bishop frank dewane Archives - Diocese of Venice

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2025 – Holy Day of Obligation Dec. 8

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Bob Reddy

Our Blessed Mother is recognized and celebrated in a special way on Dec. 8, 2025, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

As Dec. 8 falls on a Monday, the Solemnity is a Holy Day of Obligation and the Patronal Feast Day of the United States. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception retains the precept to attend Mass when it falls on a Monday. Catholics are obligated to attend Mass on this day.

“Born without Original Sin, and chosen by God to bear His only Son, Mary plays an essential role in Christmas and in salvation,” Bishop Frank J. Dewane said. “Her Motherhood of Jesus Christ, Our Savior, made possible a pathway to Heaven for all the faithful. The Blessed Mother 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 in 2024 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 this year, Pope Leo XIV will continue the papal tradition of visiting the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary near Rome’s Spanish Steps.

INFO BOX

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. 8), Christmas (Dec. 25), and the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, (Jan. 1, 2026).

Thanksgiving 2025 celebrated across the Diocese

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Bob Reddy

The idea of giving thanks, knowing that we are here because of gifts given to us by God, is at the core of what Thanksgiving is all about.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane described the holiday this way while celebrating Mass at Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Lakewood Ranch on Nov. 27, 2025.

“This uniquely American holiday gives us an opportunity to pause and look at what it is we do to thank God for His many blessings in our lives,” Bishop Dewane said. “It is an infinite gift God sends year after year – a gift that never leaves us, but is always present, in the Eucharist – a cornucopia of love, that we are called to magnify throughout the world with the lives we lead.”

The Gospel reading of the day (Luke 17:11-19) was the parable of the 10 lepers, when only one returned to thank Jesus upon being cured of the debilitating illness. Jesus asks where the other nine were. Bishop Dewane stressed how we are all among the missing nine at certain points in our life, but we must always strive to be among the ones who return.

“By your presence at Mass on Thanksgiving, you are counted among those who returned to Jesus, just as you came to give thanks to God today. Know the Lord sees the goodness in you and thanks you,” Bishop Dewane said.

Bishop Dewane went from the Mass in Lakewood Ranch to take part in a free community Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus Our Lady of Victory Council 3358 at their Hall on Fruitville Road in Sarasota.

The Knights delivered more than 170 meals to the elderly and homebound and then served more than 300 meals to those who needed a hot meal or didn’t have anywhere to go for the holiday. Guests were also encouraged to take meals home. Those meals included turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, cranberry sauce, roll, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

Bishop Dewane offered the opening prayer for the Knights and other volunteers before the dining room was opened. Then, the Bishop took his traditional spot in charge of serving the corn.

Being grateful for what they have was a strong theme during traditional Thanksgiving events throughout the Diocese of Venice.

As part of Saint William Parish HOPE (Homeless Outreach Program for Empowerment) ministry in Naples, 25 volunteers from Saint William and Saint Peter the Apostle Parishes, in partnership with Catholic Charities of Collier County, hosted a Thanksgiving Lunch for the homeless in Naples Nov. 25. For the day, 127 hot meals were provided in partnership with Sage Events Catering Chef Amber Phillips and Calusa Pines Golf Club Chef Jason Harp.

In addition, Saint William Parish held a Food and Turkey Drive to fill the pantry at The Judy Sullivan Resource Center of Catholic Charities in East Naples. Based on the overwhelming response of parishioners, enough food was collected to feed 600 families between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and 120 frozen turkeys were collected to be distributed to Catholic Charities in both Naples and Immokalee.

Knights of Columbus and volunteers from St. Columbkille Parish in Fort Myers drop off turkeys to St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Moore Haven on Nov. 20, 2025.

St. Columbkille Parish in Fort Myers delivered 288 turkeys to St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Moore Haven and St. Margaret Parish in Clewiston. In addition to the turkeys, other Thanksgiving food, as well as coats from children, were delivered. This outreach was a joint effort of the Parish and the Knights of Columbus.

Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School teamed up with the St Vincent de Paul Society to collect donations for its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Items collected were distributed to the St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantries at St. Jude and St. Thomas More Parishes in Sarasota, as well as the St. Joseph Food Pantry and Stillpoint Mission in Bradenton.

Cardinal Mooney students also volunteered on Nov. 26, at the 25^th Annual Thanksgiving Wednesday Community Luncheon which was hosted by St. Martha Parish. This luncheon is a combined effort of the Sarasota Ministerial Association and 17 local organizations. More than 350 meals were served to the needy in the community. The Cardinal Mooney students helped to serve the food.

