Tag: bishop frank dewane

Foundation thriving under Bishop’s leadership

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Editor’s Note: Michael Morse has been Executive Director of the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida for the past 10 years. He shares here how Bishop Frank J. Dewane has led the organization to become a thriving Foundation that helps build up the mission of the Church in Southwest Florida.

During the past 10 years, I have had the honor and privilege to serve the Diocese of Venice and Bishop Frank J. Dewane as the Executive Director of the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida. Throughout this time, I have constantly been amazed at Bishop Dewane’s energy, compassion, vision, and concern for the pastoral care of the faithful within the Diocese of Venice. I also greatly appreciate Bishop Dewane’s great sense of humor and genuine care not only for me and my family, but for all who serve the Church.

It is due to Bishop Dewane’s long-term vision and concern for the Faithful that the Catholic Community Foundation has grown so significantly over the past 10 years. The Bishop encouraged all the Parishes, Catholic schools and entities within the Diocese to not only focus on the needs of today, but to think about the future generations of Catholics who will need to be served long after we are gone. As a result, the number of endowment funds providing long-term support and sustainability to the Parishes, Schools and entities within the Diocese has increased tremendously.

When I look back 10 years to when I interviewed with Bishop Dewane, I really did not know what I was getting into. I can now say that this has been the most rewarding professional experience in my life. The Bishop has been a constant source of support, encouragement, and suggestions. Without his confidence in the Foundation’s Board, staff and mission, we would not be anywhere close to where we are today.

Vision and leadership of Bishop admired by Diocesan Board members

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Editor’s note: Dominick and Rita Cavuoto, Michele Tromble and Janet Beach have each known Bishop Frank J. Dewane for many years. All have served on various Diocesan boards through the years and each considers Bishop Dewane a friend having interacted and worked with him on many occasions through the years. Each were asked to share their experiences in dealing with the Bishop in both formal and informal settings.

Cavuotos

Dominick Cavuoto was serving on the St. Agnes Parish Council in Naples when Bishop Dewane erected the Parish in 2007 – one of the first major actions the Bishop took upon assuming his role.

“My first impression was very positive, and it has never waned,” said Cavuoto, who currently serves on the Board of Director of the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida Inc. “He was so wonderful and took the time to talk and said, ‘Let’s keep in contact.’ He reached out to us not long afterward. He has been a great Shepherd for the Diocese, but also for our family. He was always warm to us and knew the names of our children and grandchildren. That meant a lot to us and says so much about him.”

Rita Cavuoto, who recently relinquished her role as Chair of the Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Board of Directors, said her work with Bishop Dewane through the years gave her a glimpse into the “tremendous vision on everything from the small things to the largest projects. He also has a clear vision of how people should be treated – always with dignity. He goes to every event he can. When there has been an emergency, he goes out there and loads cars with food.”

The Cavuoto’s both said they have the utmost respect for Bishop Dewane in how he has a great responsibility in his role as the religious leader of the Diocese, but also as how he handled his role as leader of the operational side of the Diocese as well.

Tromble

Tromble first met Bishop Dewane is 2009 when she and her husband took part in a Diocesan trip to Italy in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Diocese. That experience showed how the Bishop handled adversity on the trip by helping to fix whatever the problem was, including helping to porter baggage, help people in and out of buses and boats and making sure everyone was comfortable, Tromble said.

“On another trip to the Holy Land, we had the opportunity to have Mass in the Holy Sepulchre, Tromble said. “We were traveling with a young priest in our group and the Bishop allowed him to say this Mass. This was an amazing gift to the other priest. I think Bishop’s joy was so beautiful that the true gift was his.”

Tromble, who served on the Foundation Board for 14 years noted that there are not many surprises with Bishop Dewane, whom she said is always very respectful but also human. Because of their friendship, she credits the Bishop with teaching her “that a small effort turns into an amazing accomplishment. Like planting a seed, the smallest of things, that grows and feeds us all. This is the basis of our faith to care for all with dignity. I can never thank him enough.”

Beach

Beach first met Bishop Dewane shortly after he was ordained as a Bishop while she was on the Parish Council of Epiphany Cathedral in Venice. They developed a friendship through the years to where she too was asked and served 14 years on the Catholic Community Foundation Board, ultimately serving as Director for a term.

“He transformed the Foundation into something that now makes a real impact on the Diocese from the many scholarships we offer, to migrant care grants and much more,” Beach said. “That would never have happened without the direction and tenacity of Bishop Dewane.”

Beach, Tromble and the Cavuotos also explained how they each witnessed Bishop Dewane use his leadership and interpersonal skills and sheer will to help build up Catholic Charities, the Foundation, Parishes and Catholic schools to each now thrive in ways that were deemed unimaginable in 2007.

True impressions

“What he has done for the Diocese is amazing,” Beach said. “He has given it his all.”

Tromble said Bishop Dewane’s passion “is to care for those who need it most. He not only supports this cause, he looks far beyond. He has created a foundation of support to sustain the care of those in need. That is his legacy.”

The Cavuotos noted many never get to see the social and friendly side of Bishop Dewane. “When you work with him on a lot of committees you grow to see the full depth of Bishop Dewane,” Dominick said. “We have been blessed to count him as a true friend of our family.”

Priest, Bishop connected through canon law

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Editor’s Note: Father Joseph Waters is the Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Venice. He shares his thoughts on Bishop Frank J. Dewane, who is also a canon lawyer.

