Tag: education

News Briefs for the week of May 15, 2026

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Appointments

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

Father Gustavo Correa Garcia, has been relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar of St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs, effective May 10, 2026, and thus has returned to the Diocese of Worcester.

Father Leszek Sikorski, a priest of the Diocese of Venice, has retired, effective May 1, 2026. Father had been on assignment outside of the Diocese, as a Chaplain in the U.S. Military since July 31, 2004.

Bishop Dewane encourages Catholic school students to finish year strong

Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for students at St. Andrew Catholic School in Cape Coral on May 7, 2026. During the Mass, Bishop Dewane prayed that were making the most of their Catholic education by growing closer to the Lord. The Bishop also encouraged the students to finish the school year strong, noting how it will propel them into success going forward. Following the Mass, Bishop Dewane took time to speak with the eighth graders, who were encouraged to ask questions. Most of the questions revolved around what it is like to be a Bishop. Afterward, the Bishop and the eighth graders stood together for a group photo.

Bishop celebrates Baccalaureate Mass for Ave Maria University

Bishop Frank J. Dewane was the main celebrant for the Ave Maria University Baccalaureate Mass on May 8, 2026, in Ave Maria. The homilist was Most Rev. Stephen D. Parkes, Bishop of Savannah, who also serves as a Board Member for the University. The Ave Maria University commencement exercises took place May 9. Gov. Ron DeSantis was the commencement speaker and received an honorary degree from the university.

Priest receives Papal blessing for 50th anniversary of ordination

Father Vincent Clemente, Pastor of St James Parish in Lake Placid, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his Priestly Ordination on May 8, 2026, with a reception at the St. Paul Parish Hall in Arcadia. During the reception Father Clemente was presented with a Papal Blessing from Pope Leo XIV.

Postal Service food collections help local pantries

The National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on May 9, 2026, was a huge success. The Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice food pantry receive more than 2,000 pounds of food. The pantry serves about 2,600 individuals and families each month. The Postal food drive also brought more than 55,700 pounds of food to the St. Joseph Food Pantry in Bradenton, the main food pantry for Manatee County, and in 2025 served more than 22,200 families, or more than 83,700 individuals, including 25,073 children and 8,904 seniors. Thank you to everyone who donated. Area food pantries are constantly in need of food, please visit https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/donate or https://stjoepantry.com/ to help.

Alumni priest visits Naples high school

Father Garrett Braun, a 2010 graduate of St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples, visited his alma mater on May 11, 2026. Father Braun, an Air Force Priest/Chaplain, is stationed at Aviano Air Force base in Italy. He spent time with the St. John Neumann theology classes and honors peer ministry. The students had great questions and Father Braun left them with great advice: “Continue to build your prayer life – your relationship with God.”

High school seniors continue sunset tradition

Graduating seniors at Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers took part in the annual Senior Sunset on May 6, 2026. Between laughter, signed shirts, long hugs, and conversations that lasted a little longer than usual, the reality started to sink in for the Class of 2026: high school is coming to a close. For the first time, the evening also began with a rosary alongside parents and families – a meaningful way to begin a night centered around friendship, gratitude, and the memories these students have built together over the last four years. A beautiful reminder to pause, take it all in, and appreciate the moment before the next chapter begins.

In person/virtual Adult Education Workshop

Community Pregnancy Clinics will offer its monthly adult education workshop at 6:30 p.m., May 20, 2026, at the Naples Clinic, 661 Goodlette-Frank Road, as well as virtually. The May speaker is Becky Moultrie, the Executive Director of St. Gianna Center for Women’s Health & Fertility Care, who will virtually present, “The Truth Within: Appreciating the Gift of Your Fertility.” Join CPCI in person for a watch party or virtually to learn more about: God’s intricate design for the human body and your fertility; the truth about artificial hormones, contraception, and restorative reproductive medicine; and life affirming practical resources for adolescents, singles, married couples, postpartum women, and those navigating the challenges of infertility. )The webinar format does not show faces on the screen but will allow you to type in any questions for a post presentation Q & A/Discussion.) All are welcome! Please invite your friends and neighbors! RSVP is required on/before May 19 at https://form.typeform.com/to/gpRkfI4u.

Theology on Tap May 21 in University Park

Calling all young adults! Join Catholic young people from across the Diocese for an evening of fellowship, faith and fun! Theology on Tap meets on the third Thursday of every month and is an opportunity for young adults in their 20’s and 30’s to explore faith topics in a relaxed social setting. The next gathering of Theology on Tap is 7 – 9 p.m., May 21, 2026, at Oak & Stone, 5405 University Parkway, University Park. The featured speaker is Father Thomas Carzon, O.M.V. Pastor of San Pedro Parish in North Port, who will be leading a talk called, “Do whatever He tells you. (John 2:5),” which was advice offered by Blessed Mother during the Wedding at Cana. There is no cost to attend, and no registration required. Bring a friend. For more information, contact Andres Prias at 941-441-1122 or prias@dioceseofvenice.org.

Pentecost Retreat May 23 in Fort Myers

The Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord Parish is hosting a one-day Pentecost Retreat, 9 a.m.-3:25 p.m., May 23, 2026, in the Parish Center, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. The retreat, titled “Come Holy Spirit, Come Bless US with the Fire of Your Love,” will include a light breakfast and lunch. The retreat concludes in time for the Pentecost Vigil Mass at 3:30 p.m. There is no charge. Register by contacting Janet Almen at 708-525-4352.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter in Tampa June 5-7

Successful marriages don’t work on automatic pilot, like a garden, they require constant attention: fertilizing, watering, and weeding. Join the Worldwide Marriage Encounter and discover God’s plan for joy, romance and passion in your marriage June 5-7, 2026, at the Franciscan Center in Tampa. This is the closest Worldwide Marriage Encounter to the Diocese of Venice in 2026.  Apply today at www.wwme.org or call 813-270-7832.

Rummage Sale in Punta Gorda June 6

The Sacred Heart Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is hosting its next Rummage Sale 8 a.m.-11 a.m., June 6, 2026, at 25200 Airport Road, Punta Gorda. Items available for purchase will include household items, furniture, linens, clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, books and toys. Proceeds will go toward the Society’s continuing efforts to raise money to assist those in need in the community. For more information, please call 941-575-0767.

Inter-Parish “Life in the Spirit” seminar in Naples June 13

St. William Parish, 750 Seagate Drive, Naples, is hosting an Inter-Parish “Life in the Spirit” seminar, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., June 13, 2026, in the Blessed Mother Center. The seminar will be facilitated by representatives from St. William, St. Agnes, St. Ann and St. John the Evangelist Parishes. The seminar will include talks, discussion groups, and a prayer service for a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your personal life. There will be music and fellowship and a light lunch is included. RSVP by email and include your name and contact number to Susan Westly at susan@saintwilliam.org. Please include “Life in the Spirit Seminar” in the subject line. For additional details call 239-397-5757.

Day of Reflection Marriage Retreat June 20

A Day of Reflection Marriage Retreat is scheduled for June 20, 2026, at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples. The retreat offers a specially prepared volunteer team of married couples, and a priest, who will share their experiences and information, enabling couples to be more aware of the privileges and responsibilities of marriage. Register at https://dioceseofvenice.regfox.com/2026-day-of-reflection-mp-retreat. Please contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org, or 941-486-4754.

Diocese of Venice Totus Tuus Missionary Opportunity for Summer 2026

The Diocese of Venice is now accepting applications for college-aged young adults to serve as Totus Tuus Missionaries for the 2026 Parish evangelization and catechesis Summer Program. This role involves traveling in teams to approximately seven parishes throughout the Diocese, leading catechetical sessions for children and youth.  Responsibilities include teaching the Catholic Faith using the Totus Tuus curriculum, facilitating activities, including skits and songs, working collaboratively as a team, teaching about the Mass, leading Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, discussion groups for teenagers and Evening Prayer. This is a paid position. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a High School graduate and must be available for the complete program schedule, May 20 – July 24, 2026. Visit the Diocese of Venice website for more information or to register, or contact Andres Prias, Diocesan Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, at prias@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-441-1122.

WARNING – Text/Email SCAM Alert

It has been brought to the attention of the Diocese of Venice that parishioners have received text/email messages from people pretending to be clergy – including Bishop Frank J. Dewane – or Parish/school staff, requesting donations in the form of gift cards and/or wire transfers. These messages often come from text/emails that look similar to official Diocesan/Parish/school numbers or accounts and often greet the recipient by name and have the priest’s, Bishop’s, or staff member’s name in the “From” line and/or closing signature of the message. The fake message often claims that the priest/Bishop/staff member is in need of gift cards or money to aid a sick child, relative, or parishioner. It is Diocesan policy that neither the Bishop, nor priests or staff request donations in the form of gift cards, PayPal, MoneyGram, etc.  There is an established process in place on how parishioners can make donations and participate in the life of the Diocese, Parish, or school. If you receive such a text or email, please immediately contact the Diocesan/Parish/school directly!

Mental Health Counseling Services

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice is offering Mental Health Counseling, and Tele-Health Counseling, for adults and children provided by licensed mental health therapists. If you or someone you know is feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, helpless, or overwhelmed, Catholic Charities can help. For more information, please call 239-455-2655 or visit Catholic Charities online

Prison Ministry volunteers needed throughout Diocese

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

Retreat Center seeks volunteers

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is in need of volunteers. Help provide a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere for those who come to OLPH seeking transformation in Christ. Areas of need include reception, gardening, dishwashing, and serving meals. Contact the office to sign up at 941-486-0233 or visit www.olph-retreat.org/new-volunteer.

Free Rosary Repair Service

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

 

 

 

Hunger is focus of Pope’s May prayer intention – Diocese is on the frontline to feed those in need

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Catholic Social Teaching tells us that food is a fundamental human right, not a commodity, emphasizing that every person requires access to adequate nutrition to live with dignity.

Pope Leo XIV, with his May 2026 prayer intention as a platform, prays “That everyone might have food. Let us pray that everyone from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food, and to ensure that everyone has access to quality food.”

Pope Leo demands a moral response to hunger to ensure that everyone has access to quality food while also avoiding waste, calling on the faithful to confront the problem of food insecurity with both prayer and concrete action.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane said that since all human life is sacred, access to food is a basic right necessary to life. “Hunger is not someone else’s problem; it is a shared moral responsibility for all to act.”

