Archbishop Grob Makes World Series Wager

October 23, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

Archbishop Grob and Bishop Parkes Make World Series Wager

Archbishop Jeffery S. Grob, Archbishop of Milwaukee, and Bishop Gregory Parkes, Bishop of Saint Petersburg, have placed a friendly wager on the outcome of the 2026 World Series.  

If the Brewers win, Bishop Parkes will make a donation to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and in the celebration of a Tampa Bay specialty, send a box of his hand rolled, episcopal cigars; if the Rays prevail, Archbishop Grob will send brats from Bunzel’s Meat Market to Florida along with a donation to Catholic Charities of Saint Petersburg.

Bishop Parkes said, “It’s not uncommon for bishops and archbishops to make friendly wagers when their cities’ teams face off in a Super Bowl, World Series or NHL final. I thought it would be fun to do the same with Archbishop Grob of Milwaukee. We wanted to make the wager not only fun, but meaningful, by including a donation to Catholic Charities. I’m very pleased that Archbishop Grob agreed, and I’m looking forward to a little friendly competition!”  

Archbishop Grob said, “There’s nothing like the excitement of the World Series to bring our two dioceses together in a spirit of friendly competition. While we’re each cheering for our team to win, the real victory will be helping those in need through our Catholic Charities. May this friendly wager remind us that, win or lose, we can all make a difference when we come together in service to others.”  

Media Contacts:  
Archdiocese of Milwaukee  
Sandra Peterson, Executive Director of Communications  
414-769-3461 or [email protected]  

Diocese of Saint Petersburg  
Allison Munden, Director of Communication & Information  
925-222-8432 or [email protected]  

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The Archdiocese of Milwaukee encompasses 10 counties in southeast Wisconsin. It includes 175 parishes that provide spiritual care to more than 500,000 Catholics, 103 schools serving 27,000 students, and six cemeteries. Its Mission is to bring people closer to Christ by accompanying, supporting and enhancing the ministries of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.  
 
The Mary Mother of the Church Pastoral Center, located in St. Francis, is the main office for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee is its mother church. The archdiocese also provides pastoral support for its sister parish, La Sagrada Familia, in the Dominican Republic.  

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The Diocese of Saint Petersburg is comprised of nearly 500,000 Catholics within the five counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus. It includes 74 parishes, five missions, one shrine, 46 schools and early childhood centers, and a variety of social services, health care, housing, and pastoral ministries. Mass is celebrated regularly in 14 languages, and we are led by Most Reverend Gregory Parkes, who was installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese on January 4, 2017.