All 15 of the Diocese of Venice schools have opened for the 2008-09 school year; some delayed a day by Tropical Storm Fay. They welcome nearly 5,000 students in five counties.

Of special note is St. Catherine School in Sebring which is the first to Catholic school to open in the Eastern Deanery and has students in Pre-K3 to second grade. Also, St. Francis Xavier School in Fort Myers, the largest in the Diocese with more than 500 students, celebrates its 70th year.

Catholic education encompasses the following areas of development: spiritual, cognitive, social, emotional and physical. Education is considered the responsibility of the entire Church community.

For more on the first day of school pick up a copy of August 29 edition of The Florida Catholic.

The Diocese is sponsoring two billboards which ask the question “What have you done for your marriage today?” in cooperation with the FOR YOUR MARRIAGE Catholic Communication Campaign of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

One billboard is already on display on I-75 northbound near exit 138 in Fort Myers and second billboard with the same message will soon be displayed on U.S. 41 between Osprey and Sarasota.

With the true nature and meaning of marriage at issue during the November election, the diocese is promoting the teaching of the Church on Marriage.

For more on this campaign go to www.foryourmarriage.org. The Florida Catholic Conference has launched a Catholic marriage page where you can review the Florida Bishops’ support of Amendment 2. Please feel free to use this as a link on your parish or school website: http://www.flacathconf.org/Marriage.htm.

Lots of smiles and a few tears could be seen on the faces of the parishioners who watched as a crane lifted a large white cross to the 40-foot apex of the roof on the new Sacred Heart church.

Several people touched the cross as it lay on the bed of a trailer, knowing they will never be able to do so again.

The 15-by-8-foot, 350-pound cross was constructed of aluminum at the Valentines Manufacturing Inc. in Fort Myers. It has a powdered coating which was oven-baked to ensure the cross will be protected against the elements.

The emotions about the cross and the new church in general are high because they represent the continued healing of the deep scars left behind by the destructive path of Hurricane Charley.

The storm literally cut the church in half Aug. 13, 2004. Construction on the new church continues and is on schedule for the dedication Mass in late November.

The myth that there are not enough men entering the seminary is untrue when it comes to the Diocese of Venice Seminarian Class of 2008-09. There are 21 seminarians at various stages of their formation including 10 who are starting their pastoral formation.

As far as can be determined, the 10 represent the largest group of new seminarians to join the diocese at one time.

The seminarians gathered for three days in early August at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat and Spirituality Center for their annual convocation which is a time for fellowship and growing together in the Lord.