I first met Bishop Frank Dewane in 1984 when we were students together at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Our rooms were located on the same hallway, and we became friends. When Bishop Dewane returned to Florida as Bishop of Venice, we naturally reconnected. Shortly thereafter, he sought my assistance with several canonical matters, and I began traveling to Venice regularly.

In 2015, I began assisting the Diocese of Venice in a more permanent capacity by serving as Judicial Vicar, a position that had become vacant. Since that time, I have spent two days each week in Venice, leading the Marriage Tribunal and assisting with a variety of canonical matters.

Over these 11 years as Judicial Vicar, Bishop Dewane and I have worked closely together. During that time, I have come to value not only his friendship and mentorship, but also his remarkable pastoral leadership. As a Successor of the Apostles, he has demonstrated a profound love for the Church and a deep commitment to the pastoral care of God’s people. I remain grateful for the confidence and trust he has placed in me and for the opportunity to serve alongside him. Through our shared work, our friendship has grown stronger.

During his years as Ordinary of the Diocese of Venice, Bishop Dewane has faced significant physical challenges, including major surgeries and lengthy periods of recovery. Throughout those trials, he has shown extraordinary courage, resilience, and fidelity to his apostolic responsibilities. His unwavering commitment to his ministry during difficult times has been a powerful witness to his love for Christ and Holy Mother Church.

I will forever treasure these years of collaboration and friendship. The work was not always easy and often required me to stretch both my canonical expertise and pastoral sensitivity. Yet it has been a privilege and a joy to accompany Bishop Dewane in his service to the Church as Bishop of Venice.

As he enters retirement, I offer him my heartfelt gratitude, prayerful best wishes, and the assurance of my continued prayers. May this new chapter of his priestly and episcopal ministry be filled with peace, renewed strength, and many blessings from the Lord whom he has served so faithfully.

Growing up on a farm influenced Bishop’s future

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Editor’s note: This article, written by Heather Felton, appeared in the July 21, 2006, Special Welcome edition of The Florida Catholic. The story covers Bishop Dewane’s life prior to becoming the Bishop of the Diocese of Venice.

Heather Felton, Florida Catholic

While the Wisconsin-born man soon to become coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Venice has traveled to many exciting places, Bishop-designate Frank J. Dewane has always remained rooted in the appreciation for life, creatures and the many God-given gifts instilled in him by his parents.

Bishop-designate Dewane came from what is typically called “humble beginnings,” growing up on a dairy farm with cows, chickens, an occasional pig, and dogs and cats. His Irish-Catholic background made the local parish the center of the community, he said.

“Everything I learned growing up, it’s in that context of the boy on the farm who went to St. James, Cooperstown, to church,” he said. “We went to stations during Lent, we went to the rosary during May and October and the May crowning and the Feast of St. Isadore, the patron of farmers, for the big procession. This was just life; that was it.”

His life path led him through a career first with NBC in Moscow and a PepsiCo affiliate in New York City, before he embarked on his priestly vocation that took him even further from his Wisconsin roots. He was carried briefly to New York and the United Nations before being whisked away again, this time to Rome, first in the service of Pope John Paul II and then Pope Benedict XVI, carrying the Vatican’s messages of social justice and peace to conferences and international conventions across the globe.

But through all his travels and vast experiences, Bishop-designate Dewane has retained the basic lessons he learned in his childhood and these, he said, have not only helped mold him into the man he is today, these childhood experiences provide the basis for much of his recent work in peace and justice.

A student of the Soviet situation

Although his faith life was strong growing up, the call to priesthood wasn’t at the top of the career list for Bishop-designate Dewane as he embarked on his college years. Instead, his fascination lay with Russia. Therefore, during his junior year in college in 1971, he joined a study tour of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

“I had always read things about Russia, communism and the Soviet Union. As a child who grew up in the ’60s and the Cold War and heard things about them, I developed an interest and went there.”

He had the opportunity to return during his senior year and was hooked, choosing to focus his graduate work on Soviet area studies. An understanding but realistic professor convinced him that, in order to have a career outside academia, he would be better off with a different major while keeping the Soviet studies as an interest. Therefore, he earned his master’s degree in international administration and, as soon as he was able, found a position in Moscow, first with a small consulting firm and later with NBC.

“It was, for me, a fantastic period in my life. It was most enjoyable to meet people who were different than you, who had a different perspective,” he said. “They weren’t the miserable people who wanted to kill all the Americans. They were just like we were and they wanted the best for their children and they wondered why we wanted to attack them. And I thought, ‘We don’t want to attack you. It’s you who’s going to attack us.’ And you suddenly realize, its kind of all in the eyes of the beholder here,” he said.

“For me it was a spiritual time, also,” he said. “It’s a growing up, it’s a maturing, it’s a developing of interests different from where you come from.”

Bishop-designate Dewane stayed in Moscow until shortly before what was supposed to be the airing of the 1980 Olympics with NBC. That all changed with the invasion of Afghanistan and the Olympic boycott that changed the scope of his job.

A ‘late’ vocation

Bishop-designate Dewane said he had, for some time, thought about pursuing a religious vocation.

“I thought it would be nice to be a priest, but I always thought there was something more interesting that I had to do first,” he said. “But the idea of being a priest kept coming back. Those other things were not more interesting or satisfying.”

While in Russia, Bishop-designate Dewane told himself that it was time to make the decision. He would go back to the United States, get a job and decide. He was now about 30 years old.

