Author: Bob Reddy

Advent: Expectant Delight for the Coming of the Lord

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Ordinary Time has come to an end and the Season of Advent is upon us. This Season, which marks the beginning of the Liturgical Year of the Church, commences on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, and will come to an end on Christmas Eve.

Advent is a time of preparation and expectation, a time leading to Christmas when we repeatedly pray, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

“It is a time when we have to live by that phrase, not just say it,” Bishop Dewane said. “This is an invitation to pause in silence to recognize the signs of the coming of the presence of the Lord.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (#524) states: “When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, She makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior’s first coming, the Faithful renew their ardent desire for His second coming.”

During the opening of Advent 2023, Pope Francis proclaimed: “So, in a special way during these weeks, let us prepare the house of the heart with care, so that it is orderly and hospitable. In fact, keeping watch means keeping the heart ready. It is the attitude of the sentinel, who in the night is not tempted by weariness, does not fall asleep, but remains awake awaiting the coming light. The Lord is our light and it is good to dispose the heart to welcome him with prayer and to host him with charity, the two preparations that, so to speak, make him comfortable.”

Advent has a two-fold characteristic, the First Coming of the Son of God, which we know as Christmas or the Nativity, and we prepare for that, Bishop Dewane explained. Also, in this Advent journey we prepare for the Second Coming of Our Lord.

“Advent is a time of devout and expectant delight,” Bishop Dewane said. “We don’t usually think of it as delight, we have delight in who the Lord as our Savior comes into our life.”

The Advent Season in the Church is separate from the Christmas Season. Whereas the Advent Season is from Dec. 1 through the vigil of the Nativity of the Lord., the Christmas Season in the Church runs from First Vespers of the Nativity of the Lord up to the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord on Jan. 12, 2025.

Therefore, the main focus of the Advent Season is preparation through prayer, quiet reflection, weekday Mass attendance and even fasting, Bishop Dewane said. Taking time to quietly reflect and grow in Faith can be a challenge.

“During Advent, we are each called to put distractions aside, even for a few minutes a day, which allows the love of God to fill one’s life with joy,” Bishop Dewane said.

A key symbol in Churches for this Season is the Advent Wreath. The lights of the candles on the Advent Wreath symbolize breaking through the darkness, reminding us of the Light of Christ that we anticipate during this Holy Season. The liturgical color of Advent is a particular shade of purple, a color which is most often associated with royalty. This color is used to symbolize the anticipation of the birth of Christ, who is our King and Savior.

Each Sunday of Advent, an additional candle of the wreath is lit, with the rose-colored candle lit on the Third Sunday of Advent. Best known as Gaudete Sunday, this celebration derives its name from Scripture: “Gaudete in Domino semper” (“Rejoice in the Lord always”) and marks the mid-point in the Season.

In addition to the Sundays of Advent, the Church also celebrates two important Marian feasts, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, on Dec. 12. We are also called to seek the intercession of the saints as we make this journey towards Christmas, particularly those saints whose feasts we celebrate during Advent, such as St. Francis Xavier, St. Nicholas, St. Juan Diego, St. Lucy, and St. John of the Cross. They modeled for us the way to salvation and assist us in our own pilgrimage to Heaven.

The First Sunday of Advent also marks the start of the new Liturgical Year of the Church. In it, the Church marks the passage of time with the celebration of the main events in the life of Jesus and the story of Salvation. In so doing, Pope Francis said the Church illuminates the path of our existence, which supports us in our daily occupations and guides us towards the final encounter with Christ.

Bishop Dewane stated, “Advent is a continuous call to hope and a time of preparation for the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas. Let us resolve to help bring Him into the hearts of those we encounter throughout each day. Let us take advantage of what is new in the Advent Season as the Universal Church prepares for the birth of Christ. And let us grow in Faith during this portion of the Liturgical Year on our journey toward Salvation.”

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – Holy Day of Obligation transferred to Dec. 9

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Our Blessed Mother is recognized and celebrated in a special way on Dec. 8, 2024, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

Since Dec. 8 falls on a Sunday, and because all Sundays take precedence, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception this year will be celebrated on Monday. Dec. 9. Please note that the celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation, due to a recent clarification by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Born without Original Sin, and chosen by God to bear His only Son, Mary plays an essential role in Christmas, and in our salvation,” Bishop Frank J. Dewane said in a letter to the faithful. “Her Motherhood made possible a pathway to Heaven for all the faithful, and She still intercedes on our behalf, drawing the faithful closer to Jesus, and to God, through prayer.”

