Tag: parish life

Diocese celebrates Christmas 2024

Posted on by Bob Reddy

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5

The opening passage to the Gospel of John was read on Christmas Day at churches throughout the world, reminding all that the birth of Jesus Christ was from God, bringing forth life, a light of the human race.

This moment was celebrated throughout the Diocese of Venice, most significantly through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated a pre-recorded TV Mass for the Homebound from Incarnation Parish in Sarasota with the students from Incarnation Catholic School present. This hour-long Christmas Mass reaches thousands of those who are unable to attend Mass for a variety of reasons.

During this Mass, Bishop Dewane said we, the human race, were created so we would be attracted to the light.

“Jesus is the light, not just when it is totally dark, but He brings the light to our world,” Bishop Dewane said. “He is the star that led the shepherds to the manger. His true light allows us to come out of the shadows and darkness and into the world.”

By allowing Christ to be the light in our lives we are called to the Covenant, enlightened in how we must live our lives, the Bishop continued.

“We have been given a great opportunity to let the light overcome the darkness in our lives,” Bishop Dewane said. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of this great opportunity at Christmas to renew our commitment to go forward to testify and magnify the Light of Christ into the world in how we live our lives each day.”

The manger, or Nativity scene, symbolizes the celebratory focus of the Christmas Season – Jesus Christ. Several Diocesan Parishes, and each Catholic school, took time to have a retelling of the birth of Jesus with young children and in some cases with live animals.

For example, St. Michael Parish in Wauchula held a living Nativity play on Dec. 21, 2024, included a donkey, horses and many angels and shepherds. This community celebration is organized by the religious sisters who serve the Parish, the Sister Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara, and includes a festival and the distribution of gifts for the children in the area.

As part of the St. William Parish HOPE (Homeless Outreach Program for Empowerment) ministry, volunteers from St. William and St. Peter the Apostle Parishes, in partnership with Catholic Charities, hosted a Christmas Lunch for the homeless in Naples. The luncheon took place on Dec. 23 at the Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center of Catholic Charities. Hot meals were provided along with music and décor to ring in the Christmas spirit. Each guest attending received gifts donated by parishioners.

Likewise, St. Raphael Parish in Lehigh Acres, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Lehigh Acres, offered a free holiday meal on Christmas Day. The meal featured traditional holiday favorites, including ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing and a variety of sides — perfect for bringing some festive cheer to your day.

Christmas is also a time to help others so donations for the needy were piled high and distributed. The most common form of collecting items for needy children is through an Angel Tree, where the ornaments are a wish list item for a child or family.

At Our Lady of Light Parish in Fort Myers, the generosity of the faithful was impressive as the Parish Hall was full of wrapped packages that were later delivered to the community. As noted in a social media post to the Parish, “Everything we have is a gift from God in one way or the other, and to see such giving is heartwarming.”

Catholic schools spent much of the month in preparation for Christmas with pageants, recitals, concerts, parties, and other fun, such as creating handmade presents for family members or building and decorating gingerbread houses. At the same time, the schools teach students the true meaning of Christmas, including bringing the love of Christ, that is in their hearts, out to the world.

 

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.

Thanksgiving across the Diocese 2024

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The idea of giving thanks, knowing that we are here because of gifts given to us by God, is at the core of what Thanksgiving is all about.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane described the holiday this way while celebrating Mass at Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Lakewood Ranch on Nov. 28, 2024.

As hard as we try, Bishop Dewane added, “being who God called us to be is difficult, and we will fail along the way. But, the Bible records the wonderful gifts of God, which we can find within ourselves and in others who are all made in the image and likeness of God.”

The Gospel reading of the day (Luke 17:11-19) was the parable of the 10 lepers, when only one returned to thank Jesus upon being cured of the debilitating illness. Jesus asks where the other nine were. Bishop Dewane stressed how we are all among the missing nine at certain points in our life, but we must always strive to be among the ones who return.

“By your presence at Mass on Thanksgiving, you are counted among those who returned to Jesus, just as you came to give thanks to God today. Know the Lord sees the goodness in you and thanks you,” Bishop Dewane said.

Meanwhile, Bishop Dewane went from the Mass in Lakewood Ranch to take part in a free community Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus Our Lady of Victory Council 3358 at their Hall on Fruitville Road in Sarasota.

The Knights delivered more than 200 meals to the elderly and homebound and then served hundreds more meals to those who needed a hot meal or didn’t have anywhere to go for the holiday. Guests were also encouraged to take meals home. Those meals included turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing, cranberry sauce, roll, and pumpkin or apple pie with whipped cream.

