Tag: feast day

Diocese celebrates canonization of two young saints

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The canonizations of Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis on Sept. 7, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square, by Pope Leo XIV, brought great joy to the faithful around the world, including the Diocese of Venice.

Both young men are beloved by many Catholic young people for their enthusiastic pursuit of holiness. Acutis, who died in 2006 at the age of 15, is the first millennial to be beatified by the Catholic Church. He was known for his witness of faith in the digital world and his love for the Eucharist. Frassati, who died in 1925 at the age of 24, was described by St. John Paul II as a “man of the Beatitudes,” and dedicated his life to charitable outreach.

Two Parish events were held in conjunction with the canonizations, while the elevation to sainthood of these two young men was also the focus at Diocesan Catholic schools.

Epiphany Cathedral in Venice hosted an Italian Canonization Party on Sept. 6, the eve of the canonizations, in the Catholic school courtyard and field. Bishop Frank J. Dewane offered the opening blessing for the celebration. The canonization party included pizza, pasta and cannolis, as well as games and live music.

A relic of St. Carlo Acutis, obtained by the Cathedral in 2024, was placed on display in the school’s Santa Maria Chapel, available for the faithful to spend time in quiet prayer. In addition, portions of the Eucharistic Miracles of the World exhibit were on display. The exhibit, with 170 total panels, includes a visual story of different Eucharistic Miracles from across the globe. St. Carlo Acutis, a gamer and computer coder, researched and catalogued the miracles onto a website before he died.

On Sept. 7, St. Patrick Parish hosted a display of “God’s Army: 25 Saints Under 25,” in the Parish Hall after all Masses.  Each panel had an image of a young saint, information about his/her life, and a prayer that participants could say to the saint as they viewed each panel.

Kneelers were available for the displays for the two newest saints. A recording of the canonization Mass from the Vatican was played in the background as the faithful went from panel to panel. Prayer cards and informational sheets about the two newest saints were also distributed.

At St. Patrick’s, a third-class relic of St. Pier Georgio Frassati was present. The relic, part of the shroud which covered the saint’s coffin, was made available thanks to Deacon Greg and Caroline Fewer, who have a strong devotion for St. Frassati. “He is an inspiration to us and so many,” Deacon Fewer said.

At St. Andrew Catholic School in Cape Coral, students learned about St. Carlo Acutis, on Sept. 8. Fifth grade students created a coloring book highlighting his life, love for the Eucharist, and devotion to sharing the faith.

In his homily, Pope Leo said Sts. Carlo and Pier Giorgio understood that friendship with Jesus and faithfully following “God’s plans” is greater than any other worldly pursuits.

“Dear friends, Sts. Pier Giorgio Frassati and Carlo Acutis are an invitation to all of us, especially young people, not to squander our lives but to direct them upwards and make them masterpieces,” Pope Leo said.

Describing their “winning formula” for holiness, the Holy Father spoke about the ordinary circumstances through which they dedicated their lives to God.

According to the Holy Father, the two Italian saints cultivated their love for God and for their brothers and sisters through “simple acts” of “daily Mass, prayer, and especially Eucharistic adoration,” which are available to every Catholic.

The Feast Day for St. Carlo Acutis is Oct. 12, while the Feast Day for St. Pier Giorgio Frassati is July 4.

Carlo Acutis Movie Now Streaming: Watch!

Learn more about St. Carlo Acutis by streaming “Carlo Acutis, Roadmap to Reality.” This moving documentary not only tells the story of Carlo’s life and his remarkable gifts but also paints a vivid picture of spirituality in the digital age and the profound impact his witness has on young people. The National Eucharistic Revival is offering a 20 percent discount for the rental with the code REVIVAL20 for a limited time. Visit https://watchcredo.com/ to stream the film.

Assumption: dedicated to Mary Most Holy – Holy day of obligation on Aug. 15

Posted on by Bob Reddy

“At the conclusion of Her earthly life, the Mother of Christ was raised in soul and body to Heaven, that is, in the glory of eternal life, in the full communion with God,” said Pope Francis when describing why on Aug. 15 the Church celebrates one of the most important feasts dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary: the Solemnity of Her Assumption.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the Assumption as follows: “The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body” (CCC 974).

Bishop Frank J. Dewane stated, “Since death and the corruption of the human body is a consequence of sin, it would not be right that the Virgin Mary – who is free from sin – should be affected by this natural law. It is a privilege granted to Mary, as the Mother of Jesus.”

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Holy Day of Obligation. According to Church doctrine, Holy Days of Obligation are feast days on which Catholics are required to attend Mass and to avoid (to the extent that they are able) servile work.