One of the most often confused Doctrines of the Catholic Church, many people, including Catholics, mistakenly think that the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. That event is in fact celebrated as the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord on March 25, nine months before Christmas.

The Immaculate Conception, which is celebrated on Dec. 8, refers to the condition that the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from Original Sin from the very moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. The Church celebrates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sept. 8, nine months after the Immaculate Conception.

The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception dates back centuries, declared as doctrine by Pope Pius IX on Dec. 8, 1854.

Pope Francis said with great joy that on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception the “Church contemplates the one who is ‘full of grace’… This is how God saw her from the very beginning in His plan of love. He saw her as beautiful, full of grace… Mary the Immaculate is inscribed in God’s plan; she is the fruit of the love of God that saves the world.”

On the Solemnity Pope Francis said the faithful must take time to contemplate “our beautiful Immaculate Mother; in Her we also recognize our truest destiny, our deepest vocation: being loved, being transformed by love, and being transformed by the beauty of God… Let Her look at us so that we can learn how to be more humble, and more courageous too in following the Word of God, in welcoming the tender embrace of Jesus his Son, an embrace that gives us life, hope and peace.”

Holy Days of Obligation

According to Church doctrine, Holy Days of Obligation are feast days on which Catholics are required to attend Mass and to avoid (to the extent that they are able) servile work. Holy Days of Obligation during Advent and Christmas seasons include:

the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception (Dec. 9), Christmas (Dec. 25), and the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, (Jan. 1, 2025).

Knights Silver Cross visits Diocese

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The faithful at five Diocese of Venice parishes were given the unique opportunity to venerate the relics of six Mexican martyrs during a special tour by the Knights of Columbus Silver Cross.

The relics are those of six Catholic priests, and members of the Knights of Columbus, who accepted death rather than halting their public practice of faith during the Cristero War of 1926 to 1929.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Nov. 24, 2024, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, to mark the start of the tour at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Port Charlotte.

Bishop Dewane said these martyrs should serve as an example to all as they lived their faith with courage nearly a century ago.

“For these six young priests, they were clear who was King in their life, there is no doubt,” Bishop Dewane said. “Christ must be the King for you and me. If someone else, or something else has taken that role, we have to look at how we set about changing that in the life we live.”

The relics – tiny slivers of bone – are housed in a silver, cross-shaped reliquary and it was placed in front of the altar so people can pay their respects after Mass. The reliquary with the relics of the six priests was presented to the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus in 2001.

The six priests, Fathers Luis Bátis Sáinz, José María Robles Hurtado, Mateo Correa Magallanes, Miguel de la Mora de la Mora, Rodrigo Aguilar Alemán, and Pedro de Jesús Maldonado Lucero, were among 25 Mexican martyrs whom St. John Paul II canonized in 2000.

At the time of the Cristero War, the anti-clerical government, in the wake of the Mexican Revolution, banned public religious rituals. Catholic clergy and lay people resisted, and many were arrested, tortured or killed. The rebellion is depicted in the movie “For Greater Glory,” and includes Father Hurtado’s story and death in 1927 at the hands of Mexican troops.

The Silver Cross, which is normally housed at the Knights of Columbus Supreme Headquarters Museum in New Haven, Connecticut, was brought to St. Maxmilian Kolbe Parish at the behest of Kellmis Fernandez, who serves as the Florida Knights of Columbus Hispanic Development Coordinator.

“My heart is bursting with joy to see everyone here,” Fernandez said. “This is something very special. We have been after this for quite a while. I think providence is great, because these are people who gave their lives for their belief.”

While in the Diocese of Venice, through Nov. 2, the Silver Cross visited San Antonio Parish in Port Charlotte, San Pedro Parish in North Port, and Holy Cross Parish in Palmetto, before being transferred to the Diocese of St. Petersburg.

Present for the Mass were the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard, as well as representatives of the Supreme, State and Diocesan Councils.

Prison and jail outreach volunteers recognized

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The men and women volunteers who enter the jails and prisons scattered throughout the Diocese of Venice serve a crucial role to a segment of society that is too commonly dismissed and forgotten.

