Venice – That Man Is You (TMIY), a program which addresses the pressure and temptations that men face in our modern culture, especially those relating to their roles as husbands and fathers, will be offered throughout the Diocese of Venice beginning this month at 17 different Parishes.
The men’s program serves to bring men together as a “band of brothers in Christ” in encouragement and support of one another to fulfill their crucial roles in the family, the Church, and society.
Jim Gontis, Diocese of Venice Director of Evangelization credited the growth of the TMIY program in the Diocese to the encouragement and leadership of Bishop Frank J. Dewane. This support, combined with the enthusiasm of Diocesan Priests, and Deacons, as well as the many at the Parishes, how made the initiative thrive.
“Men everywhere, and the culture itself, is thirsting for men to become the best husbands, father, sons, brothers, and friends they can be,” Gontis said. “They want to grow in fellowship with their brothers in Christ. Finally, they are thirsting to grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church. That Man is You is helping to do just that.”
The program began in the Diocese several years ago at Ave Maria Parish in Ave Maria and then quickly expanded afterward to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish in Parrish and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grove City. The 2023-2024 season included 12 Parishes.
The weekly gatherings will run for 26 sessions through April 2025. The program is free, with no registration. In addition, there is no requirement to attend each week, and men can drop in at any time during the length of the program. Also, participants do not need to be a registered member of the host Parish to attend.
TMIY program has Core Teams at each host Parish who will serve as the guide through the weekly gatherings. A session is about 90 minutes, broken into three, 30-minute segments: breakfast and fellowship; featured video; and small group discussions.
TMIY harmonizes current social and medical science with the teachings of the Church and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of man fully alive. Since its inception, approximately100,000 men nationally have been involved in TMIY.
For more information, please contact Jim Gontis, Director of Evangelization, 941-486-4754, gontis@dioceseofvenice.org.
Parish listings – meeting day, time, (start day), Core Team Leader contact
Ave Maria Parish, 5088 Ave Maria Blvd., Ave Maria
Saturdays, 7 a.m.-830 a.m., (Sept. 21, 2024), Dominic Micillo, 904-536-1480, dmicillo@aol.com.
Epiphany Cathedral, 350 Tampa Ave. W., Venice
Saturdays, 6:45 a.m. – 8:15 a.m., (Sept. 14), Deacon Scott Little, 814-241-5590, little@epiphanycathedral.org.
Incarnation Parish, 2901 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota
Saturdays, 6:30 a.m. – 8 a.m., (Sept. 14), Steve Jendrysik, 215-205-8655.
Our Lady of the Angels Parish, 12905 E. State Road 70, Lakewood Ranch
Saturdays, 6:20 a.m. – 7:50 a.m., (Sept. 14), Mike Gonzales, 913-424-8255, gonzalesmichaelpaul@gmail.com.
San Marco Parish, 851 San Marco Road, Marco Island
Wednesdays, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., (Sept. 4), Tom Gunkel, 239-394–5181.
San Pedro Parish, 14380 Tamiami Trail, North Port
Saturdays, 7 a.m. – 8:15 a.m., (Sept. 7), Jack Todaro, 860-559-1596, jacktod24@gmail.com.
St. Agnes Parish, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples
Saturdays, 6:45 a.m.–8 a.m., (Sept. 14), Isaac Mejias, 732-986-8572, iosc7@yahoo.com.
St. Charles Borromeo Parish, 21505 Augusta Ave., Port Charlotte
Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., (Sept. 25), Michael Barrett, 941-625-4754, michaelb@stcbc.org.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, 12001 69th St., Parrish
Saturdays, 6:30 a.m. – 8 a.m., (Sept. 14), John Kreger, 941-993-9988, kregerjd@aol.com.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 5265 Placida Road, Grove City
Thursdays, 7 a.m. – 8:10 a.m., (Sept. 19), John Coyne, 724-316-5263, coyne.johnp@yahoo.com.
St. John the Evangelist Parish, 625 111th Ave. N., Naples
Saturdays, 7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., (Sept. 14), Brandon Karas, brandonkaras1993@gmail.com.
St. Joseph Parish, 3100 26th St. W., Bradenton
Saturdays, 7 a.m. – 8:15 a.m., (Sept. 21), Miguel Rodriguez, 718-300-1992, rod730@gmail.com.
St. Katharine Drexel Parish, 1922, SW 20th Ave., Cape Coral
Thursdays, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., (Sept. 19), Timothy Altieri, 239-810-1093, Timothy.Altieri@altierilawfirm.com.
St. Patrick Parish, 7900 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota
Fridays, 6 a.m. –7:30 a.m., (Sept. 13), Joe Gomez, 303-549-4739, zemogrj@comcast.net.
St. Peter the Apostle, 5130 Rattlesnake Hammock Road, Naples
Saturdays, 6:15 a.m. – 7:45 a.m., (Sept. 14), Jeff Tenbarge, 239-839-3354, jtenbarge15@gmail.com.
St. Therese Parish, 20115 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers
Saturdays, 7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., (Sept. 21), Jason Dudley, 239-722-9119, jasdudley1@gmail.com.
St. Thomas More Parish, 2506 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota
Saturdays, 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m., (Sept. 28), Chris Parisieau, 443-994-7397, parisieau314@outlook.com.
For more information, please contact Jim Gontis, Director of Evangelization, 941-486-4754, gontis@dioceseofvenice.org.