He moved to New York City where he took a job with a subsidiary of PepsiCo while he decided if he was going to enter seminary.

“I guess you could say I was collecting reasons not to become a priest,” he said. “I was getting older and I had a job and I had a nice apartment and my income was fine, so at some point I thought, ‘Frank, you’ve just got to decide to decide.’ And that’s what I did when I came home from Russia — I decided to decide.”

Therese Mauch worked for Bishop-designate Dewane as a sales coordinator during his time at the PepsiCo subsidiary. It was 1982 and he was her first boss out of college, she said.

“It was a great experience,” she said. “He set high standards for himself and high standards for everybody else.”

Because Mauch is also Catholic, she said they frequently talked about their faith and what was going on in the church.

“Was I surprised he left to be a priest? No, not really,” she said. “It was a very big change from what he was doing, but on the other hand, he always discussed his faith and it was always something he was very strong about, even in New York City, and this was New York City in the ‘80s.”

Mauch said she was thrilled to hear that he was about to celebrate his episcopal ordination.

“I’m sure he’s going to be a terrific bishop and I’m not surprised he is on his way to becoming a bishop,” she said.

He is someone who has a great education and is interested in many things, she said, so he is able to talk to people on a variety of levels.

“He can make a difference,” she said, “and he can make a difference for the Catholic Church.”

It took him, he said, nearly three years — during which time he worked and socialized and prayed — to make the decision that he was going to leave it all behind.

“I never had any qualms and that’s the goodness of the Lord to us all,” he said of his decision. “I never looked back, saying, ‘Oh, I shouldn’t have done this’ or ‘I wish I had some more income,’ or something like that. It was all just fine.”

He had, of course, thought about getting married during his discernment process.

“If you talk to a lot of priests, the fact that they’re priests does not mean that they didn’t want to marry,” he said. “I think sometimes our society today is a little bit, ‘I want to do everything. I want to go to the moon.’ You choose and you move on in your life.”

Globe-trotting again

Bishop-designate Dewane was ordained a priest of the Green Bay Diocese July 16, 1988, by then-Bishop Adam Maida and was settled into parish life at Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Green Bay. The parish had both a school and a home for the ambulatory elderly where he assisted. Bishop-designate Dewane also assisted at the diocesan Tribunal.

In 1991, however, the then-Bishop Robert Banks told him that he was requested to go to the New York to serve as a member of the permanent observer mission of the Holy See to the United Nations.

Oscar De Rojas of the United Nations has known Bishop-designate Dewane for over 20 years, he said. They first met when Bishop-designate Dewane was a layman living in New York and De Rojas was a diplomat for Venezuela. They then rekindled their friendship when Bishop-designate Dewane returned to New York as part of the Vatican delegation to the United Nations for the Holy See. De Rojas was working then for the United Nations. The pair covered many of the same issues.

“He was a very well-liked person by everyone,” De Rojas said. There are some in the diplomatic community who don’t feel comfortable working with the Vatican, he said, or may feel squeamish about approaching whoever sits at the seat that says “Holy See,” “but Msgr. Frank always found a way to make himself liked and respected by everyone, and not only by people who were Christian, but even by people who were not religious in anyway.”

He had a talent, De Rojas said, for working for the compromise in a situation that would not compromise the issue.

“I think he won a lot of friends for the Holy See here at the United Nations by his presence,” he said.

After five years there, Bishop-designate Dewane was transferred to Rome where he served as an official of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum from 1995 to March of 2001, which carries out many of the charitable works of the Holy Father, including work with the U.S. agencies of Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities.

From Cor Unum, Bishop-designate Dewane moved on to his most recent post as undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The primary responsibility of the council is to promote justice, peace, development and human rights.

His work for the Vatican has taken him to international conferences and meetings all over the world, including Brazil, Egypt, China, Denmark, Turkey, South Africa, Mexico and Japan, dealing with water issues, the environment, human rights and war and peace issues.

“Somebody said to me, ‘Don’t you find it really tough to do this?’ And I said, ‘No, it’s a natural.’ Oh yes, sometimes it’s unpleasant and difficult,” he said, “but it was a natural in that life’s important and people wanted to take life or end life (in cases such as abortion or euthanasia). … It’s the Lord who determines these. We don’t have that right.”

It may seem a long way to go from the roots of the Wisconsin farm boy, but really, he said, the roots are still firmly planted where they always have been.

The gardener

When he arrived in Rome, Bishop-designate Dewane said there was a large terrace area outside his apartment with nothing on it, but he worked hard to change that.

“Now it’s something like a jungle,” he said. “I just enjoyed it immensely. I hope to continue doing some of that in Venice. It’s my therapy. It’s just good for me.”

Growing up, he said, he did a lot of gardening, although more with vegetables then, unlike the flowers he tends now.

“I enjoy getting out and growing things. It’s kind of a free gift from God. You plant something, give it some water and air and it grows,” he said. “On a farm, you learn a tremendous appreciation for life and the cycles of life” as well as the economic aspects that are involved with animals being born and dying.

“But also the appreciation for life, all creatures, the gift that God gives and the beauty of it – whether its in plants, flowers or animals, and then the supreme gift, the human being and the beauty that is in each person.”

It is that appreciation for all life that carries over into all of the work he does, whether it was facing down U.N. diplomats over the best uses of the environment or discussing where the spiritual needs of workers should be considered with the World Trade Organization.