Prison outreach volunteers were recognized for their work by Bishop Frank J. Dewane during a Mass of Appreciation on Nov. 22, 2024, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Port Charlotte. The outreach provides a variety of services, including Bible study, religious education and assistance with receiving the sacraments such as Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

Bishop Dewane, who celebrated Mass for the volunteers, praised the group for responding to answer a specific call from God, that of serving the incarcerated, those who are often marginalized or forgotten by society.

“The Diocese is blessed that the Lord has put you volunteers there to serve in a particular way for those men and women who need it the most,” Bishop Dewane said. “The incarcerated have value. All of us who go into the jails and prisons find the image and likeness of God in those whom we encounter. It isn’t just a feel-good mission. We each go in as instruments of the Lord and take it from there.”

Bishop Dewane, who celebrates Mass at jails and prisons within the Diocese of Venice multiple times each year, said the volunteers who participate in prison outreach touch the heart of the incarcerated because they talk to them about the Lord.

“God put you where you need to be, and for that, I am grateful,” the Bishop said.

The Bishop, who admitted being nervous during his first prison visit while working in Rome, said each encounter has a personal impact on him. When celebrating the Mass for the incarcerated, Bishop Dewane said he knows he is bringing the forgiveness, mercy, compassion, peace, love and joy of the Lord to others.

Since his appointment as Bishop of the Diocese in 2006, Bishop Dewane has conferred the Sacraments of Confirmation, First Communion and Baptism for dozens of inmates. In April and June of this year the Bishop conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on two groups of inmates at Avon Park Correction Institute in Avon Park, and also in June for a group at DeSoto Correctional Institute in Arcadia.

Following the Mass for volunteers, a luncheon was held in the Parish Hall. The volunteers heard from Florida Department of Corrections State Chaplain Johnny Frambo who updated everyone on the positive impacts of their ministry.

Diocesan Prison Outreach Co-Coordinators Bob Hiniker and Joe Mallof also provided updates and the good news that programs to support the incarcerated are expanding, including a re-entry program and the expansion of digital classes and resources.

Hiniker read a letter from one inmate from DeSoto Correctional Institute who expressed the thoughts of the many who are uplifted by the prison outreach volunteers. “You show us that there are people out there who care… This is more amplified during the holiday season when family cannot take time out to visit their incarcerated loved ones. I wanted to let all the volunteers know how important they are to the men here and how much of an impact they are making. Thank you, and God Bless You!”

At DeSoto Correctional Institute in Arcadia, there is a weekly Mass with more than 50 in attendance. This Mass includes viewing the TV Mass for the Homebound produced by the Diocese Department of Communications, as well as reflections on the readings.

Within the Diocese, there are currently 20 priests, five deacons and 120 laity who volunteer in prison outreach in 10 county jails, five state prisons and one civil commitment facility. The Prison Ministry of the Diocese is under the guidance of the Office of Evangelization.

During the program, Hiniker and Mallof presented Bishop Dewane with a crystal cross, a token of recognition for his unfailing support of the Prison Outreach program. Similarly, a crystal cross was presented to Johnny Frambo, who will be retiring from his position as State Chaplain in early 2025.

There are approximately 15,000 men and women incarcerated within the Diocese and new volunteers are needed. All volunteers participate in an orientation program before entering a correctional facility and “shadow” experienced volunteers until they feel comfortable. Times and days vary by facility.

If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about the Diocesan Prison Outreach, or perhaps becoming a volunteer, please contact Bob Hiniker at hinbob5@hotmail.com or Joe Mallof at mallofjt@comcast.net.

News Briefs for the week of November 29, 2024

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Schools Masses celebrated in Sarasota

Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated Mass for students at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota on Nov. 20, 2024, and Incarnation Catholic School in Sarasota on Nov. 21. These were the latest in a series of Masses Bishop Dewane celebrates at each of the 15 Diocese of Venice Catholic schools during the first semester of the academic year.