Multiple faiths on Longboat Key came together for the 45^th annual interreligious Thanksgiving Worship Service on Nov. 18. Included was Father Robert Dziedziak. Pastor of Our Lady, Star of the Sea Parish. The service and gathering had a special meaning of healing as the island community continues to recover from the 2024 Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Ahead of the Thanksgiving break, young students at several Diocesan Catholic schools had the opportunity to participate in their own local “Macy’s” Thanksgiving Day parade, with the youngest students dressing up as characters and carrying balloons with some creating floats.

Gratitude for the many blessings enjoyed by the Diocese of Venice was widespread, and heartfelt!

Bishop recognizes prison and jail volunteers

Posted on December 9, 2025 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. 21, 2025, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 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.

Some of the 120 Diocese of Venice Prison Ministry volunteers are seen with Bishop Frank J. Dewane following Mass of Appreciation Nov. 21, 2025, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Port Charlotte.

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

“Your presence is vital to the inmates – you see and experience that firsthand – it is needed, but it is also asked of us by the Lord,” Bishop Dewane said. “The Catholic Church has a major role in connecting with the facilities where individuals are incarcerated recognizing that we can’t just care for certain people. They too are part of a Parish, and of the Diocese. They are our brothers and sisters in the community and in Christ.”

The ministry has a shared objective, providing help and hope to the incarcerated through healing from the Lord. Healing happens when volunteers help inmates develop a spiritual dimension, something some have never known.

“God put you where you need to be, and for that, I am grateful,” the Bishop said. “What you do changes lives, offering a spiritual development the incarcerated yearn for in so many ways. You offer the support and resources needed for individuals to live a new life in Jesus Christ. This is not easily done. Let the Holy Spirit be the instrument that makes a difference in what you do.”

Citing the Gospel of Matthew (25: 34-26), Bishop Dewane recalled what Jesus said to the disciples, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me… Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”

“We do this because they, like all of us, are made in the image and likeness of God,” Bishop Dewane continued. “They need to know it is the soul – the light of the individual – who will come to know the Lord in their life and be given assurances of Christ’s sustaining presence.”

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

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.

Following the Mass for volunteers, a luncheon was held in the Parish Hall. The volunteers heard from Diocesan Prison Outreach Co-Coordinators Bob Hiniker and Joe Mallof, who 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. Johnny Frambo, retired Florida Department of Corrections State Chaplain, also spoke and stressed the positive impact the volunteer prison ministry has on the incarcerated.

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 125 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.

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, or Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org.

Rectory blessed for Naples priests

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Bob Reddy

While at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples for a Mass to commemorate the 2025 Jubilee Year, Bishop Frank J. Dewane blessed the newly constructed rectory on Nov. 23, 2025.

As part of the Rite of Blessing, Bishop Dewane prayed: “We have gathered here to bless a house where the love of Christ will bring together those who in charity, celibacy, poverty and obedience desire to follow him as shepherds to the people of God… We pray that those who live here will conform their way of life to what they promised. We ask that with Jesus they will seek the Father’s glory in all things. We ask that, led by the Spirit they will continue to fulfill their vocation so that Christ will dwell among us.”

Bishop Dewane then blessed each home with Holy Water. Father Tomasz Zalewski, Pastor of St. John the Evangelist, and Parochial Vicars Fathers Mark Harris and Jacob Gwynn, each blessed the exterior of their respective homes.

Father Zalewski said the project was several years from planning to completion and was made possible thanks to the generosity of the Parish faithful. Construction on the rectory began in the spring of 2025 and was completed in little more than six months. The rectory, located at the rear of the Parish property, is divided into four townhomes, with individual garages, and a shared backyard. Prior to the construction, priests of the Parish were living in off-site housing owned by the Parish, some several miles away.

“Now we will be able to walk to Mass and be here to serve the people of St. John the Evangelist,” Father Zalewski said. “We thank you all for your contribution into making this rectory a reality.”

A reception followed in the Pulte Center.

Bishop celebrates Mass at four 2025 Jubilee Year pilgrimage sites

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Bob Reddy

As part of 2025 Jubilee Year, a special holy year of grace, hope, and pilgrimage that happens at least once every 25 years, Pope Francis called upon Catholics to enter into a journey of conversion as “Pilgrims of Hope,” cultivating hope in their heart, and bringing hope to others.

While the Jubilee Year may be nearing a close, Bishop Frank J. Dewane said there is still time to respond and become a “Pilgrim of Hope.”

