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Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg

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Saint Leo University’s governing board is a group of volunteers who exemplify the university’s six core values. They all generously give their time, talent, and treasure to enhance the education that our students receive. This year, three board members have completed their terms, and we thank them for their service.

borrell-168-NEW_05-03-2012-goodAnthony J. Borrell Jr. has strong ties to Saint Leo. His father attended Saint Leo College Preparatory School for the sixth through eighth grades, and the Borrell Family Foundation has endowed a scholarship with the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay in honor of his mother, Mrs. Z. G. “LLa LLa” Borrell, for the benefit of a Saint Leo student-athlete. Borrell served on the Saint Leo Board of Trustees from 2008 to 2017, and offered wise counsel on the Business Affairs Committee. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University, is a lifelong resident of Tampa, FL, and is president of Wilbey Industrial Service Corporation, an investment company. In addition to his work at Saint Leo and the family foundation, Borrell is active on other boards, including the University of Tampa and Y-NOT, LLC. He is active with the Egypt Temple Shrine, the American Legion, the Economic Club of Tampa, the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame, the Tampa Chapter of the American Council of Foreign Relations, and the Florida West Coast Business Hall of Fame.


Mullen,-Dennis.jpg-goodDennis M. Mullen ’76 served on the Saint Leo Board of Trustees over the course of 20 years, including two terms as chair (2007–2009 and 2015–2017). In recognition of his dedication to Saint Leo, in April 2017, the university awarded him an honorary degree, as well as the Marion Bowman Distinguished Service Medal. He is president of the Mullen Group, LLC, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Saint Leo College. Other highlights of his career include his roles as president and CEO of Birds Eye Foods and other food companies, president and CEO of the Greater Rochester (NY) Enterprise, and chairman and CEO of Empire State Development. A resident of Rochester, NY, he has served on boards of directors for B&G Foods, Foster Farms, Karma Beverage, McQuaid Jesuit High School, and other organizations.


Lynch,-Bishop-goodMost Reverend Robert N. Lynch ’97 served as the bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL, for nearly 21 years before retiring in late 2016. During his time as bishop, he expanded the reach of Catholic Charities—including the creation of Pinellas Hope, a Catholic Charities initiative for the homeless—and oversaw nearly $300 million in construction projects. He earned his M.Div. from Pope John XXIII National Seminary and was honored by Saint Leo with a Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Now a trustee emeritus, he lent his expertise to the Academic Affairs Committee.


We are pleased to announce one new member to the board.

Bishop-Parkes---Cleric-Suit_Approved-goodMost Reverend Gregory L. Parkes, bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL, has joined the university’s board of trustees, effective July 1. He was ordained a priest on June 26, 1999, and installed as the fifth Bishop of St. Petersburg on January 4, 2017. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, as well as a Sacred Bachelor of Theology degree and a Canon Law degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Bishop Parkes also serves on the board of directors for Catholic Relief Services; the board of trustees for St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary and St. John Vianney College Seminary; the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Budget and Finance Committee; the USCCB Native American Affairs Subcommittee; and the Table Foundation Board.

In Sabrina Burton Schultz’s work, no one day resembles the next. Since 2006, she has served as the director of life ministry for the five-county Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, FL. It is an expansive undertaking, and not just geographically. Schultz supports parishes not only in pro-life projects and services, but also in many other human, societal, and environmental concerns, which are all rooted in Catholic social teaching.

“It’s a broad umbrella, and this is what makes it so interesting,” she said. “I never have the same day twice.”

So in one day, she may get a call requesting a speaker for a bereavement group, field a request for advocacy for displaced Haitians seeking protection against deportation, and take a phone meeting about the agenda for a planned workshop on social justice. In her role as director, she leads efforts to abolish the death penalty (legal in Florida); provide humanitarian support for immigrants and refugees; educate non-citizens of their legal rights; and prevent the tragedy of human trafficking. There is a big emphasis on prayer in her ministry, which seeks the Lord’s assistance in the daily struggles faced by God’s holy people.

Individuals, public figures, and media organizations are apt to misunderstand or mislabel aspects of the Catholic life ministry work as parts of either a liberal or conservative agenda, she noted. But that is not the correct paradigm to apply. “When you look at human dignity as the foundation, as well as solidarity with others and a preference for helping the poor and the vulnerable, it gives a starting point, a common understanding,” she explained.

Parishes, pastors, and committees of worshippers are involved in all such efforts, of course. “I don’t have all the gifts,” she stressed. Schultz can often assist by finding talented pastors, teachers, volunteers, and professionals who serve as advocates and teachers. While she is often at work in the evenings and on weekends, she makes a point to reserve at least half the weekend for her family, which includes her husband, Stephen, their two young sons, and their mastiff, Susie.

Schultz entered this career without any pre-conceived plans for the future, she recalled, but with a deep-abiding trust in God’s plan for her life. At Saint Leo, she earned a bachelor’s degree with a dual major in the topics of most interest to her, religious studies and psychology.

That led to positions at two different parishes in the diocese. She gained experience managing religious education programs for all ages, working on parish and diocesan committees, and more. When working at a parish in Tampa, she took time off each summer to study at Boston College, eventually earning a master’s degree in pastoral ministry with a concentration on social justice issues. By 2006, when the diocese was reorganizing, now-retired Bishop Robert N. Lynch ’97 selected Schultz for her current role. (Bishop Gregory Parkes succeeded Bishop Lynch in January 2017, as noted on page 19.)

An upcoming project in her ministry will focus on healing divisions that are caused by differences among people of various political and personal beliefs. The Life Ministry of the Diocese of St. Petersburg is collaborating with Catholic Relief Services to host workshops that train leaders in facilitating civil dialogue. Dialogue sessions will allow participants to connect their beliefs and personal experiences with Church teaching on major issues facing our society, she explained. “Respectful dialogue is often lacking in society. We have to get people to converse in a civil way.” Gathering in a parish hall seems like a good place to start.