In celebration of this important Solemnity, Parishes throughout the Diocese of Venice offer additional Masses to allow the faithful to participate in this Holy Day of Obligation. In addition, Diocesan Catholic Schools also celebrate school-wide Masses.

Pope Francis said that “Mary’s Assumption is a great mystery that concerns each one of us; it concerns our future. Mary precedes us on the way in which all those go, through baptism, have bound their life to Jesus, as Mary bound her life to Him. (This) Feast pre-announces the ‘new heavens and the new earth,’ with the risen Christ’s victory over death and the definitive defeat of the Evil One.”

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to celebrate the Mass of the Solemnity at the Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova at Castel Gandolfo. This is a return to the Papal tradition of hosting a public celebration of Mass of the Solemnity. Pope Francis only did so in 2013 at Castel Gandolfo, and in 2014 during an apostolic journey to South Korea. Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the Solemnity every Aug. 15 at Castel Gandolfo.

This Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the oldest celebration of Our Lady. The original celebration, known as the “Memory of Mary” or “Falling Asleep of Mary” initially centered on the end of her earthly existence, and is commonly known as her “dormition.”

Soon the name was changed to the “Assumption of Mary,” since there was much more to the feast than the end of her earthly life. The belief that Mary had been taken up, body and soul, into heaven dates back to the Apostles themselves.

Clear from the beginning was that there were no relics of Mary to be venerated, and that an empty tomb stood on the edge of Jerusalem near the site of the end of her earthly existence or dormition. That location also soon became a place of pilgrimage. (Today, the Benedictine Abbey of the Dormition of Mary stands on the spot.)

In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Assumption of Mary a dogma of the Catholic Church, therefore, an ancient belief became Catholic Doctrine and the Assumption was declared a truth revealed by God.

The declaration of the dogma was to “make our belief in our own resurrection stronger and render it more effective,” Pope Pius XII stated in a proclamation.

The proclamation went on to say that the definition of the Assumption “will contribute in no small way to the advantage of human society, since it (reflects and builds up) the glory of the Most Blessed Trinity, to which the Blessed Mother of God is bound by such singular bonds.”

It was also expected that the faithful would be called to a stronger piety toward their heavenly Mother and that those who meditate upon the glorious example Mary offers, be more convinced of the value of a human life entirely devoted to carrying out the heavenly Father’s will and to bringing good to others.

All the feast days of Mary mark the great mysteries of her life and her part in the work of redemption. The central mystery of her life and person is her divine motherhood, celebrated both at Christmas and a week later (Jan. 1) on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) marks the preparation for that motherhood, so that she had the fullness of grace from the first moment of her existence, completely untouched by sin. The Assumption completes God’s work in her since it was not fitting that the flesh that had given life to God himself should ever undergo corruption.

Prayer for the Feast of the Assumption

Almighty God,

You gave a humble Virgin the privilege of being mother of your Son,

and crowned her with the glory of heaven.

May the prayers of the Virgin Mary bring us to the salvation of Christ

 and raise us up to eternal life.

We ask this though our Lord Jesus Christ your Son

 who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit,

one God, forever and ever,

Amen.

 

News Briefs for the week of August 8, 2025

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Appointments

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

Father James Cogan, as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Bradenton, effective August 4, 2025, and thus is relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar of Incarnation Parish in Sarasota.

Father James Simko, on personal leave effective August 4, 2025, and thus is relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar of St. Joseph Parish in Bradenton.

Father Ananda Anki Reddy, is relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar of St. Andrew Parish in Cape Coral, effective August 20, 2025, and thus, will return to his home Diocese of Cuddapah, India.

 

School receives honor

St. Joseph Catholic School in Bradenton has been recognized as a Silver Award winner in Bradenton’s Best Private School category for the second year in a row, by Bradenton Best, a special magazine supplement of the Bradenton Herald. The winners were chosen by votes from readers. St. Joseph Catholic School is rooted in faith, and is committed to academic excellence and leadership since 1954.

Assumption – Holy Day of Obligation

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Friday, August 15, 2025, is a Holy Day of Obligation. On this day the Church acknowledges and celebrates the fact that Mary, the Mother of God, was assumed into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. “The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body” (CCC 974). According to Church doctrine, Holy Days of Obligation are feast days on which Catholics are required to attend Mass and to avoid (to the extent that they are able) servile work.

Summertime and the Giving is Easy Appeal continues

Every day, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., serves the most vulnerable population in Diocese of Venice’s 10 counties by feeding, housing, empowering, and helping all in need. This summer, you can be the one that makes a difference. Your acts of kindness have the power to transform lives. The giving is easy! To donate to “Summertime and the Giving is Easy Campaign,” please visit https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/summertime or mail a check to Catholic Charities, “Summertime and the Giving is Easy,” 1000 Pinebrook Road, Venice, FL 34285. If you have any questions, please call 941-488-5581.

