Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated Mass April 25, 2025, the Friday within the Octave of Easter, at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, with the specific intention of praying for victims of child abuse.
This was the 18th year the Diocese has held a Mass to pray for the victims of abuse, which takes place in April to coincide with National Child Abuse Prevention Month.
As noted by Bishop Dewane, the Mass was also held in the context of the mourning of the death of Pope Francis, who “strove to put in place mechanisms to address the question of sexual abuse within the Church.”
Bishop Dewane noted that during a trip by Pope Francis to Belgium in 2024, the Holy Father addressed the royal family, stating “the Catholic Church is ashamed by the abuse that had taken place, particularly the clerical sexual abuse.”
“Any number of young individuals – men and women – have been crippled within the Church by the issue of sexual abuse,” Bishop Dewane said, noting the message in the first reading for the day, Acts 4:1-12, when a crippled man is cured by Peter, saved in the name of Jesus Christ. “We must all sincerely pray for the person who may be crippled by the actions of another – perhaps not crippled in a way that is seen or easily perceived but very deeply buried.”
Bishop Dewane explained that under the leadership of Pope Francis, the Church has attempted to put in place mechanisms that facilitate decisions on how to carry out a response to sexual abuse – whether that be for bishops, for priests, for officials of the Diocese, or for officials in the Vatican. “The Holy Father was always aware of the sensitivities of how best to address abuse, and how to give that global application to the issue – particularly within the context of the cultural differences from area to area and how to best address it.”
Bishop Dewane said that Pope Francis often noted how the Church is responsible for a portion of society, but “the idea that the issue of sexual abuse is somehow only a problem for the Church, we know is not correct. It is a societal issue that all of us have to be engaged in, each according to their respective roles. Bishops have a role, a pastor has a role, the priest in a Parish has a role, but the faithful also have a role.”
The first role of the faithful is by praying for the victims of abuse and all who suffer from its impacts directly or indirectly. The faithful must also respond with their eyes and ears, protecting the innocents that are in our midst from what can occur.
While it is a good thing that the issue of clerical sexual abuse is not in the media as often as it once was, no one should think everything is okay or that everything is solved, Bishop Dewane explained.
Several who attended the Mass at Epiphany Cathedral noted that the words of Bishop Dewane reminded them that this issue is still something that must remain at the forefront, most important is the continuation of prayers for the victims of all abuse.
“It is too easy to backslide,” the Bishop said. “I commit to continue to address this issue. I ask you to pray for those victims; to pray for the priests to have the strength to overcome the evil we see out in society. It is throughout society, and we all have to take the opportunity to address it in that arena and in the conversations we have with our friends. Let us remain always united in Christ and concerned to protect any child from any form of abuse.”
The Diocese of Venice has a comprehensive Safe Environment Program which was established to protect the most vulnerable among us from abuse while raising awareness to prevent abuse from happening. The program educates thousands each year, working to provide education for all employees (clergy, religious and laity), and those volunteers and others regularly working with minors and vulnerable adults. The program provides information on the issue of abuse of children, including the detection, prevention, and reporting of child abuse. The Safe Environment Program has a component which includes training sessions for children and young people in Catholic schools. A key component of the Safe Environment initiative is that it includes a background check for all employees and volunteers.
The Diocese of Venice annually undergoes a comprehensive audit by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection to ensure that the Diocese is in compliance with current directives.
Report any abuse against minors to the Florida Department of Children and Families at 800-962-2873. Further, if Diocesan personnel or volunteers are involved, also notify the Diocesan Victims Assistance Coordinator, Susan Benton, at 941-416-6114.
For more detailed information about what the Diocese of Venice does to prevent abuse and the Safe Environment program, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/offices/programs/safeenvironment/.
PRAYER FOR HEALING VICTIMS OF ABUSE
The Secretariat of the USCCB encourages the faithful to recite the following Prayer for Healing Victims of Abuse.
God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just:
You gave your only Son to save us by his blood on the cross.
Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, join to your own suffering the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.
Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters who have been gravely harmed, and the cries of those who love them. Soothe their restless hearts with hope, steady their shaken spirits with faith. Grant them justice for their cause, enlightened by your truth.
Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people’s wounds and transform brokenness into wholeness. Grant us the courage and wisdom, humility and grace, to act with justice. Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labors. Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Courtesy of the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
UNA ORACIÓN DE SANACIÓN VÍCTIMAS DE ABUSO
Dios del amor infinito, Siempre presente, siempre justo;
Tú nos cuidas y nos proteges Y nos diste a tu único Hijo Para salvarnos con su sangre en la cruz.
Jesús manso, pastor de la paz, Dígnate unir a tu propio sufrimiento
El dolor de todos los que han sido heridos De cuerpo, mente y espíritu
Por parte de aquellos que traicionaron la confianza puesta en ellos.
Escucha el clamor de nuestros hermanos y hermanas Que han sido lastimados gravemente, Así como el clamor de aquellos que los aman. Dales la esperanza que mitigue el desosiego de sus corazones, Dales la fe que calme sus espíritus perturbados. Concédeles justicia para su causa, Ilumínalos con tu verdad.
Espíritu Santo, consolador de corazones, Cura las heridas de tus hijos e hijas
Y devuelve la integridad a lo que ha sido quebrantado. Concédenos el valor y la sabiduría, La humildad y la gracia, para actuar con justicia. Sopla tu sabiduría en nuestras oraciones y empeños. Que todos los que han sido heridos por el abuso
encuentren paz y justicia.
Te lo pedimos por Cristo, nuestro Señor. Amén.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane wrote a May 6, 2024, letter to the priests of the Diocese encouraging the promotion of this opportunity. “Isn’t this what the Eucharistic Revival is all about? After three years of renewed understanding and reverence for Jesus’s Real Presence, the time has come to go forth, to share the good news of our Eucharistic Lord with the world, to evangelize!”
Subsequently, Parishes throughout the region have followed suit with many of the Masses in honor of Pope Francis, first the Masses of the Day within the Octave of Easter with the repose of the soul of Pope Francis as the intention. Following the Octave of Easter Parishes followed the Mass for the Dead, where the celebrating priests wore red vestments and prayer intentions were for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis.
