Author: Bob Reddy

News Briefs for the Week of February 3, 2023

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Youth “Rock the Universe”

Youth from the Diocese of Venice took part in the annual “Rock the Universe” at Universal Studios in Orlando on Jan. 28, 2023. “Rock the Universe” is an annual Christian rock festival which has been taking place since 1998. Among the groups present was the youth team from Holy Cross Parish in Palmetto, led by Carmen Martinez.  Joining this team was Marthamaria Morales, Diocesan Youth and Young Adult Outreach Director.

Ball supports education

The gymnasium of St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples had an extreme makeover and served as the site of the annual Celtic Ball benefitting the school. The Ball, with a theme of “Palm Beach Chic Celebration,” took place Jan. 29, 2023, with Bishop Frank J. Dewane serving as the guest of honor. The purpose of the Ball was also to celebrate the next generation of Catholic leaders who are the beneficiaries of the faith-based education at St. John Neumann Catholic High School.

Youth wash cars in Fort Myers

Throughout the year, the youth at St. Cecilia Parish in Fort Myers host a series of fun events to raise money so they can participate in a variety of activities throughout the year. On Jan. 29, 2023, the teens hosted a car wash, washing cars while parishioners were either at Mass, or getting donuts and coffee in the Parish Hall after Mass. The money raised will allow the teens the ability to participate in the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress Youth Rally, as well as a variety of trips, each of which help the youth learn to grow closer to the Lord.

Rummage sale offered wide selection of goods

The Women’s Guild at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Avon Park hosted a Rummage Sale in the Grogan Center on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28, 2023. There were dozens of tables filled with items such as clothing, cookware, artwork and much more. The money raised supports the outreach the Women’s Guild does throughout the year.

Students recognized for artistic talent

St. Martha Catholic School students Caleb Shouse (4th grade), and Hannah Lomangino (3rd grade), had their artwork selected for the 2023 Sarasota County Government NEST (Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team) Calendar. Caleb’s artwork is featured on the November page and Hannah’s is on the December Page. They were honored, with the other winners, during an awards ceremony on Jan. 31, 2023, in Sarasota. Their art teacher, Mary Jo Salomone, was also present for the awards presentation.

Fort Myers sports teams ready for Districts

The Bishop Verot Catholic High School boys’ soccer team locked up the No. 1 seed in the 3A District 8 District Tournament for the fourth year in a row. The Verot girls’ basketball team also dominated this season under new head coach, Alissa Schenk, and enter the 3A District 12 District Tournament as the No. 1 seed. Well done Vikings!

Standing for Life – Hundreds participate in local and national walks

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Pro-Life prayer warriors, many of them youth, went to St. Augustine, Washington, D.C., and Ave Maria, in mid-January 2023 to be witnesses for life marking the tragic 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision which cleared the way for legalized abortion in the U.S.

The difference in 2023 is that on June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization effectively overturned five decades of unlimited access to abortion.

This allowed the three Marches for Life to be celebratory in nature but tempered with the political reality that now each state has different laws regarding abortion ranging from outright bans to allowing an abortion up until birth. This means the Catholic Church’s fight to protect life from conception until natural death continues.

Several groups from the Diocese participated in the State March for Life in St. Augustine on Jan. 14, 2023, while some 200 from the Diocese were in D.C. for the National March for Life on Jan. 20. The next day, nearly 1,000 took part in the second annual March for Life organized by Ave Maria Parish.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane, who was in DC and Ave Maria, said he was impressed by the signs in DC carried by the young people which proclaimed, “Our Generation Is Pro-Life.”

“There was a determination and excitement – it electrified the whole crowd,” Bishop Dewane said when speaking at the Ave Maria March. “The message I gave those young pilgrims, and for all of us, is to take on in their life the message of Jesus Christ and live it always, that is understanding the absolute value that life must have as we live as men and women of God.”

