Placing a greater emphasis on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist has been the ongoing focus of the National Eucharistic Revival, an ongoing initiative called for by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Bishop Frank J. Dewane notes how an encounter with presence of the Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist during Adoration or at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, “must have an impact on your life, bringing you into a deeper relationship with the Lord. We must spend time intentionally approaching the Lord in every Mass, and spending time adoring Him in the Blessed Sacrament. In this way, we will come to know Him more deeply.”
During the Revival, numerous events within the Diocese of Venice have included Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, including at the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress in 2023, and Eucharistic Conference in 2024. An additional Eucharistic Conference is scheduled for March 2025 to continue to teach the faithful about the importance of the Most Holy Eucharist in their lives. Meanwhile, resources have been provided to Parishes, encouraging them to promote this effort at the local level.
Several Diocesan Parishes have Adoration Chapels, some available 24-hours-a-day and others for multiple hours daily. In addition, several Parishes have added extra hours to monthly First Friday Adoration, or additional times following daily or Sunday Masses.
At San Pedro Parish in North Port, the First Friday Adoration, Sept. 6, 2024, followed the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Father Nathan Marzonie, OMV, led the faithful in the opening prayers for the Adoration for a Holy Hour. The First Friday Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour has a dedicated following of people who find beauty and peace during their time in the presence of the Lord.
“It’s absolutely wonderful,” said one devotee. “The power is sometimes overwhelming.”
At the moment of exposition of the Most Holy Eucharist, Father Marzonie raised the monstrance and sang Tantum ergo, with the faithful joining. Father then led everyone in silent prayer, kneeling before the altar and the Blessed Sacrament.
The faithful are encouraged to take the intervening time before the closing Benediction to pray silently before the Lord.
While Adoration at San Pedro was for an hour, the First Friday Devotion at other Parishes often lasts many hours from morning into the evening, to include Evening Vespers, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. A few Parishes, such as at St. Peter the Apostle in Naples, offers liturgical readings, music and intercessions.
While not every Parish in the Diocese has a First Friday Holy Hour, Adoration at Parishes is typically available on the First Friday or on another designated day each month. Meanwhile, many Parishes, such as Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, St. Raphael in Lehigh Acres, St. John the Evangelist in Naples, St. John XXIII in Fort Myers, St. Charles Borromeo in Port Charlotte, St. Michael in Wauchula, San Marco on Marco Island, Sacred Heart Parish in Bradenton, and others, have Adoration Chapels where extended adoration is offered. Check with your Parish, or nearby Parishes, for adoration hours. For Parish contact information please visit www.dioceseofvenice.org and click the “Find a Parish” link.
The fall campaign encompasses October, which is National Respect Life Month, and includes Respect Life Sunday (Oct. 6). Since its inception, 40 Days for Life participants report having saved 24,853 lives from abortion during a campaign. That’s the type of impact that led an ACLU spokesperson to describe 40 Days for Life as the “greatest threat to choice.” 40 Days for Life has contributed to a groundswell of pro-life support worldwide. More than 155 abortion centers, along with numerous referral centers, where campaigns have been hosted, have closed their doors forever.
Keep your eye out for the new VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 4 television ads! View the commercial by clicking here: 
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.
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.
To learn what authentic, non-confrontational, joyful evangelization looks and sounds like, be sure to attend the upcoming workshop with Adam Janke, Vice President of St. Paul Street Evangelization. The workshop is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sept. 28, 2024, at Church of the Resurrection Parish, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. Mass will be offered at 8 a.m. in the Parish Chapel. There will also be an optional “Live Lab” experience from 4 p.m.- 5 p.m., giving participants the chance to put into practice what they have just learned. Saint Paul Street Evangelization is a non-profit, grassroots organization that has mobilized thousands of ordinary Catholics to take the Gospel to the public square and be instruments of God in the salvation of souls. The one-day Basic Evangelization Training is open to all adult parishioners from any Catholic Parish. Registration is $25 and includes a light breakfast, lunch and all training materials. Please register at 
Calling all Catholic engaged and married couples! Join Bishop Frank J. Dewane for the fourth annual Diocesan “Together in Holiness” marriage conference, 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Oct. 19, 2024, at Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. The Conference, a collaboration between the Diocese of Venice and the St. John Paul II Foundation, is a great opportunity for all Catholic engaged and married couples in the Diocese to gather for a day dedicated to prayer, conversation, fellowship, and reflection on the beautiful vocation of marriage. Registration is now open for the day-long event which includes a Mass and Marriage Blessing celebrated by Bishop Dewane, and inspirational talks by Catholic speakers Renzo & Monica Ortega, Rev. Alex Pince and Mallory Smyth. Childcare, as well as full and partial scholarships, are available. To register or for further information, please visit 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Prayer to Defeat Florida’s Abortion Amendment
Vacation Bible School programs were also offered at 40 Parishes in the Diocese this summer. This weeklong Bible themed camp focused on learning the important lessons of Scripture in a fun and engaging way. The most common theme this summer was “Scuba: Diving into friendship with God.” At Vacation Bible School, children attended daily Mass and participated in Eucharistic Adoration. They also learned uplifting songs and dances, made crafts and generally had a great time.
A dozen different Diocesan groups took part in Camp Covecrest 2024, a Life Teen retreat in northern Georgia which focuses on leading teens closer to Christ. This is an intensive retreat which focuses the teens on building their relationship with the Lord through team activities, reflection, and prayer. The focus of these retreats included Eucharistic Adoration, opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and participating in Mass.
Bob Reynolds, a pro-life advocate in Lee County, said that one of the pro-life initiatives in Lee County has been to solicit the Lee County Board of Commissioners to draft and approve a resolution opposing Amendment 4.
More than 150 people took part, including honored guests Bishop Frank J. Dewane and Epiphany Cathedral Rector Msgr. Patrick Dubois.
“In the Catholic tradition, work is recognized as a gift from God. It is one’s first vocation and gives dignity to humanity. This is clear from the very beginning of the Bible, where we read that God has created the garden of Eden, and that Adam and Eve are to look after it. Work is more than a way to make a living, it is a way of being – a form of continuing participation in God’s creation.
