bishop frank dewane Archives - Page 83 of 114

English Catholic Charismatic Renewal celebrates Pentecost

Posted on June 2, 2021June 2, 2021 by Bob Reddy

Members of the Diocese of Venice Catholic English Catholic Charismatic Renewal (DVCCR) gathered on Pentecost Sunday to celebrate a Mass in honor of the Holy Spirit and the “Birthday of the Church.”

More than 120 participated in an afternoon of prayer, song and reflection at Sacred Heart Parish in Punta Gorda in the first in-person group gathering in more than a year, reuniting members of the 15 active English DVCCR prayer groups in the Diocese. The celebration culminated with Mass.

The significance of the English DVCCR gathering taking place on Pentecost was not lost on anyone. Pentecost marks the moment when the Holy Spirit filled the hearts of the apostles and sent them on their mission to evangelize to the world. This beginning, or “birthday” of the Church, is also the impetus for Charismatics, whose mission is to “stir into the flame the grace of Pentecost by promoting a personal relationship with Jesus.”

Spiritual Advisor Father Anthony Lukka led the group in prayer, including the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Inspirational music energized those gathered while several participants shared words of inspiration during the intervals.

English DVCCR President Renee Marazon expressed her joy about having old friends gathered together in prayer. The gathering served as a day of renewal as the different prayer groups work to reorganize as the world emerges from the Pandemic. The mission of the DVCCR is accomplished through prayer groups and spiritual growth experiences in meetings, retreats, days of renewal, workshops and conferences.

Mazaron said the leadership of the DVCCR met with Bishop Frank J. Dewane about its goals and plans. The Bishop agreed with the need to focus on building up the DVCCR prayer groups after the Pandemic.

To assist in this effort, it was announced that the Alpha Catholic Course is coming to the Diocese in October. This multi-week online course is an opportunity for participants to explore life and the Faith in a friendly, open and informal environment. Each talk looks at a different question about Christianity and is designed to facilitate discussion.

“The goal is to start a fire in the hearts of people after being locked up so long,” said Alice Keough, English DVCCR Secretary. “We are all about evangelization and building the Kingdom of God.”

To learn more about the Diocese of Venice Catholic English Catholic Charismatic Renewal, please visit www.dvccr.org or write to info@dvccr.org.

2021 Graduates urged to carry Faith with them forward

Posted on May 25, 2021May 25, 2021 by Bob Reddy

Three of the four Diocese of Venice Catholic high schools held their commencement exercises in mid-May, sending off their graduates well prepared for a bright future.

Ahead of each graduation, Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated a Baccalaureate Mass, sharing a hope-filled message that they must each “go forth with God as your guide and let Faith, hope and love be your path through life.”

Bishop Dewane praised the graduating seniors for their academic and athletic accomplishments through the years, having overcome the impact of a global pandemic, emerging ready to move on to the next phase in their lives. Thanks to the unrelenting encouragement of their parents and teachers, they have been guided through their time in high school.

“What you have done is an accomplishment,” Bishop Dewane stressed. “Your future may be uncertain, but your Faith is not uncertain. I say this to the Class of 2021, God goes with you. That is where your Faith resides. The house of hope in your life. The source of love that lasts forever. What is most important is who you are within. Your Faith can stay with you and make you strong. But it is you, the Class of 2021, that have to be the doers of your Faith. Your pastors can’t do it for you. Your parents can’t do it. Your teachers can’t do it. Graduation means all of that is up to you now.”

Encouraging the graduates to go forward with their Faith, Bishop Dewane reminded them that they need to continue to go to Mass, to live the Commandments, receive the Sacraments often, go to confession, to actualize the presence of God in their lives, and to witness it to those around them.

“Do all of those things, even though no one tells you. Use that opportunity to become more that man or woman of God you are called to be. Believe that the Lord is with you always.”

Bishop Dewane expressed his gratitude to the parents of the graduates for entrusting their children to Diocese of Venice Catholic high schools. He also publicly thanked the teachers and faculty for their commitment to the students and being their guides along their spiritual and academic journey.

The Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School Baccalaureate Mass was May 12, at Incarnation Parish in Sarasota while the Commencement Exercises were held May 14 at LECOM Park in Bradenton. The Bishop Verot Catholic High School Baccalaureate Mass was May 14 at St. Andrew Parish in Cape Coral and the Commencement was held May 15, in their Viking Stadium in Fort Myers. The St. John Neumann Catholic High School Baccalaureate Mass was May 17 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples and Commencement was May 18 on their football field.

The Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement for Donahue Catholic Academy of Ave Maria Parish in Ave Maria will be May 27.

Please check back with the Florida Catholic e-Edition in the coming weeks for more information about the resilient Diocese of Venice Catholic high school Class of 2021.

Celebrations of Mary includes Crowning

Posted on May 25, 2021May 25, 2021 by Bob Reddy

It is a Catholic tradition to honor Mary, our Heavenly Mother, during the month of May by placing on her statue a crown of flowers to signify her honor as Queen of Heaven and Earth. This devotional ceremony is a favorite tradition at Parishes and Catholic schools throughout the Diocese.

The May Crowning gives the faithful, but children in particular, an opportunity to especially honor the Blessed Mother of Jesus, and to give thanks to her for bringing our Savior into the world.

Typically, “May Crownings” include a procession with children, dressed in their best for this special day, a hymn, a devotional prayer, and the crowning of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a wreath of flowers. During the Pandemic, adjustments were made.

The practice of crowning an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary gained popularity in the 19th century. There are many reasons why queenship has been attributed to Mary; some of the most common reasons are as follows: first, she is the Mother of the Son of God, who is the messianic King. Also, Mary is the perfect disciple of Christ; she consented to God’s plan; she listened to God’s Word and kept it in her heart; she remained steadfastly in close union with her Son, all the way to the foot of the Cross; and she persevered in prayer with the Church. Thus, in an eminent way, she won the crown of glory that is promised to those who follow Christ.

For example, on May 12, 2021, St. Joseph Catholic School held its May Crowning in the main courtyard, which includes a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a rosary garden. Second graders, those who were soon to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion, brought flowers to place in a vase before the statue while the school choir sang in honor of the Blessed Mother.

St. Joseph Parish Pastor Rafal Ligenza led the prayer service reading from the Gospel of Luke, telling of the story of the Annunciation of Mary. Father also led the children in a Litany of Mary, calling on the Blessed Virgin, in her many titles, to pray for them all. This was followed by the crowning of the statue. Father then led the students in the Act of Consecration to Mary.

Principal Deborah Suddarth said students pray for the intercessions of the Blessed Virgin Mary each day throughout the year with a particular focus on Mary throughout May when students learn more about Our Lady and her role in the Church.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane led a prayer service to Mary on May 3, 2021 for the staff of the Diocese Catholic Center in Venice. This annual tradition includes reciting of prayers and signing hymns in honor of Our Lady.

Pope Francis said the Blessed Virgin Mary’s path of faith and hope serves as an example to all. Therefore, time should be taken to reflect on Our Lady’s participation in the Paschal mystery and in Pentecost at which point the Church has its beginning.

Pope Francis said “the message of hope contained in God’s blessing was fully realized in a woman, Mary, who was destined to become the Mother of God, and it was fulfilled in her before any other creature.” The Holy Father added that “our journey of faith is the same as that of Mary, and so we feel that she is particularly close to us.”

Bishop Dewane consecrated the Diocese of Venice to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary during Advent of 2017. The consecration was the culmination of the structured 33-day “Diocesan Advent Journey to Jesus through Mary.” By this Act of Consecration, the faithful confided the Diocese and its good works to Our Lady so as to fulfill more readily the will of her Divine Son for His Church.

Our Lady is an important symbol throughout the Diocese. Our Lady of Mercy is the Patroness of the Diocese of Venice and is the name of a Parish in Boca Grande. In addition, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice bears Her name, and numerous other Parishes are named in honor of Our Lady including: St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Longboat Key; Our Lady of the Angels, Lakewood Ranch; Our Lady of Grace, Avon Park; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Immokalee; Our Lady of Light, Fort Myers; Our Lady of Miraculous Medal, Bokeelia; Our Lady of Lourdes, Venice; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Osprey; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Sarasota; and Our Lady Queen of Heaven, LaBelle.

