An Easter Message from Bishop Frank J. Dewane
(See below for message in Spanish and Creole)
Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!
I wish to extend my Easter Greetings, and rejoice with you in the joy of the Resurrection. I pray that the Easter “Alleluia”, which echoes forth from the Church, will refresh the hearts of all the Faithful.
This Easter Season also brings us the hope that the worst of the Pandemic is somehow behind us and that we are drawing close to the time when our Parish Churches can once again resound with the voices of all the Faithful. Throughout history, God has miraculously provided: new vaccines promise protection from the virus and new therapeutics are beginning to thwart the worst effects of the Coronavirus. In the near future, it is my prayer that we will be able to embrace the full practice of our faith once again together and without fear.
Let us rejoice fully in the Praise of God this Easter. Through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have been made new in the waters of Baptism and become co-heirs to life-eternal. Christ did not forget us during these difficult days but has been with us! He has strengthened the weak, comforted the dying, and inspired health care workers, scientists, grocery store workers, clergy and others who provide essential services, to help them persevere. Learning from Christ’s compassion has also led us to protect and care for the lonely, elderly, sick and vulnerable of our brothers and sisters.
Easter is a time for us to be courageous witnesses to your Faith. Our family, friends, and neighbors need to hear the joyful message of Easter — Jesus Christ is Lord, and we have life in His name! May our hearts be opened to the need for something greater than ourselves. In this time when all things seem virtual, people are hungry for what is real, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever. Be witnesses of Christ this Easter Season.
Know of my prayer for each of you and your family. I kindly ask the same of you. Let the light of the Risen Christ, symbolized by the Paschal Candle which shines in our churches during the Easter season, shatter any darkness you are experiencing. Allow the joyful Alleluia to refresh your faith, hope, and love.
Have a Happy and Blessed Easter.
+Frank J. Dewane
Bishop of the Diocese of
Venice in Florida
Bishop Message in Spanish
¡Cristo ha resucitado! ¡Aleluya! ¡Aleluya!
Deseo extender mis saludos pascuales y regocijarme con ustedes en la alegría de la Resurrección. Ruego que el “Aleluya” de la Pascua, que resuena en la Iglesia, refresque el corazón de todos los fieles.
Esta Semana Santa también nos trae la esperanza de que lo peor de la pandemia está, de alguna manera, detrás de nosotros y que estamos acercándonos al momento en el en que nuestras Iglesias parroquiales pueda volver a resonar las voces de todos los fieles. A lo largo de la historia, Dios en su Divina Providencia siempre nos ha asistido: nuevas vacunas prometen protección contra el virus y nuevas terapias están empezando a frustrar los peores efectos del Coronavirus. Es mi deseo que, en un futuro próximo, podamos ser capaces de abrazar la práctica plena de nuestra fe una vez más juntos y sin temor.
Regocijémonos plenamente en la alabanza de Dios en esta Pascua. A través de la Pasión, Muerte y Resurrección de Jesucristo, hemos sido hechos nuevos en las aguas del Bautismo y nos hemos convertido en co-herederos de la vida eterna. ¡Cristo no nos olvidó durante estos días difíciles, siempre ha estado con nosotros! Ha fortalecido a los débiles, consolado a los moribundos e inspirado a los trabajadores de la salud, científicos, trabajadores de supermercados, clérigos y otros que proporcionan servicios esenciales, para ayudarlos a perseverar. Aprender de la compasión de Cristo también nos ha llevado a proteger y cuidar a los ancianos solitarios, enfermos y vulnerables de nuestros hermanos y hermanas.
La Pascua es un momento para que seamos testigos valientes de nuestra fe. Nuestra familia, amigos y vecinos necesitan escuchar el mensaje gozoso de la Pascua — ¡Jesucristo es Señor y tenemos vida en su nombre! Que nuestros corazones se abran a la necesidad de algo más grande que nosotros mismos. En este tiempo, cuando todas las cosas parecen virtuales, la gente tiene hambre de lo que es real, Jesucristo, lo mismo ayer, hoy y para siempre. Seamos testigos de Cristo este tiempo de Pascua.