Marilyn Brummer Fund grant applications open

The Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida is pleased to announce that grant applications are now being accepted for the Marilyn Brummer Fund. Brummer was a devout Catholic and an active parishioner at St. John XXIII Catholic Church in Fort Myers. She was incredibly generous with her time, her talent, and her treasure in order to make a difference in the lives of others, especially students and the most vulnerable among us. As a part of her Catholic Legacy, and through a generous gift from her estate, Marilyn created a fund with the Catholic Community Foundation to continue supporting causes which she cared about most, long after she is gone. This year, the CCF will be awarding a total of $108,000 in grants to programs, projects, or entities that are located in, and associated with, the Diocese of Venice in Florida. The program, project or entity must be involved in one of the following areas: Anti-human trafficking assistance; Programs that assist single mothers; and Children’s Center of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. in Fort Myers. Grant applications must be submitted online and can be found on the Catholic Community Foundation website ccfdioceseofvenice.org, under “Community Grants.” All applications are due by Aug. 31, 2025. For any questions, please contact the Foundation at CCF@dioceseofvenice.or or call 941-441-1124

Natural Family Planning introductory sessions available

Learn about Natural Family Planning with a free introductory session. The Diocese of Venice sets forth the Creighton Model Fertility Care System, and free online training sessions are being offered by the St. Gianna Center for Women’s Health & Fertility Care on Sept. 20, and Oct. 21, 2025. Choose the session that fits your schedule! The online sessions are free, but registration is required. Register at bit.ly/SGIntroSession. For more information, visit www.stgiannacenter.com, or direct questions to Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseovenice.org, or 941-486-4754.

Day of Reflection for Sacramental Marriage in September and November

Couples preparing for Sacramental Marriage in the Catholic Church are encouraged to attend a Day of Reflection either Sept. 20, 2025, at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Pulte Hall, 625 111th Ave. N., Naples, or Nov. 8 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, 3989 S. Moon Drive, Venice. Taking place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. a specially prepared volunteer team of married couples share their experiences and information, enabling couples to be more aware of the privileges and responsibilities of marriage. A priest will share information about the vocation of marriage and its spiritual component. The $60 registration fee includes all retreat materials and lunch. Registration is required. Contact James Gontis for more information at gontis@dioceseofvenice or 941-484-9543, ext. 4754.

Jubilee Monthly Days of Prayer Resume in September

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, 3989 S. Moon Drive, Venice, resumes the Monthly Day of Prayer in September. This is an opportunity to take time out of your busy and hectic life to focus on God. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with Continental breakfast and includes two conferences by an OLPH priest, the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, lunch, and Mass. Time for adoration, private prayer, or meditation on the beautiful OLPH grounds is also provided. The day concludes at 3:15 p.m. Cost is $45. Register at olph-retreat.org.

40 Days for Life Fall Campaign

Join the 40 Days for Life 2025 campaign this fall from Sept. 24 to Nov. 2, 2025. This campaign, scheduled for locations in Sarasota, Fort Myers and Naples, aims to end abortion through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and peaceful vigil in front of abortion facilities. Participants support the mission by spreading awareness and praying. The Sarasota campaign is hosting a special kickoff at 10:30 a.m., Sept. 26, 2025, in the parking lot of Community Pregnancy Clinics Inc., 1419 7th St., Sarasota. The clinic sits in the shadow of the regional headquarters of Planned Parenthood, the largest abortionist in the country. For more information, please email Tavia Ames at ames@dioceseofvenice.org or call 941-441-1101.

Great Resource for Catholic Women

Pope St. John Paul II coined the term “the feminine genius.” Explore and expand your feminine genius and grow in faith in a new online community, designed specifically for Catholic women! The Women’s Formation Community is a place where Catholic women come together to reflect on their unique charisms and vocation and receive ongoing intellectual formation among a vibrant community of like-minded women. Try it for free!  Word on Fire offers a 30-day free trial. To learn more, or to join, visit the Word on Fire Institute online.

Diocesan Rosary Congress returns in October

The Diocese of Venice will host its annual Rosary Congress Oct. 4-10, 2025, with a growing number of Parishes throughout the Diocese participating. The theme of this year’s Rosary Congress is My Soul Magnifies the Lord (Luke 1:46). The Rosary Congress begins with the celebration of daily Mass and ends with Mass at the same time the following day. During these designated 24 hours, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for perpetual Adoration, and the five decades of the Rosary are prayed by the faithful every hour, on the hour. Many Parishes will also have Confession available. Stay tuned for a list of participating Parishes, and how you can be part of this beautiful opportunity to adore and grow closer to our Lord. For more information, contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org, or 941-486-4754.