What the future holds

With his episcopal ordination as coadjutor bishop Tuesday, July 25, said Bishop John J. Nevins, Bishop-designate Dewane will be appointed a vicar general of the Venice Diocese.

“Bishop-designate Dewane will familiarize himself with the workings of the diocese, visiting parishes and schools, attending meetings and getting to know the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Venice,” he said.

Then, at Bishop Nevins’ retirement in January 2007, Bishop Dewane will be the second bishop of Venice in Florida.

When that time comes, Bishop-designate Dewane hopes that his episcopal motto, “Iustitia Pax Gaudium” (Justice, Peace, Joy), reflects his commitment to promote issues of peace and justice in the diocese.

Bishop Nevins said he has strong faith in his soon-to-be coadjutor and future successor.

“Bishop-designate Dewane is very much a man of faith and justice. Formed by his parents and his Catholic community as a child in the farmland of Wisconsin, and seasoned in doing the good works of the Holy Father in the Pontifical Councils Cor Unum and Justice and Peace, Bishop-designate Dewane has a deep respect for the family and its needs,” he said. “He also has an understanding of the needs of the peace and justice issues currently taking place within our diocese, such as those facing immigrants, farmworkers and their families, the elderly, the incarcerated and the environment.”

Bishop-designate Dewane said his priorities do include the diocese’s considerable elderly population, the youth, the family and the migrant workers and their families.

“Certainly it’s a diocese that has an elderly population, so any pastor in this diocese has to have the aging population as a priority,” he said. “And always the migrant workers – and their families, because we can’t treat that entity separately. Sometimes they’re traveling with them, sometimes they’re not.”

He also plans to be aware of issues facing those in the prison system, as well, although he knows that the diocese has an active prison ministry.

“It’s a population that can get forgotten and we need to be attentive to that,” he said.

“‘To those who have been given (much), much will be asked,’ and now we need to respond to that. And that’s just not about money,” he said. “That’s about talents; that’s about loving your brothers and sisters really, even when you don’t know them.”

His future episcopacy won’t be without its challenges. Among them, he said, will be future vocations.

“The people of the Diocese of Venice, God’s people in Venice, need priests,” he said. “It’s not about just the bishop needing priests or priests needing other priests. The people of God in the Diocese of Venice need priests and it is they who need to respond, to have to share responsibility for the question of vocations. It’s something that happens together.”

Meanwhile, he said, he will spent a lot of time visiting parishes and schools, getting to know the diocese physically, as well as meeting the people and the priests in their own parishes. He said he plans to go to many events to which he is invited and even some to which he is not invited.

“I don’t want to interfere in a school board or a pastor running his parish, but just to be available and to go out to the social centers the diocese has,” he said. “I think Bishop Nevins was very astute and very insightful in setting the schools that you see, the social centers that you see, the outreach that exists. It’s good and needs to continue. And we can always build on things, too.”

Bishop-designate Dewane says he believes that, in the model of society today, consultation has to be part of most decisions.

If a decision affects, for example, a school, he wants to hear what the parents, staff and students have to say about it and to be told how they feel about the issue, their experience and their visions for the future as to where the issue should go.

It is important to add, however, that there is a difference between consultation and decision-making, he said.

“They are two totally different processes. One precedes the other,” he said. “I have the obligation to listen, but I have the right and the responsibility to make the decision in the end and then we must move forward as church.”

As the Venice Diocese moves forward, Bishop-designate Dewane will carry on the good works of Bishop Nevins, working closely with the priests to aid the diocese as it continues to grow. It is with a joyful heart that he undertakes his newest ministry, once again planting roots and helping the faith to grow.

2026 Catholic Charities Summertime appeal is here

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Every day, Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice, Inc., serves the most vulnerable population by feeding, housing, empowering, and encouraging those in need.

Now, you can help Catholic Charities by donating to the annual “Summertime and the Giving is Easy” appeal.

The Summertime appeal gets back to the basics by reminding the generous faithful about key areas where Catholic Charities assists people throughout the 10-county Diocese of Venice region. Many people live without adequate food, shelter, education or support. Catholic Charities offers people in need in Southwest Florida the help that brings about real change in their lives and provides hope for the future.

Each year Catholic Charities serves more than 100,000 individuals and families regardless of race, nationality or creed, providing a wide range of services at 21 locations throughout the 10-county Diocese of Venice. The support of the faithful allowed Catholic Charities to meet the continued demand for aid following the devastation of two hurricanes in 2024. Catholic Charities works hard to make a difference. A total of 93 cents of each dollar donated to Catholic Charities goes directly to more than 20 programs and services which ranks the charity among the most efficient in the country.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane said the support of Catholic Charities by the faithful of Southwest Florida is inspirational and crucial to ensuring “our brothers and sisters in Christ continue to receive the help and support they need. Please remember that every number represents a child, family or individual who relies on the support of Catholic Charities to get through a crisis. Catholic Charities does a tremendous job in providing programs that not only help in a crisis but assist in improving daily the lives of those they reach. Your support is appreciated and critical!”

Christopher M. Root, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Inc., said every contribution to the Summer Giving Appeal, no matter the size, becomes a blessing to someone facing hardship and a reflection of God’s love in action.

“For many of our neighbors across Southwest Florida, summer can bring increased hardship – children without reliable meals when school is out, families struggling to make ends meet with increased utility bills, and vulnerable individuals searching for hope during difficult times,” Root said. “At Catholic Charities, our mission is rooted in the Gospel, and is a call to love and serve one another with compassion and dignity. Your support for the Summertime appeal will help provide hope and critical support to thousands of individuals and families across Southwest Florida.