Bishop Dewane offered the opening prayer for the Knights and other volunteers before the dining room was opened. Then, the Bishop took his traditional spot in charge of serving the corn on a buffet line in the dining room and assisted with the mashed potatoes and gravy as needed. The dining format was a change from previous years of table service which allowed guests to opt in or out on their favorite foods and return for seconds.

Being grateful for what they have was a strong theme during Traditional Thanksgiving activities throughout the Diocese of Venice.

Multiple faiths on Longboat Key came together for the 44th annual interreligious Thanksgiving Worship Service on Nov. 19. Included was Father Robert Dziedziak. Pastor of Our Lady, Star of the Sea Parish. The service and gathering took on a special meaning of healing for the island community which was inundated by storm surge and devastated during Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

At several locations throughout the Diocese, turkey giveaways were common. Catholic Charities volunteers provided a hot holiday meal to the homeless on Nov. 26, at the Judy Sullivan Family resource Center in Naples.

At St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Naples, Pastor Father Gerard Critch started the Parish Thanksgiving dinner more than 10 years ago to ensure “no one will spend Thanksgiving alone.” Following a trilingual Mass (English, Spanish, Creole), the annual dinner served hundreds.

For those watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, 14 senior cheerleaders from Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers were part of the Spirit of America cheer team. This was the 10th year in a row a group of cheerleaders from Bishop Verot has received this high honor.

Ahead of the Thanksgiving break, young students at several Diocesan Catholic schools had the opportunity to participate in their own local “Macy’s” parade, with the youngest students dressing up as characters and carrying balloons with some creating floats.

First grade students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Bradenton recently used their math skills to complete Thanksgiving themed STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and math) games and worksheets. One of the activities included measuring how tall they were compared to the average turkey.

Another holiday tradition takes place at Bishop Verot Catholic High School. Coach Mike Gill’s talented woodshop students crafted wooden turkeys, hand-made treasures for their families that are not only a test of skill but a festive addition to any holiday table. Many alumni of Verot still display their wooden turkey from decades ago.

Gratitude for the many blessings enjoyed by the Diocese of Venice was widespread, and heartfelt!

News Briefs for the week of December 13, 2024

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Florida Bishops hold retreat in Venice

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.)

Seminarian instituted into Ministry of Lector

Diocese of Venice Seminarian Bao Quoc Nguyen was among six who were instituted into the Ministry of Lector by the Most Reverend Douglas J. Lucia, Bishop of the Diocese of Syracuse, on December 4, 2024, at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, Massachusetts. Those who are in formation to be ordained as Catholic priests must serve in the Ministry of Lector. This role prepares them to proclaim the Word of God through their work in the community and through the celebration of Mass and other liturgical rites. The principal duties of the lector at a Sunday Mass are to proclaim the first and second readings. In the absence of a deacon and/or cantor, the lector may carry the Gospel Book to the altar, proclaim the petitions for the Universal Prayer, and lead the responsorial psalm.

Bishop helps Parish celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe

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.

Street Evangelization training takes place in Cape Coral

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.

Bradenton robotics team participates in large competition

Three robotics teams from St. Joseph Catholic School in Bradenton have been busy building machines and learning how to implement new code for competitions. On Dec. 7, 2024, they had an opportunity to test their skills at a local FIRST Robotics Event at the State College of Florida. The teammates had a great time learning together, and with every attempt to run their programs, they showed improvement.

Sarasota Catholic School awarded $10,000 grant

St. Martha Catholic School in Sarasota was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support the implementation of a donor database. The grant was provided by the George J. & Alice Pugh Donor Advised Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Implementing a donor database at St. Martha Catholic School will streamline the management of donor information, allowing the school to efficiently track contributions and target outreach efforts. This system will be instrumental in securing the necessary funds to provide educational opportunities and financial assistance to students in our community who need it most. For more information about St. Martha Catholic School, please visit www.stmarthaschool.net.

 

News Briefs for the week of November 29, 2024

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Schools Masses celebrated in Sarasota

Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated Mass for students at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota on Nov. 20, 2024, and Incarnation Catholic School in Sarasota on Nov. 21. These were the latest in a series of Masses Bishop Dewane celebrates at each of the 15 Diocese of Venice Catholic schools during the first semester of the academic year.

