Charities for Hurricane Relief {{!}} Gulf Coast Catholic |url=https://gulfcoastcatholic.org/bishop-gregory-parkes-provides-100000-catholic-charities-hurricane-relief |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=gulfcoastcatholic.org |language=en}}</ref> In November 2024, he presented a $300,000 donation to Catholic Charities in response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Teresa |date=2024-11-27 |title="We Lost Everything, but Not Each Other" {{!}} Gulf Coast Catholic |url=https://gulfcoastcatholic.org/we-lost-everything-not-each-other |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=gulfcoastcatholic.org |language=en}}</ref>Parkes instituted the diocese’s first parental leave policy in January 2024. The benefit provides eight weeks of paid parental leave for all qualified diocesan employees. The policy was named “Forming the Family in Faith” .<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Teresa |date=2024-01-24 |title=New Diocesan Policy Provides Eight Weeks of Parental Leave {{!}} Gulf Coast Catholic |url=https://gulfcoastcatholic.org/new-diocesan-policy-provides-eight-weeks-parental-leave |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=gulfcoastcatholic.org |language=en}}</ref>
==== 50th Anniversary Vision Plan ==== In 2018, the diocese celebrated its Golden jubilee. In honor of the anniversary, Parkes led a three-year vision plan titled "Courageously Living the Gospel" focusing on evangelization, alleviating social and economic hardships, and meeting the spiritual needs of youth and young adults.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic diocese celebrates 50 years in Tampa Bay and forges plan for the future |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/Catholic-diocese-celebrates-50-years-in-Tampa-Bay-and-forges-plan-for-the-future-_169183658/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>
Parkes blessed several new facilities and programs focused specifically on affordable housing and shelter for the unhoused, including Catholic Charities’ first shelter in Citrus County in 2018,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Nancy |date=2018-09-07 |title=St. Benedict Housing to offer rental homes to low-income residents |url=https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/st-benedict-housing-to-offer-rental-homes-to-low-income-residents/article_b8358706-b2c9-11e8-bcb2-bb4250a92283.html |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Chronicle Online |language=en}}</ref> affordable housing in Crystal River in 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Espinal |first=Keishla |date=2023-07-14 |title=St. Benedict Low-Income Apartments Now Open {{!}} Gulf Coast Catholic |url=https://gulfcoastcatholic.org/st-benedict-low-income-apartments-grand-opening-held-important-goal-reached-courageously-living |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=gulfcoastcatholic.org |language=en}}</ref> a shelter that allows male heads of households in Pasco County<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-08 |title=New homeless shelter for families opening in Pasco County |url=https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pasco/new-port-richey/new-homeless-shelter-for-families-opening-in-pasco-county |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=ABC Action News Tampa Bay (WFTS) |language=en}}</ref> and a new permanent supportive housing project associated with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in New Port Richey in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New housing for those with special needs opens in New Port Richey |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/pasco/2021/05/29/new-housing-for-those-with-special-needs-opens-in-new-port-richey/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref> He also blessed a new facility at BayCare Medical Respite Program located at Pinellas Hope. St. Anthony’s Hospital, a local Catholic hospital and part of the BayCare system, oversees the Medical Respite Program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bishop to Bless BayCare Medical Respite at Pinellas Hope |url=https://baycare.org/newsroom/2020/october/bishop-to-bless-baycare-medical-respite-at-pinellas-hope |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=baycare.org |language=en}}</ref>Ten parishes in central Pinellas County began collaborating on a new counseling services program that offers professional mental health services for both Catholics and non-Catholics in the community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic churches in Pinellas launch program to improve access to mental health services |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/religion/catholic-churches-in-pinellas-launch-program-to-improve-access-to-mental-health-services-20190509/ |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{wikiquote}} {{commons category}} *[http://www.dioceseofstpete.org/ Diocese of Saint Petersburg Official Site]
==Episcopal succession==
{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=Robert Nugent Lynch}} {{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Saint Petersburg|years=2017–Present}} {{s-aft|after=Incumbent}} {{s-bef|before=John Ricard}} {{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee|years=2012–2017}} {{s-aft|after=William Albert Wack}} {{s-end}}
{{portal bar|Biography|Catholicism|Christianity|Florida}} {{Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg}} {{Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee}} {{Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parkes, Gregory}} Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:People from Mineola, New York Category:Florida State University alumni Category:Pontifical North American College alumni Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni Category:Diocese of Orlando Category:21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Pensacola–Tallahassee Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Saint Petersburg Category:Bishops appointed by Pope Benedict XVI