The destruction wrought by Hurricane Ian in September of 2022 was unprecedented and felt across the entire Diocese of Venice, with thousands of people and hundreds of buildings affected.
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the Diocese of Venice, along with Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, prioritized the emergency needs and wellbeing of residents throughout the Diocese, including food, and shelter. This support is ongoing, even now, as many are still without homes, or jobs, resulting from that terrible storm.
Simultaneously, the Diocese’s immediate focus was on preventing further, crippling damage to the affected buildings throughout the Diocese, with the goal of getting as many Parishes back up and running as soon as possible. Bishop Frank J. Dewane, and Diocesan Chancellor Dr. Volodymyr Smeryk made an immediate tour to assess the extent of damage and offer assistance. Both have made numerous subsequent visits to monitor the progress of the recovery efforts.
Within the Diocese of Venice, the Building and Construction Department reported 93 locations (Parishes, schools, Catholic Charities, and other entities) that constituted damage reports on 841 buildings or land improvement structures (landscaping, fencing, lighting, and other infrastructure), with 404 of the buildings receiving enough significant damage to require an insurance claim and/or major reconstruction.
While huge strides have been made in most locations, there are several notable exceptions which include Ascension Parish on Fort Myers Beach, St. Isabel Parish in Sanibel, and to a much lesser extent at Incarnation Parish in Sarasota, and in Fort Myers both San Jose and Sagrada Familia Missions.
In the aftermath of Ian, mitigation work began immediately to prevent additional damage, but the widespread scope of the damage overwhelmed the available resources. Supply chain issues, as well as surging costs continue to complicate the recovery efforts.
Most significantly impacted was Ascension Parish on Fort Myers Beach, where every building on the property suffered massive damage, leaving the church destroyed. Because of the unprecedented nature of the storm damage and resulting saltwater intrusion, it was necessary to first determine what might even be possible at that location moving forward. Due to the extreme nature of the damage, as well as new and changing building codes and insurance requirements, this first decision took some time.
Bishop Dewane made several visits to the site and consulted with other areas in Florida where Parishes have been similarly drastically impacted on other occasions. Taking into consideration the pastoral needs of Fort Myers Beach, the decision was made to rebuild on the site, including preserving the existing Memorial Garden, and plans are making progress. An architectural firm as well as a construction firm have been engaged and are actively working on the site re-development.
Factors in the delay have been many, including simply clearing the massive amounts of debris from the property. It also took a year for electricity to be restored. In addition, the finalization of new FEMA requirements, including a rule for new construction to be built six feet above sea level, have slowed down attempts by the Bishop, and other Diocesan officials, to develop a concrete plan for the future.
“Although a final plan has not yet been approved, we are well on our way,” Bishop Dewane said. “I can tell you that a new church will be built at a more central location on the property, with increased capacity for parishioners. While it will not be the original church, it is going to be a beautiful new place of worship and community.”
Chancellor Smeryk explained that at Ascension Parish, and at all reconstruction efforts across the Diocese, factors in rebuilding include an emphasis on safety and durability, as well the history and beauty of the property as contributing factors.
The timeline for completion of Ascension church is anticipated to be 3-4 years, which is similar to the recovery following Hurricane Charley in 2004 when it took the same amount of time to rebuild two Parishes. Regarding staffing, Father William Adams and the Poor Sisters of Saint Clare will not be returning to the “new” Ascension; Father has recently retired, and the Sisters have elected to move elsewhere and not live under the threat of a repeat occurrence.
Many former parishioners of Ascension are no longer in the area, having returned to homes up north, or to live with family elsewhere since Hurricane Ian. Those who remain in the area have been encouraged to attend nearby St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs for Mass as well as for any other pastoral or Sacramental needs; many have found welcome there.
At St. Isabel Parish on Sanibel, the damage was also extreme, with storm surge destroying the rectory and invading the church and Parish hall. While the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass returned to the church three months after Ian, the situation was not ideal, as the church floors and walls were bare after much was removed for mitigation purposes.
The priority at St. Isabel was to first repair the Parish hall and then the focus would switch to the church. The hall was completed in the spring of 2024. At that time, the celebration of the Mass moved to the hall and the focus of the reconstruction switched to the church. That work is expected to be completed by Christmas. The rectory, which was destroyed, will be built new at a future date.
Sagrada Familia Mission in Fort Myers has had delays in its own roof repairs due to the nature of the original construction. In addition to roof repairs, the infrastructure (outdated wiring, HVAC, etc.) also need to be upgraded. This work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
At San Jose Mission, also in Fort Myers, the Mission church had extensive flood damage and reopened in May. However, portable classrooms used for religious education were damaged beyond repair and will be replaced in the coming months.
Meanwhile, at Incarnation Parish in Sarasota, most of the major roof damage was repaired within nine months, but there has been a significant delay in completing the work. This occurred because the chapel roof is domed and has a unique skylight. While the chapel roof could have been replaced without a skylight, the necessary structural reinforcements to the building were cost prohibitive. The new skylight is expected to be installed in November, with the final roof repairs completed soon thereafter.
Bishop Dewane expressed his gratitude for the patience and understanding the faithful have shown through the arduous recovery process following Hurricane Ian.
“The resilience of the faithful has been inspiring to witness,” Bishop Dewane said. “Let us continue to pray for safety during this hurricane season in Southwest Florida.”
