Gregory Parkes


Gregory Lawrence Parkes is a bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He is serving as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg in the state of Florida since 2017.

Early life and education

Gregory Lawrence Parkes was born in Mineola, New York. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Florida State University. He then worked in banking at Tampa for seven years. He eventually decided to become a priest after morning masses and prayer. He studied for the priesthood at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, the Pontifical North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he received a bachelor's degree in theology and a licentiate in canon law. Parkes was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orlando by Bishop Norbert Dorsey, C.P. on June 26, 1999.

Priesthood

After ordination Father Parkes served as the parochial vicar of Holy Family Parish in Orlando, Florida and he was the founding pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Celebration, Florida from 2005–2012. He was also the chancellor of the Orlando diocese from 2005–2012 and its vicar general from 2009–2012.

Episcopal career

Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee

Father Parkes was named the bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee by Pope Benedict XVI on March 20, 2012. He attended his first Ad Limina meeting prior to consecration. His episcopal consecration took place on June 5, 2012 at St. Paul's Church in Pensacola. Archbishop Thomas Gerard Wenski of the Archdiocese of Miami was the consecrating prelate. Bishops John Gerard Noonan of Orlando and Felipe de Jesús Estévez of St. Augustine were the co-consecrators.

Bishop of St. Petersburg

On November 28, 2016, Pope Francis appointed Parkes as the next bishop of St. Petersburg, to succeed Robert Nugent Lynch. He attended his second Ad Limina visit in 2019. While meeting with Pope Francis, regarding his 6'8" size, he was asked if he played basketball. He has started his View from the Top podcast giving an overview of the diocese and the Invitation to Worship Podcast, which gives a quick overview of the weekly reading.

Episcopal succession