Our Bishop

Bishop Frank J. Dewane Biography

Most Reverend Bishop Frank J. Dewane serves as the spiritual leader of approximately 250,000 Catholics in the 10-county Diocese of Venice in Florida. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 as the second Bishop of the Diocese.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane was named Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida by Pope Benedict XVI on April 25, 2006, and on January 19, 2007, he was installed in his current role as Bishop of the Diocese.

In addition to holding a degree from the University of Wisconsin, Bishop Dewane also completed studies at The American University in Washington, D.C., as well as from Pontifical Gregorian University and Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, both in Rome.

Prior to entering the seminary, Bishop Dewane worked for the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in Moscow, Russia, and then for a subsidiary of PepsiCo in New York City.

Ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Green Bay in 1988, Bishop Dewane was appointed in 1991 to serve as a member of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York City, during which time he represented the Holy See at several international conferences. In 1995, he was transferred to the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” and was later appointed Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Bishop Dewane serves on the Ad Hoc Committee against Racism, and Subcommittee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Dewane previously served on several committees at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops including the Committee for Domestic Justice and Integral Human Development (past Chair), Committee for International Justice and Peace. 

Bishop Dewane is a member of the Board of Directors of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, and is the Episcopal Liaison for Catholic Charities, USA.

Domestic Boards

USCCB Ad Hoc Committee on Racism, Consultant

USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, Past Chair

Holy Land Foundation Board of Directors

Ave Maria University Board of Trustees, Ex Officio Member

Episcopal Liaison, Catholic Charities, USA

International Boards

Pontifical Council “Cor Unum,” former member

Pontifical North American College in Rome Board of Directors, former Treasurer

Organizational Membership

Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Chaplain ad honorum to the Order of Malta

Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus

Honorariums

Honoris Causa of Humane Letters from St. Leo University, FL

Meet our Staff

Marianne Marziano

Secretary/Receptionist
marziano@dioceseofvenice.org

 

Bishop Dewane’s Timeline

1950
Bishop Born

Bishop Dewane was born in Green Bay on March 9, 1950, the third child of Eleanor and Ben Dewane, devout Irish-Catholics who owned and operated a dairy farm. St. James Parish in Cooperstown, Wisc., was the center of community life for the Dewane family, which included four children.

1968
Attended University of Wisconsin

After high school graduation Bishop Dewane attended the University of Wisconsin where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences.

1975
Attended The American University

He  earned a Master’s Degree in International Administration from The American University in Washington, D.C.

1982
Worked for NBC & Pepsi Co

Prior to entering the seminary, he worked for the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in Moscow, Russia, and then for a subsidiary of PepsiCo in New York City.

1984
Attended Notre Dame University

Bishop Dewane began his studies for the priesthood at Notre Dame University in South Bend, Ind., where he completed one year of philosophy.

1986
Attended Pontifical Gregorian University

He then studied theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. While in Rome, he also completed advanced studies in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

1988
Ordination to the Priesthood

On July 16, 1988, Bishop Dewane was ordained to the priesthood and appointed to the Diocese of Green Bay as assistant pastor. He also worked for the Diocesan Tribunal.

1988
Assistant Pastor of Parish in Green Bay

Assistant pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Green Bay

1991
Appointed to Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations

In 1991 he was appointed to serve as a member of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York City. He had been serving in the Diocese of Green Bay as assistant pastor at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

1992
Conference on Environment and Development

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1994
Conference on Population and Development

Cairo, Egypt

1995
Women and Development Conference

Beijing, China

1995
Attended World Summit for Social Development

Copenhagen, Denmark

1995
Served on Pontifical Council "Cor Unum"

From 1995 to 2001 Bishop Dewane served on the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum.”

1996
Attended Conference on human Settlements

Istanbul, Turkey

1998
Attended Diplomatic Conference Instituting the International Criminal Court

Rome, Italy

2001
Appointed Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

In 2001, he was appointed Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, a post he had held at The Vatican until 2006. The primary responsibility of the Pontifical Council is to promote justice, peace, development and human rights world-wide. As Under Secretary, then-Monsignor Dewane was an official delegate of the Holy See to numerous international conferences and world summits.

2001
Attended World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance

Durban, South Africa

2002
Attended Conference on Financing for Development

Monterrey, Mexico

2003
Attended Third World Water Forum

Kyoto, Japan

2003
Attended the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization

Attended the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the World Trade Organization, Annual Meetings of the Board of Directors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund

Cancun, Mexico

2006
Coadjuctor Bishop of the Diocese of Venice, FL

On April 25, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI named him Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida.

2006
Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Frank J. Dewane

On July 25, 2006 Bishop Frank J. Dewane was ordained as a Bishop at Epiphany Cathedral.

2006
Attended the Fourth World Water Forum

Mexico City, Mexico

2007
Installation as Second Bishop of Diocese of Venice

On January 19, 2007, Bishop Frank J. Dewane was installed in his current role as the second Bishop of the Diocese.

2007
Member of International Delegation of Church Leaders

Became a member of an international delegation of Church leaders on a mission to press G8 European leaders to honor commitments made to aid Africa.

2013
Member of Catholic Relief Services

Member of an international delegation from Catholic Relief Services which celebrated the 50thAnniversary of CRS’s work in Tanzania.

Tanzania

2016
Appointed to USCCB Committee

Bishop Dewane was elected as Chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and serves a three year term.

2020
Rome Ad Limina Visit

Bishop Dewane travels to Rome to visit with the Holy Father for the Ad Limina visit as part of the Southeastern United States Conference of Bishops.

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