“A major component of the Jubilee is prayer,” Bishop Dewane said Nov. 22, 2025, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, during a Jubilee Mass at St. John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers. “In this Jubilee, we must lift up our hearts to the Lord and let that prayer pierce our own hearts and arrive with adequate reflection, for we are a people of hope.”

While a Jubilee Year implies needing to take a pilgrimage, or a physical journey, Bishop Dewane said we must also use this time to make a spiritual journey.

To be people of hope, Bishop Dewane said, we must go beyond thinking of doing good for ourselves, and that we must act and give hope to others, giving something of ouself so that the other can see goodness and hope in the world.

Bishop Dewane designated five locations as Jubilee pilgrimage sites within the Diocese. These Pilgrimage Sites are Epiphany Cathedral, St. John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers, St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples, St. Paul Parish in Arcadia, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice.

In addition to celebrating the Jubilee Year with a Mass at St. John XXIII, Bishop Dewane also celebrated Jubilee Masses in late November at two additional pilgrimage sites, Nov. 24 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples, and Nov. 30, the First Sunday of Advent, at St. Paul Parish in Arcadia. A Mass was celebrated at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice on Oct. 26.

The 2025 Jubilee Year began on Dec. 28, 2024, and concludes on Dec. 28, 2025, throughout the world, except in Rome, where the Jubilee is extended to Jan. 6, 2026, the Feast of the Epiphany. The Diocese of Venice, in addition to designated Jubilee sites, also hosted several Jubilee events throughout the year, such as a youth and young adult Adoration Nights. Rome also hosted a series of Jubilee Year events to celebrate various aspects of the Catholic Church.

By designating the retreat center and four Parishes located in each of the geographical regions (Deaneries) of the Diocese, Bishop Dewane encouraged the faithful to take advantage of the grace of the Jubilee Year and made it possible for all to be part of what is a historic moment in the Church. For more information on the 2025 Jubilee Year or the Pilgrimage Sites, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/jubilee-2025-pilgrims-of-hope/.

News Briefs for the week of December 5, 2025

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Bob Reddy

Appointment

Father Christopher Uhl, O.M.V., appointed as Parochial Vicar at San Pedro Parish in North Port effective Dec. 3, 2025.

Priest dies

Father Marcin Koziola, a priest of the Diocese of Venice since 2005, died Nov. 21, 2025, at his private residence in North Port, at the age of 45. Father Koziola was Ordained to the Priesthood on May 25, 2005, at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice. Father served at the following Parishes as Parochial Vicar: St. Joseph, Bradenton (2005-2006); St. John the Evangelist, Naples (2006-2010); St. John XXIII, Fort Myers (2010-2015); Our Lady of Lourdes, Venice (2015-2019). Father also served as Administrator of Holy Cross Parish in Palmetto from 2019-2022. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane on Nov. 29, 2025, at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Koziola and the consolation of his family. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in eternal peace.

New chapel doors blessed

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 2025, Father Thomas Carzon, OMV, blessed the new Chapel doors at San Pedro Parish in North Port prior to the morning Mass. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving!” (Psalm 100:4). Father offered thanks to those who made and installed the doors, as well as for all who will enter. “Jesus himself is the gate, the way, the door through which we enter into life and have communion with the Father.”

Students make blankets, collect coats for homeless

Students at St. Martha Catholic School in Sarasota have been making blankets and collecting coats as part of a service project. These items were donated Nov. 21, 2025, to Resurrection House to help provide some warmth this Holiday Season for those who are less fortunate.

Catholic Charities seeking toy donations for needy children

Bring joy to a child this season! Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice is collecting gifts for children in need across Southwest Florida. This year, more than 500 families have requested assistance, and the generosity of all can help ensure every child experiences the magic of the holidays. Every gift makes a difference, join Catholic Charities in spreading hope and happiness. Donate new or unwrapped toys for kids of all ages to the following Catholic Charities locations: 5055 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 4235 Michigan Link Av., Fort Myers; 1208 E. Oak St., Arcadia; 3174 Tamiami Trail, E., Naples. You can also give online at: https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/donate. If you have questions, please email info@catholiccharitiesdov.org.

Nostra Aetate 60th Anniversary Symposium Dec. 6 and 7

The Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County, a longstanding Southwest Florida interfaith partnership, is hosting a panel of distinguished theologians, professors and clerics, including Bishop Frank J. Dewane, to discuss the impact of Nostra Aetate, the historic Catholic document that changed 20 centuries of Catholic-Jewish relations. The two-day symposium, titled “Nostra Aetate – 60 years: A new path for Catholic-Jewish relations,” will be held at 2 p.m., Dec. 6, 2025, at Ave Maria University, 5050 Ave Maria Blvd., Ave Maria, and 2 p.m., Dec. 7 at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center, 4720 Pine Ridge Road, Naples. The same program will be presented for two consecutive days. The symposium will also be available virtually via Zoom. Register for the symposium, either in-person or online, at www.jewishnaples.org.