“From food and housing assistance to help with utilities, medications, counseling, and other essential services, your generosity allows Catholic Charities to continue answering the call for those most in need,” Root said. “Together, we can bring compassion, stability, and hope to our communities.”

Whether your passion is education, food security for children and families, preventing homelessness, or helping the vulnerable, please consider providing your support to the “Summertime and the Giving is Easy” appeal knowing your contribution will reach those in need.

For the purposes of better serving the needy, Catholic Charities hs divided into four regions, with each addressing the unique needs of the people who are seeking assistance.

 Region 1 serves Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties with a variety of key services. One of the most impactful programs is Our Mother’s House. Located in Venice, this two-year transitional housing program provides single mothers and their young children with stability, support, and renewed hopes during difficult times. The program gives mothers the opportunity to continue their education, participate in life skills classes, build financial stability through increased savings, and focus on developing careers for long-term success.

Region 2 serves Lee, Hendry and Glades counties. A program that has provided decades of outreach is the Catholic Charities Children’s Center in Fort Myers. The program empowers elementary and middle school students through academic tutoring; mentoring literacy support; social skills development; and comprehensive case management. Programs like this equip young people with the confidence, values, and skills needed to build bright futures. Today, 80% of the Center’s enrolled students go on to pursue higher education, while the remaining 20% continue their path through trade or vocational schools.

Region 3 serves all of Collier County. There is a special focus on Guadalupe Social Services, located in the heart of Immokalee. This program has served individuals and families in need for more than 40 years. Through hot meals, showers, clothing assistance, pantry services, and so much more, the program recognizes the dignity of every person, providing, compassion and hope to those facing difficult circumstances. Each month the program serves hundreds of individuals and families, including providing thousands of hot meals to those in need every month.

Region 4 serves DeSoto, Hardee and Highlands counties. Poverty in DeSoto County is a harsh reality for many families. To address the growing need, at the end of 2025, the Arcadia Food Pantry transitioned its drive-thru pantry into a choice pantry with expanded hours. This allows families to select the foods that best meet their needs. Since then, the pantry has seen a 500% increase in those seeking food assistance and is now serving more than 2,000 individuals each month. With a limited budget, the food pantry relies heavily upon community donations to continue meeting the growing need. In addition to food assistance, the pantry offers a clothing closet and essential items such as diapers, wipes, and hygiene products for families in crisis. Looking ahead, there are plans to expand the services offered in Arcadia by opening a soup kitchen to provide warm meals and additional support to the community.

The “Summertime and the Giving is Easy” campaign is a chance to brighten the future for those throughout the Diocese who come to Catholic Charities for help. Your gift, combined with others, will make a positive impact on our less fortunate brothers and sisters in Christ, and have a lasting, lifelong impact.

How to help

Online – Summertime Giving

By mail – Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., “Summertime and the Giving is Easy,” 1000 Pinebrook Road, Venice, FL 34285

By phone – 941-488-5581

Service locations

Arcadia, Bonita Springs, Bradenton, Clewiston, Fort Myers, Immokalee, Naples, North Port, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, and Venice.

Programs and Services

Affordable housing; after-school programs; anti-human trafficking; behavioral health counseling; case management services; clothing distribution, counseling services; disaster response and recovery; career development and empowerment; emergency shelter; farm worker housing; financial assistance; food pantries; supplement assistance program (SNAP); housing for vulnerable populations; homeless prevention; housing for homeless families; immigration services; infant/toddler supplies; rapid-rehousing; residential programs for mothers and children; senior housing; senior services; soup kitchen; summer youth program; transitional housing; veterans services; and youth mentoring program.

Making your donations count

$10,000 – helps maintain five transitional houses for homeless families on their journey to self-sufficiency;

$6,500 – provides a notebook computer for 10 children;

$3,000 – provides a senior with rent for four months;

$2,500 – helps 10 children to attend summer camp;

$1,600 – purchases a pallet of canned goods, providing 100 families with essentials;

$1,000 – keeps the lights on for four families;

$500 – provides groceries to a family of four for two weeks;

$250 – provides a new twin mattress and bedding for a child;

$120 – provides one counseling session for an individual in need, helping begin their journey towards healing and hope;

$75 – feeds a family of four for one week from a food pantry;

$50 – buys diapers for a mom in need.

Diocese send more than 500 Disciples of Christ into the world

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The four Diocese of Venice Catholic high schools graduated a record 510 into the world during a three-week span in May 2026.

This group, as they are each year, is impressive for their accomplishments earned through sacrifice, hard work and commitment in mind, body and soul.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated the four different Baccalaureate Masses and noted how the Diocese is proud of the graduates and made a point to recognize the role of parents and grandparents, expressing his gratitude to them for entrusting their children to Diocesan Catholic high schools for their education.

“It is my prayer that you have learned the message of Jesus Christ, and that it is woven into who you are as men and women made in the image and likeness of God,” Bishop Dewane said. “You were provided a tremendous opportunity to attend at Catholic high school. Now that this experience is something in the past, let the vision of God you have developed in your four years be how you respond to God’s call.”

An astounding 98 percent of the graduates are heading off to higher education at some of the top colleges and universities in the land. Dozens were recognized for their academic prowess with many graduating with honors. Of note, four have opted to join the military and three have accepted an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, one to the U.S. Military Academy, and one to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

As a group, these graduates gave back to the community with more than 62,000 service hours while also garnering more than $48.2 million in scholarship offers.