Within the Diocese of Venice there are more than a dozen food pantries of varying sizes which combine to help hundreds of families each day and tens of thousands each month.

Among the 15 largest food pantries in the Diocese, including those run by Catholic Charities, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and individual Parishes, tens of thousands of people are spared from going hungry each month.

Food pantries were initially established at Parishes and in communities to help families in a crisis. However, because of rapidly rising costs of not just food, but also gasoline, medicines, and other necessities, combined with season layoffs and a tight local job market, pantry staff and volunteers are now seeing people entering their doors who have previously never needed food before.

To maximize donations, nearly all of the larger food pantries in the Diocese have transitioned from the drive-thru model, which created tremendous waste, to a “Choice Pantry.”

A “Choice Pantry” is when someone comes to a pantry needing food and they have a “mini shopping experience” (similar to shopping at a chosen retail grocery store) where they choose the foods their family will eat.  Volunteers explain the “points system” – how everything on the shelves has a point value and where each household is assigned points for shopping based on the number of people needing food. There is no cash, only points, for food.  Remarkably, most families don’t use all their points as they select only the food their family will eat, meaning food waste is virtually nonexistent.

“The need is growing, and we are doing everything we can to keep up because no one should have to wonder where their next meal will come from,” said Jenny Muñoz, Catholic Charities Desoto County Regional Director. The DeSoto County office in Arcadia hosts a “Choice Pantry” which serves about 2,600 individuals and families each month, up from only 800 a month just six months ago.

Muñoz said the massive increase in demand can be attributed to multiple factors, such as the conversion from a drive-thru to a Choice Pantry distribution, and an expansion of operating hours, including two evenings each week.

“It is really about meeting the needs of the community,” Muñoz said. “Parents, grandparents and neighbors come through our food pantry and shop with dignity for only the items they need and leave with full carts and full hearts. But behind every cart is a growing need. With the generosity of our many benefactors helping to keep our shelves stocked and our doors open, we are providing hope for every family who walks through.”

In the most recent fiscal year, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice Inc. provided food to 95,588 at six locations and is projected to reach 119,500 by the end of the current fiscal year. This is in addition to disaster relief operations after Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton in 2024, which distributed food to 8,100 families in a two week period. Following Hurricane Ian in 2022 Catholic Charities distributed 2,504 tons of supplies, and provided food to 115,747 people, plus an additional 22,492 hot meals, in the first month after the storm. In addition to those impressive numbers, Catholic Charities also provides after school food for 75 children each week, a number that jumps to 150 each week for children participating in summer camps.

Sadly, most of the increase in demand at Catholic Charities and other pantries is from fixed-income senior citizens, said Catholic Charities CEO Christopher M. Root. “The seniors must make hard choices when it comes to expenses. Catholic Charities is there to provide the food they need to survive.”

Dan Freidrich, Director of the St. Joseph Food Pantry in Bradenton, noted that 31 percent of the population of Manatee County does not earn enough to sustain their standard of living. “People must make choices everyday between paying for childcare, paying for medicines, rent or groceries. At St. Joseph Food Pantry we believe nobody should go hungry.”

On a smaller scale, the more than 200 families every month who receive food at the St. Michael Parish Choice Pantry in Wauchula rely on donations from regional food banks, as well as other Parishes and individual benefactors, said Pantry Director Sister Maria de Talpa, a Servant Sister of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara.

“We have Knights of Columbus who bring trailers of food, and we have good relationships with other providers,” Sister Maria said.  “Sometimes I worry if we will have enough to meet the demand, but it all comes down to Divine Providence.”

One of the newest food pantries in the region is the Twelve Baskets Food Pantry at St. Thomas More Parish in Sarasota. Open every Wednesday, the pantry was opened in 2025 to meet a demand in the community to help people with food insecurity.

Another new food pantry is Table of Plenty at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Cape Coral. The pantry operates out of the Parish Hall and had only four visitors when it debuted in 2022. Kathy Anderson, who helped found the food pantry, said the pantry “now serves 40 to 60 families on the third Friday of each month. We distributed more than 30,000 pounds of food in 2025.”

The St. Vincent de Paul Sacred Heart Conference in Punta Gorda has Choice Pantry hours three days a week and provides five days of food to 17,437 individuals each year.

Tony Rivera, Vice President of the Sacred Heart Conference said the switch to a Choice Pantry made a huge difference in lowering the waste and helped streamline the food distribution process. “We help our friends and neighbors in a dignified way,” Rivera said. “It is not easy for someone to come asking for food. We understand that.”

The food pantries in the Diocese of Venice receive food from donations, Parish food drives and regional food banks, such as Midwest Food Bank of Florida based in Fort Myers, All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota, Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers and Naples, and Feeding Tampa Bay.

If you need food, or would like to support a food pantry in your area, please contact individual food pantries, or Parishes to learn of an affiliated food pantry, as well as to learn details on future food collections or how to volunteer.

Helping Catholic Charities food pantries

You can support each food pantry by donating food directly to each location, or by specifying your financial donation by visiting https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/donate.

Food Pantries within the Diocese of Venice

  • Arcadia – DeSoto County Catholic Charities – 863-494-1068 – 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Monday and Wednesday, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday, and 9 a.m. – 11a.m. Friday,
  • Bokeelia – Pine Island Food Pantry – Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish – 760-529-7238 – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., Monday and Thursday,
  • Bonita Springs – Juan Diego Outreach Center, Catholic Charities – 239-390-2928 – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Fridays,
  • Bradenton – St. Joseph Food Pantry – 941-756-3732 – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Monday – Friday. For details visit https://www.stjoepantry.com/,
  • Cape Coral – St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry – 239-283-9501 – 9 a.m. – noon, third Friday of each month,
  • Clewiston – St. Margaret Parish, Catholic Charities – 239-334-4007, ext. 2103 – 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Friday,
  • Fort Myers – Elizabeth K. Galeana Food Pantry, Catholic Charities – 239-334-4007, ext. 2103 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Thursdays,
  • Fort Myers – Jesus the Worker Food Pantry – 239-693-5333 – 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Tuesday and Saturday,
  • Grove City – St. Francis of Assisi Food Pantry – 941-697-4899 – 9:15 a.m. -11:15 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
  • Immokalee – Guadalupe Social Services of Catholic Charities 239-657-6242, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Monday – Friday,
  • Naples – Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center, of Catholic Charities – 239-793-0059 – 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Wednesday and Thursday,
  • Naples – St. Vincent de Paul Family Assistance Center – 239-775-2907: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday. For details visit https://www.svdpnaples.org/,
  • Punta Gorda – St. Vincent de Paul, Sacred Heart Conference – 25200 Airport Road – 941-575-0767: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday. For details, visit https://www.svdppg.org/,
  • Sarasota – St. Jude Food Pantry – 941-955-3934 – 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Wednesday,
  • Sarasota – St. Thomas More Food Pantry – 941-923-1691 – 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., Wednesday,
  • Wauchula – St. Michael Food Pantry – 863-773-4089 – 7 a.m. – 8:45 a.m., Saturday.

News Briefs for the week of May 8, 2026

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Ascension Solemnity moved to Sunday, May 17

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Sunday, will be celebrated in the Diocese of Venice on May 17, 2026 (moved from May 14). The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops voted in the year 2000 to transfer the Solemnity of the Ascension from the Thursday, 40 days after Easter, to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, in accord with an indult granted to the US. Conference of Catholic Bishops by the Holy See. Therefore, for the Catholic Churches in the State of Florida, the Seventh Sunday of Easter is replaced by the Solemnity of the Ascension.

Cape Coral teacher and students recognized 

St. Andrew Catholic School teacher Tonya Roberts, as well as students Carter Willoughby, 5th grade, and Linnea Kerr, 8th grade, were recognized during the Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Awards on May 4, 2026. The annual event honors educators and students from each of the local schools. Each honoree is presented a plaque and gifts provided by local businesses. Congratulations to the honorees!

Two Cardinal Mooney seniors achieve Eagle Scout rank

Beatrice Airey and Will Ittig, two graduating seniors from Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Beatrice earned an impressive 31 merit badges. For her Eagle Scout project, she led a fundraising effort to purchase a band trailer and worked on outfitting it with the necessary fittings and equipment – leaving a lasting impact on the school community. Will also earned 31 merit badges. For his Eagle Scout project, he built Stations of the Cross at Holy Cross Parish in Palmetto creating a lasting and meaningful space for prayer and reflection, For both students, the Eagle Scout rank was earned through dedication, leadership, and service. Congratulations to Beatrice and Will for this remarkable achievement!

Students write prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Fourth grade students at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Fort Myers spent time on May 5, 2026, to write prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary after learning about Marian Apparitions and the significance of Mary as the Mother of the Church. The month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Mother Mary and the lesson took place in the school butterfly garden where a statue of Mary is on display.

House Olympics lots of fun in Naples

The annual House Olympics at St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples took place on April 29, 2026, with Raley House taking the victory. Neumann has four “Houses” which serve as a form of student government, dividing students into different teams. Throughout the year these teams earn points for success in various academic and athletic individual and team competitions. The House Olympics was the final competition. The House system helps younger students become more familiar with Neumann as freshman and through the years the older students serve as mentors to their House members.

Student choir recognized at Law Day

The St. Catherine Catholic School Choir was invited to perform at the Highlands Country Bar Association Law Day 2026 in Sebring on April 30, 2026. In addition, three St. Catherine students were recognized for their work in the Bar Associations American Dream contest which included posters and essays. Mayra Trejo-Bautista took first place in the sixth – eighth grade division poster contest and won a prize of $100. Isabella Mier took third place and received a $25 prize. In the essay contest, Francis Rivas Largaespada finished second in the sixth – eighth grade division for a prize of $50.

Catholic Scouting Mass May 17 in Fort Myers

The annual Catholic Scouting Mass and Recognition Luncheon with Bishop Frank J. Dewane will be held at 11:30 a.m., May 17, 2026, at Our Lady of Light Parish, 19680 Cypress View Drive, Fort Myers. For more information, please contact Andres Prias at prias@dioceseofvenice.org or call 941-441-1122

Ignatian Preached Retreat at OLPH May 8-11

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is hosting an Ignatian Preached Retreat May 8-11, 2026. This three-night silent retreat will introduce participants to the great themes of the Spiritual Exercises in a group setting. The schedule includes conferences each day, daily Mass, and an opportunity to meet at least once with the retreat director for Confession and/or spiritual direction. Conference topics center on Ignatian spirituality, prayer, and discernment. Total cost is $525 per person for a private room and $360 per person for a shared room (retreatant to locate appropriate roommate where silence can be maintained). To register, please visit www.olph-retreat.org.