WARNING – Text/Email Scam Alert

Parishioners have received text/email messages from people pretending to be clergy – including Bishop Frank J. Dewane – or Parish/school staff, requesting donations in the form of gift cards and/or wire transfers. The scam often claims that the priest, Bishop, or staff member is in need of gift cards or money to aid a sick child, relative, or parishioner. It is Diocesan policy that neither the Bishop, nor priests or staff request donations in the form of gift cards, PayPal, MoneyGram, etc. There is an established process for how to make donations and participate in the life of the Diocese, Parish, or school. If you receive such a scam text or email, please do not respond, and immediately contact the Diocese, Parish, or school directly!

Faith & Ale Lee County Dec. 11

Faith & Ale, a Catholic Men’s Apostolate in Southwest Florida, offers monthly gatherings of Catholic men to promote fellowship and growth in faith, every month between October and April. The next meeting is Dec. 11, 2025, at Church of the Resurrection Parish, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. The guest speaker is Tom Shillue, a FOX News panelist and comedian. The talk will focus on his book regarding fatherhood where the author “modernizes the lessons of his parents, fathering his own daughters in today’s modern world.” Tickets are $10. Doors open at 6 p.m. Register at https://faithandale.com. For more information, email faithandalefortmyers@gmail.com.

Advent Retreat at OLPH

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, 3989 S. Moon Drive, Venice, is hosting an Advent Retreat: Contemplative Prayer and the Spiritual Journey, from 5 p.m., Dec. 12, through 1 p.m. Dec. 14, 2025. The retreat will be led by Father Murchadh O’Madagain, PH.D., Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Fort Myers, and author of several books. This retreat looks at the spiritual journey, inviting all into a quiet, transformative form of prayer rooted in the Christian tradition—a way of consenting to God’s presence and action within. Through guided conferences, shared silence, and spiritual reflection, you’ll explore how to enter deep interior stillness, following centuries of tradition in the Catholic Church. It is a perfect way to prepare to welcome our Savior at Christmas! Register at olph-retreat.org.

Bishop to speak at Theology on Tap Dec. 18

Bishop Frank J. Dewane will be the guest speaker for the Dec. 18 gathering of the Theology on Tap in Sarasota. Theology on Tap is a monthly meeting of fellowship, faith, and fun with fellow Catholic young adults from across the Diocese. Don’t miss this chance to grow in faith, connect with others, and enjoy a great evening together. Theology on Tap meets on the third Thursday of every month (except November) at Oak & Stone, 5405 University Parkway, University Park. There is no cost to attend, and no registration required. Bring a friend!

Mass at Dawn (Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo) Dec. 15-23

St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, 1441 Spear St., Port Charlotte, is hosting the traditional Mass at Dawn (Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo), Dec. 13-23, 2025. Mass comes from the Catholic custom of gathering for celebration of the Eucharist in predawn hours in the nine days before Christmas. All are welcome. The Masses will be celebrated at 6 a.m., except Sunday, Dec. 21, (8 a.m.) Come all days or come when you can. For more information, please call 941-661-8335.

Ave Maria Veterans Ball Jan. 10

All are welcome to attend the Ave Maria Veterans Ball, 6 p.m., Jan. 10, 2026, at the Del Webb Grand Hall, Ave Maria. The keynote speaker is Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the United States Military Services, USA. Tickets are $125 per person and service tables and sponsorships are available. For more information visit AveMariaKOFC.org/Veterans-Ball.

Catholic Charismatic Renewal retreat Jan. 10

The Diocese of Venice Catholic Charismatic Renewal will host a one-day retreat, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jan. 10, 2026, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, 3989 S. Moon Drive, Venice. The speaker is Father John Gordon, and the theme is “Jesus is Our Light and Hope.” The cost is $60, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Register at www.charisms.org.

Surviving Divorce family program offered in January

A twelve-week program, Surviving Divorce: Hope and Healing for the Catholic Family, is offered with group meetings beginning Jan. 15, 2026, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 1301 Center Rd., Venice. The program provides a confidential place to ask the tough questions with trained leaders. The cost of the program is $25 and includes a workbook and access to all videos. For more information and to register, email Bob and Chris Smialek bobandchrissmialek@icloud.com, or 815-275-5305.