Retreat for young women
Single women ages 18-30 who are seeking God’s will in their life are invited to grow deeper in prayer and in their identity as a woman, as well as learn more about discerning religious life during a Fiat Ministries Retreat the weekend of Oct. 10-12, 2025, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, 3989 S. Moon Drive, Venice. This retreat is led by Team Fiat, a dynamic group of lay women passionate about supporting other young women. Additionally, consecrated religious sisters from various religious communities from the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR) assist at each retreat, making each one a unique experience. The goal is for the retreatants to walk away with a greater desire to grow in relationship with Jesus Christ while meeting religious sisters. The cost is $50. Registration can be found at https://fiatministries.org/retreats/. For questions, please email Emily at fiatministriesinc@gmail.com.

Be A Hero, Save A Life!

Sidewalk Advocates for Life needs sidewalk advocates and prayer partners at the Fort Myers location, 6418 Commerce Park Drive. Advocates are a gentle, prayerful presence at Planned Parenthood, offering abortion-minded women loving, life-affirming options. Excellent virtual training for volunteers is immediately available, and volunteers are able to sign up for shifts convenient for their schedule. For more information, contact Sidewalk Advocates for Life co-leaders, Bob Reynolds 267-733-2737, rgrcons1@gmail.com, or Cyrille Velasco 917-991-6147, cyrillevelasco@gmail.com.

OLPH is blessed to be designated a Jubilee Year of Hope Pilgrimage site

You are welcome to visit Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, throughout the year. The grounds provide a peaceful place to reconnect with the Lord. Take some time at any of the many resting spots throughout the retreat center to bask in the solitude and offer up your intentions; don’t forget to pray for the intentions of Pope Leo XIV.  Join any daily Mass! For details, please visit www.olph-retreat.org/jubilee-of-hope-2025.

Volunteers needed for Venice Retreat Center

Many hands make light work. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice is seeking volunteers. Aid the Diocesan retreat center in providing a peaceful, welcoming atmosphere for those who come seeking transformation in Christ. Areas of need include: gardening, dishwashing, dining room, answering the phones and more. For more information, or to sign-up, please call 941-486-0233, or email info@olph-retreat.org.

Volunteers needed for Prison Outreach

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.

Support After Abortion help available

Are you or someone you know struggling because of a past abortion? You are not alone. Healing retreats and support are available for anyone who has experienced an abortion, including mothers, fathers and other family members who have been hurt. For help, or to learn more about the Diocese of Venice support after abortion program, Project Rachel, simply call or text 941-412-5860, or email project.rachel@dioceseofvenice.org, in English or Spanish. All contacts are confidential.

Celebrating the Real Presence – 2025 Corpus Christi processions bear witness

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Iris Purchase beamed with joy as she took part in a Corpus Christi procession at Epiphany Cathedral on June 21, 2025, the Vigil of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.

“The Lord’s Presence in the Blessed Sacrament brings me great comfort,” Purchase said. “I feel so happy to be able to honor Jesus in this special way, and I pray I will continue to carry out His call for me in my life.”

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) is a celebration of the Eucharist and the Real Presence of Our Lord which is a tradition that dates back centuries and is often marked by a Eucharistic Procession, a “public witness of faith and worship of the Most Blessed Sacrament.”

Instituted in 1264 by Pope Urban IV, Corpus Christi is an important affirmation of our belief that Our Lord is truly sacramentally present in the form of bread and wine. When Our Lord instituted the Eucharist, He said “this IS My Body and this IS My Blood;” not this represents or is symbolic of my body and blood. The Sacrament was defined as “an outward sign” of inward grace given to us by Jesus Christ for our sanctification and salvation.

During the celebration of the 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass at Epiphany Cathedral, Msgr. Patrick Dubois, Rector of Epiphany Cathedral, spoke about the Solemnity and the corresponding Eucharistic Procession which was taking place in Parishes, cities, towns and villages throughout the world.

“The Body of Christ is honored, not just in churches, but with wonderful processions, outside in the streets decorated with beautiful symbols and banners to celebrate our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus. A presence that is total in His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.”

The Corpus Christi procession in Venice began with Msgr. Dubois placing a consecrated host in the monstrance (a sacred vessel that displays the sacred host to the faithful). After a series of prayers before the Most Holy Eucharist the procession, led by altar servers carrying candles and an incensor, began.

