A group of dedicated Catholic women has answered the call of Christ as they imitate Him in how they live their lives each day.
These women are represented by the Venice Diocese Council of Catholic Women (VDCCW) serving as an example of a heartfelt commitment to serve the Church while dedicating themselves to being open to the Holy Spirit.
Each year members gather for a convention with the goal of unifying their efforts to do good for the benefit of all. With a theme of “Following Jesus Through Mary,” the 38th annual Convention took place April 26, 2024, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Venice.
A central part of the gathering was the women participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which was celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane. The Mass was concelebrated by Father Janusz “Jay” Jancarz, who is the VDCCW Spiritual Advisor and Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, as well as Father Gordon Zanetti, Pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Sarasota, and son of VDCCW Seminarian Fund Chair Cornelia Zanetti.
Bishop Dewane praised the VDCCW for coming together and giving witness to the Faith by how they are believers and followers of Jesus Christ who are called forth to reach out to others.
“You respond to the question Jesus often asks of His disciples, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ by what you do each day, promoted by the Holy Spirit,” Bishop Dewane said. “You strive to follow the Lord, not always knowing where the Lord is sending you, but you do it because you follow Jesus Christ and you good ladies have let that following of Christ be a foundation as a group and as individuals. Let that guide your life and continue to be your strength as you come to know who Christ is in your lives.”
The Bishop specifically thanked the members of the VDCCW for the important role they play in the Diocese and in the Parishes.
Following the Mass, Bishop Dewane installed VDCCW President Katie Morris, and President-Elect Karen Verveer. As part of the ceremony, Florida Council of Catholic Women President Brenda Dolan presented Morris a candle with a purple-colored ribbon, symbolizing clarity of thought and action; and a candle with a blue-colored ribbon symbolizing loyalty and dedication.
The VDCCW acts through its membership to support, empower, and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service. Council programs exude Gospel values and serve the needs of the Church and society in the modern world. To exemplify this, the VDCCW is a strong supporter of the Diocesan seminarians and presented a check of more than $16,250 to Bishop Dewane for the Diocesan Seminarian Fund, the largest amount collected from the Priesthood Sunday campaign.
VDCCW President Morris said the Convention serves to unify and inspire members as they work throughout the year in support of the Catholic Church at the Parish, Diocese and national levels.
The women also learned about a variety of topics related to Blessed Virgin Mary, including the keynote presentation, “To Jesus Through Mary,” from Diocesan Evangelization Director James Gontis. A check was also presented to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., from the VDCCW Hugs for Homeless Fund.
The winning teams were:
The Remake Learning Days Family Fun Day for residents of Casa San Juan Bosco, a farmworker housing community in Arcadia run by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., took place April 20, 2024. There were games, food and information booths. There was also the surprise arrival of a Florida Department of Forestry helicopter landing in the soccer field. The two pilots answered many questions and allowed the children to climb up and into the helicopter.
Deacon Gwynn is studying at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, having graduated from St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami in 2020. Born and raised in Palmetto, Deacon Jake is the third of four children. Deacon Jake recalls that becoming a priest was one of his earliest aspirations. One of his mentors from a young age was Msgr. Joseph Ferraro, a retired priest who also served as a U.S. Navy Chaplain, who inspired him to pursue a path to not only the priesthood but also in the Navy Chaplaincy. Following that inspiration, he was sworn in as an officer of the U.S. Navy in 2021 and is currently a Lt. (j.g), in the U.S. Navy Reserves.
Deacon Long has been studying at St. John XXIII National Seminary in Massachusetts which specializes in formation for later vocations. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, but raised in Sarasota, the second of six children, Deacon Pat is a graduate of St. Martha Catholic School and Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota. He graduated with a degree from Florida State. While pursuing a marketing career in the health care industry, he kept ties to the faith as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, religious education teacher, youth group leader and in Pro-Life work. Feeling God was calling him to the priesthood, with the help of a spiritual director he opted to enter seminary. As a seminarian for the Diocese of Venice, Deacon Long served at Incarnation Parish in Sarasota, St. Martha Parish in Sarasota, attended the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University in Nebraska, and participated in the Spanish Summer Immersion Program in Guatemala. During his ordination, Deacon Long was vested by Deacon Stephen Beck of Incarnation Parish.