Living one’s life this way comes with certain challenges, Bishop Dewane admitted.

“Let us be the radical witness that is called for in today’s society,” Bishop continued. “Let us be that voice in the wilderness that cries out repeatedly about the value of life – just like what happened to Christ when he was among his neighbors in Nazareth – and as we heard in today’s Gospel (Mk 3:20-21), you are going to get bullied. Someone is going to yell back and respond. That’s fine. Address them – remember it is personal for you and we must work to change the heart of that person, so they value life, and come to know the truth of Christ.”

Annabella Augustine, a pilgrim to DC from Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota, is taking up the call to spread the word of life.

“This is my first time coming to the March for Life and I can say this was such an exhilarating experience that I will never forget. My goal is to be a voice for the younger generations and help them see the truth in a world of chaos.”

Mooney schoolmate James Rowan described the March less as a peaceful protest and more as a “celebration of life and recognition for the families who are going through or have gone through an abortion.”

In the 50 years since the Roe decision more than 63 million unborn children were deprived of their right to life.

The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a Jan. 22 statement, the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children, that the Dobbs decision “is a fruit of prayer, born of a commitment to justice.”

However, subsequent Florida legislation still allows abortion to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. “Our advocacy for the legal protection of life in the womb must continue to make the most of the opportunities presented by Dobbs. The legislature must enact further limits on abortion,” the Florida Bishops stated.

Sharon Levesque, who is President of the Respect Life Outreach at Ave Maria Parish and helped organize the community march, was pleased with the large turnout, but said it would return in 2024.

There will be a third annual March for Life on Jan. 20, 2024, because “we will continue to march so long as the life of any unborn child is threatened in the world.”

At Ave Maria, the gathering began at the university football field, where various dignitaries, including Bishop Dewane, spoke. Then everyone marched through the Ave Maria University campus more than a mile to the steps of the Parish Church, all while praying the rosary and singing along the way.

Among the larger groups in DC were representatives from Cardinal Mooney, Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers, St. Michael Parish in Wauchula, Ave Maria University and the Ave Maria School of Law. Several smaller groups from a variety of Parishes also took part.

Two Diocesan priests, Father Eric Scanlan, Chaplain at Cardinal Mooney as well Pastor of Incarnation Parish in Sarasota, and Father Mark Yavarone, Oblate of the Virgin Mary, Director of Spirituality at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice, were part of the March.

Participants from the Diocese attended the Vigil Mass on Jan. 20 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, and a Mass on the day of the March for all Florida pilgrims at St. Peter Parish on Capitol Hill where the main celebrant was Bishop Dewane.

Diocesan seminarians from St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach and Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts, participated with their respective schools.

Bishop Dewane gave the group in DC and Ave Maria direction to go forward and be agents of change in society.

“We must act because being in a personal relationship with the Lord does not allow us to permit abortion at any time,” Bishop Dewane said. “Let us speak out! Be the strength! Be the message of the Lord that you are called to be! Let us stand up next to Jesus Christ and proudly be Pro-Life!”

If you would like to learn more about the Respect Life issues and how you can be a witness for life, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/respectlife.

Catholic Schools Week 2023 – Shining a light on Catholic Education

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Each day is a celebration of educating the mind, body and spirit at Catholic Schools throughout the Diocese of Venice.

A more public celebration will occur the week of Jan. 29 to Feb. 4, 2023, when Diocesan schools will participate in a series of exciting activities as part of the 49th annual National Catholic Schools Week.

Sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), the week provides an annual opportunity to share the good news about Catholic Schools. The theme, “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” focuses on the important spiritual, academic, and societal contributions provided by a Catholic education firmly rooted in the Truth of the Gospel.

Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. On the weekend starting Catholic Schools Week, look for students to speak at Masses to explain the benefits of supporting their education.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane said Diocesan Catholic Schools not only educate the mind but also the soul, teaching the students to have a concern for their brothers and sisters, whether they live in the same country, down the street, or in their classroom through prayer, and the teaching of values, morals and virtues.