Msgr. Dubois carried the monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament, proceeding out of the church under a canopy, to three temporary altars set up in the parking lot of the Cathedral. Participating in the procession were Bishop Frank J. Dewane, priests and deacons of the Cathedral, musicians and members of the choir, as well as hundreds of the faithful.

The canopy serves a dual purpose. The canopy protects the Blessed Sacrament against anything that might fall on it, including rain, creating a sacred space that is reserved for the priest carrying the monstrance. Secondarily, the faithful in the large crowd can locate the Blessed Sacrament at the head of the procession more easily.

At each stop, the monstrance was placed on the temporary altar as a series of Gospel passages were read, and prayers recited. The procession concluded with Benediction in the Santa Maria Chapel as thunderstorms loomed overhead. The faithful were encouraged to remain in the Chapel for Adoration.

Pope Leo XIV explained the spiritual and missionary meaning of the Eucharistic Procession prior to beginning his own Procession in Rome.

“Together, as shepherds and flock, we will feed on the Blessed Sacrament, adore Him, and carry Him through the streets,” the Holy Father said. “In doing so, we will present Him before the eyes, the consciences, and the hearts of the people.”

Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful to “share the bread” – a sign of the gift of divine salvation – to “multiply hope and to proclaim the coming of God’s kingdom” as he presided for the first time as Pope over Mass for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

On the Solemnity when the Catholic Church celebrates especially the mystery of the Eucharist Pope Leo declared: “Christ is God’s answer to our human hunger, because His body is the bread of eternal life: Take this and eat of it, all of you!”

The Holy Father traveled to the Basilica of St. John Lateran, his Cathedral as Bishop of Rome, to celebrate the Mass, which was followed by a Eucharistic Procession along the city’s streets to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

The Solemnity of Corpus Christi is observed two weeks after Pentecost. The Feast of Pentecost, which took place on June 8 this year, is celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday, and commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem, as described in the Acts of the Apostles.

In addition, the 2025 Solemnity marks the conclusion of the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year movement initiated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to encourage the faithful to answer the call of Jesus Christ to return to the source and summit of Our Faith – the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist.

Bishop Dewane advised that the conclusion of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival not be seen as an ending, but a beginning.

“Let us go forth and share the Mystery of the Eucharist with the world,” Bishop Dewane said.  “The time is now for us all to be Eucharistic Missionaries, sharing the good news of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ with everyone you know!  Non-believers, lapsed Catholics, those on the margins. Bring the saving grace of Christ to the world around you!”

Solemnity of Sacred Heart of Jesus celebrated June 27

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an essential part of who we are as Catholics and what is passed along to future generations.

Celebrated by the Universal Church on June 27, 2025, on the Friday after the Corpus Christi octave, the Solemnity “reminds the faithful that Jesus is our friend for life,” said Bishop Frank J. Dewane. “The Lord wants us to be friends. The Sacred Heart of Jesus challenges us to overcome secularism, materialism, and social injustice. It is adopted as a way to address the love of Christ for the poor, the least among us. It is a modern way of thinking.”

In terms of secularism, where society tries to exclude religious viewpoints in public discussions, Bishop Dewane said that is precisely when we must speak out, because it is who we are as Catholics, called to reflect the light of Christ in the world.

Bishop Dewane reflected that this Solemnity has had a significant impact in the areas of art and culture. “You can find it in the stained glass of churches throughout the world. It is always there, depicting Jesus’ flaming heart on the outside of His body – a physical manifestation of His love for us all.”

The modern devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus came in 1673 from St. Margaret Marie Alacoque, a cloistered nun and mystic of the Visitation order. She had private visions and promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, all aflame with love, as the healing remedy for a world full of cold hearts and broken hearts.

During her visions, Sister Margaret Mary learned ways to venerate the Sacred Heart of Christ. These devotions included the concept of a Holy Hour on Thursdays, the creation of the feast of the Sacred Heart after Corpus Christi, and the reception of the Eucharist on the first Friday of every month.

In 1856, after lobbying by French Bishops on behalf of the feast of the Sacred Heart, Pope Pius IX designated the Friday following the feast of Corpus Christi as the feast of the Sacred Heart for the entire Latin-rite Church. On May 25, 1899, Pope Leo XIII promulgated the encyclical Annum Sacrum, which consecrated the entire world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Diocese of Venice is blessed to have two Parishes named for the Sacred Heart, one in Bradenton, the other in Punta Gorda. Each serves their growing communities imbued with the spirituality of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In addition, the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be the focus for the annual Diocese of Venice Catholic School Devotional Project for the 2025-2026 school year.

Celebrating the Annunciation of the Lord 2025

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord is a day we celebrate when the Blessed Virgin Mary’s unequivocal “Yes!” to God.