Faith & Wine in Lee County Jan. 22

Faith & Wine, an outreach for uniting Catholic women of all backgrounds and ages to develop friendships and to support one another as they apply the Gospel to their lives, will have its first event of the 2025-2026 season Jan. 22, 2026, at St. John XXIII Parish, 13060 Palamino Lane, Fort Myers. The guest speaker is Kelly Walquist, and her talk is titled “Blessed is the Fruit.” Tickets are $28 and include a 3-course meal with wine followed by a presentation by an inspirational speaker. Doors open at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow. Program begins at approximately 6:45 p.m. and ends at approximately 8:30 p.m. For more information, or to register, please visit https://faithandwineleecounty.com/.

March for Life, Washington D.C., Jan. 22-23, 2026

The March for Life is the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world. Every January, tens of thousands of pro-lifers converge in Washington, D.C. and march on Capitol Hill. The March is Jan. 22-23, 2026. The goal? To advocate for laws that protect the sanctity of life, and to influence the culture so that it may become a culture of life. Even with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the work to build a culture of life and put an end to abortion is not done; the effort continues at both state and federal levels. In fact, protecting life has gotten even more complex, with the advance and prevalence of the abortion pills, and their easy, anonymous distribution. Join this inspiring, peaceful, vibrant rally of women, men, and people young and old from across the country, and fight for life! If you are planning to participate in the March for Life or are interested in additional information, please contact Tavia Ames at ames@dioceseofvenice.org or call 941-374-1068.

Save the Date! 2026 Butterfly Ball

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Celebrate the last 30 years and toast to the next 30 at the Butterfly Ball on Jan. 24, 2026, at the St. Thomas More Parish Chelsea Center, 2506 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota. Tickets are $200. The special guest speaker is Father Shawn Monahan, OMV. For more information on how you can support or participate in the celebration, visit the https://www.olph-retreat.org/olph-2026-butterfly-ball.

2026 Sunshine State Steak Cook-off

Mark your calendar for the 16th annual Sunshine State Steak Cook-off Championship, Jan 24, 2026, in Ave Maria. Ave Maria Knights Council 14697 is hosting the event. Enjoy a day of family fun with food vendors, games and fun houses for the kids, as well as a farmer’s market, and silent auction, all topped off with a championship steak dinner. The dinner includes a 16 oz boneless ribeye steak, potato salad, roll and bottled water. To register a team for the cook-off, or to purchase tickets for the dinner, please visit www.sssco.org.

Catholic Charities offers Mental Health Counseling Services

Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice is offering mental health counseling, including tele-health, for adults and children provided by licensed mental health therapists. If you or someone you know is feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, helpless, or overwhelmed, Catholic Charities can help. For more information on this service, please call 239-455-2655 or visit Catholic Charities online: www.catholiccharitiesdov.org.

Free Rosary Repair Service

Send your broken rosaries in a padded envelope to Betty and Dick Holden, Free Rosary Repair Service, 7930 Estero Blvd., Unit 502, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931. Rosaries will be repaired and returned within the week of receipt. Donations of old rosaries are also accepted, which will be repaired and sent to missions. Include a note indicating repair or donation. For more details, please call 239-463-3993, 860-595-6370 or holdenbnd@gmail.com.

Diocesan youth “Arise” as men and women of God

Posted on November 20, 2025November 20, 2025 by Bob Reddy

The 2025 Diocese of Venice Youth Rally “Arise” was aptly named: some 2,000 teens participated and clearly showed they were lifted in their love for Jesus Christ.

The Youth Rally took place Nov. 15, 2025, 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.

Based on the response of the teens during Youth Rally, the goal to “arise” and to leave behind what might had been holding them back, was achieved. “Wow! What a great day. I was blown away,” said one girl from St. Raphael Parish in Lehigh Acres. “Incredible! I had no idea it would be so fun to focus on Jesus for a whole day,” said one young woman from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Immokalee. “This was amazing,” added a young man from St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples.

Other young men and women shared similar responses, with most raving about how the Youth Rally overcame any misgivings they might have had before participating. Overwhelmingly, they expressed their joy of celebrating their faith with 2,000 of their fellow Catholic brothers and sisters. “We are of one faith. All of us. It’s awesome,” said one young lady from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grove City.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane encouraged the young men and women to stand up for who they are as men and women of God and to support the Holy Spirit from within in responding to the call of God, building upon the theme of the Rally: “Arise – Leave Behind What Holds You Down!”

