Below, please find the Christmas message from Bishop Frank J. Dewane in English, Spanish and Creole:
Merry Christmas to the Faithful of the Diocese of Venice.
Indeed, it is encouraging to affirm the Birth of Our Savior Jesus Christ as a sign of joy and hope in the midst of the challenges in today’s world.
Allow the wonderment brought about by His Incarnation, the birth of Jesus in a manger, to fill your hearts and minds with comfort, peace and joy bringing warmth and assurance to all. It is my prayer that this will be especially true for the sick, elderly, the lonely, vulnerable and those who have lost a loved one. Please join me in this prayer.
Like the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, we face struggles and uncertainties. However, the Light of the World has come! Christ extends His light to us all and asks that we in turn extend that light to others. Pope Francis urges all the Faithful to recall the true meaning of Christmas — the Birth of Jesus — and lend a hand to the neediest. “There’s no pandemic, there’s no crisis that can extinguish this light.” Christ is the light.
It is humbling to ponder the Birth of Jesus designed by God to show the world a Creator’s love for us all and to light the way that directs us. Have a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!!
+ Frank J. Dewane
Bishop of the Diocese of
Venice in Florida
Feliz navidad a los fieles de la diócesis de Venice.
En verdad, es alentador afirmar que el nacimiento de nuestro Salvador Jesucristo es un signo de gozo y esperanza en medio de los desafíos del mundo de hoy.
Permitan que el asombro provocado por su Encarnación, el nacimiento de Jesús en un pesebre, llene sus corazones y mentes de consuelo, paz y alegría, trayendo calidez y seguridad a todos. Ruego que esto sea especialmente así para los enfermos, los ancianos, los que estén solos, los vulnerables y los que han perdido a un ser querido. Por favor, únanse a mí en esta oración.
Al igual que la Santísima Virgen y San José, nos enfrentamos a luchas e incertidumbres. Sin embargo, ¡la Luz del Mundo ha llegado! Cristo nos extiende su luz a todos y nos pide que, a su vez, extendamos esa luz a los demás. El Papa Francisco insta a todos los fieles a recordar el verdadero significado de la Navidad —el nacimiento de Jesús— y a dar una mano a los más necesitados. “No hay pandemia, no hay crisis que pueda apagar esta luz”. Cristo es la luz.
Es consolador meditar en el nacimiento de Jesús planeado por Dios para mostrar al mundo el amor por todos nosotros de un Creador que ilumina nuestros caminos. ¡Que tengan una Feliz Navidad y un próspero año nuevo!
+Frank J. Dewane
Obispo de la Diócesis de
Venecia en Florida
Joye Nwel pou tout Fidel Dyosez Venice yo.
Sa vreman ankourajan pou pou nou afime fet nésans Seye JeziKri kom siy la jwa ak lespwa nan mitan tout défi ke nap fè fas nan le monde jodia
Se poun kite emèveyman fet Inkanasyon a, Jezi ki fet kote yo gade bet la, ranpli Kè nou ak lespri nou , pou l ban nou kè kontan, lapè, la jwa, anpil chalè ak asirans.
Se lapriyè m tou pou tout swè sa yo ak ve sa yo, touche moun ki malad, sa yo ki age yo, moun ki pou kont yo ak sa ki vinerab yo, e sa kap Kriye pou fanmiy yo ki mouri.
Mwen sipliye Nou pou Nou akonpaye m nan lapriyè sa.
Menm jan ak Manman Marie ak St. Joseph nou fè fas ak anpil batay, ak anpil bagay nou pa konpran. Sepandan, nou wè limyè a klere! Kris la klere nou ak limyè li e Li mande n pou n klere lòt yo tou. Pape François mande tout fidèl pou raple yo de vrè sansNwel la-Jezi ki fèt-e ki longe men l bay moun Ki plis nan bezwen yo. “Pa gen pandemi, pa gen Keizer Ki ka eten limyè Sa.”
Se yon privileg, men se ak anpil imilite Nou ka eseye konpran e viv nesans Jezi Jan Bondye desine l pou l montre le mond lanmou kreatè a pou nou tout e pou klere wout kap dirige Nou an Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année!