Celebrated on March 25, 2025, the Solemnity marks the Angel Gabriel’s appearance to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38), and his announcement that the Blessed Virgin has been chosen to be the Mother of Our Lord, and Mary’s willing acceptance of God’s Holy Plan.

To mark this Solemnity, Ave Maria Parish, Ave Maria University, as well as the entire town took part in various activities on Saturday, March 22, in anticipation of the Solemnity so as to allow more people to participate in the festivities.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane was the principal celebrant for the Mass at Ave Maria, saying the faithful should learn from the example of Mary and apply Her willingness to be open to the call of the Lord in our own lives; as it is inspiring to know the Blessed Virgin Mary had the courage to say “yes.”

“The Annunciation provides a specific dimension of Our Lady, how she had a role to play in Salvation History,” Bishop Dewane said. “This singular moment between this young woman and this messenger of the Almighty should be a lesson to each one of us – our own salvation hinges upon our consent to be saved. That consent needs to be given over and over again. You have to strive to listen to the Lord, to give consent to who we are, and who the Lord wants us to be.”

In the Book of Genesis, we learn how God’s own intention was necessary in the creation and sustained expansion of the universe, Bishop Dewane explained. In Genesis, God said “Let there be” to light and all creation. In the Gospel of Luke we hear Mary say, “Let it be,” a similar phrase that brought forth the Light of the world, saying: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

“These are the words that give life, rather than refuse it,” Bishop Dewane said. “Creation and sustenance are born of positive assent – pure affirmation. Our every yes keeps us on the God-directed path. There are many willing to help you get off that path – but we are all called to stay on that path for God.”

Through daily prayer of the Angelus, and the Holy Rosary, we can keep our focus on God through the Blessed Virgin, the Bishop continued. When life is difficult, we have to consent to obedience and turn to the Lord with our heart and soul.

“We are who the Lord has called us to be,” Bishop Dewane concluded. “We will fail along the way because we are human. When we fail the Lord has given a sacrament (Reconciliation) to aid us on our journey. Let us be conscious of what Our Lady has done – the consent she gave – during those difficult days and recall that our salvation hinges upon our own consent and saying ‘Yes.’”

Father Joseph Lugalambi, Ave Maria University Chaplain, thanked Bishop Dewane for his presence for the Mass and his continued support of the university.

Several university students expressed their joy to be part of the celebration that is the focus of the school, the Parish and the town. “This is our big day and to be part of it with everyone is very special,” one freshman from Sarasota said.

Following the Mass, the faithful were led in a Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, before the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. An outdoor Eucharistic Procession with more than 1,000 of the faithful walking and praying the Holy Rosary in unison included not only the Blessed Sacrament but also a statue the Blessed Virgin Mary held high and university house banners proudly displayed. The procession travelled a path to a new Rosary Walk, where the closing Benediction was held.

Additional festivities included an outdoor barbecue dinner, and concert.

Filipino Catholics celebrated

Posted on by Bob Reddy

A celebration of the “Santo Niño” (or Holy Child Jesus), a symbol of the birth of Catholicism in the Philippines more than 500 years ago, took place on Jan. 19, 2025, at Incarnation Parish in Sarasota.

The Diocese of Venice Santo Niño Festival on the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time was organized by the local Filipino Catholic Community (Senor Santo Niño Devotees of Manasota Florida, Inc.), with more than 600 people participating in the Mass and Festival which celebrates an important conversion story. This was the fourth year for this Festival in the Diocese.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane was the main celebrant for the Mass and said the Santo Niño Mass and Festival “is a wonderful example of a faith and culture coming together beautifully and this devotion has spread throughout the world due to the spreading of Philippine culture into the world. You hear the call of Santo Niño to help fulfill your mission in life to serve the Lord, and you answer the call.”

Bishop Dewane encouraged everyone to gain strength from the celebration and use that spirit going forward to recommit themselves to the presence of the Lord in their life.

“It is a challenge because we are human. We are going to fail,” Bishop Dewane said. “However, the Lord gives us the grace to build upon our nature and grow closer to Him.”

The celebration is an opportunity to refocus on the children in the Filipino Catholic community.

“During this Eucharistic celebration let us entrust our children to the protection and guidance of the Holy Child, as He is so much a part of history and our lives,” said a leader of the Senor Santo Niño Devotees of Manasota Florida, Inc. “We ask Santo Niño to take care of our children and teach us how to do likewise.”

The Feast Day celebration serves to remind Filipinos of the Christianization of their homeland in the 16th century but also enables them to see the relevance that this devotion to the Santo Niño has for people to this day, whether they are living in the Philippines or elsewhere. The Feast places a special emphasis on the children and youth, with all the hopes they raise.