“You are a child of God, every one of you, made in the image and likeness of God,” Bishop Dewane said. “Let that be your reality. Remind yourself of that where your soul lives within you, that presence of God living within you in a particular way. Delve into who Christ is in your life, into the gift of faith the Lord has given each one of you.”

Bishop Dewane said he prayed throughout the day that each participant would have an experience where they had a connection with the Lord. He prayed during the closing Mass that they would carry this experience forward beyond the Youth Rally.

“Arise! Stop what you are doing and listen,” Bishop Dewane said. “The Lord is speaking to you. Be focused on the Lord. Walk away from this experience becoming more in the eyes of God. It is not just going to happen on its own. Strive to live out the graces, the virtues and the goodness, understanding you have been created for more. May you be blessed in your response to the Lord.”

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass concluded the Youth Rally. This was preceded by a Eucharistic Procession through the crowd and Adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist and Benediction.

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

The day included inspirational talks from nationally renowned speakers Noelle Garcia and Gian Gamboa. Garcia’s talk for the entire group was titled “Encounter the One Who Calls You,” and to the girls “Fully Alive: Women Rooted in Christ.” Gamboa’s talk to the whole group was titled, “Young People, I Say You, Arise,” and to the boys, “No Excuses: Living as Catholic Men Too.” Maggie Craig served as the master of ceremonies.

Vocation talks were offered to the men by Father Eric Scanlan, Pastor of Incarnation Parish in Sarasota and past Diocese of Venice Director of Vocations, who was later joined by four Diocesan seminarians. The women heard from Sister Pamela Rose Suresca, FMA, teacher at St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples.

Energetic music was provided by the PJ Anderson Band who inspired the crowd with spiritual songs.

Throughout the day, hundreds availed themselves of the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many also took time out to spend quiet time with the Lord in the Adoration Chapel.

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

Catholic Charities part of state-wide anti-human trafficking rescue mission

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Bob Reddy

The Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Anti-Human Trafficking Team was part of a larger coalition organized to support operation “Home for the Holidays,” a state-wide rescue mission comprised of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

A task force, led by the U.S. Marshals Service, located and received 122 missing and endangered Florida children in a two-week operation. Catholic Charities DOV was standing by, ready to ensure the children, including 29 from the Fort Myers region, were cared for in an appropriate and supportive process following the rescue, as announced Nov. 17, 2025.

Erika Pineros, who leads the Catholic Charities Anti-Human Trafficking Team, said the team was invited to participate as part of the on-site advocacy group because of their expertise in trauma-informed care and experience supporting vulnerable and potentially exploited youth.

“Our advocates helped ensure that every child rescued then encountered compassion, stability, and immediate support during the recovery process,” Pineros said. “This included providing basic necessities, offering emotional reassurance, and collaborating closely with the broader team to make sure each child’s immediate safety and well-being was prioritized.”

Bishop Frank J. Dewane, who has been an outspoken supporter of this Catholic Charities outreach program, stated, “It was a blessing that Catholic Charities was able to step up and help in this multi-agency effort. Assisting the victims of human trafficking is an important outreach that impacts far too many. They are on the frontlines helping children, and adults, overcome an exploitation that is nearly impossible to comprehend.”

Pineros said Catholic Charities was notified of the “Home for the Holidays” operation in advance and the coordination among the different agencies ensured that the transition for the children from dire circumstances was made as smoothly as possible during the course of a two-week period.

“It was organized as a trauma-informed approach, even before the child was there,” Pineros said. “The safe house was decorated and welcoming with gift baskets. One person was assigned to each child as an advocate. Each child was given a chance to rest, to have some food, take a nap and receive a medical evaluation.”

Pineros said one young man said he hadn’t had a hamburger in a long time, so someone went to the Five Guys restaurant to get him what he wanted. Two teens, a brother and a sister, were joyfully reunited after two years apart.

Case managers were assigned to work on the reunification process and children were reunited with family whenever possible. Catholic Charities offers a variety of counseling and other services for victims of human trafficking. While some of the children refused, others accepted this offer of help and will be assisted as long as needed. For those who passed on immediate help, the Catholic Charities team provided information to the parents/guardians in case future assistance is needed.

“It was a very rewarding experience,” Pineros said. “Often, we are dealing with individuals in a crisis and try to meet all of the needs at one time. For our entire team it was nice to be part of something bigger as everyone came together for the children.”