“Through this broader approach, the student begins to learn, to reach out, and to touch the other, seeing for themselves that we are all made in the image and likeness of God,” Bishop Dewane said.

Father John Belmonte, SJ, Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Education said this reality is what distinguishes Catholic schools in the Diocese from all others.

“The basics of any education in a Catholic school has to do with learning and training people to think critically, to understand what is the truth. By truth, we mean capital T – as in Jesus,” Father Belmonte explained. “It’s also about training their wills and teaching them to make good decisions so that they can do the good that is needed by not only their families and themselves but by society.”

Diocesan Schools have a unique kindergarten through 12 STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and mathematics) curriculum using robotics as a catalyst for success.

“We prepare our students for today and the future,” Bishop Dewane said. “We give the students what they need for success in this challenging world, and our STREAM and robotics programs is enhance what we were already doing. Therefore, when it was decided to expand this initiative, it was clearly worth doing throughout all grade levels.”

Father Belmonte said the Diocese of Venice is the only Diocese in the country to take this expansive approach to STREAM, which is all connected to the faith. Diocesan Catholic school students learn virtues such as truth, beauty, and goodness, which are transcendental. The additional “Gifts of Christ,” are prudence affability, humility, and fortitude. Added to the robotics program this year, are courage, diligence, solidarity and charity.

“To offer innovation from the earliest ages puts us ahead of other schools,” Father Belmonte said. “Yes, it’s the study of STREAM, but it’s much more than that. This is about the education of the soul.”

Bishop Dewane said the Diocesan robotic STREAM initiative is being done in a context of why Catholic schools exist. “We are helping students to discover who they are as men and women of faith, as we let our students learn these virtues that Christ calls us to, time after time in the Gospel.”

Catholic Schools Week 2023 comes at a time when 10 of the 15 Diocesan schools are continuing their recovery from damage incurred during Hurricane Ian. Most significantly, the storm disrupted the lives of school families, faculty and staff.

“Everybody in the schools and communities of faith throughout the Diocese came together,” Bishop Dewane said. “People helped each other and helped their schools to work in a safe way to create new learning spaces so the students could be back at school quickly and feel comfortable again. My thanks and patience to everyone, and compliments for the adaptive nature taken to make everything happen so fast.”

Father Belmonte said Hurricane Ian brought school communities together and when possible, teams from schools went into their neighborhoods to help individuals and families pick up the pieces of their destroyed homes. In addition, there was an outpouring of support from across the region, state and country, funneled through the Diocese, which was directed at helping families and schools recover.

“The response was remarkable,” Father Belmonte added. “It was also healthy to get students back into the classrooms as quickly as possible, while the parents appreciated how well we responded.”

The 15 Diocesan Catholic Schools, serving 5,837 students, is an investment in the future and they serve as the heart of the Diocese, building the Catholic leadership of tomorrow. Schools are in Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Ave Maria and Sebring.

Scholarships are available to help ease some of the financial burden, and families should not assume that they wouldn’t qualify. In addition to school, Parish and Diocesan support, state scholarships such as Step Up For Students and McKay are also available.

Consistent academic excellence prevails at Diocesan Catholic schools, with the three high schools graduating every student and 99 percent going on to higher education, many with academic scholarships in hand. Students in all of the schools score at the advanced level on national tests while being grounded in the knowledge of the Catholic Faith.

To learn more about Diocese of Venice Catholic Schools, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/catholicschools.

The January 2023 Relevant Radio podcast of “Witnessing Faith with Bishop Dewane” discusses Catholic Schools. To listen to this month’s show, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/our-bishop/.

Opportunities to stand witness for Life

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The listing below are events planned with the Diocese of Venice during the coming months to help promote a Pro-Life culture.

