The priest at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tampa has spent the past year rebuilding trust and helping his parishioners heal after the previous priest, Father Vladimir Dziadek, committed suicide amid embezzlement allegations.

“I would say the first 6 or 7 months, I was really focusing on helping the people heal," said Father Carlos Rojas.

Last May, a maintenance worker found Father Dziadek had hung himself with two belts inside the church administrative office. Dziadek was accused of gambling away $165,000 of church money. Father Rojas said St. Joseph Catholic Church has since recovered all of that money.

"We had insurance and the maximum it would cover is a $125,000. We’re left short about $40,000. The diocese covered that," he said. "So, in regards to the situation of the embezzlement that has been taken care of. The challenges are the other things like how do you build the trust of the people to start giving again?"

Parishioners said Father Rojas has been doing a good job rebuilding that trust and they like the direction he's leading the church.

"Father Rojas came and gave us a new birth," said Joann Tomaino. "It gladdened our hearts."

The new priest also finished a giant mural project inside the church that Father Dziadek had begun.

"Unfortunately, he was not able to finish it. It was my great honor to complete it," Rojas said. "So, we have four murals that we were able to finish."

It will take more time to finish all the work that needs to be done at St. Joseph Catholic Church. The new church leader said he's up for the task.

“As we continue working forward with the healing and doing the best we can to administer the good things that the church has given us," Rojas said. "We may be able to move forward and make of St. Joseph what it’s meant to be, a shining star for our community of Tampa."