On the Monday following Pentecost, May 24, 2021, the Church will celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as “Mother of the Church” as directed by Pope Francis. The Memorial for the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, was added to the Roman Calendar by Pope Francis after carefully considering how the promotion of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under this particular title might encourage growth in “the maternal sense of the Church.”

One week later, on May 31, is the Feast the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary which marks the visit of the pregnant Mary to her cousin Elizabeth.

Bishop lifts face covering and distancing requirements

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Bob Reddy

The following is a letter from Bishop Frank J. Dewane to the faithful dated May 14, 2021 regarding the face covering and distancing policy at Mass and Parish gatherings in the Diocese of Venice.

May 14, 2021

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings in the Risen Lord! As Holy Mother Church approaches the Solemnity of Pentecost, it is my prayer that you, the Faithful of the Diocese of Venice, may be filled with the graces of the Holy Spirit.

With this letter, I wish to address the face covering and distancing policy at Mass and Parish gatherings in the Diocese of Venice. As you are aware, on May 13, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided updated guidance for vaccinated individuals with regards to face masks and distancing. Under the new guidance, those who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear masks or physically distance except where required by law.

In accordance with the new CDC guidance and effective immediately, masks and distancing will no longer be required at Mass in the Diocese of Venice. Masks remain encouraged and certainly permitted, particularly for those who are not yet vaccinated. Masks will no longer be required for Parish group activities or other Parish gatherings.

For those who have children in a Catholic School or Parish religious education program, and due to only recent age eligibility for vaccines for some of these age groups, the CDC has said that masking is a key strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools. Thus, for the remainder of this academic year, masks will continue to be required. This will be reviewed with the close of the school year.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all try to live in the context of the Pandemic and to be evermore mindful of our brothers and sisters around us who may be vulnerable, for whatever reason.

This opportunity is taken to extend to you the assurances of my continued consideration, as well as my prayers for you and your family.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+Frank J. Dewane

Bishop of the Diocese of

Venice in Florida

Scouting religious awards presented

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Bob Reddy

Participation in Catholic Scouting is an act of discipline which strengthens body, mind, and soul, but it is also a powerful tool of evangelization and service.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane recognized all Catholic Scouts and members of comporable groups in the Diocese of Venice during the annual presentation of Religious Awards on May 16, 2021 at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice. Prior to the awards presentation about 100 Scouts, Scout leaders and family members, took part in Mass for the Ascension of the Lord Sunday which was celebrated by Bishop Dewane and concelebrated by Father Lawton Lang, Diocesan Scout Chaplain.

During the awards ceremony Bishop Dewane recognized the challenges faced by all during the Pandemic as they worked to earn the various religious awards offered by different Scouting or similar groups. During the ceremony 154 awards were presented to 75 Scouts, some receiving multiple awards. Emily Black of American Heritage Girls Troop 1203 of St. Francis Xavier was the recipient of 17 different awards.

“Your hard work was commendable and identifies your dedication to the Catholic Faith as lived out through Catholic Scouting in the Diocese,” Bishop Dewane said before personally congratulating and presenting each award. “I hope that as you continue to experience the many varied lessons of Scouting, you will also continue to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ and share that experience with others.”

The National Catholic Committee on Scouting awards included: the Rosary Series, the Marian Series, the Faith Series, Footsteps of American Saints, Modern Saints, Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, St. John the Baptist, Our Lady, and Pope Pius XII. National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry awards included the Women in Scripture series. Diocesan Scout awards included Priesthood Sunday and Pillars of Faith. American Heritage Girls awards included Tenderheart and Explorer.