Bereavement Retreat in Spanish May 15-17

For Spanish-speaking parents grieving the death of a child, a weekend Bereavement Retreat will be offered in Spanish, May 15-17, 2026, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice, 3989 S. Moon Drive. Led by Deacon Roberto Landron and a team of grieving parents, this retreat offers a safe space to find comfort, peace, and healing through prayer and reflection. To register, click here. For more information contact Jim Gontis, gontis@dioceseofvenice, 941-486-4754.

Retiro de Duelo en español, del 15 al 17 de mayo

Para padres de habla hispana que están atravesando el duelo por la muerte de un hijo, se ofrecerá un Retiro de Duelo de fin de semana en español, del 15 al 17 de mayo de 2026, en el Centro de Retiros Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (Our Lady of Perpetual Help), ubicado en 3989 S. Moon Drive, Venice. Dirigido por el Diácono Roberto Landron y un equipo de padres en duelo, este retiro ofrece un espacio seguro para encontrar consuelo, paz y sanación a través de la oración y la reflexión.Para inscribirse, haga clic aquí. Para más información, comuníquese con Jim Gontis, 941-486-4754.

Charity Golf Tournament

The annual St. Mary Academy Golf Tournament has an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start May 16, 2026, at Heritage Harbour Golf Club, 8000 Stone Harbour Loop, Bradenton. The cost is $150 per player. Please call Connie Taft at 941-685-2108 to register or for sponsorship opportunities.

Theology on Tap May 21 in University Park

Calling all young adults! Join Catholic young people from across the Diocese for an evening of fellowship, faith and fun! Theology on Tap meets on the third Thursday of every month and is an opportunity for young adults in their 20’s and 30’s to explore faith topics in a relaxed social setting. The next gathering of Theology on Tap is 7 – 9 p.m., May 21, 2026, at Oak & Stone, 5405 University Parkway, University Park. The featured speaker is Father Thomas Carzon, O.M.V. Pastor of San Pedro Parish in North Port, who will be leading a talk called, “Do whatever He tells you. (John 2:5),” which was advice offered by Blessed Mother during the Wedding at Cana. There is no cost to attend, and no registration required. Bring a friend. For more information, contact Andres Prias at 941-441-1122 or prias@dioceseofvenice.org.

Pentecost Retreat May 23 in Fort Myers

The Church of the Resurrection of Our Lord Parish is hosting a one-day Pentecost Retreat, 9 a.m.-3:25 p.m., May 23, 2026, in the Parish Center, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. The retreat, titled “Come Holy Spirit, Come Bless US with the Fire of Your Love,” will include a light breakfast and lunch. The retreat concludes in time for the Pentecost Vigil Mass at 3:30 p.m. There is no charge. Register by contacting Janet Almen at 708-525-4352.

Catholic Singles event May 23 in Naples

The Catholic Fellowship Around Singles Ministry Presents is calling all Catholic singles in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, to a summer singles event, 6-8 p.m., May 23, 2026, at the St. Agnes parish Center Hall, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. The presentation titled, “Prolonged Singleness: Walking With God in the Wait,” will be offered by Father Alan Baldarelli. Dinner will be provided free of charge.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter in Tampa June 5-7

Successful marriages don’t work on automatic pilot, like a garden, they require constant attention: fertilizing, watering, and weeding. Join the Worldwide Marriage Encounter and discover God’s plan for joy, romance and passion in your marriage June 5-7, 2026, at the Franciscan Center in Tampa. This is the closest Worldwide Marriage Encounter to the Diocese of Venice in 2026.  Apply today at www.wwme.org or call 813-270-7832.

Rummage Sale in Punta Gorda June 6

The Sacred Heart Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is hosting its next Rummage Sale 8 a.m.-11 a.m., June 6, 2026, at 25200 Airport Road, Punta Gorda. Items available for purchase will include household items, furniture, linens, clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, books and toys Proceeds will go toward the Society’s continuing efforts to raise money to assist those in need in the community. For more information, please call 941-575-0767.

Inter-Parish “Life in the Spirit” seminar in Naples June 13

St. William Parish, 750 Seagate Drive, Naples, is hosting an Inter-Parish “Life in the Spirit” seminar, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., June 13, 2026, in the Blessed Mother Center. The seminar will be facilitated by representatives from St. William, St. Agnes, St. Ann and St. John the Evangelist Parishes. The seminar will include talks, discussion groups, and a prayer service for a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your personal life. There will be music and fellowship and a light lunch is included. RSVP by email and include your name and contact number to Susan Westly at susan@saintwilliam.org. Please include “Life in the Spirit Seminar” in the subject line. For additional details call 239-397-5757.

Day of Reflection Marriage Retreat June 20

A Day of Reflection Marriage Retreat is scheduled for June 20, 2026, at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples. The retreat offers a specially prepared volunteer team of married couples, and a priest, who will share their experiences and information, enabling couples to be more aware of the privileges and responsibilities of marriage. Register at https://dioceseofvenice.regfox.com/2026-day-of-reflection-mp-retreat. Please contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org, or 941-486-4754.

Diocese of Venice Totus Tuus Missionary Opportunity for Summer 2026

The Diocese of Venice is now accepting applications for college-aged young adults to serve as Totus Tuus Missionaries for the 2026 Parish evangelization and catechesis Summer Program. This role involves traveling in teams to approximately seven parishes throughout the Diocese, leading catechetical sessions for children and youth.  Responsibilities include teaching the Catholic Faith using the Totus Tuus curriculum, facilitating activities, including skits and songs, working collaboratively as a team, teaching about the Mass, leading Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, discussion groups for teenagers and Evening Prayer. This is a paid position. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a High School graduate and must be available for the complete program schedule, May 20 – July 24, 2026. Visit the Diocese of Venice website for more information or to register, or contact Andres Prias, Diocesan Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, at prias@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-441-1122.

WARNING – Text/Email SCAM Alert

It has been brought to the attention of the Diocese of Venice that parishioners have received text/email messages from people pretending to be clergy – including Bishop Frank J. Dewane – or Parish/school staff, requesting donations in the form of gift cards and/or wire transfers. These messages often come from text/emails that look similar to official Diocesan/Parish/school numbers or accounts and often greet the recipient by name and have the priest’s, Bishop’s, or staff member’s name in the “From” line and/or closing signature of the message. The fake message often claims that the priest/Bishop/staff member is in need of gift cards or money to aid a sick child, relative, or parishioner. It is Diocesan policy that neither the Bishop, nor priests or staff request donations in the form of gift cards, PayPal, MoneyGram, etc.  There is an established process in place on how parishioners can make donations and participate in the life of the Diocese, Parish, or school. If you receive such a text or email, please immediately contact the Diocesan/Parish/school directly!

Mental Health Counseling Services

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice is offering Mental Health Counseling, and Tele-Health Counseling, for adults and children provided by licensed mental health therapists. If you or someone you know is feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, helpless, or overwhelmed, Catholic Charities can help. For more information, please call 239-455-2655 or visit Catholic Charities online

Prison Ministry volunteers needed throughout Diocese

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

Retreat Center seeks volunteers

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is in need of volunteers. Help provide a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere for those who come to OLPH seeking transformation in Christ. Areas of need include reception, gardening, dishwashing, and serving meals. Contact the office to sign up at 941-486-0233 or visit www.olph-retreat.org/new-volunteer.

Free Rosary Repair Service

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

 

Championship rings presented to Mooney football team

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School Class 2A state championship football team from Sarasota was recognized during a Ring Ceremony in the school gymnasium on April 23, 2026.

The players, coaches, cheer team, and support staff were each presented with a championship ring. The ring is emblazoned with a Cougar head logo enameled in gold and black in the center; State Champions written in gold on either side; and diamond chips throughout.

The Cougars took the Class 2A title in December 2025 after finishing the year with a 14-1 record. The championship was the team’s second in three years (2023), and third overall (1972).

The rings were blessed by Father Michael Scheip, with Mooney Principal Ben Hopper, and Head Coach Jared Clark presenting the rings. Each player was hugged by Clark and the other coaches. Many family members, students and teachers were present for the ceremony cheering on the championship team.

“You know I look out at the team and the parents and I just feel blessed,” Clark told reporters following the ceremony. “The 2025 team was a special team. I think it’s the most talented team that we’ve ever had here in the history of the school.”

Senior Center Ethan Salata, wearing two championship rings (2023 and 2025), told reporters, “You know, it’s the second one, but this team’s a lot different than the first one… we really came out together as one, and grew a lot throughout the year.”

Senior Cornerback Hayden Pettit added, “I think that we can just look back at this moment, and it will remind us of our friends and stuff, and what we did here, and how special this was.”

To win the Class 2A state championship the Cougars defeated the Bolles School of Jacksonville 52-28 in a game played Dec. 10, 2025, in Miami. Cardinal Mooney won the state championship in 2023, then fell in the state semifinal in 2024. Previously, Cougar football teams only made it this far in the playoffs a few times, earning a state title in 1972 and reaching the semifinals in 2006.

The championship team was led by quarterbacks Davin Davidson, who finished the season with 2,192 yards passing, and 21 passing touchdowns, and Devin Mignery, who had 348 yards, 4 touchdown passes, while also rushing for 423 yards and an additional touchdown.

The leading rusher was Connail Jackson, who had 190 carries, for 2,547 yards, and 39 touchdowns. The top receiver was Kymistrii Young, who led the way with 42 receptions for 936 yards and 8 touchdowns.

The defense was led by KJ Brown, with 109 tackles; and Jayden Burnett, with 102 tackles. Elijah Golden had 67 tackles, including 14 sacks, while Bryce Fulda had 59 tackles, including 13 sacks. Vantrez Yarn led the team with 7 interceptions.

The Cougars finished their 2025 championship season ranked by MaxPreps as the No. 6 team in the State of Florida, and No. 60 in the nation.

News Briefs for the week of May 1, 2026

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Parish celebrates Children’s Day

St. Michael Parish in Wauchula and Holy Child Mission in Bowling Green held a Children’s Day “Celebrating the Innocence of a Child,” April 26, 2026. The gathering included a kid-friendly costume contest, pinatas, inflatables, and food. The event took place at the future home of Holy Child Mission, and included an open house of the facility, which is being renovated into a Catholic Church.