In addition to academic awards, many of these students were scholar athletes with several earning state titles in a variety of sports. More than 70 of the graduates were offered scholarships to continue their athletic career at the next level.

At Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota, the graduation was May 22. Duke Bergstrom was the class Valedictorian and Gabriel Mehlum was Salutatorian. The Baccalaureate Mass was celebrated at Incarnation Parish in Sarasota on May 20.

The St. John Neumann Catholic High School Commencement Exercises were May 15 at the Naples school, with the Baccalaureate Mass at St. Agnes Parish on May 14. The Valedictorian was Thomas O’Brien and Salutatorian was Sophia Bosco.

The graduation for Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers was May 15, with the Baccalaureate Mass at St. Columbkille Parish on May 14. Verot had 37 students recognized as top graduates, and among those, Margaret Swift provided the introductory address, while Ambrielle Calixte offered the commencement address.

The Ave Maria Catholic Academy graduation in Ave Maria was May 26 at the school, with the Baccalaureate Mass earlier in the morning at Ave Maria Parish. Paul Jahnke was the class Valedictorian and Camila Pineros was the Salutatorian.

Congratulations to the Diocese of Venice Catholic high school Class of 2026!

Diocesan seminarians serving summer pastoral assignments

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The formation of seminarians who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood for the Diocese of Venice is structured in such a way as to allow the candidates to gain valuable experiences both while in seminary and during summer break.

Diocese of Venice Vocations Director Father Alex Pince said there are 13 Diocesan seminarians who are on a summer pastoral assignment which were carefully planned to maximize the benefit for the individual seminarian as each continues on his discernment journey.

The pastoral work is intended to provide the seminarians with an opportunity to learn about the daily operation of a Parish while gaining practical experience particularly in the area of pastoral care. Typical work includes serving at Mass, learning to be a sacristan, visiting the sick, helping with OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) programs, leading a Bible study, working with youth groups and much more.

The Parish assignments place the men with Pastors who will also serve as a mentor to them. The seminarian assignments differ each summer to provide the greatest opportunity for new learning experiences. Because each seminarian is at a different stage in their formation, the workload will vary accordingly.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane said the summer work keeps the seminarians engaged as part of their commitment to a prayerful life and spiritual development.

“While seminary formation stresses growth in human, academic, spiritual and pastoral formation, summer assignments give practical experience in pastoral ministry and provide the individual the means to grow and have real-life pastoral encounters,” Bishop Dewane added.

There will be eight seminarians (Nathaniel Byers, Connor Cameron, James Gargano, Jesse Gomez, Timothy Simmons, Carson Stecklein, Alain Valdivia, and Lam Vo) serving at parishes within the Diocese during the summer. One transitional deacon (Bao Nguyen) is also assigned to a local Parish, while one seminarian is taking summer courses (Tobias Lopez).

Three seminarians (Alex Baugh, Patrick Mulhall, and Sebastian Harding) are spending the summer at the Institute for Priestly Formation, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska. This program offers seminarians the opportunity to more deeply discern the faithful presence of the Lord in their lives as well as the interference and obstacles of the worldly spirit, so that they might keep growing in union with the Lord.

Please pray for our seminarians as they take part in the summer pastoral assignments.

Diocese of Venice Seminarians are supported through the Diocese Catholic Faith Appeal, the Knights of Columbus and the generosity of the faithful.

Parishioners from around the Diocese are encouraged to help support the seminarians in their studies and choice of vocation through prayer and financial assistance. Donations may be sent to the Diocese of Venice, Office of Vocations, 1000 Pinebrook Road, Venice, FL 34285.

For more information about the seminarians or Vocations, contact Father Alex Pince at pince@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-486-4720, or visit www.venicevocations.com .

Prayer for Vocations

God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, religious, and consecrated persons. Send your Holy Spirit to help us respond generously and courageously to your call. May our community of faith support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Catholic Community Foundation presents 24 scholarships

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Bishop Frank J. Dewane, joined by Board members of the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida Inc., honored 24 scholarship winners during a ceremony on May 28, 2026, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice.

The recipients of the Mary Fran Carroll, Coseglia, Schaerf, Toner, Schwarz and Bertoni Scholarships were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements and for their commitment to continuing their education in pursuit of wide-ranging career paths such as education, medicine, business, engineering and more. The Foundation Scholarship Committee carefully reviewed 144 applications before determining the winners. Many of the Foundation Board members were present for the luncheon.

Bishop Dewane opened the presentation with prayer and said he was impressed with the new Foundation scholars, noting their academic success and ambition to seek out distinctive goals. “We pray that whatever they may embark upon, the students will be successful in their life.”

Michael Morse, Executive Director of the Catholic Community Foundation, congratulated the new scholars, saying the young men and women are worthy to forever be known as Foundation Scholars.

“Reading your stories and what you want to do and what you have already accomplished is so inspirational,” Morse said. “Our committee works hard in the selection process, and it is one of the most rewarding things the Board does. You are an amazing group of students, now young adults, that we are so excited to see flourish and lead the next generation.”

The Mary Fran Carroll Scholarship for 2026 provided a total of 15 academic scholarships ($4,500) to residents of Sarasota County and is available for tuition, books and fees. This year there were 13 traditional scholarship winners (high school graduates pursuing an undergraduate degree) and two non-traditional winners (an adult learner seeking an advanced education after being away from school for a number of years). The scholarship is renewable annually up to a total of five academic years ($17,500 total) for students maintaining a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.2 or greater, while also making progress toward their career goal. In the past years many students have had their scholarship renewed.