Cuenten con mi oración por cada uno de ustedes y sus familias. Amablemente les pido lo mismo. Que la luz del Cristo resucitado, simbolizada por el Cirio Pascual que brilla en nuestras iglesias durante la Pascua, rompa cualquier oscuridad que estén experimentando. Dejen que el alegre Aleluya refresque su fe, esperanza y caridad.
Que tengan una feliz y bendita Pascua.
Bishop Message in Creole
Jezikri leve,Alelouya, Alelouya!
Mwen voye salitasyon fèt Pak la banou e mwen pataje kè kontan nou nan rezireksyon an. Mwen priye pou eko Alelouya Pak la reveye kè tout fidèl yo.
Sezon Pak la pote tou lespwa move pandemi sila pral fè wout li e na retounen nan tan nòmal pou pawas nou yo reviv nan vwa tout fidèl yo. Nan tan pase yo Bondye te fè mirak. Nouvo vaksen yo pwomèt pwoteksyon pou kwape viris la e nouvo tretman yo kòmanse bese firè Kowonaviris la. Nan yon tan ki pa twò lwen na ka pratike la fwa nou ansanm menm jan sa te ye anvan san kè sote.Mwen priye pou sa.
Ann fè kè nou kontan nan louwe Bondye nou an pou fèt Pak sila.Granmèsi soufrans,lanmò ak leve byen vivan Jezikri nou vi-n tou nèf nan dlo batèm e nou vi-n tounen eritye an aprè nan lavi ki pap janm fini an. Kris la pa te bliye nou pandan jou difisil yo men li te toujou avè nou. Li bay fòs a sa ki fèb yo, li refè sak te prèt pou mouri yo,li enspire travayè sante yo,syantis yo,moun kap fe komès yo,manb klèje yo ak tout lòt ki bay sèvis yo,li ede yo pèsevere. Kè sansib Kris la se te toujou yon egzanp pou nou pwoteje e pran swen frè ak sè nou yo ki fi-n vye granmoun kap viv pou kont yo ki malad e ki vilnerab.
Pak se tan pou nou bay temwayaj lafwa.Fanmi yo,zanmi ak vwazen nou yo bezwen tande yon mesaj Pak ki pote kè kontan. -Jezikri se Granmèt,e nou gen lavi nan non li.Se pou kè nou rete louvri pi laj sou bezwen lòt yo nan plas bewen pa nou.Nan tan sila kote tout bagay ap fèt sou laparans, pèp la grangou sa ki reyèl, Jezikri, se menm yè, Jodi-a e pou tout tan. An nou temwaye sa nan sezon Pak la.
Konnen map priye pou nou chak ak pou fanmi nou.Fè menm jan an pou mwen tou. Se pou limyè Jezikri ki leve byen vivan jan sa ye nan chandèl fèt Pak la ki briye nan legliz nou yo pandan sezon Pak la, kouri dèyè fè nwa ki antre nan lavi nou. Kite Alelouya kè kontan sa rafrechi lafwa lesperans ak lanmou nou.
Pase yon bon fèt Pak nan kè kontan.
The opening of Mass on the Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, begins with the Procession with Palms and a reading of the Gospel of Mark (11:1-10), describing the scene of the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem days before He was put to death and resurrected . This opening is followed by the blessing of the palms and marks the start of Holy Week with the Easter Triduum beginning at sunset on Holy Thursday and continuing until the Great Easter Vigil.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated Mass on the Vigil of Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, March 27, 2021, for the students and faculty of Ave Maria University. Following Mass was a community celebration of the Feast Day of the University, the Annunciation of Our Lord, moved from March 25 to the weekend to allow everyone to participate. The outdoor festivities included a barbeque dinner as well as musical entertainment.