Big bubbles educate students

Creating soap bubbles is not just for fun. It takes patience and perseverance to get the big bubbles. Making bubbles at St. Mary Academy in Sarasota on April 28, 2026, the experiments with soap bubbles offered significant educational and developmental benefits for the children. The benefits included enhancing fine/gross motor skills, visual tracking, language development, and emotional regulation. It promotes sensory play, oral motor development, and provides early exposure to scientific concepts like surface tension. The students and teachers had a blast!

Food drive supports Catholic Charities

St. Ann Parish in Naples hosted a food drive the weekend of April 18-19, 2026, to benefit the Catholic Charities food pantry at the Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center. Boy Scouts from the Parish Troop 165 and their parents helped gather the full bags and load a truck.

WARNING – Text/Email SCAM Alert

It has once again been brought to the attention of the Diocese of Venice that parishioners have received text/email messages from people pretending to be clergy – including Bishop Frank J. Dewane – or Parish/school staff, requesting donations in the form of gift cards and/or wire transfers. These messages, which were more frequent during the Christmas Season, often come from text/emails that look similar to official Diocesan/Parish/school numbers or accounts and often greet the recipient by name and have the priest’s, Bishop’s, or staff member’s name in the “From” line and/or closing signature of the message. The SPAM often claims that the priest/Bishop/staff member is in need of gift cards or money to aid a sick child, relative, or parishioner. The message then asks the person to purchase gift cards/money and then to text/email the redemption code and PIN number. It is Diocesan policy that neither the Bishop, nor priests or staff request donations in the form of gift cards, PayPal, MoneyGram, etc. Without this awareness, some have responded to the spoofed messages, with consequences, including loss of funds. There is an established process in place on how parishioners can make donations and participate in the life of the Diocese, Parish, or school. If you receive such a SCAM text or email, please immediately contact the Diocesan/Parish/school directly!

Catholic Scouting Mass May 17 in Fort Myers

The annual Catholic Scouting Mass and Recognition Luncheon with Bishop Frank J. Dewane will be held at 11:30 a.m., May 17, 2026, at Our Lady of Light Parish, 19680 Cypress View Drive, Fort Myers. To register, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.regfox.com/scouts-award-ceremony-2026. The deadline to register is May 4. For more information, please contact Andres Prias at prias@dioceseofvenice.org or call 941-441-1122

Ignatian Preached Retreat at OLPH May 8-11

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is hosting an Ignatian Preached Retreat May 8-11, 2026. This three-night silent retreat will introduce participants to the great themes of the Spiritual Exercises in a group setting. The schedule includes conferences each day, daily Mass, and an opportunity to meet at least once with the retreat director for Confession and/or spiritual direction. Conference topics center on Ignatian spirituality, prayer, and discernment. Total cost is $525 per person for a private room and $360 per person for a shared room (retreatant to locate appropriate roommate where silence can be maintained). To register, please visit www.olph-retreat.org.

Bereavement Retreat in Spanish May 15-17

For Spanish-speaking parents grieving the death of a child, a weekend Bereavement Retreat will be offered in Spanish, May 15-17, 2026, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice, 3989 S. Moon Drive. Led by Deacon Roberto Landron and a team of grieving parents, this retreat offers a safe space to find comfort, peace, and healing through prayer and reflection. To register, click here. For more information contact Jim Gontis, gontis@dioceseofvenice, 941-486-4754.

Retiro de Duelo en español, del 15 al 17 de mayo

Para padres de habla hispana que están atravesando el duelo por la muerte de un hijo, se ofrecerá un Retiro de Duelo de fin de semana en español, del 15 al 17 de mayo de 2026, en el Centro de Retiros Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (Our Lady of Perpetual Help), ubicado en 3989 S. Moon Drive, Venice. Dirigido por el Diácono Roberto Landron y un equipo de padres en duelo, este retiro ofrece un espacio seguro para encontrar consuelo, paz y sanación a través de la oración y la reflexión.Para inscribirse, haga clic aquí. Para más información, comuníquese con Jim Gontis, 941-486-4754.

Charity Golf Tournament

The annual St. Mary Academy Golf Tournament has an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start May 16, 2026, at Heritage Harbour Golf Club, 8000 Stone Harbour Loop, Bradenton. The cost is $150 per player. Please call Connie Taft at 941-685-2108 to register or for sponsorship opportunities.

Theology on Tap May 21 in University Park

Calling all young adults! Join Catholic young people from across the Diocese for an evening of fellowship, faith and fun! Theology on Tap is an opportunity for young adults in their 20’s and 30’s to explore faith topics in a relaxed social setting. The next gathering of Theology on Tap, a very special night of fellowship, faith, and fun with fellow Catholic young adults from across the Diocese, is 7 – 9 p.m., May 21, 2026, at Oak & Stone, 5405 University Parkway, University Park. The featured speaker is Father Thomas Carzon, O.M.V. Pastor of San Pedro Parish in North Port, who will be leading a talk called, “Do whatever He tells you.(John 2:5).” Advice from our Blessed Mother.Don’t miss this chance to grow in faith, connect with others, and enjoy an evening out with friends old and new. Theology on Tap meets on the third Thursday of every month. There is no cost to attend, and no registration required. Bring a friend. For more information, contact Andres Prias at 941-441-1122 or prias@dioceseofvenice.org.

 Day of Reflection Marriage Retreat June 20

A Day of Reflection Marriage Retreat is scheduled for June 20, 2026, at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples. The retreat offers a specially prepared volunteer team of married couples, and a priest, who will share their experiences and information, enabling couples to be more aware of the privileges and responsibilities of marriage. Register new at https://dioceseofvenice.regfox.com/2026-day-of-reflection-mp-retreat. Please contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org, or 941-486-4754.

Diocese of Venice Totus Tuus Missionary Opportunity for Summer 2026

The Diocese of Venice is now accepting applications for college-aged young adults to serve as Totus Tuus Missionaries for the 2026 Parish evangelization and catechesis Summer Program. This role involves traveling in teams to approximately seven parishes throughout the Diocese, leading catechetical sessions for children and youth.  Responsibilities include teaching the Catholic Faith using the Totus Tuus curriculum, facilitating activities, including skits and songs, working collaboratively as a team, teaching about the Mass, leading Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, discussion groups for teenagers and Evening Prayer. This is a paid position. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a High School graduate and must be available for the complete program schedule, May 20 – July 24, 2026. Visit the Diocese of Venice website for more information or to register, or contact Andres Prias, Diocesan Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, at prias@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-441-1122.

Mental Health Counseling Services

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice is offering Mental Health Counseling, and Tele-Health Counseling, for adults and children provided by licensed mental health therapists. If you or someone you know is feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, helpless, or overwhelmed, Catholic Charities can help. For more information, please call 239-455-2655 or visit Catholic Charities online

Prison Ministry volunteers needed throughout Diocese

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

Retreat Center seeks volunteers

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is in need of volunteers. Help provide a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere for those who come to OLPH seeking transformation in Christ. Areas of need include reception, gardening, dishwashing, and serving meals. Contact the office to sign up at 941-486-0233 or visit www.olph-retreat.org/new-volunteer.

Free Rosary Repair Service

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

 

 

Robots take center stage: Diocesan Robotics Tournament welcomes 200 competitors

Posted on by Bob Reddy

With a blast of confetti and streamers, the Diocese of Venice Catholic Schools Lion Cup V Robotics Tournament kicked off April 18, 2026, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Port Charlotte.

The Lion Cup – a STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Math) middle and high school round-robin tournament included more than 200 competitors and 29 teams representing all 15 Diocesan Catholic schools.

The competition was fierce, and the intensity built as the day progressed and the participants became laser-focused on being the best. Emotions ran high as teams raced to program their robots to accomplish various tasks in a specific order in a limited amount of time. “Fun!” “Amazing!” “Awesome!” “Intense!” “Wonderful!” were just some of the emotions the student competitors expressed at the end of the day.

The St. Andrew Catholic School team, CTRL+ALT+WIN, from Cape Coral topped the middle school competition. The final match was against their classmates from the ALL Sparks team. In the high school tournament, the Verot Bots 1 team of Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers took the top prize, passing The Chasers team from St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples which had an unfortunate malfunction in the finals. Each championship team was awarded a trophy, with the team’s name engraved on it. These trophies will be kept at the respective schools for the next year, until the Lion Cup VI tournament in 2027.

Utilizing the First Lego League Masterpiece challenge set, the middle school robots were made from Lego pieces and traversed an obstacle course, attempting to pick up items along the way. Teamwork came into play in design, construction and strategy. Students coded their robots to autonomously complete missions for points.

The high school robots are 10 times larger and are both autonomous and remotely controlled as they complete assigned tasks. In the competition, the robots needed to pick up and place blocks in receptacles or hang them on a railing. Bonus points were awarded for completing the tasks in the allotted time, as well as for being able to suspend the robot from support bars.

The teams participated in a round-robin format with each team getting the chance to have their robot compete at least twice. The top teams made the semifinals, and the eventual high school and middle school winners were crowned.

Dr. Jennifer Falestiny, Diocesan Director of Curriculum and Instruction, organized the event and said it was the largest and most competitive event since its inception. “Everyone came well prepared and you saw teams gain points that would have qualified them for world competitions. It is wonderful to see everyone get so involved and excited about STREAM and robotics.”

Father John Belmonte, SJ, Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Education, said the few hours of competition brought out the best from the students and reflected their core Catholic virtues.

The Lion Cup honors St. Mark, the patron saint of the Diocese of Venice, whose symbol features a winged lion. The competition also pays homage to Leonardo da Vinci, inventor of many of the first robots, one of which resembles a lion.

Da Vinci’s works incorporate three design attributes developed by Vitruvius, a famous Roman architect and engineer: Firmitas (strength), Utilitas (utility) and Venustas (beauty). Special awards were presented to the teams that reflected the attributes of Firmitas, Utilitas, and Venustas. These superlative awards were based on the review of undercover judges.

The day opened with a prayer led by Father Belmonte and then a blasting off of personal confetti poppers and streamers. Many parents, family members, principals and teachers attended the competition, cheering on the students and teams.