Catholic Days at the Capitol

The Diocese of Venice is organizing a trip to the annual Catholic Days at the Capitol in Tallahassee from March 7-9, 2023. The three-day trip joins faithful from across Florida and includes a legislative briefing on important bills relating to human life and dignity, a breakfast with legislators and the Florida Bishops, tours of the capitol and museum, scheduled visits with legislators and the annual Red Mass of the Holy Spirit with the Florida Bishops and public officials. Bus transportation is provided at no cost as long as space is available. Register by Feb. 6 at https://dioceseofvenice.org/offices/offices-departments/respect-life/catholic-days-at-the-capitol/. For further details contact Jeanne Berdeaux at 941-374-1068 or Berdeaux@dioceseofvenice.org.

Sarasota Prayer Walk for Life

The 25th Annual Sarasota Prayer Walk for Life is Feb. 7. The event begins with the 8:30 a.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane at St. Martha Parish, 200 N. Orange Ave. A bus will shuttle people from the church to 7th Street where walkers will circle the block around Planned Parenthood in prayer. The shuttle will run between 9 a.m. and noon. Light refreshments will be available near the bus stop on 7th Street. Questions? Contact Jeanne Berdeaux at Berdeaux@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-374-1068.

Fort Myers Prayer Walk for Life

Join others on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, for the Fort Myers Prayer Walk for Life, beginning with the 8 a.m. Mass at St. John XXIII Parish, 13060 Palomino Lane, will be celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane. A bus will shuttle participants to the area in front of Planned Parenthood at 648 Commerce Park Drive (parking is limited) where students will lead the rosary to kick off the 40 Days for Life Spring Campaign. Contact Jeanne Berdeaux at Berdeaux@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-374-1068 for additional information.

40 Days for Life Sarasota and Fort Myers

There will be two locations within the Diocese to participate in the 40 Days for Life Spring/Lenten Campaign in Sarasota and Fort Myers which begins Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22 and concludes on Palm Sunday, April 2. This Campaign encompasses 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion. Stand and peacefully pray during vigils in the public right-of-way outside Planned Parenthood in Fort Myers or Sarasota. Contact your Parish Coordinator for specific information about your Parish’s commitment days. For the 40 Days for Life flier and additional information, please visit www.40daysforlife.com/sarasota or www.40daysforlife.com/fortmyers.

Chastity talk for youth

Teens, grade 7 and older (and their parents), are invited to hear national speaker Pam Stenzel provide her informational talk, “The Courage to be Chaste Teens,” at 6 p.m., Feb. 23, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish Hall, 12001 69 St. E., Parrish. Contact the Parish Office at 941-776-9097 for additional information.

Father Calloway a keynote at Diocesan Eucharistic Congress

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Father Donald Calloway, a convert to Catholicism, and a member of the Congregation of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, is one of the keynote speakers at the Diocese of Venice Eucharistic Congress on March 25, 2023, at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center and Luminary Hotel, 1375 Monroe St., Fort Myers. Father Calloway is scheduled to speak twice during the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress. The first talk is titled, “Conversion and the Holy Eucharist,” and the second is “St. Joseph and the Eucharist.”

Before his conversion, Father Calloway was a high school dropout who had been kicked out of a foreign country, institutionalized twice, and thrown in jail multiple times. After his radical conversion, he earned a BA in philosophy and theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio; MDiv and STB degrees from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.; and an STL in Mariology from the International Marian Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio. He leads pilgrimages to Marian Shrines around the world and is the author of 15 books. His latest best-selling book is “Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father.”

The theme for the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress is: “The Word Became Flesh” John 1:14. Bishop Frank J. Dewane said the “Congress is an opportunity for all the faithful of the Diocese to come together as one to jointly rekindle a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.”