“Operation Home for the Holidays” is being heralded as one of the largest and most successful child-recovery missions in state history. It brought together more than 200 agencies and partners across Fort Myers, Tampa Bay, Orlando, Jacksonville, and surrounding counties — an unprecedented coalition that included the FBI, 11 sheriff’s offices, four police departments, four state agencies and 25 nonprofit organizations, including Catholic Charities.

“Thanks to one of the single largest child-rescue operations in U.S. history, 122 missing children are safe,” said Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. “This operation highlights the strength and diligence of Florida’s Law Enforcement. I am deeply grateful for everyone that made Operation Home for the Holidays a massive success. Many of these kids have been victimized in unspeakable ways. We will prosecute their abusers to the fullest extent of the law.”

About the Anti-Human Trafficking Assistance program

The Catholic Charities Anti-Human Trafficking Assistance program has a long-standing commitment to the plight of human trafficking in Southwest Florida by providing intensive case management and mental health counseling to all individuals who are the victims of this crime as they attempt to integrate into society after being rescued.

The group works closely with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors throughout Southwest Florida to provide and coordinate an expansive array of services to survivors from basic human needs to legal representation. Comprehensive case management and direct assistance is offered to all victims of severe human trafficking, which include minors, adults, and both domestic and foreign-born individuals. A victim-centered approach is used to deliver aid to clients while maintaining a mission of compassion, integrity, and empathy.

Victims are offered the following services: food and clothing; coordination to a shelter at a safe distance from the site of the exploitation; transitional housing; medical and dental service coordination; mental health counseling; referrals for further mental health services as needed; state and federal laws and benefits orientation and education; benefit application assistance; educational and language service opportunities; liaison with law enforcement and immigration service providers; and coordination with various community agencies for other required services.

Catholic Charities staff is active in various organizations that coordinate efforts to combat human trafficking and to inform the public about this heinous crime.

To learn more about the Anti-Human Trafficking Assistance program, please call 239-738-8722, or visit https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/anti-human-trafficking. If you would like to support this program, you can scan the QR code or visit https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/donate.

Ground broken for Parish Youth Center

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Bob Reddy

Bishop Frank J. Dewane presided over a blessing and groundbreaking ceremony for the St. John Bosco Youth Center at St. John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers on Nov. 16, 2025.

The Youth Center will serve as a safe space dedicated to help young men and women grow in their faith as children of God.

Bishop Dewane celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass prior to the blessing and groundbreaking ceremony, praising the vision of St. John XXIII Pastor Jay Raju, the religious education staff, and the parishioners for their dedication to supporting the youth through the building of a Youth Center.

“It is about our future, and about the future of the Church,” Bishop Dewane said. “Most importantly, it is about the future of young people, living as men and women of God.”

Father Raju thanked the Bishop for supporting the project and being present for the groundbreaking ceremony. “The Bishop has so much love for the future of the Church, and his presence with us today is an expression of that love.”

During the ceremony, Bishop Dewane thanked those who supported the project both materially and with their prayers, noting that youth require an invitation to be active in their faith. The new building is a special way to offer that invitation to the young people of the Parish.

As part of the blessing, Bishop Dewane added, “The work we do here will continue to build up the Lord’s Kingdom. May the Lord bless all who will occupy this Youth Center and benefit from it for many years to comes.”

Bishop blessed the people first, then the construction site, noting how the people are the living stones upon which the Church is supported.

Joining Bishop Dewane during the groundbreaking were Father Raju, Parish Business Manager Holly Atkins, Kelly Evers, Parish Coordinator of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, and two of the project’s major supporters. Bishop Dewane then held a second symbolic groundbreaking with members of the Parish Youth Council.

Several members of the Youth Council shared their excitement for the project, expressing their gratitude to the Parish for supporting the construction of the Youth Center, but also eagerly anticipating when their new home will be completed in the spring.

The Youth Center has been in the planning stages for many years and Evers said, “This is a great day. I am so happy for our youth that they will soon have a place to call their own.”

The Youth Center will include a large gathering room, as well as smaller meeting spaces. There will be a covered pavilion for outdoor gatherings, as well as facilities for games and other fun. The outside of the building will have mosaics and potentially a statue of St. Carlo Acutis, the newest Catholic saint who was canonized by Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 7, 2025. St. Carlo was an Italian teen who died at 15 and was known for his devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist and his use of digital media to promote Eucharistic Miracles around the world.

News Briefs for the week of November 21, 2025

Posted on November 20, 2025November 20, 2025 by Bob Reddy

Appointments

After consultation, Bishop Frank J. Dewane announces the following:

Father Philip Scheff, retired as Parochial Vicar of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Port Charlotte, effective November 29, 2025, and thus, is to be relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar at St. Charles Borromeo Parish.

