Meet the Staff
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Father Palka was born in Michigan but the family moved down to Florida when he was a child. He grew up in the Orlando Diocese but came to Tampa when he was in college and received his undergraduate degree at USF. He entered the seminary several years later and was ordained for the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1996. He has absolutely no outstanding talents or abilities but is rather a mediocre parish priest whose goal is to save the souls of his parishioners through a reverent celebration of the Mass and other sacraments.
You may email him @ [email protected]. **please email or call the Office in order to set-up appointments with Fr. Palka** |
Pastor
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The image to the left has been voted Most Animated Facial Expression Caught on Camera! |
In Residence and Parochial Administrator of Immaculate Conception Haitian Mission
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In Residence and Pastor Emeritus
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Fr. Tuoc was the long-time pastor of Epiphany of Our Lord and was also in charge of the St. Joseph Vietnamese Mission. He retired a few years ago and, though he still lives at the parish and assists with Mass when he is here, he also travels extensively, enjoying his retirement by visiting family and assisting other Vietnamese priests who have a difficult time finding someone to take their place while they go on vacation, take classes for further education, or take a retreat. He is certainly a blessing to many, many people even in retirement. He currently spends most of the year in Vietnam teaching English and Latin at the seminary. |
Retired Priest - Not in Residence
Fr. Paul Mangiafico
Now for the non-clergy staff members (you know, the ones who do most of the work!)
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As our newest staff member, Jennifer thanks you for your patience and understanding during her transition as Office Manager. Mark has big shoes to fill and she needs all the prayers you can send up for her.
Also, she will not be climbing on roofs or fixing water fountains by herself (the plumber is on speed dial!), but she certainly will attempt to find someone who can help you if she cannot. [She was also too quick in writing her own information for this section of the webpage, so she doesn't get the benefit of seeing what great things could have been written here without her interference!] |
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Kim is our sole Eskimo on staff. She handles all of the calls from those who only speak Aleut. Due to her amazing language skills, she also signs the Low Mass people's responses for our television broadcast which we have set up for our blind parishioners. In doing so she uses both American Sign Language and Aleutian Sign Language and, every once in a while,
just for fun, she includes some Pig-Latin!
just for fun, she includes some Pig-Latin!
Business Manager
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This poor man was struck by lightning one day while walking a tightrope at the circus (which is why they now use wooden balance poles rather than metal ones) and he has ever since been unable to move his arms from the position you see in the photo to the right. In a bout of Catholic charity, we hired him as our choir director because he just kind of blends in that way and nobody has ever noticed his handicap. It is unfortunate that he lost his hearing in that zapping, though, so he does not even know whether he is successful in his job or not. Sometimes, just for fun, the schola pretends to sing as if imitating an old dubbed Godzilla movie.
OK, Anders is, so far, the only staff member to actually read and comment on this page. He prefers the following description of his qualifications and/or job description to the one above so painstakingly compiled. "Choirmaster Anders Bergmann has lived in the Diocese of St. Petersburg since 2010, and is an Alumnus of the University of Florida (Go Gators!). He was introduced to Gregorian Chant and Sacred Polyphony at the Traditional Latin Mass at Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Ocala (about 40 miles south of Gainesville), while in school, and has never turned back. Until taking the position at Epiphany of Our Lord, he spent time working as a voice section leader and associate Choirmaster in various Episcopal churches, as well as directed the schola for Incarnation Catholic Church's Traditional Latin Mass community. Also an accomplished countertenor, he has sung in various productions throughout Florida. When not at church, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Katherine, and their ever-growing family." |
Music Director
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Maintenance
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Our newest maintenance man: John Bauer. He was a bit younger in the above photos taken at Epiphany a few years ago! |
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Jamiee Salcido
Youth Group Minister Extraordinare.
This young woman has the energy of St. Therese and the patience of St. Monica.
We are truly blessed to have someone who loves their faith as much as she does and
who will put up with pre-teens and teenagers on a weekly basis.
Youth Group Minister Extraordinare.
This young woman has the energy of St. Therese and the patience of St. Monica.
We are truly blessed to have someone who loves their faith as much as she does and
who will put up with pre-teens and teenagers on a weekly basis.
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Meet Sophia Bauer! (yes, she is the wife of John)
Things have gotten so busy in our parish that we had to hire a new administrative assistant just so we can keep up. Thank goodness we did, too, because that Office Manager we hired has been struggling ;) |
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Liesa Gonzalez
The Parish has certainly been blessed to have Liesa onboard as our "cleaning team." The Office Manager thanks her lucky stars every day for Liesa's skills and her attention to detail. Remember to thank her when you see her! |
And here are our Special Staff members!
Unpaid but invaluable!
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These two invaluable members of our parish staff, a Mother and Son team, hang out in the rectory chapel day in and day out. We would not know what to do without them! |
Our Cornerstone!
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Immaculate Conception |
Sacred Heart |