The Mass opened with the traditional presentation of the Santo Niño statue to Bishop Dewane. In addition, the faithful are encouraged to bring their own Santo Niño statue, or one purchased in the past year, to be blessed. This was also done at the conclusion of the Mass.

This builds upon the tradition of Filipino immigrants who brought their Santo Niño statues with them to the United States to be their spiritual recourse, assistant and protector.

Following the Mass, the celebration continued with traditional music and dancers first outside the Parish and then in the Parish Hall.

Parish celebrates Feast with Mass and international festival

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The faithful of St. Agnes Parish in Naples got a head start on celebrating their Patronal Feast Day with a Mass and international festival on Jan. 19, 2025.

St. Agnes Pastor Father Bob Kantor said the Parish was doubly blessed with the presence of Bishop Frank J. Dewane as the homilist, as well as Cardinal Gerald Lacroix, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Quebec and Primate of Canada, as the principal celebrant, who was in the area visiting his parents.

The Feast of St. Agnes is Jan. 21, with celebrations moved to the closest Sunday. For the celebration, a relic of St. Agnes, normally embedded in the altar, was placed on public display for veneration. The annual International Festival featured food and entertainment from many different countries.

In addition, the Mass coincided with the 18th anniversary of Bishop Dewane’s formal installation as Bishop of the Diocese of Venice.

Catholic Haitians celebrate independence and fraternity

Posted on by Bob Reddy

On the 220th Anniversary of Haiti as the first Independent Republic in the Caribbean, the Diocese of Venice, in conjunction with the Haitian Catholic Community, celebrated a Mass at St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs on Jan. 1, 2025, the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.

Faithful from throughout the Diocese of Venice attended the Mass which was celebrated by Most Rev. Thomas Wenski, Archbishop of Miami, with Bishop Frank J. Dewane concelebrating. In addition, there were numerous priests from the Diocese who also concelebrated.

Archbishop Wenski praised the strong Haitian Catholic Community in the Diocese of Venice for its rich and thriving culture. The Archbishop reflected upon his time, as a newly ordained priest, when he took a particular interest in the Haitian parishioners and was sent to study Creole and the Haitian culture. From that experience, he assisted in serving the Haitian community in the Archdiocese, which included what would later become the southern counties of the Diocese of Venice in 1984.

“I travelled throughout the Archdiocese of Miami to serve the growing Haitian population and many of my fondest memories were of coming to Southwest Florida,” Archbishop Wenski said. “It is wonderful to be back here celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for such a wonderful group of people.”

The Archbishop also spoke about the celebration of the independence of Haiti and how it importantly falls upon a major celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the World Day of Peace.

Bishop Dewane thanked Archbishop Wenski for accepting his invitation to be a guest of the Diocese of Venice, saying his presence was a blessing as he came to share his time, wisdom and faith with the Haitian Catholic Community here.

“You are important not only because you are here today,” Bishop Dewane said. “Our Church here in the Diocese is all the more blessed to have you here as the richness of your Faith is evident to all.”

Crediting the priests who serve the Haitian Catholic Community in the Diocese, many from Haiti, Bishop Dewane thanked them for their dedication to the Church, to the Diocese and to the people of God.

Father Jean-Marie Fritz Ligondé, Diocesan Haitian Ministry Director and Parochial Vicar at St. Columbkille Parish, thanked Bishop Dewane for his unyielding support of the Haitian Catholic Community, including his support for the annual New Year’s Day celebration.

At the conclusion of the Mass, everyone joined in singing the Haitian National Anthem with many waving small Haitian flags.

Antoine Blaise of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Immokalee was overjoyed to be a part of the New Year’s Day celebration having moved to the Diocese of Venice with his family in 2015. “We are blessed to be here and feel welcomed every day. Today is a great day because we celebrate our homeland and our faith in a special way.”

A cultural celebration and dinner took place in the Parish Hall. This celebration featured, as its first course, the symbolically important joumou soup, a hearty blend of pumpkin (turban squash), potatoes, beef, chili peppers and other ingredients. It was during the colonial period when the people of Haiti were forbidden from eating the soup because they were deemed too “uncivilized” by the French colonists. Therefore, when independence was achieved, the joumou soup became a lasting symbol of freedom.

For the Haitian community, Jan. 1 is both a spiritual day, the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and an emotional day commemorating the independence of their homeland. The Haitians defeated the largest and most powerful army at the time, the army of Napoleon, in Cap-Haitien, and Haiti became the second country in the Americas to declare its independence on Jan. 1, 1804.