Of note at the awards ceremony was the presentation of the Pillars of Faith award to Bartosz Fabinski, of Boy Scout Troop 777 of St. Francis Xavier Parish. This award provides special recognition for youth in Scouting who earn all traditional Catholic Religious Medals: Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII. This is the first time this award has been presented to a Scout in many years as it requires earning key awards at various stages in beginning at the age of 6 or 7 and continuing to age 15 or older. To make this recognition possible this year, Bartosz was able to earn the Pope Pius XII award, the final award in the sequence.

The Pius XII award is also rarely presented and requires a Scout to be 15 or older and educated on different vocations (single, married, religious, ordained). This also incorporates a discussion on current issues facing the Church and society and included an overnight camping retreat at St. Agnes Parish in Naples. In all, 10 Boys Scouts earned this award which was presented in the Diocese for the first time in 10 years.

In addition, American Heritage Girls Troop FL 1203 of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Fort Myers earned the National Catholic Quality Unit Excellence Award – Pope Paul VI. Adult recognition included the presentation of the following awards: St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Anne, Companions of the Journey, Light of the World, Bronze Pelican, and St. George Emblem.

Near the conclusion of the ceremony, Bishop Dewane was presented with the “Quality Diocese Award,” earned by only 40-50 percent of Dioceses nationally, for meeting certain requirements in supporting Catholic Scouting. This was the eighth year in a row the Diocese has earned this important award. The Bishop noted that while the award is given to the Diocese specifically, it is truly a reflection of the hard work and commitment of Scouts and Scout leaders throughout the Diocese.

Bishop encourages mental health awareness

Posted on May 25, 2021May 25, 2021 by Bob Reddy

Susan Laielli – Special to the Florida Catholic

During the next edition of “Witnessing Faith with Bishop Dewane” airing at 8:30 a.m., May 28, 2021, Relevant Radio listeners will hear the sincere passion of Diocese of Venice Bishop Frank J. Dewane as he raises awareness for the importance of mental health across the Diocese of Venice.

“What do we hear, one in five people suffer from a mental health challenge in some way,” Bishop said during the show recorded at the Catholic Center in mid-May, which is also Mental Health Awareness Month.

Bishop Dewane welcomed Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., Family Counseling Center Program Director Geralyn Poletti, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), since 1998, to highlight the importance of helping our sisters and brothers who may suffer from a mental illness or find themselves in crisis as the result of the impacts of Hurricane Irma followed by a global Pandemic.

“We were a little office in Collier County before Hurricane Irma, and the Pandemic,” said Poletti, during the radio interview set to air on 1410 AM and 106.7 FM in Fort Myers and Naples.

Beginning with Hurricane Irma the American Red Cross provided a grant to Catholic Charities for free tele-mental health services for those who lived in Florida during the storm. According to Poletti, these services rolled right into the Pandemic making them busier than ever.

“We are now seeing the economic pitfalls between those who have financial security and those who do not,” said Poletti, referring to the amount of people not able to use tele-mental services because of the lack of phones, or simply the lack of privacy in the home while trying to obtain the services.”

Poletti says they were inundated with referrals from pediatricians and schools following the return to in-person learning. The social worker teams serve families, students and individuals who may be struggling with isolation, depression, and anxiety due to the fallout from having to stay home, alone, or with someone who might be ill.

Bishop Dewane encourages parishioners to reach out to neighbors and friends who might be struggling with mental health due to the stigma still attached and show them you care or are simply willing to listen. He said there is a crossover to some degree between Faith and mental health.

In terms of making a difference, Poletti says she knows Catholic Charities tele-mental health services and their counselors in the schools are having an impact because the families and schools provide feedback, as well as the clinical treatment plans and customer surveys which are measured against the goals and objectives. They also rely on an evidenced based online tool which provides an overall score for success.

Bishop Dewane also spoke about the initiative to have Mental Health First Aid training offered throughout the Diocese. Initial Youth Mental Health First Aid training sessions took place on April 29 and May 1, 2021. This training was offered through the Diocese Department of Religious Education for priests, deacons, principals, teachers and catechists. Additional training sessions will be offered in the fall.

If you know someone struggling with mental health issues who might benefit from free tele-mental health or in-person counseling services from Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, contact Geralyn Poletti, at 239-455-2655, ext. 3107, or by email at garalyn.poletti@catholiccharitiesdov.org.