Religious Brother dies

Brother Peter Scott Nault, CSC (Brothers of Holy Cross), who served in the Diocese of Venice for 33 years, died Nov. 21, 2024. He was 78. Born in Marquette, Michigan, Brother Peter entered the novitiate of the Brothers of Holy Cross in 1963, professing first vows in 1964 and making perpetual profession on April 17, 1971. He obtained a degree from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, and did graduate work at both the University of Notre Dame and Cleveland State University. Bother Peter taught at Catholic schools in both Ohio and Illinois. For the Diocese of Venice, Brother Peter served as the Assistant Treasurer and Director of Stewardship from 1986-1993, and then beginning in 1993 he worked at Epiphany Cathedral in a variety of roles, including as business manager, until his retirement in 2019. A Mass of Christan Burial was celebrated Nov. 25, 2024, at Epiphany Cathedral.

Cardinal Mooney and Bishop Verot to face each other in regional football final

The football rivalry between Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School in Sarasota and Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers will be on display when the two teams meet for the Class 2A-Region 3 final on Nov. 29, 2024, at Cardinal Mooney. Mooney, the defending 2A State Champs, beat Bishop Verot 49-28 in September and are 11-0 on the season. Verot is 9-3 but are considered one of the top teams in the region. Mooney leads the all-time series 23-22.

Students learn coding skills

Fourth grade students at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School in Naples showed off their creativity and coding skills in the classroom on Nov. 22, 2024. The students were tasked with programming robots to successfully navigate a parade route. Once their coding was fine-tuned, the students then designed costumes for their robot companions to wear during the parade.

Diocese of Venice Street Evangelization Training Session Dec. 7

A Basic Evangelization Training session that was postponed due to the hurricane has been rescheduled to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Dec. 7, 2024, at St. Andrew Catholic School, 1509 SE 27th St., Cape Coral, and will be offered in both English and Spanish. Pope Francis stated that it is the responsibility of every Catholic to share their faith. Representatives from St. Paul Street Evangelization will lead the training. The cost is $25, and includes a light breakfast and lunch as well as all materials, including the handout book and evangelization supplies. Registration is required online at http://stpaulse.com/venice. For additional information, please contact Jim Gontis at 941-484-4754, or gontis@dioceseofvenice.org. NOTE: A second traing session scheduled for Dec. 8 has been postponed and will be rescheduled.

Holiday Bereavement Outreach coming to Naples and Venice in early December

The “There is Hope – Surviving the Holidays” bereavement outreach is being offered by the Office of Family Life from 3-4:30 p.m., Dec. 3, 2024, at St. Agnes Parish, Parish Center, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, and again 3-4:30 p.m., Dec. 6, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Education Center, 1301 Center Road, Venice. Deacon Henry deMena will offer guidance for loved ones who are trying to cope with loss during the holidays. Suggestions will be offered on how to get through the holidays, such as early planning for any activities to help avoid surprises, making sure not to pretend that everything is the same or fine, or to not talk about the loved one, as this can be more painful for the bereaved. No registration is required. For details, contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org.

Tee-Up Fore Kids! Fundraiser Dec. 5 in Fort Myers

Support Catholic Charities’ Children’s Center (formerly AFCAAM Center) serving children in the Dunbar Community of Fort Myers during a golf tournament. The Tee-Up Fore Kids! is Dec. 5, 2024, from 6-9 p.m. at Topgolf, 2021 Top Golf Way, Fort Myers. Tickets are $165 per player and $300 for two players and includes golf, food, drinks, raffles, and entertainment. To reserve your spot or for more information, call 239-344-4007, email, TeeUp4kids@ccdov.org or visit catholiccharitiesdov.org.

Faith & Wine Lee County Dec. 5

Faith & Wine Lee County will have its first gathering of the season at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. The speaker is Judy Hehr, and the title of her talk is, “It’s never too late to be (bankrupt, homeless, drug addicted, a drop out) …or who God created you to be.” Tickets are $28 and include a three-course dinner with wine followed by the presentation and the opportunity to connect with other faith-based women. For more information and to register online please visit faithandwineleecounty.com.

“There is Hope” Bereavement Outreach Training

The Office of Family Life is hosting a Bereavement training focusing on training parish bereavement volunteers and those who speak with the bereaved. Deacon Henry deMena will lead the training. Deacon deMena holds a master’s degree in counseling and has extensive training and experience in Bereavement. The sessions will be held Dec. 4 and 5, 2024, at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, 144 Spear St., Port Charlotte. For more information, contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival in Port Charlotte on Dec. 7

Join St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Parish and Catholic School for an unforgettable day filled with Mexican-inspired food, beer, activities, and more during their Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival from 1 p.m. – 9 p.m., Dec. 7, 2024. The school is located at 21505 Augusta Ave, Port Charlotte. For more information visit www.stcbs.org/festival or contact Alicia Castello at 941-625-5533 ext. 213.

