ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A celebration of faith was held at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle on Saturday to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

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Nearly 1,000 people attended the mass. The Pope's ambassador to the United States, Archbishop Christopher Pierre, was also in attendance along with local bishops and parishioners.

"It's a coming together of the whole family of our church," said Helen Lambert, a parishioner.

The anniversary gives an opportunity to look back at the beginning of the Diocese.

"Of course our history stretches back five centuries with the arrival of priests here in 1528," said Father Len Plazewski.

"It's been a time of great growth, both in terms of the population in our area here along the Gulf Coast but also the Catholic church in this area," said Bishop Gregory Parkes.

Parkes says the Diocese has also become more diverse over the years and has expanded.

"To meet that growth we’ve had to build many new parishes where people can go to church, as well as schools providing good, quality Catholic education and also ministries to serve the poor," said Parkes.

Now members of the Diocese are looking forward to another half century of gratitude, joy and hope.

After the mass, a new mosaic, which was created by a local artist in Tampa, was blessed.