The Coseglia Scholarship provides a one-time scholarship ($1,100) to one financially needy graduating senior from each of the four Catholic High Schools within the Diocese of Venice. The winners were nominated by their high schools and approved by the Foundation Board.

The Frederick W. Schaerf, M.D., Ph.D. Neuroscience Scholarship provides a one-time scholarship ($4,000) to a graduating senior from Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers interested in pursuing a career in neuroscience or similar field. This was the sixth year the scholarship has been offered.

The Schwarz Scholarship is a one-time college scholarship ($8,000) to be awarded for tuition, books, fees, and housing expenses for a student graduating from Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota.

The Dr. Steven Toner Math Award Scholarship, is a one-time approximately $1,500 scholarship to one college-bound financially needy student graduating from St. John Neumann High School in Naples Florida with an interest in pursuing a career in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) field.

The Barry L. Carey, M.D. Scholarship, a single, four-year renewable college scholarship for a practicing Catholic high school senior graduating this year from a Catholic, private, home school, or public school within the 10 counties of the Diocese of Venice in Florida. The scholarship is $400, and renewable up to four years for a total of $1,600. Additionally, the recipient must be the first generation in their family to attend a college or university.

The new Frank M. Bertoni & Beverly Cimini-Bertoni Scholarship, is a three-year renewable scholarship to students pursuing an education in nursing, a technical field, or other vocational program. The scholarship is $5,000, and renewable up to three years for a total of $15,000.

During the scholarship ceremony, the recipients shared their personal experiences as well as college and career goals. Each expressed their appreciation for the scholarship from the Foundation. Many specifically explained how the scholarship money will assist in lessening the financial burden of attending college and pursuing their career goals. Several are interested in entering the medical field either as a doctor, nurse or researcher, while others are interested in pursuing careers in business.

Grace Casanova, a graduate of Pineview High School and parishioner at St. Patrick Parish in Sarasota, is the inaugural recipient of the Bertoni Scholarship. She plans to pursue an associate’s degree in nursing from the State College of Florida. “I am beyond grateful to God and my family. I have always been interested in researching Alzheimer’s and dementia and will focus on gerontology. I am inspired, truly and deeply, by my mother who is a critical care and ER nurse. For everything she has given to me I am so grateful to her and to God for this opportunity. I am beyond honored to be the inaugural recipient of this scholarship and look forward to using it wisely.”

The Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida Inc. was established to provide philanthropic opportunities for individuals, such as Mary Fran Carroll, to create lasting gifts in support of Catholic programs and ministries within the Diocese of Venice. This year, the Foundation is on track to distribute $7.5 million in endowed support for Catholic Schools, Parishes, Seminarian education, programs for the needy, college scholarships and more.

To learn more about the Catholic Community Foundation, please contact Michael Morse at 941-441-1124 or by email at Morse@dioceseofvenice.org. You can also visit the Foundation website at www.CCFDioceseofvenice.org.

2026 Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida, Inc. Scholars

Mary Fran Carroll Scholars – Traditional

Michael Barry, Riverview High School, University of South Florida;

Alexia Batista, Riverview High School, University of South Florida;

Courtney Blanton, Venice High School, Florida State University;

Estephany De Luna, Sarasota High School, Emerson College;

Chloe Dyndal, Potter’s Wheel Academy, Florida Atlantic University;

Evan Espinosa, Venice High School, Lipscomb University;

Kendall Flach, Venice High School, Florida State University;

Ashley Grimsley-Izaguirre, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School; Eckerd College;

Alex Liu, Pineview High School, Carnegie Mellon University;

Aryana Lovely, Venice High School, Florida Southern College;

Elisabeth McConnell, State College of Florida Collegiate School, Liberty University;

Santiago Sanabria Gonzalez, Riverview High School, University of Miami;

Nathaniel Sharpe; Suncoast Polytechnic High School, Florida Polytechnic University;

Alyssa Visaggio, Venice High School, University of South Florida.

Mary Fran Carroll Scholar – Non-Traditional

Lindis Cuenca, Suncoast Technical College.

Frank and Florence Coseglia Memorial Scholarship

Patrick Dowell, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, University of Florida;

Sophia Bosco, St. John Neumann Catholic High School, University of Florida;

Jack Kadlec, Donahue Catholic Academy of Ave Maria Parish, Ave Maria University;

Isabella Mparaganda, Bishop Verot Catholic High School, Pontifical Javarian University.

James and Margaret Schwarz Scholarship

Markella Polo, Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, Florida Atlantic University.

Frederick W. Schaerf, M.D., Ph.D. Neuroscience Scholarship

Isabella Mparaganda, Bishop Verot Catholic High School, Pontifical Javarian University.

Dr. Steve Toner Math Award Scholarship

Brandon Elarde, St. John Neumann Catholic High School, University of Central Florida.

Frank M. Bertoni & Bverly Cimini-Bertoni Scholarship

Grace Casanova, Pineview High School, State College of Florida.

Barry L Carey, MD, Scholarship

Kiersten Bosse, Port Charlotte High School, University of South Florida.

Bishops consecrating the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

Posted on by Bob Reddy

As the United States of America commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) joins the festivities by recognizing and celebrating the contributions of Catholics and the impact of our faith on the history of this country. As part of this celebration, in a historic moment the U.S. Bishops will consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11, 2026.

Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus signals to God that His goodness is not forgotten and that our country relies on God’s providence for continued flourishing, bringing blessing and hope to a country suffering from wounds of division and an epidemic of loneliness.

“May this time be embraced by all as an opportunity for prayer, reflection, and renewal, as hearts entrust themselves more deeply to the loving Heart of Jesus and all pray for the healing of our country,” Bishop Frank J. Dewane said.

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on the Friday immediately following the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), which the Church incorporated in the Liturgical Calendar in response to the mystical visions experienced by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, in Paray-le-Monial, France, between 1673 and 1675. However, the foundational devotion of meditating on the wounded Heart of Christ was born at the foot of the Cross through the divinely inspired love which the saints bore from then on to the Sacred Passion of the Crucified and Pierced Christ. Later, the early Church Fathers and countless saints, such as St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Gertrude the Great, St. Bonaventure and St. John Eudes, all encouraged devotion to the Pierced Heart of Jesus. This is why many Popes have also lauded such devotion and encouraged the practice of consecrating themselves, their homes, and even whole nations to the Sacred Heart.

Parishes across the country, including here in the Diocese of Venice, were asked to join in this consecration. Epiphany Cathedral in Venice has embraced the opportunity by celebrating a special Novena to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus from June 3-11. The Novena prayers will be offered after every morning Mass, except on Sunday, June 7, when they will be prayed individually. There will also be a Vigil of the Solemnity on July 11, when the Consecration will take place. The Cathedral will offer Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as opportunities for Confession beginning at 5 p.m., followed by Mass at 6 p.m.

All the faithful, including families, are encouraged to pray the Novena Prayer (Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus | USCCB), at home if they are unable to attend the Mass at Epiphany, for an ever greater increase of our love for others, especially all in need, after the Pierced Heart of Jesus, Who willingly gave His life for our salvation. The faithful are also encouraged to pray that we grow evermore as a nation, in defense of the weak, protection and greater increase of justice, and in our union, so blessed by God.

Two Parishes within the Diocese are named for the Sacred Heart, one in Bradenton, the other in Punta Gorda. To celebrate the Solemnity, Sacred Heart Parish in Bradenton 1220 15th St. W., Bradenton, will celebrate its daily Mass at 7:30 a.m., and then celebrate a Mass for the Solemnity and Parish Feast Day at 7 p.m., followed by a reception. At Sacred Heart Parish in Punta Gorda, the daily Mass at 7:30 a.m. will cover both Solemnity and Feast Day.

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

On the occasion of the U.S. Bishops Consecrating the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus:

You know the longings of our hearts, and you desire that we enjoy friendship with you.

From your pierced side, you have poured out the wellspring of life, for which we thirst.

Your heart burns with a love for all people to return to a right relationship with you.

We celebrate the abundant gifts you have given this nation, founded on the self-evident truths that our Creator has endowed

all people with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

We make reparation for the offenses against you and against human dignity that have taken place in this nation.

May our hearts be united to yours, so that our families and communities enjoy peace and happiness; may broken

relationships be reconciled, injustices repaired, and the wounds of our land be healed.

May your holy Catholic Church serve as a sign, pointing all people to your infinite love.

O Desire of Nations and Center of History, we ask you to bless these United States of America.

Who live and reign with God the Father

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

 

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Catholic Charities part of regional anti-human trafficking rescue mission

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Anti-Human Trafficking Team was part of a larger coalition organized to support a multi-agency Missing Child Rescue Operation to locate endangered missing youth across Lee, Collier and Hendry counties.

The Missing Child Rescue Operation rescued 21 missing and endangered children across Lee, Collier and Hendry counties in an operation which culminated with an announcement on May 29, 2026.

The National Child Protection Task Force (NCPTF) was the lead agency with the Catholic Charities Anti-Human Trafficking Team participating as part of the on-site advocacy group because of their expertise in trauma-informed care and experience supporting vulnerable and potentially exploited youth. This was the second time Catholic Charities has been called to assist in a muti-agency anti-human trafficking rescue. In November of 2025, 29 children from the Fort Myers region were rescued.

Catholic Charities CEO Christopher M. Root said agency advocates helped ensure that every child rescued then encountered compassion, stability, and immediate support during the recovery process. 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.

“Our case managers assist people and try to help everyone with every need, but first we strive to give everyone who comes to us dignity,” Root said. “We want them to know and understand who they are, made in image and likeness of God.”

Bishop Frank J. Dewane, who has been an outspoken supporter of this Catholic Charities outreach program, stated, “Once again, 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. The Catholic Charities team are on the frontlines helping children, and adults, overcome an exploitation that is nearly impossible to comprehend.”

Catholic Charities case managers were assigned to work on the reunification process as 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.

Missing Child Rescue Operations focus on providing critical resources to not only rescue children, but also to prevent vulnerable youth from becoming victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation and further harm.

Because many missing children are vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation, the operation also connected recovered youth directly with local advocacy organizations, such as Catholic Charities, and support services focused on safety, stability and care after recovery. These partnerships help strengthen the community response surrounding vulnerable children long after the operation concludes.

“Every child deserves to be found, heard and supported,” said Al Rollins, director of law enforcement partnerships for the National Child Protection Task Force. “This operation brought together law enforcement, advocates and technology partners from across the region to help locate vulnerable children and strengthen what happens next for them after recovery.”

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.

 

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