Since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., mental health outreach has been supporting people with tele-mental health calls and video therapy, and recently resumed in-person therapy.

2,311 COVID-19 video therapy since March 2020

967 COVID-19 telephone therapy since March 2020

610 COVID-19 in-person therapy since February 2021

News Briefs for Week of May 21, 2021

Posted on May 25, 2021May 25, 2021 by Bob Reddy

Wear Red on Pentecost Sunday

The great feast that marks the birth of the Christian Church by the power of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost Sunday, is May 23, 2021. Pentecost means “fiftieth day” and is celebrated 50 days after Easter. Red is the liturgical color for this day and the Faithful are encouraged to wear red to Mass that day. Red is symbolic of the love of the Holy Spirit and recalls the tongues of fire in which the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles that first Pentecost. The color red also reminds us of the blood of the martyrs. These are the believers of every generation who by the power of the Holy Spirit hold firm to the true faith, even at the cost of their lives.

Diocesan CCW Convention June 4-5

The Venice Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s 34th Annual Convention, with a theme of “What have you done for the least of my people?” (Matt 25:40), will be held June 4 and June 5, 2021 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 1301 Center Road, Venice. The cost of the two-day convention is $75, or $65 for one day (lunch included). Each day will include personal development time, dynamic speakers and workshops, as well as providing the opportunity to meet women from around the Diocese along with the President of the Florida Council of Women. For registration information, please contact Bernadette Raftery at 704-968-9580 or raffs2@mindspring.com or Ellen Bachman at 941-721-7393 or pennyln99@aol.com. Please register by May 25.

Young students learn the xylophone

PreK-4 and kindergarten students at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Fort Myers enjoyed time learning a new instrument, the xylophone, in class on May 11, 2021. There were different instruments that could play different ranges of notes. Students at Diocesan Catholic schools have access to music programs where they learn both music appreciation and have the opportunity learn to play many different instruments.

Religious Freedom Week coming soon

Solidarity in Freedom takes place from June 22 to 29. The Week begins with the Feast of Ss. John Fisher and Thomas More, ends with the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul and includes the Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist. During Religious Freedom Week, Catholics are encouraged to pray and act each day for religious freedom. The (USCCB) United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Pray-Reflect-Act Series aims to help Catholics build solidarity with people of faith who are persecuted and find strength to carry out the mission of the Church here in the United States. For resources and reflections each day of this week, please visit https://www.usccb.org/committees/religious-liberty/religious-freedom-week.

Verot Gifts of Christ Art Show winners announced

Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers announced the winners of the 1st Annual Gifts of Christ Art Show on May 11, 2021. The Gifts of Christ is a Diocesan-wide Catholic Schools initiative to integrate Catholic values and virtues into the curriculum including in the Arts. Best in Show: Cameron Schockling; First Place, Kerry Dowdle; Second Place, Tanner Filla; Third Place, Ainsleigh Ellis; Principal’s Award, Camila Luna; Honorable Mention, Anna Latell, Ava Lewis and Bridget Holbreck.

Fire truck cools off students

The City of Naples Fire Department Station No. 1 brought one of their ladder trucks to St. Ann Catholic School on May 12, 2021 to help cool off pre-K students on the soccer field. The water canon on the end of a ladder truck doused the students who dashed under the flowing water over and over again. There were also small inflatable pools set up for those seeking less excitement.

STREAM, robotics initiative gains traction

Posted on May 19, 2021May 19, 2021 by Bob Reddy

The results have been encouraging in the few short months since the Diocese of Venice Catholic Schools announced an initiative to invest in a partnership that involved robotics while at the same time enhancing the existing STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) curriculum.

Schools throughout the Diocese have been enhancing STREAM-based learning and taking the time to continuously engage students through playful learning activities to think critically and solve complex problems, regardless of their learning level.

For example, St. Martha Catholic School students in Sarasota have used the LEGO® Education SPIKE™ Prime Set, to build, program and lock boxes. The Prime Set is the go-to STREAM learning tool for grade 6-8 students, combining colorful LEGO building elements, easy-to-use hardware, and an intuitive drag-and-drop coding language. The results have been impressive.