Religious Brother dies

Brother Peter Scott Nault, CSC (Brothers of Holy Cross), who served in the Diocese of Venice for 33 years, died Nov. 21, 2024. He was 78. Born in Marquette, Michigan, Brother Peter entered the novitiate of the Brothers of Holy Cross in 1963, professing first vows in 1964 and making perpetual profession on April 17, 1971. He obtained a degree from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, and did graduate work at both the University of Notre Dame and Cleveland State University. Bother Peter taught at Catholic schools in both Ohio and Illinois. For the Diocese of Venice, Brother Peter served as the Assistant Treasurer and Director of Stewardship from 1986-1993, and then beginning in 1993 he worked at Epiphany Cathedral in a variety of roles, including as business manager, until his retirement in 2019. A Mass of Christan Burial was celebrated Nov. 25, 2024, at Epiphany Cathedral.

Cardinal Mooney and Bishop Verot to face each other in regional football final

The football rivalry between Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota and Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers will be on display when the two teams meet for the Class 2A-Region 3 final on Nov. 29, 2024, at Cardinal Mooney. Mooney, the defending 2A State Champs, beat Bishop Verot 49-28 in September and are 11-0 on the season. Verot is 9-3 but are considered one of the top teams in the region. Mooney leads the all-time series 23-22.

Students learn coding skills

Fourth grade students at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School in Naples showed off their creativity and coding skills in the classroom on Nov. 22, 2024. The students were tasked with programming robots to successfully navigate a parade route. Once their coding was fine-tuned, the students then designed costumes for their robot companions to wear during the parade.

Diocese of Venice Street Evangelization Training Session Dec. 7

A Basic Evangelization Training session that was postponed due to the hurricane has been rescheduled to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 7, 2024, at St. Andrew Catholic School, 1509 SE 27th St., Cape Coral, and will be offered in both English and Spanish. Pope Francis stated that it is the responsibility of every Catholic to share their faith. Representatives from St. Paul Street Evangelization will lead the training. The cost is $25, and includes a light breakfast and lunch as well as all materials, including the handout book and evangelization supplies. Registration is required online at http://stpaulse.com/venice. For additional information, please contact Jim Gontis at 941-484-4754, or gontis@dioceseofvenice.org. NOTE: A second traing session scheduled for Dec. 8 has been postponed and will be rescheduled.

Holiday Bereavement Outreach coming to Naples and Venice in early December

The “There is Hope – Surviving the Holidays” bereavement outreach is being offered by the Office of Family Life from 3-4:30 p.m., Dec. 3, 2024, at St. Agnes Parish, Parish Center, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, and again 3-4:30 p.m., Dec. 6, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Education Center, 1301 Center Road, Venice. Deacon Henry deMena will offer guidance for loved ones who are trying to cope with loss during the holidays. Suggestions will be offered on how to get through the holidays, such as early planning for any activities to help avoid surprises, making sure not to pretend that everything is the same or fine, or to not talk about the loved one, as this can be more painful for the bereaved. No registration is required. For details, contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org.

Tee-Up Fore Kids! Fundraiser Dec. 5 in Fort Myers

Support Catholic Charities’ Children’s Center (formerly AFCAAM Center) serving children in the Dunbar Community of Fort Myers during a golf tournament. The Tee-Up Fore Kids! is Dec. 5, 2024, from 6-9 p.m. at Topgolf, 2021 Top Golf Way, Fort Myers. Tickets are $165 per player and $300 for two players and includes golf, food, drinks, raffles, and entertainment. To reserve your spot or for more information, call 239-344-4007, email, TeeUp4kids@ccdov.org or visit catholiccharitiesdov.org.

Faith & Wine Lee County Dec. 5

Faith & Wine Lee County will have its first gathering of the season at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. The speaker is Judy Hehr, and the title of her talk is, “It’s never too late to be (bankrupt, homeless, drug addicted, a drop out) …or who God created you to be.” Tickets are $28 and include a three-course dinner with wine followed by the presentation and the opportunity to connect with other faith-based women. For more information and to register online please visit faithandwineleecounty.com.

“There is Hope” Bereavement Outreach Training

The Office of Family Life is hosting a Bereavement training focusing on training parish bereavement volunteers and those who speak with the bereaved. Deacon Henry deMena will lead the training. Deacon deMena holds a master’s degree in counseling and has extensive training and experience in Bereavement. The sessions will be held Dec. 4 and 5, 2024, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, 144 Spear St., Port Charlotte. For more information, contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival in Port Charlotte on Dec. 7

Join St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Parish and Catholic School for an unforgettable day filled with Mexican-inspired food, beer, activities, and more during their Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m., Dec. 7, 2024. The school is located at 21505 Augusta Ave, Port Charlotte. For more information visit www.stcbs.org/festival or contact Alicia Castello at 941-625-5533 ext. 213.