The winning teams were:

Middle school

1st – CTRL+ALT+WIN – St. Andrew Catholic School, Cape Coral

2nd – ALL Sparks St. Andrew Catholic School, Cape Coral

3rd – Team Phoenix – St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School, Port Charlotte

High School

1st – Verot Bots 1 – Bishop Verot Catholic High School, Fort Myers

2nd – The Chasers – St. John Neumann Catholic High School, Naples

3rd – L’il Naylor – Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, Sarasota

 

Firmitas – Strength – St. Mark – Patron of the Diocese of Venice – positive Catholic strength, culture and character

Middle school – Dragons 2 – St. Mary Academy, Sarasota

High School – Verot Bots 1 – Bishop Verot Catholic High School

Utilitas – Utility – St. Marcina – Patron Saint of Robots – robotic design and function

Middle School – CTRL+ALT+WIN – St. Andrew Catholic School, Cape Coral

High School – The Chasers – St. John Neumann Catholic High School, Naples

Venustas – Beauty – Our Lady – robotic design, innovation and creativity

Middle School – Robotics Dolphin 1 – St. Ann Catholic School, Naples

High School – Glitter Gliders – St. John Neumann Catholic High School, Naples

News Briefs for the week of April 24, 2026

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Two retired priests enter eternal life

Two retired priests, Msgr. Frank M. Mouch and Msgr. Robert J. Coll, have died.

Msgr. Mouch, who served in the Diocese of Venice in the 1980s in several roles, died April 16, 2026, in Lutz, at the age of 93. Msgr. Mouch was born in 1932, in Sandusky, Ohio. He graduated Pontifical College Josephinium, in Worthington, Ohio, and earned advanced degrees from the University of Florida and the University of St. Thomas Aquinas (“Angelicum”) in Rome, and was ordained on June 10, 1958, for the Diocese of St. Augustine. For the Diocese of St. Augustine, he served as Assistant Chancellor, as Administrator for a Parish in Jacksonville, and Chaplain at the University of Florida. He also served on the faculty and as Rector of the Josephinium. Msgr. Mouch was incardinated as a priest of the Diocese of St. Petersburg, and in 1984, he was incardinated in the Diocese of Venice, while continuing to reside in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. For the Diocese of Venice, Msgr. Mouch served as President of Cardinal Mooney High School, as Administrator for St. Martha Parish, and as Pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, each in Sarasota. For the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Msgr. Mouch was Director of Education, served as temporary Administrator of six Parishes, and as President of St. Leo College (now St. Leo University). He retired in 2002 and continued to assist at Parishes in the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

Msgr. Robert J. Coll, who retired to the Diocese of Venice in 1999, died April 20, 2026, in Naples, at the age of 95. Msgr. Coll was born in 1930 in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, and graduated from St. Joseph University and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, both in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Msgr. Coll was ordained in the Diocese of Allentown on May 7, 1959, and served in parishes in Reading, Allentown, and West Lawn. Msgr. Coll is best known for being the founder of the Catholic Relief Services Operation Rice Bowl as a Lenten practice in the Allentown Diocese. The outreach was adopted in 1975 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as a promotion to support the worldwide outreach of Catholic Relief Services. He retired to the Diocese of Venice in Naples in 1999 and assisted at St. John the Evangelist and St. Agnes Parishes for 25 years. Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Msgr. Frank Mouch and Msgr. Robert Coll, and for the consolation of their families. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in eternal peace.

Bishop attends Rector’s Dinner at the Pontifical North American College in Rome

Bishop Frank J. Dewane attended the annual 31st Annual Rector’s Dinner at the Pontifical North American College in Rome on April 16, 2026. Bishop Dewane serves as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Pontifical North American College. Bishop Dewane attended the Pontifical College, earning degrees from Pontifical Gregorian University and Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, both in Rome. This year’s honorees were Sister Raffaella Petrini FSE, President of the Pontifical Commission and Governorate of Vatican City State, and Curtis and Michaelann Martin, co-founders of FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). More than 460 guests attended the event.

Regional medical conference held in Fort Myers

The 3rd Converging Roads Conference was held April 11, 2026, at the Church of the Resurrection Parish in Fort Myers. Converging Roads is a regional conference series offering continuing education for health care professionals that equips them to practice the highest ethical and medical standards of their profession. It was co-sponsored by the Diocese of Venice, the St. John Paul II Foundation of Katy, Texas, and the Southwest Florida Guild of the Catholic Medical Association. The conference brought together approximately 50 participants, including Catholic doctors, nurses, physician assistants and others serving locally in the health care industry. The featured speaker was Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, PhD, who spoke on “Infertility and Alternatives to Artificial Reproductive Technologies.” Other speakers included Dr. F. Michael Gloth, III, FACP, AGSF; Dr. Ethan Schimmoeller, MA; Dr. Gwyneth Anne Spaeder, and Johann M. D’Souza, PhD.

School service day impacts community agencies

St. Martha Catholic School in Sarasota held their Day of Service, on April 14, 2026, a special day that truly reflects the heart of St. Martha Catholic School. This year, students, staff, and parent volunteers served 20 community agencies, a 33% increase over 2025, making an even greater impact in the local community. Organizations served included: Our Mother’s House of Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice Inc., St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, Sarasota County Animal Shelter, Dogs, Inc., Sarasota County Fire Department, Alderman Oaks Retirement Community, Sunnyside Senior Living, Ted Sterling Park, Feeding Empty Little Tummies (FELT), 81 Oaks Senior Living, Pines of Sarasota, Meals On Wheels, Pompano Trail Head, All Faiths Food Bank, SMART with Heart, and TWIG. Guided by Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,” the St. Martha Catholic School community lived out their faith in a real and tangible way.

High school pro-life club help pregnancy resource center

The Pro-Life Club at St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Sarasota held a Baby Bottle Drive which brought in more than $850 and donations of diapers and baby clothing. The proceeds were presented to Community Pregnancy Clinics CEO Scott Baier on April 18, 2026. Baier took time out to speak to club members about the importance of respecting the dignity of every human life and supporting women facing crisis pregnancies. Students were inspired by his message and the impactful work being done to provide care, compassion, and resources to those in need.

Free Respect Life Movie offered April 26

All are invited to a free Respect Life movie night for a viewing of The Sound of Freedom (2023), a biographical action-thriller starring Jim Caviezel, which highlights the tragedy of human trafficking. The film will be shown at 2 p.m. April 26, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Center, 1301 Center Road, Venice. “The Sound of Freedom” tells the true story of a federal agent who embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue a captive child. The event is free; no advance registration is required.  Join us!  Bring a friend.

Foundation grant applications open

The grant cycle is open until May 4, 2026, for two different community grants from the Catholic Community Foundation. To be considered by the Board of Directors for a grant, the project must clearly be aligned with the intention of the specific fund. Please see below for descriptions of the funds and note application deadlines. To apply for any Catholic Community Foundation grant, please visit https://tinyurl.com/y9j4u9nz.

  • The Marilyn Brummer Fund concentrates its efforts on working with entities that are involved in anti-human trafficking assistance, assistance for single mothers, and the Catholic Charities Children’s Center, which is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children in the Dunbar community in Fort Myers. Programs, projects, and entities must be located in, and associated with, the Diocese of Venice in Florida.
  • The Carey Family Grant provides up to $4,000 in support for critical needs that might go unfunded within the Diocese of Venice in Florida at Catholic Parishes, Catholic Missions, Catholic Schools, or a program or ministry of the Diocese of Venice.

Ignatian Preached Retreat at OLPH May 8-11

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is hosting an Ignatian Preached Retreat May 8-11, 2026. This three-night silent retreat will introduce participants to the great themes of the Spiritual Exercises in a group setting. The schedule includes conferences each day, daily Mass, and an opportunity to meet at least once with the retreat director for Confession and/or spiritual direction. Conference topics center on Ignatian spirituality, prayer, and discernment. Total cost is $525 per person for a private room and $360 per person for a shared room (retreatant to locate appropriate roommate where silence can be maintained). To register, please visit www.olph-retreat.org.

Bereavement Retreat in Spanish May 15-17

For Spanish-speaking parents grieving the death of a child, a weekend Bereavement Retreat will be offered in Spanish, May 15-17, 2026, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice, 3989 S. Moon Drive. Led by Deacon Roberto Landron and a team of grieving parents, this retreat offers a safe space to find comfort, peace, and healing through prayer and reflection. To register, click here. For more information contact Jim Gontis, gontis@dioceseofvenice, 941-486-4754.

Retiro de Duelo en español, del 15 al 17 de mayo

Para padres de habla hispana que están atravesando el duelo por la muerte de un hijo, se ofrecerá un Retiro de Duelo de fin de semana en español, del 15 al 17 de mayo de 2026, en el Centro de Retiros Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (Our Lady of Perpetual Help), ubicado en 3989 S. Moon Drive, Venice. Dirigido por el Diácono Roberto Landron y un equipo de padres en duelo, este retiro ofrece un espacio seguro para encontrar consuelo, paz y sanación a través de la oración y la reflexión.Para inscribirse, haga clic aquí. Para más información, comuníquese con Jim Gontis, 941-486-4754.

Charity Golf Tournament

The annual St. Mary Academy Golf Tournament has an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start May 16, 2026, at Heritage Harbour Golf Club, 8000 Stone Harbour Loop, Bradenton. The cost is $150 per player. Please call Connie Taft at 941-685-2108 to register or for sponsorship opportunities.

Diocese of Venice Totus Tuus Missionary Opportunity for Summer 2026

The Diocese of Venice is now accepting applications for college-aged young adults to serve as Totus Tuus Missionaries for the 2026 Parish evangelization and catechesis Summer Program. This role involves traveling in teams to approximately seven parishes throughout the Diocese, leading catechetical sessions for children and youth.  Responsibilities include teaching the Catholic Faith using the Totus Tuus curriculum, facilitating activities, including skits and songs, working collaboratively as a team, teaching about the Mass, leading Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, discussion groups for teenagers and Evening Prayer. This is a paid position. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a High School graduate and must be available for the complete program schedule, May 20 – July 24, 2026. Visit the Diocese of Venice website for more information or to register, or contact Andres Prias, Diocesan Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, at prias@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-441-1122.