Watch a short video which is offered for the faithful to learn the facts about Amendment 4, a dangerous and misleading amendment which will appear on the ballot in the fall. To learn more, visit 
The Fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly will take place July 28, 2024, and those Catholics who participate will be eligible for a Plenary Indulgence. The World Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the foster grandparents of Jesus. The theme this year is “Do not cast me off in my old age.” (Ps 71:9). A Plenary Indulgence offers remission of the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven, which can be applied to oneself or to the souls in Purgatory. The Indulgence will be granted to grandparents, the elderly, and all faithful who “motivated by a true spirit of penance and charity” will participate in the various functions to be held for the Day throughout the world. It will also be extended to those who dedicate significant time to visit—either in-person or by virtual means of communication—their elderly brothers and sisters who are in need or facing difficulties, such as the sick, abandoned, and those with disabilities. It is also available to the elderly sick and all those who, unable to leave their homes for a serious reason, will unite themselves spiritually to the sacred functions of the World Day, offering their prayers, pains, or sufferings to God, especially during the various celebrations which will be broadcast through the media. The Indulgence is subject to the usual conditions of sacramental Confession, reception of the Eucharist, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Every day, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., serves in the 10 counties that constitute the Diocese of Venice the most vulnerable population 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 and leave a positive impact in our community. The Catholic Charities “Summertime and the Giving is Easy” Appeal is asking for your support. Any gift will make a positive impact on our less fortunate brothers and sisters! To donate to Summertime and the Giving is Easy Campaign, please visit 
The leadership of the Southwest Florida Guild of the Catholic Medical Association met with Bishop Frank J. Dewane at the Diocesan Catholic Center in Venice on July 10, 2024. The group provided Bishop Dewane with their annual report on their latest activities, including plans for continuing Catholic medical educational seminars within the Diocese.
The final two weeks of the Diocese of Venice Totus Tuus summer program are here. The week-long program is visiting different Parishes each week and offering day camp for students entering grades 1 – 6, as well as evening camp for middle school and high school students entering grades 7 – 12. The camp is inspiring young people to long for holiness, develop a deep desire for conversion and personally renew their faith with a stronger prayer life. Two missionary teams are going to different Parishes each week. In the first four weeks, the program has taken place at eight Parishes, with the most recent at Our Lady Queen of Heaven in LaBelle. For the week of July 14-19, the program will be at Our Lady of Light, Fort Myers during daytime and St. John XXIII in the evening; with a separate program running the same week at St. Cecilia, Fort Myers. The final week of the program runs from July 21-25 at Our Lady of the Angels in Lakewood Ranch, and St. Peter the Apostle in Naples.
After 43 years as a priest, Father Heuberger is retiring effective June 30, 2024, shortly after reaching his 70th birthday. In that time, Father served at 11 Parishes ranging from Fort Myers and Cape Coral to St. Petersburg, on the faculty at three Catholic high schools, two terms on the faculty of the regional seminary, and appointments on numerous seminary and Diocesan advisory boards.
Between June 3 and June 21, 2024, dozens of children arrived each week at the Parish to take part in a weekday camp which included Mass, prayer, and lots of fun indoor and outdoor activities. Each day began with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and was followed by prayer and then breakfast before everyone transitioned to the nearby St. Michael Parish Outreach Center.
Mother Maria Therese Nikopoia Klobe, Director of Religious Education at St. Michael Parish, said the goal of each week was to build a spiritual fortitude within the boys and girls, to help them to become more spiritually fulfilled.
On the Friday of each week, a Sacred Heart Procession around the Parish property was held with an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the faithful sang and prayed the Holy Rosary. The procession concluded in front of a display near the front of the Church, where the religious sisters led the separate groups of boys and girls in the singing of the Litany of Saints.
The Diocese of Venice Totus Tuus summer program has reached its halfway point, inspiring young people to long for holiness, develop a deep desire for conversion and personally renew their faith with a stronger prayer life. The week-long program is visiting different Parishes each week and offering day camp for students entering grades 1 – 6, as well as evening camp for middle school and high school students entering grades 7 – 12. Two missionary teams are going to different Parishes each week. In the first four weeks, the program has taken place at seven Parishes, with the most recent at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, and St. Katharine Drexel in Cape Coral the week of June 24. Five more Parishes will host the program through the end of July including the following: Our Lady Queen of Heaven, LaBelle (July 7-12); Our Lady of Light, Fort Myers, and St. Cecilia, Fort Myers (July 14-19); Our Lady of the Angels, Lakewood Ranch, and St. Peter the Apostle, Naples (July 21-26). To register, please contact the hosting Parish directly. Parish contact information can be found at 
After a one-month hiatus, Theology on Tap has returned with a new location (Big Top Brewing Brewery & Restaurant, 3045 Fruitville Commons Boulevard, Sarasota). About 60 people gathered for the June 20, 2024. The featured speaker was Mother Maria Therese Nikopoia Klobe, Servant of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará, and Director of Religious Education at St. Michael Parish in Wauchula, who spoke about making wise choice in all aspects of life. Theology on Tap meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. The featured speaker for July 18 is Father Alex Pince, Diocesan Vocations Director, and the topic will be “The Interconnectedness Between Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Precious Blood of Jesus.” Theology on Tap is presented by the Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. For more information, contact Andres Prias at 