Longtime Pastor of Our Lady of Light dies 

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Funeral information below

Father Hugh J. McGuigan, Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, who has served as Pastor at Our Lady of Light Parish in Fort Myers for the past 20 years, died on Nov. 23, 2024. He was 71.

Father McGuigan was a professed Oblate for 50 years, first as a Brother for 23 years, then as a priest since 1997. Before serving at Our Lady of Light, Father served at Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers, first as a Dean of Students and then from 2000 to 2003 as Principal.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane expressed his sorrow regarding the passing of Father McGuigan, and said the faithful of Our Lady of Light Parish were in his prayers.

“Father Hugh was a friend and a true servant of God who lived his faith each day, being an example for others to follow,” Bishop Dewane said.

Known for his warm smile, humor, dancing, love for the Church and Her people, and of course for his passion for the Philadelphia Eagles, Father Hugh will be missed by the faithful at Our Lady of Light Parish. Comments made on social media focused on the countless lives he touched through his caring and kindness.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second of nine children, he began his college studies at Allentown College (now de Sales University), in Center Valley, Pennsylvania; De Sales School of Theology with Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.; and Nova Southeastern University. After serving as a brother with the Oblates for 23 years, Father McGuigan was Ordained to the Priesthood on May 31, 1997, in Wilmington, Delaware.

While serving at Bishop Verot, on weekends, Father assisted at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Cape Coral, Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, St. Cecilia Parish, St. Vincent de Paul Parish and Our Lady of Light Parish, all in Fort Myers.

He was assigned to Our Lady of Light as a Parochial Vicar in 2003 before his appointment as Pastor in 2004. While Pastor, Father McGuigan oversaw the construction of the Parish church which was completed in 2007. In addition, a Carilion Bell Tower was constructed in the plaza between the church and Parsh Hall. Father McGuigan also took special care to minister to the students at nearby Florida Gulf Coast University inviting them to Mass and also regularly celebrating Mass for the students in the Student Union.

For the Diocese of Venice, Father McGuigan previously served on the College of Consultors as well as Religious Representative on the Presbyteral Council. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was the Chaplain for the Notre Dame Club of Southwest Florida.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday Dec. 6., at Our Lady of Light Parish, 19680 Cypress View Drive, Fort Myers. The Reception of the Body will take place at 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Parish. This will be followed by Evening Prayer and visitation from 5-8 p.m. Additional visitation will take place from 9-10:45 a.m., Friday Dec. 6.

A Memorial Mass will take place at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, at Immaculate Conception Parish, Elkton, Maryland. Burial will follow in the Oblate Cemetery in Childs, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Lady of Light Parish at https://www.ourladyoflight.com/, or Bishop Verot Catholic High School at https://www.bvhs.org/, or to the Oblates of St. Frances de Sales Retirement Fund at www.oblates.org/retirement.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father McGuigan and the consolation of his family. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in eternal peace.

Rally “Ignites” Youth of Diocese

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The Diocese of Venice Youth Rally “Ignite” was aptly named: more than 1,800 teens participated and clearly showed their hearts were on fire with love for Jesus Christ.

The Youth Rally took place Nov. 16, 2024, at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda and for more than eight hours the young men and women prayed, listened, cheered, and filled their hearts full of love and mercy.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane encouraged the young men and women to ignite the fire of the Holy Spirit from within in response to the call of God, building upon the theme of the Rally: Ignite – “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us…” Luke 24:32.

Based on the response of the teens as they were leaving Youth Rally, that goal was achieved. “Wow! What a great day. I was blown away,” said one girl from St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Cape Coral. “Awesome,” said one young man from Jesus the Worker Parish in Fort Myers. “What a great day.”

Other youth shared similar responses, with most raving about how the Youth Rally overcame any misgivings they might have had before participating. Many expressed the joy of celebrating their faith with more than 1,800 of their fellow Catholic brothers and sisters.

“Jesus Christ is the one who fans the flame,” Bishop Dewane said. “It is the Lord who puts that fire within us and how it grows, and it teaches us the self-control that we need in our lives when we go about living; becoming that man or woman of God that He calls us to be.”

