Members of Legatus International, an organization of Catholic laymen and laywomen comprised of CEOs, presidents, managing partners and business owners (with their spouses), from business and professional enterprises gathered for a Summit in Naples from Feb. 6-9, 2025.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane was the principal celebrant for a Mass on Feb. 7, at the Ritz-Carlton Naples Beach Resort, where about 1,000 were gathered.
The Gospel reading was Mark 6:14-29, which recounts the circumstances that led to the beheading of St. John the Baptist by King Herod. This reading foreshadows the death of Jesus Christ, noting that people who speak truth to power face consequences for what they do. In the case of John the Baptist, he challenged Herod on his marriage.
“John the Baptist grew closer to God through his desert experience, where there were less distractions,” Bishop Dewane said. “We are each called to step back at times to find the time to listen to the Lord. John the Baptist felt that presence of Jesus in the desert, just as each one of us must change our thinking, and our seeing how we are doing things as we grow closer in that relationship with the Lord. We need to become like John the Baptist – he had a role to play, that precursor of Christ and that announcer, that voice in the wilderness.”
The Bishop said that when we go outside of the church and away from like-minded Catholics, we have to be that voice in the wilderness for those around us. Whether or not it is the message others want to hear, we have to continue to speak out. While speaking out, the threat is still there. While more subtle than having one’s head cut off, we must use the unique gifts the Lord has provided and be that voice.
“Go out, be the missionary the Lord calls us to be,” Bishop Dewane said. “Announce the word of the Lord, and live to be an example in the same way as John the Baptist – out in the wilderness. It is what the Lord asks of you and of me.”
Legatus International members aspire to be faithful ambassadors for Christ and lead as many other souls to heaven as possible. The theme of the Summit was “Do Whatever He Tells You,” from the Gospel message about Wedding at Cana. Summit participants heard from a variety of international speakers while they reflected on the never-ending challenges and opportunities of living their faith at home and in the world. While the Summit was held in Naples, it was hosted by the Louisville Chapter of Legatus. Currently, there are 90 Legatus chapters across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, along with at-large members overseas, with an average chapter size of about 30 people.
Among those attending the Legatus Summit were Jeff Hyman, President of the Naples Legatus Chapter. Hyman and his wife Nanci are originally from Illinois and have lived in Naples since 2020. Jeff Hyman has 33 years of financial services experience and is currently on the Visionary Wealth Management Team at RBC Wealth Management.
As part of Legatus, the Hyman’s organize and participate in monthly gatherings of members, joining others in growing their faith through worship, prayer and fellowship.
“The goal is to help trickle down the faith and values of the Catholic Church to others,” Jeff Hyman said.
Regional members of the Knights and Dames of the Order of Malta took part in a retreat which began included a Mass celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane on Feb. 7, 2025, at St. William Parish in Naples. Also known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta, the Order is a lay religious order of the Roman Catholic Church that seeks to glorify God by promoting the sanctification of each member through witness to the Catholic Faith and service to the sick and the poor. Bishop Dewane lauded the Knights and Dames for their continued charity and service to the Universal Church. The guest speaker for the retreat was Msgr. James Watkins, a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., as well as Chaplain in the Order of Malta in the Federal Association and Assistant Principal Chaplain of the Subpriory of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Order, as well as a Chaplain in the Constantinian Order of St. George.