“I am painfully aware that this causes you, good Catholics, difficulty as you are troubled and hurt by the loss of the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, the consolation of those Sacraments in your life,” Bishop Dewane said “Our churches are closed, but yet I think we have to think of something else. Christ isn’t quarantined from any of us. Indeed, the Gospel is not in chains. The Word of the Lord, it is out there. It is alive” Bishop Dewane said. “In prayer and in Faith we are people of the Word, the Word of God, the Word made flesh in Jesus Christ. With both of these together, whether its online or from a distance, nothing can stand in our way.”
While the gathering for Mass had been suspended since mid-March, Palm Sunday, a day marking the triumphant entrance of Christ into Jerusalem, with its traditional distribution of palms and uplifting liturgy, as well as the reading of the Passion of Christ, assist in putting the faithful in the right frame of mind for the significant events of Holy Week.
The Easter Vigil, a Mass held after sunset on Saturday, April 11, 2020, is one of the most powerful liturgies of the year. The celebration is to start in darkness, usually with the Easter fire lit and the Easter Candle brought forward. This year, the Easter Candle was lit and there was no Easter fire. This needed change removed the opportunity for the congregation to each have lit candles, providing a soft glow inside the church. In addition, the church was not darkened for the first part of the liturgy, when a series of readings, beginning with Genesis, were read.
The rest of the Easter Vigil and the Easter Sunday liturgies were unaltered. The Renewal of Baptismal Promises was made at both but from afar for those watching at home.
“Wonderful!” “It’s true, we are home!” “Our prayers have been answered!” “What a glorious moment!” These are just some of the comments made as people entered the Church for the first time on Easter Sunday. Most looked up, knowing that on Sept. 10, 2017, when the fierce winds of Irma struck, a large section of the roof was blown off allowing water to flow in and severely damage the sanctuary.
Martie Granieri sings in the Parish Choir and was overjoyed that the Church opened in time for Easter. “Christ is where you find Him. He was in our gymnasium (which served as a temporary Church while repairs were made), He is where we gather in His name,” Granieri said. “But this place; the Church, 
is where we know Him best. We are so happy to be back.”
“We are very Blessed by Almighty God to be here,” said Father Russell Ruggiero, Parish Administrator, prior to Easter Sunday Mass to a standing room only crowd. “It is as people said, it is a Resurrection.”
This celebration comes after the holiest of weeks which began with the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and included the institution of the Eucharist (Communion) during the Last Supper, Institution of the Sacrament of Holy Orders as well as the betrayal by Judas on Holy Thursday and the suffering and death of Our Lord on Good Friday. The Resurrection on Easter completes the journey for Jesus but it is just the beginning of a new journey of belief and hope for the Faithful, Bishop Frank J. Dewane explained during an Easter Vigil Mass on April 15 at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice.
The Bishop noted the Gospel reading from the Vigil provides guidance to carry the message of Easter forward. The Gospel of Mark (16:1-7) tells the story of the women who were going to treat the body of Jesus in the Jewish custom and wondered along the way about how to remove the stone over the tomb. Determined to go on despite their own doubts, they found the stone rolled to the side and the Gospel then reads: “On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, ‘Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.'”
During this Mass, the faithful hear the story of Salvation proclaimed in numerous Scripture readings. It is also at this time that the priests baptize and confirm any Catechumens and Candidates. There were 398 women and men who entered fully into the Catholic Church at parishes throughout the Diocese.
The Good Friday Liturgy, is not a Mass, but is comprised of the celebration of the Lord’s Passion, Veneration of the Cross and reception of Eucharist. All are invited to come forward for the Veneration of the Cross. Veneration of the Cross is the climax of our response to the Passion. The faithful are called to behold Christ in his great act of love and we respond with loving veneration. For Christians, veneration of one cross, with the Body of Christ on it, means loving service to the cross and taking up one’s cross and following Christ crucified. Everyone is asked to leave this liturgy in silence.