Father James Simko, retired as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish, Bradenton, effective November 30, 2025, and thus, is to be relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph Parish.

Father Raùl Zamora, is relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar of St. Leo the Great Parish, Bonita Springs, effective November 30, 2025.

Father Juan Carlos Sack, as temporary Parochial Vicar of St. Leo the Great Parish, Bonita Springs, effective Nov. 30, 2025, and thus, is temporarily relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar of Our Lady Queen of Heaven, LaBelle.

Founding principal of Cape Coral Catholic school dies

Sinsinawa Dominican Sister Elizabeth (Mary Denysa) Dunn, OP, who was the founding principal at St. Andrew Catholic School in Cape Coral, died Nov. 14, 2025. Sister Elizabeth started the school with less than 80 students in 1989. Within her 10 years of service the school grew to more than 500 students. Her leadership witnessed the implementation of the St. Andrew Catholic School Festival, building expansion and establishing a faith-filled school community. Over the course of her 60-year career in Catholic education, Sister Elizabeth served as a teacher at schools in six states and principal at five different Catholic schools. She also ministered in leadership for the Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation as a general councilor, provincial councilor, and associate prioress at Stair Crest. She was a champion of Catholic education and believed that a Christian atmosphere of learning builds a strong heart, mind, and faith life of students. Born in Wisconsin, Sister Elizabeth professed vows with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1964. There will be an interment prayer service Nov. 24, in the St. Clara Chapel, Sinsinawa Wisconsin, prior to her burial in St. Clara Cemetery.

Students support food pantry

St. Joseph Catholic School in Bradenton recently rallied together to collect more than 1,000 items for the St. Joseph Food Pantry. The school Builders Club and K-Kids helped to organize the food drive the week of Nov. 20-24, 2025, to help those in need in Manatee County. A second and third grade class combined to collect more than 400 items, and they will celebrate their achievement by having a joint pizza party.

WARNING – Text/Email Scam Alert

Faith & Wine in Lee County Dec. 4

Faith & Wine, an outreach for uniting Catholic women of all backgrounds and ages to develop friendships and to support one another as they apply the Gospel to their lives, will have its first event of the 2025-2026 season Dec. 4, 2025, at Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, 8051 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. The guest speaker is Annie Karto, and her talk is titled “A Perfect Penance.” Tickets are $28 and include a 3-course meal with wine followed by a presentation by an inspirational speaker. Doors open at 6 p.m. with dinner to follow. Program begins at approximately 6:45 p.m. and ends at approximately 8:30 p.m. For more information, or to register, please visit https://faithandwineleecounty.com/.

Nostra Aetate 60th Anniversary Symposium

The Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County, a longstanding Southwest Florida interfaith partnership, is hosting a panel of distinguished theologians, professors and clerics, including Bishop Frank J. Dewane, to discuss the impact of Nostra Aetate, the historic Catholic document that changed 20 centuries of Catholic-Jewish relations. The two-day symposium, titled “Nostra Aetate – 60 years: A new path for Catholic-Jewish relations,” will be held at 2 p.m., Dec. 6, 2025, at Ave Maria University, 5050 Ave Maria Blvd., Ave Maria, and 2 p.m., Dec. 7 at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center, 4720 Pine Ridge Road, Naples. The same program will be presented for two consecutive days. The symposium will also be available virtually via Zoom. Register for the symposium, either in-person or online, at www.jewishnaples.org.

Faith & Ale Lee County Dec. 11

Advent Retreat at OLPH

Bishop to speak at Theology on Tap Dec. 18

Ave Maria Veterans Ball Jan. 10

Catholic Charismatic Renewal retreat Jan. 10

Surviving Divorce family program offered in January

March for Life, Washington D.C., Jan. 22-23, 2026

Save the Date! 2026 Butterfly Ball

2026 Sunshine State Steak Cook-off

Prison Ministry volunteers needed throughout Diocese

Join the team of Diocesan volunteers who enter county jails and state prisons within the 10-county Diocese of Venice to do pastoral outreach, distribute the Eucharist and facilitate programs. Priests, Deacons, and lay volunteers are encouraged to assist in this ministry. Volunteers will first participate in an orientation program before entering the facility and will shadow experienced volunteers until they feel comfortable. Times and days vary by facility. Please contact Joe Mallof at 224-217-7139 or Bob Hiniker 863-558-0407 to learn where you can fit into this joyful opportunity.

Catholic Charities offers Mental Health Counseling Services

Free Rosary Repair Service