Mental Health Counseling Services

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice is offering Mental Health Counseling, and Tele-Health Counseling, for adults and children provided by licensed mental health therapists. If you or someone you know is feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, helpless, or overwhelmed, Catholic Charities can help. For more information, please call 239-455-2655 or visit Catholic Charities online

Prison Ministry volunteers needed throughout Diocese

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

Retreat Center seeks volunteers

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is in need of volunteers. Help provide a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere for those who come to OLPH seeking transformation in Christ. Areas of need include reception, gardening, dishwashing, and serving meals. Contact the office to sign up at 941-486-0233 or visit www.olph-retreat.org/new-volunteer.

Free Rosary Repair Service

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

 

2026 Chrism Mass – Symbol of Unity

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Renewal of Priestly Promises; Consecration and Blessing of Holy Oils

Bishop Frank J. Dewane was joined by at least 150 priests and 1,000 of the faithful from across the Diocese for the annual Chrism Mass March 31, 2026, at St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs.

At the Chrism Mass, which the Bishop concelebrates with priests from throughout the Diocese, the Bishop consecrates the sacred Chrism oil and blesses two other oils used throughout the year for the administration of the sacraments at the Diocese’s 61 Parishes. The Mass is among the principal manifestations of the fullness of the Bishop’s Priesthood and is considered to be a sign of the close bond between the Priests and their Bishop. It is with the sacred Chrism that the priests are ordained, the newly baptized are anointed, and those to be confirmed are signed. It is with the Oil of Catechumens that catechumens are prepared and disposed for Baptism. Finally, it is with the Oil of the Sick that those who are ill are comforted in their infirmity.

The Chrism Mass is typically held at the Diocesan Cathedral in Venice but was relocated due to ongoing renovations. Usually celebrated on Holy Thursday, the Mass was celebrated on a Tuesday to allow the priests and the faithful the opportunity to attend from throughout the large Diocese.

The celebration not only brings into focus the historical context of the priesthood by the renewal of Priestly Promises, but also presents an opportunity for the priests to recall their ordination and to reflect upon their ongoing priestly vocation. Having all the priests of the Diocese come together at the Chrism Mass, united with their Bishop, just before the Easter Triduum, reminds priests of their calling to act in persona Christi – in the person of Christ. This is the largest annual gathering of the clergy for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

During the Renewal of Priestly Promises the gathered priests stood as one, and spoke with one voice responding, “I am,” three times to a series of questions asked by Bishop Dewane. These same questions were asked of them at the time of their Ordination to the Priesthood.

Bishop Dewane publicly thanked the priests for their continued service to the People of God throughout the Diocese of Venice. He also called upon the faithful to continue to support the priests who bring the Sacraments into their lives.

“The sacred Chrism Mass is the profound manifestation of the priestly, prophetic and kingly calling that all of us have,” Bishop Dewane said. “This comes about through the anointing that comes from Scripture. The sacramental life of the Church takes place through these men – the priests of the Diocese – who administer the sacraments with these blessed and consecrated oils which signify the Church’s healing aspect and Her mission in the many ways it is carried out.”

Importantly, the priests, who themselves are anointed with sacred Chrism at their ordination, stand in a great line that goes back to King David, through Christ.

“The anointing runs to our limbs and garments that should flow out into the world. Don’t let it go stale, instead it should flow forth and be transformative because the world needs us to be out there as agents of the Lord,” Bishop Dewane said. “It is the priests who carry those oils to the boundaries to the limits of the Diocese of Venice. A priest is sanctified to make others holy. This is the life all priests are called to live. There is no checking out and no time out. We have to respond. The Lord will give the grace needed to go forward. The Lord has ordained you for a lifetime to go out and do that each day just as King David was called, as priest, prophet and king.”

Jesus was anointed as the New David, but it does not end with Christ or the priests, because through the oils used in the sacraments, and through our encounters with Christ, every person takes on that role of priest, prophet and king according to their state in life, the Bishop said. Each sacrament brings with it an encounter with Christ, and we must be changed as a result.

“We must all listen to that call of the Lord,” Bishop Dewane said. “The priests present heard that call in a specific way, but everyone is called to share in the kingly mission – as a royal people, made in the image and likeness of God. The Lord has asked each one of us to be prophets, kings and priestly according to his or her own state in life. We are differentiated by talents given to us by the Lord, but you must not let them sit idle and not respond. The Lord is waiting for us to use the gifts given. To hear the Lord, we are called repeatedly to be men and women of prayer. It is how we respond and come to know the Lord. Listen and allow time for the Lord to speak to you, to enlighten within you what God wants you to do in your life. Learn how the Lord sees you in fulfilling His mission in the world. We each have a role to live out our prophetic identity and speak up by being the leaven, uplifting the world to highlight to others what salvation is.”

The Bishop concluded his remarks stating, “Always remember, the Spirit of the Lord is upon you because the Lord has anointed you.”

During the Chrism Mass, Bishop Dewane recognized the 13 Priests and one Permanent Deacon who, in 2026, are celebrating the 50th and 25th anniversaries of their ordination for their years of service to Christ and Holy Mother Church. He also acknowledged the 364 students in attendance from Diocesan Catholic schools.

Also present to witness this special occasion were religious men and women; Diocesan seminarians; Knights and Dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; Knights and Dames of the Sovereign Order of Malta; the Knights of Columbus, including those of the Color Corps; members of the Venice Diocesan Council of Catholic Women; many Diocesan staff, and the faithful of the Diocese of Venice.

Sacred Oils

The Chrism Mass takes its name from the sacred Chrism oil, the most eminent of the three holy oils, which the Bishop consecrates and blesses for use by Parishes of the Diocese.

The sacred Chrism is both blessed and consecrated. The verb “consecrate” is applied to the action of making holy the Chrism and indicates its use to spiritually separate, sanctify and purify its recipients.

For the blessing and consecration of the sacred Chrism oil, the initial motion is to pour balsam into the oil, and then this is mixed. The balsam is added so that it gives the oil a sweet smell intended to remind those who encounter it of the odor of sanctity. All of the Faithful are called to strive for sanctity. Next, the Bishop breathes on the Sacred Chrism to symbolize the Holy Spirit coming down. At a particular point in the consecratory prayer for the Sacred Chrism, all the priests join the Bishop in extending their right hand toward the Chrism, as the Bishop concludes the prayer.

The Oil of the Sick, used for those who seek anointing, and the Oil of the Catechumens, which is imposed on those preparing for baptism, are blessed by the Bishop at different times during the Chrism Mass.

Bishop Dewane referred to the Gospel message which described the oils as being the oil of gladness, which represent the indelible mark each bestows. After Mass, the oils were given to each Pastor to use in their Parish throughout the Liturgical Year.

Priest and Deacon Jubilarians

A reception was held in the Parish Hall following the Mass to honor Priests and Deacon celebrating their jubilee anniversaries in 2026.

Seven Priests celebrating 50 years were recognized, Father Edward Blackwell; Father Vincente Clemente; Father Lawrence Esposito; Father Francis Hanlon, OSFS; Father Thomas Heck; Father Michael Orsi; and Father Timothy Sheedy. The six priests celebrating the 25th anniversary of their priestly ordination were Father Lorenzo Gonzalez, Father Philip Joly, Father Jacek Mazur, Father David Pignato, Father Philip Scheff, and Father David Vidal. One Permanent Deacon, Deacon Gary Ingold, also marks his 25th year of service to the Catholic Church.

News Briefs for the week of April 3, 2026

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Palm Sunday marked throughout Diocese

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord marks the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem and starts the events which are marked throughout Holy Week which include the Lord’s crucifixion and Resurrection on Easter. Father Antony Lukka, Parochial Vicar at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples, opened the Vigil Mass with the reading of the Gospel of Matthew (21: 1-11), prior to the blessing and procession with palms. This scene was repeated at Parishes throughout the Universal Church, with options to process from another location into the church, to start in the narthex of the church, or a simple opening with a blessing of palms and opening procession. The Mass includes the Passion of the Lord, also from the Gospel of Matthew (26:14-27:66 or 27:11-54).

Seminarian takes oath ahead of Transitional Deacon ordination

Bao Nguyen, a Seminarian discerning a vocation to the priesthood made a solemn Oath of Fidelity and Profession of Faith in preparation for his ordination as Transitional Deacon this spring. Nguyen was one of three seminarians to take the oath on March 25, 2026, at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. It is customary for all those ordained to the diaconate, priesthood and episcopacy to take the oath before each ordination; the solemn Oath of Fidelity and Profession of Faith is an important and necessary step. By signing these oaths before God, the Seminary rector, and the Seminary community, these men make a public declaration of their faith and believe all that the Catholic Church teaches. They promise to be faithful to that teaching in their ministry as deacons. Nguyen will be ordained to the Transitional Diaconate on April 18, at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach.

Gala celebrates 70 years of Naples Catholic school

The Saint Ann Catholic School 70th Anniversary Heart of Education Gala took place on March 27, 2026, in Naples, to benefit the school foundation. Bishop Frank J. Dewane said the prayer before the meal and offered remarks about the lasting impact that St. Ann Catholic School has had on the community in Naples and the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Venice. The evening was titled, “Saint Ann School 70 Symphony of Hearts,” and included live and silent auctions as well as live music.

 Shroud of Turin presentation April 8

Epiphany Cathedral is hosting an audio-visual presentation on the Shroud of Turin, “Who is the Man of the Shroud?” at 6 p.m., April 8, 2026, at 310 Sarasota St., Venice. The evening will be led by Father Andrew Dalton, LC, a well-known international speaker on the Shroud, who will offer a reflection on Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection as witnessed through the Shroud of Turin. The Shroud is one of the most studied archeological artifacts in the world, yet modern science cannot explain how the mysterious image was formed. You are invited into contemplation of the mysteries of the Shroud as revealed by science, history, art, and Scripture. To register, please call 941-484-3505.

 Monthly Day of Prayer

The Monthly Day of Prayer at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is an opportunity to take time out of your busy and hectic life to focus on God. The next Days of Prayer are April 8 and April 12, 2026, with the theme of “Celebrating Divine Mercy.” Father Leland Thorpe, OMV, will explain that celebrating Divine Mercy involves a profound reflection of God’s mercy and the opportunity to receive special graces. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with Continental breakfast and includes two conferences by the OLPH priest, the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, lunch, and Mass. Time will be made available for adoration, private prayer, or meditation on the beautiful grounds. The day concludes at 3:15 p.m. The cost is $45. Register at www.olph-retreat.org.