The Bishop told the youth that they need to open their hearts up – through prayer, attending Mass, reading Sacred Scriptures, going to confession, and in many other ways – to hear the Holy Spirit in their lives and learn how to become a better version of themselves.

“The Lord fans the flame, but you and I have to be the ones to look within and accept the guidance provided. Recognize how the Holy Spirit is prompting you to respond,” Bishop Dewane said. “We are all called to action and to be doers of our faith. If we don’t have actions, that flame will stay locked in, and we will be empty.”

Bishop Dewane urged the youth to take what they have learned from the Diocesan Youth Rally and better conform their lives to the call of Christ. “It starts within ourselves, at home, because we must leave room for Christ to set us aflame for the love of God, allow the Holy Spirit to grow within you and you will be able to set aside what is keeping you from growing closer to the love and mercy of the Lord,” Bishop concluded.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass concluded the Youth Rally. This was preceded by Adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist which also included a procession through the crowd led by Bishop Dewane.

The Youth Rally included the group praying of the Holy Rosary, Catholic trivia, vendors and tables including for the promotion of vocations.

The day included inspirational talks from nationally renowned speakers Mari Pablo and Tanner Kalina. Pablo’s talk to the entire group was titled “From Despair to Faith, the Journey Transformed by Jesus,” and to the girls was “Mary’s Pure Heart, the Path to Jesus.” Kalina’s talk to the entire group was “The Masterplan of God – State of the Confession Time,” and to the boys “Beauty, Adventure, Battle.”

Vocation talks were offered to the men by Father Alex Pince, Diocesan Vocations Director, who was later joined by seven Diocesan seminarians. The women heard from Sister Maria Nikopoia, SSVM, Director of Religious Education at St. Michael Parish in Wauchula.

Energetic music was provided by the John Blakesley Band who inspired the crowd with spiritual songs.

Throughout the day, hundreds availed themselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many also took time out to spend quiet time with the Lord in the Adoration Chapel. The temporary Chapel also included a first-class relic of Blessed Carlos Acutis, the first millennial saint who had a passion for the Eucharist.

The Diocese of Venice Youth Rally was organized by the Diocesan Office of Evangelization’s Youth and Young Adults Office, under the direction of Director Andres Prias, and with the support of nearly 100 adult volunteers.

Blessed Carlo Acutis relic now at Cathedral

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Epiphany Cathedral in Venice has secured a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint.

Blessed Carlo Acutis was a young Italian teenager with a deep love for the Eucharist and an inspiring faith in God. Blessed Carlo was born in 1991 and dedicated his short life to spreading the devotion to the Eucharist, which he called the “highway to heaven.” Known for his exceptional skill with computers, Blessed Carlo created a website documenting Eucharistic miracles from around the world, using technology as a way to share his faith. He died from leukemia in 2006 when he was only 15.

The relic was obtained by Msgr. Patrick Dubois, Rector of Epiphany Cathedral, while he was on retreat in October and had the opportunity to pray at the Shrine of the Renunciation in Assisi, Italy, where Carlo Acutis’ body is permanently exposed.

“While there, I visited the Chancery and, as a means to continue in some way the Bishop Conference’s outreach last year for a greater Eucharistic Revival, and also, so as to enable our parishioners, our school children, and indeed, all the faithful who would visit Epiphany, I asked if our Cathedral in Venice could be given a first class relic of the soon to be canonized, Blessed Carlo Acutis,” Msgr. Dubois stated.

Thanks to the kindness and support of Most Reverend Domenico Sorrentino, the Archbishop of Assisi, the request was immediately granted, and Msgr. Dubois was elated to bring back with him the relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane formally welcomed the relic to the Cathedral during a prayer service following a Mass for students at Epiphany Cathedral Catholic School on Nov. 5, 2024.

“Blessed Carlo Acutis spent his whole life devoted to Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.  He understood his invitation to the Banquet of the Lord,” Bishop Dewane said. “He always kept Christ at the center of his life. He never forgot that invitation he had to the Banquet that Christ prepares for all of us. Despite his illness, he didn’t ask to be excused from going to church for Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, or prayers. He heard those excuses of people who weren’t there at the Banquet and he kept his word to Jesus. You and I are called to do the same. Called to remember; called to pray; called to come to the Mass – the Eucharistic celebration – and to love God and love our neighbor.”