The 500 robots and curricular resources were gifted by Bishop Frank J. Dewane to the 15 Diocesan Catholic schools during a ceremony on March 10, 2021 in Sarasota. The announcement of a unique partnership with FIRST® (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), the leading robotics competition in the world was also introduced.

This initiative came about under the direction of Bishop Dewane who said the investment is a means to an end, an upping of the modern-day skills and preparation taught at each of the Diocesan Catholic schools.

“It is all about investing in our students because they are our mission and we want them to succeed; to become the leaders, the professionals, the faith witnesses of tomorrow,” Bishop Dewane added. “This will develop our students into who they are becoming as men and women of God; and therefore, who they will become as ethical scientists, ethical businesspeople, ethical engineers, and all of that has to be built upon a base of Faith.”

The Bishop made the long-term investment in student success through his pledge to provide all Diocesan Catholic schools with the age-appropriate kits and robots to compete at the highest levels of competition through FIRST® while integrating Catholic values and virtues through the Diocesan curriculum called, “The Gifts of Christ: Truth, Beauty, Goodness, Affability, Fortitude, Humility, and Prudence.”

Jennifer Falestiny, Diocesan Curriculum Specialist, who helped to facilitate the partnership between the Diocese and FIRST®, said some schools have had great early success in implementing these initiatives and are already buying additional materials.

“It’s very exciting to see how each school is building their resources, some from the ground up, to implement this effort to create a strong foundation in STREAM-based learning while promoting the Gifts of Christ,” Falestiny said.

These kits use LEGO products, such as Duplo blocks for the youngest students, and more traditional blocks for older students. Each progressive kit increases with difficulty and broadens the concepts learned in earlier years. By middle and high school levels, students will be building competition robots.

While robots are a major part of the FIRST® program, it is just a tool that expands upon the idea of project-based learning and cognitive thought processes, helping to develop skills such as leadership, communication, complex problem solving, teamwork and creativity, Falestiny explained. All of this is being done with an added dimension of our Catholic Faith which remains the first job of all Diocesan schools.

Each teacher in the Diocese underwent a professional development day to get a basic introduction on the goals of the FIRST® partnership moving forward and how they will be building a foundation to help this initiative move forward.

“Soon, all teachers will produce lesson plans and projects to incorporate the Gifts of Christ and STREAM curriculum initiatives,” Falestiny said.

This is made possible as additional training will take place in the next few weeks, as well as prior to the start of the 2021-2022 academic year.

Falestiny said there are plans to hold practice robot competitions among the Diocesan schools before participation in FIRST® competitions. In addition, there is a STREAM showcase planned for the end of the next academic year for all Diocesan schools to show off how this new initiative which has been implemented.

While not all grade levels will be involved in building large competitive robots, the program is designed to help develop age-appropriate abstract learning skills for all students using STREAM and the Gifts of Christ formula.

Many learn about porn myths

Posted on May 19, 2021 by Bob Reddy

Combining scientific research, statistics, humor as well as personal testimony Australian-born speaker Matt Fradd addressed the difficult topic of pornography to a variety of different audiences during a two-day visit to the Diocese of Venice in early May.

Fradd stressed that he didn’t want to tell his audiences what to do, but to provide information about behaviors and the negative consequences that result.

“We live in a pornified culture,” Fradd said to a group of adults and teens on May 4, 2021 at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice. “Instead of seeing pictures and reading articles in magazines and books, children can now access hard-core pornography in the home on the internet.”

At the invitation of the Diocese Office of Religious Education and Office of Family Life, Fradd spoke to middle school students at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Port Charlotte and Incarnation Catholic School in Sarasota before appearing at the public event at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice on May 4, 2021. The next day, he spoke to freshmen and sophomores at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota in the morning, was the keynote at a Luncheons for Life gathering in Venice, and in the evening, he addressed some 300 teens at Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Lakewood Ranch.

