Having consulted the priests of the Diocese and having worked closely with the Priest Personnel Board, Bishop Emilio E. Biosca, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida, has announced the following clergy appointments:
Northern Deanery- Very Reverend Msgr. Patrick Dubois, V.F.
- Father Daniel Scanlan from Parochial Vicar at St. Thomas More Parish (Sarasota) to Administrator, Ss. Peter and Paul the Apostles Parish (Bradenton), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Gordon Zanetti from Pastor at Ss. Peter and Paul the Apostles Parish (Bradenton) to temporary medical leave, effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Thomas Kelly from ministry outside the Diocese to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of the Angels Parish (Lakewood Ranch), effective January/February 2027.
- Father Juan Lorenzo from Parochial Vicar, St. Michael Parish (Wauchula) to Parochial Vicar, St. Jude Parish (Sarasota), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Philip Joly from ministry outside the Diocese to Parochial Vicar, St. Thomas More Parish (Sarasota), effective November 16, 2026.
- Father David M. Vidal, V.G. from Pastor, Ave Maria Parish, (Ave Maria) to Vicar General with residence at Epiphany Cathedral (Venice), effective October 19, 2026.
Central Deanery- Very Reverend Jay Raju, V.F.
- Father Alexander Pince from Director of Vocations, Seminarian Formation, Chaplain at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, and Parochial Vicar at Epiphany Cathedral (Venice) to Director of Vocations and Seminarian Formation with residence at Resurrection Parish (Fort Myers), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Christian Chami from Administrator, St. Raphael Parish (Lehigh Acres) to Parochial Vicar, Resurrection Parish (Fort Myers), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Claudio Stewart from Administrator, St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish (Port Charlotte) to Administrator, Jesus the Worker Parish (Fort Myers), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Binu Joseph from Parochial Vicar, St. Agnes Parish (Naples) to Administrator, St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish (Port Charlotte), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Manoj Francis, M.C.B.S. from Parochial Vicar, St. Andrew Parish (Cape Coral) to Parochial Vicar, St. John XXIII Parish (Fort Myers), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Thomas Gregory Dougherty from Parochial Vicar, St. John XXIII (Fort Myers) to Parochial Vicar, St. Andrew Parish (Cape Coral), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Juan Carlos Sack from Parochial Vicar, Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish (Labelle) to Parochial Vicar, St. Leo the Great Parish (Bonita Springs), effective September 25, 2026.
- Father Charles Ruoff from Parochial Vicar, San Marco Parish (Marco Island) to Parochial Vicar, St. Leo the Great Parish (Bonita Springs), effective October 26, 2026.
- Father Jean Marie Fritz Ligonde from Parochial Vicar, St. Columbkille Parish (Fort Myers) to Parochial Vicar, Sacred Heart Parish (Punta Gorda), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Rodolfo French Naar from Parochial Vicar, St. Raphael Parish (Lehigh Acres) to Administrator, St. Raphael Parish (Lehigh Acres), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Roderick Mitial from Parochial Vicar, St. Peter the Apostle Parish (Naples) to Parochial Vicar, St. Raphael Parish (Lehigh Acres), effective October 19, 2026.
Eastern Deanery – Father José Antonio González, V.F.
- Father Wilner Durosier from Administrator, St. Michael Parish (Wauchula) to Administrator, St. Margaret Parish (Clewiston), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Pablo Ruani from outside the Diocese to Administrator, St. Michael Parish (Wauchula), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Luis Albarracin from outside the Diocese to Parochial Vicar, Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish (Labelle), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Benjamin Casimir from Administrator, Jesus the Worker Parish (Fort Myers) to Administrator, St. Paul Parish (Arcadia), effective October 19, 2026.
Southern Deanery – Very Reverend Tomasz Zalewski, V.F.
- Father Augustine Ignasimuthu from Parochial Vicar, Ss. Peter and Paul the Apostles Parish (Bradenton) to Parochial Vicar, St. Agnes Parish (Naples), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Jean Woady Louis from Pastor, St. Margaret Parish (Clewiston) to Parochial Vicar, St. Peter the Apostle Parish (Naples), effective October 19, 2026.
- Father Cole Webster from ministry outside the Diocese to Parochial Vicar, San Marco Parish (Marco Island), effective October 26, 2026.
- Father Ananda Anki Reddy from ministry outside the Diocese to Parochial Vicar, St. Ann Parish (Naples), effective September 25, 2026.
- Father Shawn Roser from Parochial Vicar, Church of the Resurrection Parish (Fort Myers) to Administrator, Ave Maria Parish (Ave Maria), effective October 19, 2026.
Pastoral Appointments:
- Father Jiobani Batista has been appointed Diocesan Delegate of Hispanic Ministry, succeeding Father Claudio Stewart effective October 26, 2026.
- Father Benjamin Casimir has been appointed Diocesan Delegate of Haitian Ministry, succeeding Father Jean Marie Fritz Ligonde, effective September 28, 2026.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Father Claudio and Father Jean Marie Fritz for their excellent leadership and dedication to the communities. We trust in their helpfulness during this time of transition.
These appointments are published today, September 25, 2026, the first day of the Novena (September 25-October 3) commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi.
In honor of this significant Franciscan anniversary, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has proclaimed 2026 the Jubilee Year of St. Francis. During the Novena, please pray daily this Jubilee Prayer to St. Francis by Pope Leo XIV, for these newly appointed priests and for all the priests, living and deceased, of the Diocese of Venice in Florida.