The event corresponds to the larger, ongoing, National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year revival of devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist created by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Doors open at 8 a.m. with the opening prayer at 9 a.m. A portion of this event will have English and Spanish tracks. In addition, the afternoon will include breakout sessions geared toward men and women. There will be a Eucharistic Procession and the day will conclude with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 5 p.m. Registration is required at https://dioceseofvenice.org/eucharistic-congress/.

News Briefs for the Week of Jan. 27, 2023

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Retreat brings Deacons together

Two retreats were recently held for the Permanent Deacons of the Diocese of Venice, first Jan. 19, 2023, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Venice and then on Jan. 21, at Resurrection Parish in Fort Myers. The retreats were presented by Deacon Dominic Cerrato, Director of Diaconal Ministries and editor of “The Deacon Magazine.”  The goal for the retreat was to offer the opportunity for the Deacons to grow in greater intimacy with Christ the Servant. The retreat reemphasized what the Deacons committed to during the prayer of ordination as it relates to: “Our relationship to Him; Our Identity in Him; Our mission with Him.” Deacon Cerrato explained that these are the three key elements in grasping the essential nature of the Diaconate.

Principal gathering held in Sarasota

Diocese of Venice Catholic Schools principals gathered for their Colloquio 2023 meeting Jan. 19-20, 2023, in Sarasota. The meeting focused on goal setting and empowering the principals in how they can support their faculty and staff to help ensure long-term retention. The keynote was Tony Ferraro, of Floyd Consulting, who spoke on “The Dream Manager,” a program based on a book by acclaimed author Matthew Kelly. The book is a business parable about how companies can achieve remarkable results by helping their employees fulfill their dreams. The meeting was organized by Father John Belmonte, SJ, Superintendent of Catholic Education, and Jennifer Falestiny, Diocesan Curriculum Specialist.

Robotics program teaches “Gifts of Christ”

Third grade students at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School began the robotics unit Jan. 18, 2023, in technology class and are learning to focus on the Gift of Christ, affability, with their partner. Working together, the students built a robotic snail and used block coding to create the snail’s communication through signal lights.

Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal ending

The 21st Annual Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal is continuing through the end of January 2023. A donation to the Appeal strengthens Catholic Charities ability to provide much-needed support, for those recovering from Hurricane Ian, or who need any type of assistance in the region. This outreach is accomplished through more than 35 programs in locations throughout the 10-county Diocese. These programs annually support more than 100,000 individuals and families in ways both large and small. To support the Christmas Appeal, please visit www.catholiccharitiesdov.org or mail a contribution to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., 1000 Pinebrook Road, Venice, FL 34285.

Last call to book hotel rooms for Diocesan Eucharistic Congress

The two-part Diocese of Venice Eucharistic Congress and Youth Rally is coming March 24 and 25, 2023, to the Caloosa Sound Convention Center and Luminary Hotel on the riverfront of downtown Fort Myers. For those wishing to spend the evening of the 24th or 25th at the Luminary Hotel, the deadline to obtain a special rate is Feb. 1, please make your reservation by visiting https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1658159545793&key=GRP&app=resvlink. The Eucharistic Congress Youth Rally is 5 to 10 p.m., Friday, March 24, while the Adult Eucharistic Congress is Saturday, March 25. Exciting speakers and musicians are scheduled for these two events. Both events will include Eucharistic Processions and the opportunity to grow closer to the Lord through the Blessed Sacrament. Visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/eucharistic-congress/ to register and for additional details.

Filipino Catholics celebrate important Feast Day

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The third Sunday of January is set aside in the Philippines to celebrate the “Santo Niño” (or Holy Child Jesus), a symbol of the birth of Catholicism in the Philippines more than 500 years ago.

Incarnation Parish in Sarasota was host to the Diocese of Venice Santo Niño Festival on Jan. 15, 2023, the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time. Organized by the local Filipino Catholic Community and the Couples for Christ group, more than 250 people participated in the Mass and Festival which recounts an important conversion story. This was the second year for this festival in the Diocese.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane was the main celebrant for the Mass and said it was an honor to have the Santo Niño Mass and Festival in the Diocese of Venice. “This is a wonderful example of a faith and culture coming together beautifully.”