As part of the prayer service, Bishop Dewane incensed the relic and led the students in prayer for the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis

“A relic is a representation of the individual and reminds us that we have to follow the example of these young men and women who have become or are on a journey to become saints. We have to strive to do that in our own lives,” Bishop Dewane continued.” You might think that’s pretty severe. It is not. It is doing what the Lord asks us to do.”

In a decree on May 23, Pope Francis approved a second miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Carlo Acutis, paving the way for him to become the first millennial saint. The recognition of the second miracle attributed to Acutis’ intercession means he will be canonized during Jubilee of Youth Festival on April 27, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square, which is part of the larger Jubilee Year.

While housed in the temporary church being used while Epiphany Cathedral is being renovated, the relic was put on display during the 2024 Diocese of Venice Youth Rally on Nov. 16, in Punta Gorda. The relic, in its reliquary and travelling case, was appropriately placed in the temporary Adoration Chapel set up for the Youth Rally.

Relics

Relics are usually broken down into three classes. First-class relics are the body or fragments of the body of a Saint. The Blessed Carlo Acutis relic is in this category. Second-class relics are something that personally belonged to a Saint such as a shirt, prayer card, sacred vessel or vestment, or book (or fragments of those items). Third-class relics are items that a Saint touched or that have been touched to a first- or second-class relic of a Saint. Sacred Scripture teaches that God can act through relics, especially in terms of healing and intercession.

Most Catholic church altars are embedded with relics. Many Parish churches host additional relics for veneration.

Reverencing the saints through the use of relics is not a required devotion of the Catholic Church but does reflect the Church’s belief that the saints in Heaven continue to intercede for us in response to our prayers. However, veneration of the saints through their relics — along with praying the rosary, wearing medals and going on pilgrimages — should not be misconstrued as adoration or worship, which are due to God alone according to the Church.

Diocesan Catholic high schools shine at States – Verot cross country State Champs

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The following is a recap of sports achievements by athletes of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Venice:

Bishop Verot runners take state title

For the first time in history, the Bishop Verot Catholic High School boy’s cross country team won a FSHAA 2A State Championship on Nov. 15, 2024, at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

The Viking boys from Fort Myers dethroned the four-time defending state champions with the top five Verot runners combining their time of 1:22:07.50, to earn 65 points, 18.5 seconds faster than The Bolles School of Jacksonville, a state powerhouse in cross country.

The top Verot runner was Andrew Marino, a senior who took bronze with a time 15:59.5. Also making the podium was Zachary Zielke, another senior who finished in 5th place with a time of 16:03.5. Their fellow senior teammates also did great: Dennis Olsen, 10th place, Zachary Engle, 19th, and Rafael Casillas, 39th. The future of the Verot cross country team also did well with junior Thomas Eichten finishing 79th, and freshman Christian Ginart, placing 174th among 233 competitors.

On the girls side, the Bishop Verot team placed 25th overall out of 32 teams. Senior Mackenzie de Lisle, placed 5th, with a time of 18:37. Mackenzie was the individual regional champion and finished second in the same event in 2023. Other runners on the regional championship Verot team who qualified for the state competition were Caroline Muddell, Jocelyn Sweeney, Lea Scotti, Zoe McCurry, Lana Schmidt, and Gianna Gyurich.

Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School cross country senior runner Paul Svilokos from Sarasota qualified for the State Championship and finished 36th.

In the 1A cross country championships, the girls’ team at St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples finished 21st overall, while the team from Donahue Academy of Ave Maria Parish in Ave Maria finished 22nd out of 32 teams. The top Donahue runner was senior Isabelle Meyer who placed 25th overall, while the top Neumann runner was senior Emma Collins who finished 78th overall.

Cardinal Mooney swimmers excel at States

In the FSHAA 1A swimming state championships on Nov. 16 at FAST in Ocala, Cardinal Mooney High School swimmers made a splash, capping off a successful season filled with shattered school records, numerous personal best times, nine swimmers advancing to the state level, and remarkable team spirit, competing against the top athletes in the state.

The Mooney boys’ team finished 12th overall out of 46 teams, while the girls finished 31st out of 44 teams.

In the relay events, the Boys 200-Yard Medley Relay team brought home a podium spot, placing 8th (Jack Gilliam, Daniel Krajewski, Turner Mitten, and Michael Navarro-Lenza). The Girls 200-Yard Medley Relay team finished in 16th place (Sofia Krajewski, Iza Lesniewska, Kiley Renick, and Noelle Troiano). Both relay teams broke school records, etching their names into the CMHS history books.

