JULY 5, 2026
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Jose Calzada, his wife Maricela Orozco, and their family for their extraordinary generosity. They graciously donated all the materials, as well as their time, talent, and labor, to continue the beautification of our mission.
This project marks the first major step in the renovation of our sanctuary, helping to create a more beautiful, dignified, and welcoming place of worship for our parish community. Their dedication and generosity are a true blessing, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to enhancing God’s house.
May God abundantly bless Jose, Maricela, and their family for their kindness and faithful stewardship.
JUNE 7, 2026
This weekend at the Mission, we celebrated two special moments during Mass that filled our community with joy and gratitude.
First, we recognized and congratulated our graduates from Pre-K, high school, and college, as they reach important milestones in their educational journeys. We are proud of their accomplishments and pray that God continues to guide them with wisdom, faith, and perseverance in the years ahead.
We also celebrated the consecration of nine new altar servers. After three months of preparation, formation, and practice, they are now ready to faithfully serve at the altar and assist our clergy during the sacred liturgy. We thank them for their commitment and generous willingness to serve our parish community.
Please join us in congratulating all of our graduates and newly consecrated altar servers. May God bless them abundantly, strengthen their vocations, and continue to inspire in them a joyful desire to serve Him and His Church.
MAY 27, 2026
As temperatures continue to rise, providing refreshing beverages to those who rely on our food pantry has become an especially important part of our ministry. Recently, however, our supply of drinks was nearly depleted.
In this moment of need, parishioners from St. Mary and Wayne Sartros, manager of Winn-Dixie Store #2461, answered through their generous donations of food and beverages. Their kindness helped ease this shortage and brought comfort and hope to many families in our community.
As Scripture reminds us, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink” (Matthew 25:35). Through these acts of charity, we witness the love of Christ alive in our parish community.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who continue to give so generously and remain committed to caring for our neighbors in need.
May God bless all who support this ministry, and may we continue to answer His call to serve one another with compassion, generosity, and faith.
MAY 11, 2026
On Sunday, May 10, our parish community was blessed to welcome six new members into the fullness of the Catholic Church through the sacraments of Conditional Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
This joyful occasion marks an important step in their faith journey and a beautiful reminder of God’s grace at work in our Santa Maria Mission. Surrounded by sponsors, family members, friends, and fellow parishioners, these individuals publicly professed their faith and received the sacraments with reverence and joy.
We give thanks to God for their “yes” to Christ and for the many people who supported them along the way, especially our clergy, catechists, and sponsors. As a parish, we are called to continue praying for and encouraging them as they grow in faith and discipleship.
Please join us in congratulating our newly received members and keeping them in your prayers as they continue their walk with the Lord. May the Holy Spirit strengthen them always, and may their lives bear joyful witness to the Gospel.
MARCH 24, 2026
Over the past three weeks, our food pantry has been facing a serious shortage of meat. This has made it increasingly difficult to provide balanced and nourishing meals for the many families who depend on us week after week. For many of these households, the support they receive from our pantry is not just helpful, it is essential.
We are reaching out to our parish community with a heartfelt appeal to your generosity with your help, we can continue to serve those in need with dignity and care.
There are three meaningful ways you can support our efforts:
- Donate meat directly: Fresh or frozen contributions are greatly appreciated and will go directly to the families we serve.
- Make a financial donation: Monetary gifts allow us to purchase meat and ensure a steady supply when donations run low.
- Connect us with resources: If you know of any organizations, businesses, or groups willing to donate meat, please help us establish those connections.
Together, as a community rooted in faith and service, we can overcome this challenge and continue to be a source of hope and nourishment for our neighbors in need.
Thank you for your continued kindness and support.
ONGOING:
Thanks to your generosity each week, we are able to sustain and strengthen the vital outreach services provided through Santa Maria Mission. Your donations of canned goods and other non-perishable items support two important efforts:
First, some of these items are used to prepare bags for our homeless neighbors — with ready-to-eat foods that do not require cooking.
Second, your contributions help us supplement the food pantry boxes we provide to more than 120 families in need.
We invite you to consider donating any of the items listed below. Donations may be placed in the collection bins located in the church foyer or parish hall, or you may coordinate directly with our Mission Manager for drop-off.
Every item makes a difference. Please give what you can — together, we nourish both body and spirit in our community!
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please contact Hector Amortegui (813) 961-1061 or email us smmission@stmarytampa.org
· Canned vegetables and Canned fruit
· Canned Tuna or Chicken
· Canned Ravioli or Spaghetti / Tomato sauce
· Canned soups
· Peanut butter
· Rice / Pasta
· Lentils
· Macaroni & cheese
· Powdered milk
· Vegetable oil
· Flour / Sugar / Salt / Basic spices (garlic powder, chili powder)
· Tea / Coffee
Diapers – Size 4, 5, 6
Your generosity makes a real difference!