The Filipino devotion to the Santo Niño is connected to historical accounts which showed that explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived on the shores of Cebu on March 16, 1521. Soon, Magellan presented the image (a wooden statue about 12 inches tall that bears a golden crown and imperial regalia) of the Child Jesus to Queen Juana, the wife of Rajah Humabon as a baptismal gift, when she, together with other rulers and natives, converted to the Catholic Faith.

Conflict in the region soon followed during which Magellan was killed and his Spanish colleagues left. The next Spanish expedition occurred in 1565 by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who conquered Cebu and after pillaging the villages, the original Magellan Santo Niño was found safe and unscathed from the fires. The Franciscan Friars who witnessed this proclaimed the statue miraculous and built a church on the site, which is now the “Basílica Menor del Santo Niño in Cebu.”

The Mass opened with the traditional presentation of the Santo Niño statue to Bishop Dewane; the statue was then placed on a flower-draped pedestal in front of the altar.

Bishop Dewane said the Diocese is richer for those who come from various countries and bring their faith and culture, and how celebrating the various important feast days serves as a bridge in one’s faith, connecting to their homeland.

The Santo Niño celebration calls us to go forward as individuals to behold the Holy Child, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ who was there to save the world, the Bishop added.

“We must celebrate that, but not be caught in the role of the child; we must mature, as Christ did,” Bishop Dewane continued. “In doing so, we are called to be instruments of the Lord within the world, calling others to come and learn about why the Holy Child, the Incarnate Savior, had to be sent into the world. May each one of you be blessed in your devotion to the Santo Niño.”

The Feast Day celebration reminds Filipinos of the Christianization of their homeland but also enables them to see the relevance this devotion to the Santo Niño has for people to this day. It places a special emphasis on the children and youth, with all the hopes they raise.

As part of Festival tradition, the faithful are encouraged to bring their own Santo Niño statue, or one purchased in the past year, to be blessed. This was done at the conclusion of the Mass. This builds upon the tradition of Filipino immigrants who brought their Santo Niño statues with them to the United States to be their spiritual recourse, assistant and protector.

Evenings dedicated to Charity

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Now is the time of year that people are planning their busy seasonal social schedule with lots of interesting activities to choose from evenings of elegance or just casual fun.

While choosing from the many opportunities Southwest Florida has to offer, consider these events for a chance to give back to the community. Proceeds go directly to help our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need through the many programs of Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Inc. These needs have dramatically increased since Hurricane Ian struck on Sept. 28, 2022.

In most cases, the Catholic Charities galas are elegant black-tie affairs, but no matter what the attire, all of the proceeds will go directly to help those in the community where the event is held. This means that by buying a ticket you could literally help a family struggling to recover from Ian, feed families, teach children to read or even prevent families from becoming homeless. There are five chances to support Catholic Charities in an entertaining and unique way.

“These Catholic Charities Galas and events are of critical importance as they bring like-minded and faith-filled people together for a good cause,” explained Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Inc. CEO Eddie Gloria. “Each gathering serves to help educate people about a critical need in the area, while at the same time offering everyone a chance to have fun. This has become more critical as Catholic Charities focuses much of its efforts on helping the region recover from Hurricane Ian.”