The Catholic Charities Boots and Bandanas is 6 p.m., Feb. 22, 2025, at The Barn at Thousand Pines Ranch, 1 Ajax Drive, North Venice. Evening with cocktails, dinner, auction, live country music by Andy Pursell, and community spirit, all in support of helping the underserved and those recovering from disasters in DeSoto County. Tickets are $125. Register at 
The Catholic Charities Our Mother’s House Wine Tasting and Dinner Dance is 5 p.m., Feb. 27, 2025, at the Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave. S., Venice. The event will benefit the mothers and children at Our Mother’s House, a 2-year transitional living program located in the heart of Venice, dedicated to empowering single mothers and their young children. Tickets are $100. Register online at 
The annual Converging Road Conference for health care professionals, students and interested lay people, will take place March 1, 2025, at St. John XXIII Parish, 13060 Palamino Drive, Fort Myers. The theme for the Conference is “Catholic Social Doctrine in Medicine,” and will address the increasingly complex and confusing issues of ethics facing medical professionals today. Check-in opens at 7:30 a.m., with Mass at 8 a.m. Opening remarks are at 9:15 a.m. Converging Roads is a program of the St. John Paul II Foundation. Registration is available at 
The Catholic Charities Venetian Charity Ball is 6 p.m., March 22, 2025, at St. Leo the Great Parish Hall, 28290 Beaumont Road, Bonita Springs. This event supports the programs in Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties, and the communities still recovering from Hurricane Ian in 2022. Tickets are $250. Register online at 
The Catholic Charities Emerald Ball is 5:30 p.m., March 26, 2025, at the Ritz-Carlton Tiburon Golf Resort, 2600 Tiburon Drive, Naples. This year’s theme, “Pilgrims of Hope,” inspired by Pope Francis in honor of the Jubilee Year, reflects Catholic Charities’ commitment to serving all individuals, regardless of race, nationality, or religion. Tickets are $400. Register online at 
.Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica before Mass on Christmas Eve, officially launching the Jubilee Year 2025. Passing through a Holy Door during the Jubilee symbolizes entry into a new life in Christ and the beginning of a journey of conversion.
At St. Andrew, guest speaker Kyle Van Duser encouraged the youth to become true “Pilgrims of Hope” by using the gifts given to them by God to carry the message of the Lord to others. To do this, they must deepen their relationship with the Lord by regularly attending Mass, going to Confession and doing Works of Mercy. By doing these things, they will serve as a beacon of hope for others to follow, living out their mission as “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA), the week (Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, 2025) provides an annual opportunity to share the good news about Catholic Schools. The theme, “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community,” focuses on the important spiritual, academic, and societal contributions provided by a Catholic education firmly rooted in the Truth of the Gospel.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated a Mass for Catholic school students in Collier County at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Naples on Jan. 31. The Mass, which included concelebrating priests from Parishes throughout Collier County, involved the eighth graders from St. Elizabeth Seton and St. Ann Catholic schools in Naples, Donahue Catholic Academy of Ave Maria in Ave Maria, and affiliated Royal Palm Academy in Naples. In addition, the entire student body of St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples participated, having walked from their nearby campus to the Mass, and afterward escorted the younger students back for a day of food, fun and games.
The Bishops of Florida held an Advent Retreat at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice in early December. The retreat spanned to include the observance of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Dec. 9, 2024. (The celebration of the Solemnity was transferred to Dec. 9 from Dec. 8 to not interfere with the Second Sunday of Advent.)
Bishop Frank J. Dewane was the principal celebrant for a Mass at St. Paul Parish in Arcadia. The Mass included prayers, petitions and music in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. A full celebration of the Feast Day, which is Dec. 12, followed and included traditional dancers and music as well as food. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the Americas and is an important symbol of the Catholic faith, particularly among Catholics of Hispanic descent. Large celebrations take place at Parishes throughout the Diocese of Venice for this Feast Day each year. Please read the Dec. 20 e-edition of the Florida Catholic for full coverage of the local Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations.
The latest offering of the St. Paul Street Evangelization (SPSE) Training took place on Dec. 7, 2024, at St. Andrew Parish in Cape Coral. Adam Janke, Vice-President of SPSE was the presenter, offering guidance on how to share the faith in the public square. Following the classroom training, participants were offered the opportunity to use what they learned in a Live Lab at the Coralwood Shopping Plaza in Cape Coral to gain practical, hands-on experience in real street evangelization. There were 27 people in attendance at the all-day training and many participated in the Live Lab.
Since his appointment as Bishop of the Diocese in 2006, Bishop Dewane has conferred the Sacraments of Confirmation, First Communion and Baptism for dozens of inmates. In April and June of this year the Bishop conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on two groups of inmates at Avon Park Correction Institute in Avon Park, and also in June for a group at DeSoto Correctional Institute in Arcadia.