Individually, Daniel Krajewski earned an impressive 6th-place podium finish in both the 200-Yard Individual Medley (IM) and the 100-Yard Breaststroke. Turner Mitten finished 9th in the 500-Yard Freestyle, and 22nd in the 200-Yard Freestyle.

Sofia Krajewski showcased her versatility and determination with impressive performances in her freshman year, earning 12th in the 100-Yard Backstroke and 14th place in the 200-Yard Freestyle. Other notable performances included Iza Lesniewska, who placed 22nd in both the 50-Yard Freestyle and 100-Yard Freestyle, and Michael Navarro-Lenza, who took 22nd in the 100-Yard Butterfly.

Congratulations to all these athletes for qualifying for the State Championships and their overall performance this season!

Holocaust commemoration held in Naples – Survivor shares vivid account of perils he faced as a child

Posted on by Bob Reddy

It was on the night of Nov. 9-10, 1938, when members of the Nazi party sponsored anti-Jewish riots (pogroms) which attacked Jewish persons and destroyed Jewish owned property in Germany and Austria. Known as “Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass,” this event is regarded by historians as “the Night the Holocaust began” in Europe, which ultimately led to the murder of more than six million Jews.

To remember those events and to stand united in saying “Always Remember!” “Never Forget!” and “Never Again!” the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County (CJD) hosted its 21st annual “Kristallnacht: The Night of Broken Glass” on Nov. 17, 2024, at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples. The event was co-sponsored by the Diocese of Venice and Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, GenShoah of SWFL, and the Holocaust Museum and Janet G. and Harvey D. Cohen Education Center.

On behalf of the Diocese, Bishop Frank J. Dewane said the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue has really demonstrated a forward-looking vision, forming an ongoing relationship despite what is found in our own society.

“We cannot let the differences between us threaten the depth of the bond that is religious, theological, spiritual, and personal in many ways,” Bishop Dewane said. “We the people of our respective faiths have travelled the long and winding road in terms of history. The shared history has seen some dark days and many bright days. We are, and must continue to be, men and women of dialogue.”

The featured speaker was John Koenigsberg, who shared his Holocaust survival story. Koenigsberg was 5 when the Gestapo took away his grandfather and forced his family into hiding in occupied Holland. He would spend the next two years in the care of a Catholic family who took him in, while the fate of his parents remained unknown to him.

Koenigsberg was nearly eight when Allied forces liberated the Netherlands in 1945 and he later reunited with his parents, but he never saw his grandfather and many other family members again. During those two years in hiding, his home was a small cottage in a Nazi-controlled village in southern Holland, hidden away by the Snijckers, a sympathetic couple with four children of their own.

“I am one of the very, very fortunate ones,” Koenigsberg said. “Only seven percent of children under the age of 16 survived the Holocaust. By recent estimates, there are probably less than 75,000 fellow survivors left in the world.”

Following a lengthy application process, the national Holocaust memorial in Israel granted the “Righteous Among the Nations” honors to the Snijckers and added their names to the Wall of Honor in the Garden of the Righteous in Jerusalem in 2009. This is the highest honor Yad Vashem bestows upon non-Jews who risked their lives to come to the aid of the Jewish people during the Holocaust.

“If it was not for the bravery of Mom and Pop Snijckers – I, my children, grandchildren and generations of descendants in the future would not exist,” Koenigsberg said. “The reason I speak about my experiences and relive these memories is because I believe the lessons of the Holocaust should not become a footnote in history. We must educate younger generations and imbue them with a spirit of remembrance as well as the mission to combat all forms of racial, religious and ethnic hatred before it’s too late.”

A poignant moment during the annual commemoration was a candle lighting ceremony. Six candles were lit by Gen Shoah (first- second- and third-generation Holocaust survivors). Each lit their candle for the victims of the Holocaust and for a brighter future. A seventh candle was lit for the victims of the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks in Israel and included a call for the return of 95 remaining hostages.

The CJD is affiliated with Jewish Federation of Greater Naples and the Collier County Parishes of the Diocese of Venice. Its purpose is to engage Catholics and Jews in understanding history and advancing the cause of mutual understanding and appreciation of differences as well as commonalities.

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