Longtime Pastor of Our Lady of Light dies 

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Funeral information below

Father Hugh J. McGuigan, Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, who has served as Pastor at Our Lady of Light Parish in Fort Myers for the past 20 years, died on Nov. 23, 2024. He was 71.

Father McGuigan was a professed Oblate for 50 years, first as a Brother for 23 years, then as a priest since 1997. Before serving at Our Lady of Light, Father served at Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers, first as a Dean of Students and then from 2000 to 2003 as Principal.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane expressed his sorrow regarding the passing of Father McGuigan, and said the faithful of Our Lady of Light Parish were in his prayers.

“Father Hugh was a friend and a true servant of God who lived his faith each day, being an example for others to follow,” Bishop Dewane said.

Known for his warm smile, humor, dancing, love for the Church and Her people, and of course for his passion for the Philadelphia Eagles, Father Hugh will be missed by the faithful at Our Lady of Light Parish. Comments made on social media focused on the countless lives he touched through his caring and kindness.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second of nine children, he began his college studies at Allentown College (now de Sales University), in Center Valley, Pennsylvania; De Sales School of Theology with Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.; and Nova Southeastern University. After serving as a brother with the Oblates for 23 years, Father McGuigan was Ordained to the Priesthood on May 31, 1997, in Wilmington, Delaware.

While serving at Bishop Verot, on weekends, Father assisted at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Cape Coral, Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, St. Cecilia Parish, St. Vincent de Paul Parish and Our Lady of Light Parish, all in Fort Myers.

He was assigned to Our Lady of Light as a Parochial Vicar in 2003 before his appointment as Pastor in 2004. While Pastor, Father McGuigan oversaw the construction of the Parish church which was completed in 2007. In addition, a Carilion Bell Tower was constructed in the plaza between the church and Parsh Hall. Father McGuigan also took special care to minister to the students at nearby Florida Gulf Coast University inviting them to Mass and also regularly celebrating Mass for the students in the Student Union.

For the Diocese of Venice, Father McGuigan previously served on the College of Consultors as well as Religious Representative on the Presbyteral Council. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was the Chaplain for the Notre Dame Club of Southwest Florida.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday Dec. 6., at Our Lady of Light Parish, 19680 Cypress View Drive, Fort Myers. The Reception of the Body will take place at 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Parish. This will be followed by Evening Prayer and visitation from 5-8 p.m. Additional visitation will take place from 9-10:45 a.m., Friday Dec. 6.

A Memorial Mass will take place at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, at Immaculate Conception Parish, Elkton, Maryland. Burial will follow in the Oblate Cemetery in Childs, Maryland.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Lady of Light Parish at https://www.ourladyoflight.com/, or Bishop Verot Catholic High School at https://www.bvhs.org/, or to the Oblates of St. Frances de Sales Retirement Fund at www.oblates.org/retirement.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Father McGuigan and the consolation of his family. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in eternal peace.

Hispanic Festival in Sarasota draws thousands

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Beautiful weather accompanied a day filled with food, fun, entertainment and lots of smiling faces for the 20th Annual Hispanic Festival at St. Jude Parish in Sarasota.

An estimated 10,000 people gathered at St. Jude for this event on Nov. 9, 2024, a celebration of both the individual nations and the unified culture of a diverse Parish.

Held annually in November, this annual Festival is the oldest one in Sarasota County to feature authentic Latino food, music and culture. The day includes musical performances and ethnic dancers as well as food from many nations. Throughout the Parish grounds were tents full of a wide variety of foods that left many mouths watering. People attend the event annually from as far away as Naples and Clearwater. It has become a much anticipated and beloved event for the Parish.

The Hispanic Festival opened with prayer, followed by a “Parade of Flags” as each country represented at the festival was announced, and the respective flags brought forth cheers.

As a bilingual Parish, the members of both the English and the Spanish speaking congregation at St. Jude participated and volunteered to staff the booths.

The celebration of more than a dozen countries lasted from morning until sunset. Throughout the day, there were performances, offering folk and modern music, and dance. Many proudly wore clothing representing their country of origin.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Festival, Father Jiobani Batista, Pastor at St. Jude, unveiled renderings of a new Parish church, which was met with great excitement. This building will be a permanent, purpose-built church. The existing Hispanic-American Center, where Masses and all Parish activities now take place, will become a Parish Hall and religious education building. Fundraising is taking place now with construction projected to start by 2026.

Martina Lopez, 8, enjoyed trying a variety of foods, including empanadas from the Argentinian food tent, which is a beef-filled pastry. She also tried a few of the desserts from the Brazilian tent, including brigadeiro, a sweet confection. The highlight of the day for the young girl was the various dancers who wore colorful dresses. “It was so wonderful to see them dancing to such beautiful songs.”