+Frank J. Dewane
Bishop nan dyosèz la nan
Venice nan Florid
As the holy season of Advent comes to an end and we look in eager anticipation toward Christmas, there are many preparations to be made. From decorations to gifts, to cards, our lists can become full. Yet, even more importantly, how have we prepared our hearts and souls to receive Christ once more?
Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated Mass for students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Bradenton on Dec. 17, 2020. The fifth through eighth graders were present in the Church, while the younger students, and students who a learning virtually, participated via a livestream to ensure social distancing was maintained. Afterwards, the Bishop spoke to the eighth graders.
The Diocese of Venice in Florida Office of Vocations launched a video series titled, “A Seminarian Story,” to celebrate the 16 Seminarians currently in formation. The first four videos have been released and more will follow approximately every few weeks. The most recent video is about Seminarian Juan Contreras who is doing formation at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. Developed with the assistance of the Diocese Communications Department, the goal of the series is to inspire others to follow in the path to the priesthood or religious life, as well as encourage the faithful to continue to support the seminarians as they continue their formation process at different seminaries. “A Seminarian Story” featuring Juan Contreras can be found at 
On the Solemnity of St. Joseph, March 19, Bishop Frank J. Dewane, in the context of the Coronavirus, consecrated the Diocese of Venice to the care and protection of St. Joseph. The Bishop announced a “Year of St. Joseph” beginning March 19, 2020. In light of Pope Francis recently dedicating a “Year of St. Joseph,” the Diocesan celebration will continue through Dec. 8, 2021. St. Joseph, often referred to as the Protector, can be our protector during this time of the pandemic. To pray a Novena to St. Joseph please visit the Year of St. Joseph webpage at 
Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated Mass on Dec. 10, 2020, Thursday of the Second Week of Advent, for the students at Incarnation Catholic School in Sarasota. Bishop Dewane reminded the students to not only prepare for the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas but for the Second Coming of Christ. Following the Mass, the Bishop spoke to the eighth graders and fielded questions from the group.
The annual Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal is happening now through January. A donation to the 19th Annual Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal will give those struggling the means to move beyond their battles and strengthen our communities during these times of high unemployment and despair. During this season of sharing, please consider a contribution to Catholic Charities so we can continue to provide help, create hope, and serve all. Thank you for your giving spirit! To donate, please visit 
The retreat included participants from each of the three different men’s groups at the Parish. The groups are language-based (Creole, English and Spanish) and had never had the opportunity to gather for a retreat. Some 80 men participated in Adoration, Mass, dinner, a talk from Bishop Frank J. Dewane, as well as round-table discussions. Bishop Dewane celebrated the Parish Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent prior to joining the retreat.
“This foster-father of Jesus Christ is the Patriarch of the Universal Church,” Bishop Dewane said. “He is also guardian and protector of the Church and Her Faithful. St. Joseph is a figure who led by example, while also offering powerful prayer and protection. His example is something that can be followed by us all.”
Bishop Frank J. Dewane shared this wisdom on Dec. 4, 2020, during Mass for students at St. Catherine Catholic School in Sebring.
Advent is a time of preparation and expectation. The Church describes Advent as a season “of devout and expectant delight.” In Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year, the Church says, “Advent has a twofold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, with remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time” (39). In Advent, we look forward not only to the commemoration of Christ’s birth at Christmas, but also to His return.
That mission was celebrated with a dedication and blessing ceremony of the Outreach Center by Bishop Frank J. Dewane on Nov. 21, 2020. Participating in the ceremony were staff, volunteers, supporters and local government officials (including Hardee County Manager Lawrence McNaul), as well as the Servant Sisters of the Virgin Matara, the religious sisters who serve at St. Michael Parish. Among the supporters’ present were members of the Our Lady of the Angels Knights of Columbus.
As part of the ceremony, a prayer service, which included Bishop Dewane first incensing the exterior and interior of the building as well as blessing the building with holy water. The was followed by comments for key people involved in the Outreach Center.
Another example of a need is that of musical instruments. Thanks to a donation of a grand piano, the Outreach Center does offer piano lessons. However, only a few children are learning to play, while other music lessons are limited to teaching basic notes and rhythm. The wish list includes Yamaha electric pianos (with headphones) as well as other instruments, so as more children can learn at the same time.