Catholic Healthcare Ethics Conference April 11 in Fort Myers

Medical professionals, students, and interested laypeople are invited to the third annual Converging Roads healthcare ethics conference 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 11, 2026, at the Church of the Resurrection Parish, 8051 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. The conference is themed, “The Dignified Mission of Catholic Health Care,” and the featured speaker is Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Director of Education for the National Catholic Bioethics Center. His talk is titled, “Infertility and Alternatives to Artificial Reproductive Technologies. Converging Roads is an initiative of the St. John Paul II Foundation and is presented collaboratively with the Diocese of Venice and Southwest Florida Guild of the Catholic Medical Association. Continuing education credits for health care professionals are available. To register, visit April 11, 2026 | Fort Myers, FL | Converging Roads – St. John Paul II Foundation. For more information, contact Taylor Briggs, Conference Coordinator, at 832-779-1070 or taylor@forlifeandfamily.org.

Sarasota Parish Divine Mercy Celebration

St. Thomas More Parish, 2506 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, April 12, 2026. St. Faustina, who experienced visions of Jesus, wrote in her diary: “the soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion (on Divine Mercy Sunday) shall obtain the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” This grace is similar to the grace received at baptism and greater than a plenary indulgence. Mass begins at 3 p.m., and will be preceded by a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 2 p.m., Praying of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy through song at 2:30 p.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered beginning at 2 p.m.

Theology on Tap April 16 in University Park

The next gathering of Theology on Tap, a very special night of fellowship, faith, and fun with fellow Catholic young adults from across the Diocese, is 7 – 9 p.m., April 16, 2026, at Oak & Stone, 5405 University Parkway, University Park. Don’t miss this chance to grow in faith, connect with others, and enjoy an evening out with friends old and new. Theology on Tap is an opportunity for young adults in their 20’s and 30’s to explore faith topics in a relaxed social setting. Theology on Tap meets on the third Thursday of every month. There is no cost to attend, and no registration required. Bring a friend. For more information, contact Andres Prias at 941-441-1122 or prias@dioceseofvenice.org.

Faith & Ale of Southwest Florida April 16

Faith & Ale, a Catholic Men’s Apostolate in Southwest Florida, offers monthly gatherings of Catholic men promoting fellowship and growth in faith. The next gathering is April 16, 2026, at St. Cecilia Parish, 5632 Sunrise Drive, Fort Myers. The guest speaker is Dr. Jim Papandrea, who will discuss “The Original Church: Busting the Myths About Early Christianity.” Tickets are $10. Doors open at 6 p.m. Register https://faithandale.com/. For more information, email faithandalefortmyers@gmail.com.

Boots & Bandanas April 24

Round up your friends and join Catholic Charities for a western-inspired evening supporting families in need across DeSoto County at Boot & Bandanas at 6 p.m., April 24, 2026, St. Paul Parish, 1330 E. Oak St., Arcadia. Tickets are $125. To purchase tickets or to become a sponsor please visit https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/events.

Foundation grant applications open

The grant cycle is now open for two different community grants from the Catholic Community Foundation. To be considered by the Board of Directors for a grant, the project must clearly be aligned with the intention of the specific fund. Please see below for descriptions of the funds and note application deadlines. To apply for any Catholic Community Foundation grant, please visit https://tinyurl.com/y9j4u9nz.

  • The Marilyn Brummer Fund concentrates its efforts on working with entities that are involved in anti-human trafficking assistance, assistance for single mothers, and the Catholic Charities Children’s Center, which is dedicated to enhancing the lives of children in the Dunbar community in Fort Myers. Programs, projects, and entities must be located in, and associated with, the Diocese of Venice in Florida. Applications are due by May 4, 2026.
  • The Carey Family Grant provides up to $4,000 in support for critical needs that might go unfunded within the Diocese of Venice in Florida at Catholic Parishes, Catholic Missions, Catholic Schools, or a program or ministry of the Diocese of Venice. Applications are due by May 4.

Ignatian Preached Retreat at OLPH May 8-11

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is hosting an Ignatian Preached Retreat May 8-11, 2026. This three-night silent retreat will introduce participants to the great themes of the Spiritual Exercises in a group setting. The schedule includes conferences each day, daily Mass, and an opportunity to meet at least once with the retreat director for Confession and/or spiritual direction. Conference topics center on Ignatian spirituality, prayer, and discernment. Total cost is $525 per person for a private room and $360 per person for a shared room (retreatant to locate appropriate roommate where silence can be maintained). To register, please visit www.olph-retreat.org.

Charity Golf Tournament

The annual St. Mary Academy Golf Tournament has an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start May 16, 2026, at Heritage Harbour Golf Club, 8000 Stone Harbour Loop, Bradenton. The cost is $150 per player. Please call Connie Taft at 941-685-2108 to register or for sponsorship opportunities.

Diocese of Venice Totus Tuus Missionary Opportunity for Summer 2026

The Diocese of Venice is now accepting applications for college-aged young adults to serve as Totus Tuus Missionaries for the 2026 Parish evangelization and catechesis Summer Program. This role involves traveling in teams to approximately seven parishes throughout the Diocese, leading catechetical sessions for children and youth.  Responsibilities include teaching the Catholic Faith using the Totus Tuus curriculum, facilitating activities, including skits and songs, working collaboratively as a team, teaching about the Mass, leading in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, leading discussion groups for teenagers and leading Night Prayer. This is a paid position. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a High School graduate and must be available for the complete program schedule, May 20 – July 24, 2026. Visit the Diocese of Venice website for more information or to register, or contact Andres Prias, Diocesan Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, at prias@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-441-1122.

Prison Ministry volunteers needed throughout Diocese

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

Retreat Center seeks volunteers

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is in need of volunteers. Help provide a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere for those who come to OLPH seeking transformation in Christ. Areas of need include reception, gardening, dishwashing, and serving meals. Contact the office to sign up at 941-486-0233 or visit www.olph-retreat.org/new-volunteer.

Free Rosary Repair Service

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

News Briefs for the week of March 20, 2026

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Neocatechumenal Way commissioning ceremony held

Bishop Frank J. Dewane presided over a prayer service of the Neocatechumenal Way March 11, 2026, at Jesus the Worker Parish in Fort Myers. The gathering included commissioning of several members to become local missionaries. The Neocatechumenal Way was initiated in Madrid in 1964, and is dedicated to post- and pre-baptismal formation of Christians, based on the Word of God, the Eucharist and the Christian community. The Way engages families to establish the presence of the Catholic Church in countries where the Church is absent or tiny, or to revive and strengthen the presence of Catholic communities in difficult and ‎highly secularized areas. During the prayer service the candidates were called to offer their testimony of faith. Each candidate was called forth by name and presented a Bible and recited an oath of commitment as they were commissioned and sent to be witnesses to God in the community, announcing the Good News of His resurrection. They also committed to live their lives according to the Nicene Creed, and agreed to let the Holy Spirit drive out their sins of doubt and guide them through their lives.

School Cocktail Party a huge success

St. Mary Academy in Sarasota hosted a cocktail party which was a resounding success March 12, 2026. School leadership brought donors together who share the vision for the mission of the school with programs for diverse learners, five to fifteen years old. St. Mary Academy works with children who are struggling academically, and children with special learning needs.  Students are average to above-average in intelligence and may have: Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), Dyslexia, Speech and Language Disorders, Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD), Anxiety, high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), or other exceptionalities. Students learn in classes of 13 students or fewer and are taught by certified teachers. The school also has occupational and speech therapists on-site. The school was given a $50,000 match challenge from the Kaminski Family Foundation, of which the leadership was thankful, and the school is poised to exceed the goal! Bishop Frank J. Dewane and Father John Belmonte, SJ, Superintendent of Catholic Schools were present, along with the school staff, parents and donors for an evening of impact

Two Catholic high schools participate in Model UN conference

The Model UN teams representing Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota and Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers were among 20 participating in the Southwest Florida Model United Nations Conference on Feb. 28, 2026, at Florida Gulf Coast University in Estero. Both teams earned multiple recognitions for their leadership and work throughout the event. The Cardinal Mooney team finished fourth out of 20 overall. The Mooney club earned $1,000 toward its Mental Health project, supporting student-led initiatives focused on awareness and advocacy.  The conference also recognized the leadership of the team’s advisor, Elizabeth Smith, who was honored with the SWFLMUN Coach of the Year Award for her dedication to mentoring and guiding students in diplomacy, debate, and global awareness. Individual honors were also awarded to Cristina Peterson, who earned 1st Place for her position paper out of 250 submissions, receiving a $2,500 award for her exceptional research, writing, and analysis. The Bishop Verot team received both the Diana Gowen Most Improved School Award and the Outstanding Team Leadership Award, recognizing the growth and strength of the program. Their advisor, Rob Schmidbauer, along with students Savannah Truax and Isabella Mparaganda, were also recognized for their outstanding leadership. Savannah and Isabella were additionally selected to mentor ten Fulbright scholars—internationally recognized teachers participating in a prestigious U.S. cultural exchange program—as they work to launch Model UN programs in schools around the world. In addition, Isabella was named Outstanding Delegate in the Press Corps category. Well done everyone!

Fort Myers high school recognized for environmental stewardship

Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers has been named a 2025-2026 Guy Harvey Conservation School for their dedication to marine conservation and for inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards. Guy Harvey Conservation Schools demonstrate their commitment to environmental education through professional development, experiential learning, and environmental stewardship, empowering educators and students to embrace the future of conservation education and to inspire their communities to make a difference.

40 Days for Life Spring Campaign through March 29

The 40 days for Life Spring Campaign (from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026) aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and peaceful all-day vigils in front of abortion businesses. In the Diocese of Venice, 40 Days for Life campaigns are held in three locations: Sarasota – Daily from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., 736 Central Ave., or visit https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/sarasota; Naples – Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., 1425 Creech Road, or visit https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/naples; and Fort Myers – Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., 6418 Commerce Park Drive, or visit https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/fortmyers.

Annunciation presentation March 25 in Naples

St. William Parish, 610 Seagate Drive, Naples, is hosting a mini-conference with Dr. Edward Sri from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., March 25, 2026. The conference is presented by Dr. Edward Sri, and the theme, “Into His Likeness – Be Transformed as a Disciple of Christ!” is for the Feast of the Annunciation. The day includes a reception and noon Mass. No fees required.  All are invited to attend!

