The Diocese of Venice celebrates the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and the vocation of marriage, and recognizes the need to accompany those who chose this path.
The Diocese offers supportive preparation courses, inspiring conferences, and celebrations of the longevity of married couples with annual anniversary Masses. The importance of forming and accompanying all married couples, from newlyweds to empty nesters, to live out their vocation in holiness and joy is a priority. As St. John Paul II famously said, “As goes the family, so goes the nation, and so goes the entire world in which we live.” It is of crucial importance that families in the Church are empowered to their sacred covenant.
To promote greater formation for couples, Bishop Frank J. Dewane and the Diocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life are working in collaboration with the St. John Paul II Foundation to present the Diocese’s 5th Annual “Together in Holiness” Marriage Enrichment Conference, Oct. 18, 2025. This year’s Conference is at Our Lady of Light Parish, 19680 Cypress View Drive, Fort Myers, and the theme is “Family, a School of Love.”
In a video message encouraging Catholic married and engaged couples to attend this important Conference, Bishop Dewane said the day is a way to celebrate the essential and beautiful vocation of marriage together with God.
“The Marriage Conference is a great opportunity to spend quality time with your spouse, or fiancé, and to put into practice the Lord’s call to build up His Kingdom through your marriage,” Bishop Dewane said. “Hear from marriage and family experts as they share testimony on how to navigate the world together, as a couple, with the Catholic Faith as your foundation. Through prayer and reflection, with other Catholic couples, draw closer to each other, and to God. Allow the Lord to bestow upon you the graces needed to live out the Catholic Faith through your marriage, and your family. Know that your commitment to one another represents hope for the future of the Church. As you grow in love, embracing your vocations as husbands and wives, as parents, our Church flourishes. I hope to see you there!”
Bishop Dewane will celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the opening of the Conference (9 a.m.). This will include a special marriage blessing from the Bishop for all couples present.
Registration is now open for the day-long event (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), which includes inspirational talks by Catholic speakers Dr. Ryan Hanning, and Deacon Jason and Rachel Bulman, as well as Father David Portorreal, Administrator at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Naples.
The “Together in Holiness” Conference made its Diocese of Venice debut in 2021, and the event has grown each year with more than 100 couples attending in 2024. The Conference has received rave reviews from participants who remark not only how wonderful the speakers are but also the supportive atmosphere the entire day offers.
A couple from Fort Myers said after the 2024 Conference: “We are in a transition in our marriage and this day really helped us renew our focus on being a Christ-centered family. We know we are the examples for our children, We want to make sure we are the best examples we can be.”
Early bird registration is $64 for couples before Sept. 15. Childcare is available. To learn more, and to register, visit www.togetherinholiness.org/venice. Questions? Contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseovenice.org, or 941-486-4754.