The upcoming events will be centered on various themes and benefit either regional or specific programs of Catholic Charities. Many of the events will include a cocktail hour, auction, dining and dancing. The list of events is as follows:

  • Catholic Charities Ball, 6 p.m., Feb. 4, 2023, Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, benefitting the programs in Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte counties. This year’s theme is “Creating Hope.” Purchase tickets, sponsorships, or donate auction items, by visiting https://one.bidpal.net/ccb2023/welcome or email CCB2023@catholiccharitiesdov.org.
  • Our Mother’s House Wine Tasting, 5:30 p.m., February 23, at Venice Community Center in Venice. Funds raised will benefit this residential housing for needy moms. To purchase tickets or sponsorships, please visit https://one.bidpal.net/2023omhwinetasting/welcome or email horton@catholiccharitiesdov.org.
  • Venetian Ball, 6 p.m., March 4, at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church (Parish Hall), Bonita Springs, benefits the programs of Lee, Glades and Hendry counties. The theme for this gala is “Resilience, Rebuilding, and Community” and serves as an opportunity to come together as a community to support and partner with Catholic Charities to serve the many survivors of Hurricane Ian; to celebrate survival and helping of one’s neighbor; to Resilience, Rebuilding, and Community. To purchase tickets, and sponsorships or to donate auction items, contact Arlene Carratala at 239-334-4007 ext. 2100 or email carratala@catholiccharitiesdov.org.
  • Emerald Ball, 5:30 p.m., March 16, Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, benefitting the programs in Collier County and the recovery from Hurricane Ian. To sponsor, purchase tickets, or donate items for the auction, please visit https://one.bidpal.net/emeraldball/welcome or email emeraldball@catholiccharitiesdov.org.
  • Boots & Bandanas, 6 p.m., March 23, at the King’s Way Golf Club, Port Charlotte, will benefit the programs in DeSoto County. To sponsor, purchase tickets, or donate items for the auction, contact Gloria Romero at romero@catholiccharitiesdov.org.

For more details about specific events, please visit www.catholiccharitiesdov.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FGCU coach uses Catholic faith to center life

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Staff Report

Estero –

Whether he’s recruiting players, sharing with their parents or giving a speech to a group like Faith & Ale, Florida Gulf Coast University men’s basketball coach Pat Chambers talks about his five pillars:

  • Faith
  • Accountability
  • Passion
  • Humility
  • Gratitude

With each pillar, Chambers shares a story, sometimes personal, sometimes societal. All are emotional.

“When you share stories, people start to think of examples in their own personal lives,” Chambers said. “Then, there’s meaning behind each pillar and it becomes real.”

On the court, Chambers has guided FGCU to a great start in his first season. The Eagles are one of the biggest surprises in college basketball.

Their first win came in Los Angeles against USC, coached by former FGCU coach Andy Enfield, who led the Eagles to the Sweet 16 in 2013.

FGCU won three games on consecutive days in the Gulf Coast Showcase in Fort Myers just before Thanksgiving and it has won three road games before ASUN Conference play.

Off the court, Chambers is a devout Catholic. The youngest of 12, he watched his father John – and then brothers – attend Mass every day in the Philadelphia area.

Church went from a place that made young Pat “feel good” to a sanctuary of “quiet time to pray and meditate and set up your day or week or month.” Later, he and his brothers became part of a prayer group where they share inspirational thoughts and stories as well as bible passages.

He and wife Courtney have become part of the Naples community. Their children Grace, Ryan, Caitlin and Patrick attend St. Ann Catholic School.

Chambers has spoken at a number of Southwest Florida events, including Faith & Ale, a Catholic apostolate that offers men an encounter with the Catholic faith and Christ through fellowship and quality Catholic speakers with monthly meetings at various Parishes in Lee County (www.faithandale.com).

FGCU director of athletics Ken Kavanagh said he didn’t hire Chambers because of his faith but it certainly didn’t hurt him.

“As with all our hires, I looked at Pat’s overall character as a person,” Kavanagh said. “His strong faith plays into who he is. He’s a major role model with young people and he’s a tremendous ambassador for the university and the community.

“His optimism and positive perspective overall exude a confidence more than just Xs and Os.”

Overcoming dark times

Kavanagh said Chambers lives his pillars on a daily basis.

Ironically, the coach began to form them after he nearly died.

In 2002, according to ESPN, the single Chambers met a woman he knew and two friends of hers, a married couple.