There are currently Masses celebrated each weekend in Haitian Creole at the following Parishes: St. Charles Borromeo in Port Charlotte; St. Francis Xavier in Fort Myers; St. Michael in Wauchula; Sacred Heart in Bradenton; Our Lady of Guadalupe in Immokalee; and St. Peter the Apostle in Naples. The New Year’s Day celebration is one of the few times the entire community can gather in one place.

Our Lady of Guadalupe honored throughout Diocese

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Prayer, reverence, and music marked the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, throughout the Diocese of Venice.

Celebrated on Dec. 12, the Feast is often linked to the Dec. 9 Feast of St. Juan Diego, the day in 1531 when Our Lady first appeared to the saint near modern day Mexico City.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day celebrations are a longstanding tradition in the Diocese of Venice. In addition to celebrating this special day with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, there were a variety of other events, including overnight vigils, large processions, early morning prayer, as well as outdoor festivities. Many of these celebrations included a variety of dancers dressed in elaborate costumes or traditional garb.

“Our Lady of Guadalupe means so much to me and my family,” said Maria Lopez of St. Paul Parish in Arcadia after Mass on Dec. 8, 2024. “It is a devotion I grew up with and learned about from my grandparents and parents. We all pray to the Blessed Virgin when there is an illness in the family or we need guidance in our lives. Our Lady of Guadalupe gives me great comfort.”

Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated Mass in a field at St. Paul Parish in Arcadia. The Mass was celebrated ahead of the Feast Day to accommodate the maximum number of families. As a result, more than 1,500 took part.

A festival followed the Mass with a wide variety of food as well as dancers. Many of the young girls were dressed as Our Lady, while the young boys dressed as St. Juan Diego, the peasant who saw the apparitions of Our Lady in Mexico City.

A large gathering of the faithful from St. Michael Parish in Wauchula and Holy Child Mission in Bowling Green also took place on Dec. 8 at Pioneer Park in Zolfo Springs. The Mass was in three languages, Spanish, English, and Creole, representing the diversity of the Parish. Before Mass, a procession with a statue of Our Lady followed by children carrying flowers led to the park pavilion. A cultural celebration followed.

For the first time, St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Port Charlotte held its own community-wide celebration of Our Lady on Dec. 8, highlighted by a procession around the Parish grounds and a wide variety of food and music.

Many Parishes held vigils, some lasting until dawn. These included a retelling of the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, mariachi bands, the singing of songs to Our Lady as well as prayer and contemplation before the image of Our Lady.

At St. Jude Parish in Sarasota, Aztec dancers led the opening processing with a standing-room-only Mass beginning at 11 p.m. on Dec. 11. Father Jiobani Batista, Pastor of St. Jude, told the faithful that honoring Our Lady and following her example is a pathway to growing closer to Her Son, Jesus Christ.

Meanwhile, at Holy Cross Parish in Palmetto, hundreds gathered before dawn to hear a mariachi band serenaded Our Lady prior to a Mass which lasted until sunrise.

The celebration at St. Peter the Apostles Parish in Naples took place on Dec. 12, when nearly 100 dancers led a procession around the Parish grounds and into the church for Mass. Carlos Martinez said the Feast Day is an important one for people with Mexican heritage. “The Blessed Virgin Mary embraced us with open arms. What an important moment that deserves our thanks and a true celebration.”

It was in 1531 when Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared, dressed like an Aztec princess, to St. Juan Diego, a poor widower who was on his way to Mass. She asked, in his native language, to have the Bishop of Mexico build a church in Her honor. Skeptical, after a second visit, the Bishop asked for a sign. The Blessed Mother instructed St. Juan Diego to climb to the top of Tepeyac Hill where he would find flowers to pick and place in his tilma, a garment made from cactus. St. Juan Diego gathered the dark pink roses into his cloak with the help of the Blessed Mother.

For a third time, St. Juan Diego was ushered in to see the Bishop with a sign that the apparitions were real – Castilian roses. That alone was a miraculous sign since these roses were not from that region and did not grow in winter, but were in fact from Castile, Spain, the hometown of the Bishop. St. Juan Diego did not realize – until after he opened his cloak letting the roses tumble out – that an image of Our Blessed Mother was emblazoned on his tilma.

This apparition led to the conversion of Mexico almost overnight, with nine million Mexicans baptized into the Catholic Church within a decade, when up to that time Catholic missionaries from Europe had made very little headway. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City was built on the site of the apparitions and is one of the most visited religious shrines in the world. It is also home of the actual tilma of St. Juan Diego, which can still be seen, with the image clearly visible, nearly 500 years later.

Our Lady of Guadalupe was first declared “Patroness of the Americas” by Pope Pius XII in 1946, a title reaffirmed by St. John Paul II in 1999.

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