These talks grew out of the recent Safe Haven Sunday (March 7, 2021) within the Diocese of Venice which was a day of awareness that provided the opportunity for the Diocese to directly address the problem of pornography in marriages, families, and in our culture. At the same time, resources were made available to support individuals, married couples and families in making their homes safe from pornography.

During his talks, Fradd used age-appropriate language to deliver his powerful message. He began each session facing the issue head-on, saying: “The problem with porn is not that it shows too much but instead it shows too little of the human person. Porn reduces the complexity, the individuality and the uniqueness of the man or woman. It creates a two-dimensional thing for consumption and dehumanizes them in that way.”

Citing scientific research, Fradd spoke about the effects of excessive pornography on the brain, causing changes not unlike addictions to drugs. This addiction can cause users to become dissatisfied with their partner because realistic expectation is replaced by a two-dimensional fantasy.

When asked by his own young son about what pornography is, Fradd admittedly struggled to find a clear answer but shared his view on how to approach the topic.

He told his son, “Pornography is pictures or videos of people who are showing parts of their body that their bathing suit should cover. If you ever see that, or if someone shows that to you, or you see it on a billboard, or in a magazine, internet, tv show; you should always tell mommy and daddy and we will always be very proud of you. You might think you were in trouble, but I promise you, we will be proud of you for telling us that.”

He suggested that parents should sit down with their kids and let them know that they are aware that pornography is available everywhere, and that they are comfortable having discussions about it. “It’s important to let kids know that technology is amoral, neither good nor evil,” he added, “but, it’s how we use technology that is important.”

During a talk to students at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School on May 5, Fradd shared a story about how un-adult-like porn really is, noting that a friend refused to enter a strip club with the rest of the group by simply stating, “I just don’t think it’s manly to have to pay a woman to pretend to like you.”

Fradd said the consequences of accessing pornography, even as teens, can follow them for the rest of their life. “Human sexuality is so powerful and in contrast pornography is hellish mockery of heavenly reality.”

Fradd concluded each talk stressing that even if someone in the audience looks at porn on a regular basis or they feel it is impossible to stop, it does not mean healing cannot occur. He offered two websites as excellent resources to assist in this process – www.strive21.com (for men), https://www.magdalaministries.org/ (for women). If additional help is needed, he recommended seeking a spiritual advisor, a certified sexual therapist and going to a 12 step program.

For parents, Fradd also recommended the use of internet accountability software such as Covenant Eyes, which monitors and filters computers, hand-held devices and phones can be found at www.covenanteyes.com. This site was promoted during Diocesan Safe Haven Sunday.

Circus Chaplain dies at 75

Posted on May 19, 2021May 19, 2021 by Bob Reddy

Father George “Jerry” Hogan, the national Circus Chaplain, and who served seasonally at St. Martha Parish in Sarasota, died May 5, 2021 in Massachusetts at the age of 75.

Father Hogan, a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston for 46 years, served for three decades as the national “Circus Chaplain” under the direction of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat of Cultural Diversity’s Subcommittee on the Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers (PCMRT). Bishop Frank J. Dewane is the Episcopal Liaison of the PCMRT.

As part of his service as national “Circus Chaplain,” Father Hogan was affiliated with St. Martha Parish in downtown Sarasota, which was designated as the “National Circus Parish” by the PCMRT. Splitting his time between his home in Massachusetts and Sarasota, Father was frequently on the road ministering to different circus troupes and performers.

Born on April 13, 1946 in Woburn, Massachusetts, he studied at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts and was ordained to the priesthood on May 18, 1974 for the Archdiocese of Boston. It was in 1990 when he was approached to assist in the “Circus Ministry,” and Father Hogan often returned to St. Martha and served as host for the annual gathering of PCMRT pastoral workers each January. Since 2013, Father Hogan spent several months each winter assisting at St. Martha before returning to Massachusetts.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated May 10, 2021 at St. Michael Parish in North Andover, with burial following at Calvary Cemetery, Woburn. St. Martha Parish will have a Memorial Mass for Father Hogan at 10:30 a.m., May 22, 2021.