The man, possibly drunk, high or both, according to Chambers, stabbed him twice in the neck with a broken wine glass. The wound was a half a centimeter from his aorta.

As he recovered, Chambers quit his successful job in sales and administration for his family’s printing business and turned his hobby – coaching high school basketball at Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia – into a full-time gig. He later became an assistant to Jay Wright at Villanova, then moved on to be a head coach, first at Boston University and then Penn State.

The pillars evolved while speaking with his brother Tim.

“We talked about it a lot,” Tim said. “Recalibrate what’s important. Take inventory. Access where he was. What are the important things in his life? He turned from the upside of material good to making an impact.”

Chambers said the incident brought him closer to his faith. He prayed the rosary more, went to Mass more, told his story more.

“Maybe I can be a light for somebody who has gone through a traumatic event,” he said.

At Penn State, more adversity struck Chambers when he and the school parted ways after an internal investigation determined that he had made an insensitive comment to a black student-athlete. It led to him and the school parting ways.

Again, Chambers faced the situation head on as he took sensitivity training. He also spoke to black players, including some of his former players, family, mentors, administrators. Their message: Get back into coaching.

“He really needed to process where his love for the game was,” Tim said. “That’s where nothing is more important than faith. You have to believe God has a better plan and I trust that he’s gonna put me in a better place. Some of our blessings are disguised. It’s not that you’re getting over it but getting through it.”

Chambers realized he couldn’t hide.

“Isolation is the worst thing,” he said. “Educate yourself, keep moving, self-heal, grow and learn.”

“I come from a large family, and they said, ‘You can’t let this detour you from what you’re becoming. And a lot of former Penn State players reached out and said, ‘You helped us. The next generation needs you to help them.’

We all play the victim role and say “Why me?”, Chambers notes. He allowed it to happen for a few hours and then realized, “I gotta get busy.

“Penn State brought me to my knees; but to live and breathe, we go through wins and losses and we go through challenges mentally, physically.”

Shortly after he bought a home in Naples in 2014, Chambers drove around the Florida Gulf Coast University campus and said to himself, ‘Wow, what would it be like to coach here?’

And now, here he is.

NOTE: The Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles play their games at Alico Arena in Estero and as of Jan. 17, the team had a record of 13-6. To learn more, visit https://fgcuathletics.com/.

Volleyball player recognized in state

Posted on by Bob Reddy

For the second year in a row Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School student Jordyn Byrd has been named the Gatorade Florida Volleyball Player of the Year which was announced Jan. 13, 2023.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Jordyn as Florida’s best high school volleyball player.

The state’s returning Gatorade Player of the Year, the 6-foot-5 senior outside hitter amassed 571 kills and 206 digs this past season, leading the Cougars (18-10) to the Class 3A state quarterfinals. Byrd also recorded 52 service aces and 48 blocks while posting a .571 kill percentage and a .439 hitting percentage. Ranked as the nation’s No. 16 recruit in the Class of 2023 by PrepDig.com, she concluded her prep volleyball career with 1,640 kills.

Jordyn has volunteered locally as a Mooney student ambassador, and she has donated her time with Stuff the Bus, which collects school supplies and toiletries for underserved children in the Sarasota region.

“Jordyn is better than any hitter I’ve seen in the state,” said Kim Whitney, head coach of Calvary Christian High School. “She attacks the ball at a very high point, which is very difficult to defend. She’s able to put a ball away wherever she is on the court.”

Being a Gatorade Player of the Year means paying it forward for the next generation. Through Gatorade’s “Play it Forward initiative,” every Player of the Year receives a grant to give to one of Gatorade’s social impact partners, supporting Gatorade’s ambition to fuel the future of sport. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.

At Mooney, Jordyn has maintained a 3.69 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball on scholarship at the University of Texas this fall. She is also a standout on the Mooney basketball team.

Find a Parish
Clergy
Find a School
TV Mass
Español
Ways to Give