CPCI Gala March 28

Support Life! Join Community Pregnancy Clinics (CPCI) for an evening of hope and inspiration at the “Heart of the Community Gala,” 5 p.m. March 28, 2026, at the Ritz-Carton Tiburon, 2600 Tiburon Drive, Naples. Begin with a cocktail reception and fellowship alongside other dedicated advocates, followed by a delicious dinner, paddle-raise fundraiser, and a powerful keynote address from Matt Walsh, a renowned filmmaker, author, and pro-life voice. The cost is $500 per person. Tickets are available at www.supportcpci.com.

Diocesan-wide Reconciliation times March 27-28

Please note that the precept of confessing grave sins and receiving Holy Communion at least once during the Lenten Season merits a reminder. To facilitate this requirement, in addition to regular Parish Confession hours, every Parish in the Diocese of Venice will be open with a confessor present 4 – 8 p.m., March 27, 2026, and 9 a.m. – noon, March 28. These opportunities are made available so that the faithful may find ample opportunity to receive God’s Mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Lenten Season.

Magnificat breakfast March 28

Be Blessed and Encouraged at the next Magnificat breakfast for women, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., March 28, 2026, at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Gulf Coast. The speaker is Kathy Corona, a woman of deep faith who will share her spiritual journey. Join for breakfast, fellowship, and worship to hear her inspiring testimony of Jesus Christ’s love and healing! Reservations can be made online until noon, March 24 at https://magnificatfortmyers.com/order-tickets/. For more information, contact Margaret Mengle, 239-826-7475.

Catholic-Jewish Dialogue movie screening March 29

St. William Parish, 750 Seagate Drive, Naples, in partnership with the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue of Collier County, is hosting a screening of the movie, “Irena Sendler – In the Name of Their Mothers,” at 2:30 p.m., March 29, 2026, in the Parish Community Center. Irena Sendler was a young Catholic social worker in Warsaw, Poland. In this film, she tells the remarkable story of how she and a group of young Polish women risked their lives to save thousands of Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto. Most of the hidden children survived the war and many were later reunited with their Jewish families. At age 33, she was captured and tortured by the German Gestapo but refused to divulge anything about their underground operation. At 95, Sendler tells this story years later. Please register at https://www.jewishnaples.org/catholic-jewish-dialogue.

Palm Sunday and Easter TV Mass to air at special times

The Televised Mass for the Homebound on Palm Sunday (March 29, 2026), and Easter Sunday (April 5 and celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane), will air for a full hour on both Sundays. Because of the length, these two Sundays the broadcast will air at a special time. For viewers in the northern portions of the Diocese (DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, and Sarasota counties), the Masses will air at 10:30 a.m. on the CW Network. In the southern portions of the Diocese (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee counties), the Masses will air at 8 a.m. on FOX Florida. Please check your cable provider for channel listings. The televised Mass is also always available online at dioceseofvenice.org or on YouTube. Visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/offices/offices-departments/communications/tvmass/ for more information or contact Rachel Powers at powers@dioceseofvenice.org.

Jericho Walk – Sarasota 40 Days for Life closing event March 29

The Jericho Walk, Sarasota’s 40 Days for Life Spring Campaign closing event will take place at 5:30 p.m., at the parking lot of Community Pregnancy Clinics, 1419 7th St. Sarasota. A Jericho Walk is as Joshua and the Israelites did to bring down the walls of the Jericho. The walk is seven times in silent prayer around the block which contains the Sarasota Planned Parenthood abortion facility, for a distance of approximately ¼-mile, praying to God to bring down the walls around hearts to end abortion in Sarasota, Florida and the U.S. Participants who do not wish to walk are encouraged to remain and pray in the parking of Community Pregnancy Clinics. The event will also include a prayer service and reflection on the completed 40 Days for Life prayer campaign to end abortion as well as a look forward to continuing the prayer campaign against abortion throughout the year. All are welcome. Bring your own chair to the event.

Handel’s “Messiah” to be performed on Palm Sunday in Naples

The St. William Parish Music Ministry will present selections from Handel’s “Messiah” at 4 p.m., Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, in the Church at 601 Seagate Drive, Naples. G.F. Handel’s choral masterpiece will highlight the Passion and Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, featuring professional soloists, orchestra and the St. William adult choir, under the direction of Richard Owen, St. William Music Director. The free performance will be followed by a reception in the Parish Hall.

Chrism Mass March 31 in Bonita Springs

The Chrism Mass, which takes place during Holy Week every year, will be held 10:30 a.m., March 31, 2026, at St. Leo the Great Parish, 28290 Beaumont Road, Bonita Springs. During this Mass, Bishop Frank J. Dewane will bless the Holy Oils which are used in the administration of the Sacraments at each parish throughout the year. Priests and Deacons celebrating 25 and 50 years of Ordination are recognized at this Mass.

  • Priests celebrating 50 years: Father Edward Blackwell, Father Vincente Clemente, Father Lawrence Esposito, Father Francis Hanlon, OSFS, Father Thomas Heck, Father Michael Orsi, and Father Timothy Sheedy.
  • Priests celebrating 25 years: Father Lorenzo Gonzalez, Father Philip Joly, Father Jacek Mazur, Father David Pignato, Father Philip Scheff, and Father David Vidal.
  • Deacon celebrating 25 years: Deacon Gary Ingold.

All are encouraged to attend in support of our clergy and to participate in this important Holy Week celebration.

Retreat Center Triduum Retreat

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is hosting a Triduum Retreat, Easter Weekend, April 2-5, 2026. This retreat begins with supper on Holy Thursday and ends with breakfast on Easter Sunday.  The liturgies of the Lord’s Supper, Way of the Cross, Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion, Easter Vigil, and Sunrise Easter Liturgy are celebrated. A series of six one-hour conferences on various topics is offered throughout the retreat.  In addition, the opportunity for Confession is available. Total cost is $525 per retreatant for a private room or $360 per retreatant for a shared, double occupancy room (retreatant to locate appropriate roommate where silence can be maintained). No commuter rate is offered. Register at www.olph-retreat.org.

Mass for Victims of Abuse April 10 in Venice

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and in conjunction with the Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the Diocese of Venice will hold a Mass for Victims of Child Abuse for the 18th consecutive year with Bishop Frank J. Dewane as the Celebrant. The Mass will take place at 8:30 a.m., Friday, April 10, 2026, at Epiphany Cathedral, 350 Tampa Ave. W., Venice. All are invited to attend as we come together to pray for the victims of abuse.

Catholic Health Care Ethics Conference April 11 in Fort Myers

Medical professionals, students, and interested laypeople are invited to the third annual Converging Roads health care ethics conference 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 11, 2026, at the Church of the Resurrection Parish, 8051 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. The conference is themed, “The Dignified Mission of Catholic Health Care.” Join national and local experts either in person or online as they discuss topics such as “The Vocation to Palliative Care,” “The Benefits and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care,” “Christian Anthropology and the Renewal of Medicine,” and more. Converging Roads is an initiative of the St. John Paul II Foundation and is presented collaboratively with the Diocese of Venice and Southwest Florida Guild of the Catholic Medical Association. Continuing education credits for health care professionals are available. To register, visit April 11, 2026 | Fort Myers, FL | Converging Roads – St. John Paul II Foundation. For more information, contact Taylor Briggs, Conference Coordinator, at 832-779-1070 or taylor@forlifeandfamily.org.

Project Rachel retreat in Spanish April 18

For women or men who have been scarred by abortion, the Diocese offers “Project Rachel,” an outreach of the Catholic Church to those who are suffering and in need of healing following an abortion. This program offers help through the sacraments, retreats, and referrals for professional counseling, all confidentially. The next one-day healing retreat will be held April 18, 2026, in Spanish. The next retreat in English is currently in the planning stages. For more information, or to join, please contact, Sylvia Jimenez, Project Rachel Coordinator, at 941-412-5860 (English and en Español), or project.rachel@dioceseofvenice.org. The Diocese also works with “Support After Abortion,” a national outreach to provide individualized care for those impacted by abortion. For details, visit https://supportafterabortion.com/ or www.esperanzaposabortio.org.

Boots & Bandanas April 24

Round up your friends and join Catholic Charities for a western-inspired evening supporting food security and education programs serving families across DeSoto county at Boot & Bandanas at 6 p.m., April 24, 2026, St. Paul Parish, 1330 E. Oak St., Arcadia. Tickets are $125. To purchase tickets or to become a sponsor please visit https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/events.

Ignatian Preached Retreat at OLPH May 8-11

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is hosting an Ignatian Preached Retreat May 8-11, 2026. This three-night silent retreat will introduce participants to the great themes of the Spiritual Exercises in a group setting. The schedule includes conferences each day, daily Mass, and an opportunity to meet at least once with the retreat director for Confession and/or spiritual direction. Conference topics center on Ignatian spirituality, prayer, and discernment. Total cost is $525 per person for a private room and $360 per person for a shared room (retreatant to locate appropriate roommate where silence can be maintained). To register, please visit www.olph-retreat.org.

Charity Golf Tournament

The annual St. Mary Academy Golf Tournament has an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start May 16, 2026, at Heritage Harbour Golf Club, 8000 Stone Harbour Loop, Bradenton. The cost is $150 per player. Please call Connie Taft at 941-685-2108 to register or for sponsorship opportunities.

Diocese of Venice Missionary Opportunity for Summer 2026 Now Open

Could the Lord be calling you? The Diocese of Venice is inviting college-age young adults to apply to serve as Totus Tuus Missionaries for the Diocese’s Parish Catechetical Summer Totus Tuus Camps. As a Totus Tuus Missionary, you will be an authentic witness to Christ’s love, teach the Catholic faith to children and youth, and grow in leadership, community, and your personal relationship with Christ. Many missionaries describe Totus Tuus as one of the most meaningful and life-changing experiences of their lives, a summer where faith deepens, friendships grow, and God’s call becomes clearer. Don’t miss this unique opportunity! Apply today! To apply, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/562S8YS. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, and available from May 20 through July 31, 2026. For further information, contact Andres Prias, Diocesan Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, at prias@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-441-1122.

Prison Ministry volunteers needed throughout Diocese

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

Retreat Center seeks volunteers

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is in need of volunteers. Help provide a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere for those who come to OLPH seeking transformation in Christ. Areas of need include reception, gardening, dishwashing, and serving meals. Contact the office to sign up at 941-486-0233 or visit www.olph-retreat.org/new-volunteer.

Free Rosary Repair Service

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

 

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