Whether it was the food, the music, the dancing, or the joy of being around so many happy people, the Hispanic Festival was a success by any measure.

The proceeds of the Hispanic Festival go to support the various outreach efforts of St. Jude Parish, including a food pantry and other programs which help families in need throughout the year.

 

Fort Myers Vietnamese Catholic community celebrates 15 years

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The growing Catholic Vietnamese community in the Diocese of Venice celebrated a milestone, marking 15 years with a permanent Mass at St. John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane, who was the main celebrant for the Mass on Nov. 2, 2024, expressed his admiration for the Catholic Vietnamese community in Fort Myers, offering strong contributions to the faith-life of the Diocese.

“It is I who am honored to be with all of you as a part of this festive celebration,” Bishop Dewane said. “Your presence in the Diocese, permanently for the past 15 years at St. John XXIII, has been positive and beautiful. The contribution that you make here at your Parish is substantial. You may be small in number, but you are a good number. You are here. The Lord calls you to come, to be present to worship Sunday after Sunday, and we continue to give thanks for that blessing.”

Looking forward, the Bishop said he will continue to support the Vietnamese Catholic community as it grows. In addition to the Mass at St. John XXIII, Masses in Vietnamese are celebrated in Sarasota at St. Martha Parish and mostly recently periodically at San Pedro Parish in North Port. In addition, there are currently two men who are from Vietnam in formation as Diocesan seminarians.

“I see a strong future for the Vietnamese community here in this Diocese,” Bishop Dewane said. “As we go forward, we celebrate 15 years by being grateful for the blessings the Lord has bestowed on this community as it thrives. It is an important part of the Diocese of Venice.”

Father Joseph Than Van Liem, CRM, the current Chaplain for the Vietnamese community at St. John XXIII, concelebrated the Mass, and thanked Bishop Dewane for his support of the community and presence for the 15th anniversary celebration.

The opening for the Mass began with a colorful procession, including the faithful, from the Vietnamese Martyrs Memorial, through the courtyard and into the Parish church. The memorial to 117 Vietnamese Martyrs was dedicated in 2013 by Bishop Dewane. As part of the celebration, Vietnamese Catholic flags were raised above the memorial and parking lot.

The Vietnamese Catholics celebrated Mass at several Parishes in Lee County before Bishop Dewane helped the community find its permanent home in 2009 at St. John XXIII Parish.

Adam Nguyen, who has been a leader in the Fort Myers Vietnamese community since its inception, explained how Bishop Dewane understood the need for finding a permanent home in Lee County and how the staff and faithful at St. John XXIII were very welcoming.

“It was 15 years ago when we felt lost and adrift, much like orphans yearning for a home. When we approached St. John XXIII Parish those doors swung wide open, welcoming us with warmth and compassion,” Nguyen said. “We are endlessly thankful for the Lord guiding us here.”

Nguyen said the blessing and support of Bishop Dewane, bringing in Vietnamese clergy to support the community, has allowed the community to flourish.

“We will always be a part of your legacy, and your unwavering support will forever be in our hearts,” Nguyen said.

Also concelebrating during the Mass were Father Bernadine Tan Minh Dang, CRM, who was the first permanent priest to serve the Vietnamese community at St. John XXIII; Father Joseph Toan Duc Vu, CRM, Parochial Vicar at St. Martha Parish in Sarasota who serves the Vietnamese Catholic Community in the region; Father Jayabalan Raju, Administrator at St. John XXIII; and Father Greg Dougherty, Parochial Vicar at the Parish.

Longtime religious sister heading to assignment in South America

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Sister Maria Regina Apostolorum Zambrano, Servant Sister of the Virgin of Matara (SSVM), has called St. Michael Parish in Wauchula home for the past 12 years, something she described as a blessing and gift from the Lord and one that she will never forget.

As a missionary religious, Sister Regina knew she would be unable to stay in Wauchula forever and this is true as she is about to start a new assignment in Guyana in South America in November.

To honor her years of service, the Parish recognized Sister Regina with a celebration on Oct. 27, 2024. Appropriately, this began with Mass, followed by a reception with food, music, smiles, laughter and even a few tears. The national flag of Guyana and flowers were placed on the tables for the farewell reception.  Many were certain to say one last good-bye and take one last photo together with the woman religious who had been part of their lives for many years. “We love you!” “We will miss you!” “Thank you!” “We will pray for you!”

Bishop Frank J. Dewane welcomed the Servant Sisters of the Virgin of Matara to the rural community in Wauchula in 2012, with Sister Regina being part of the original three women religious assigned to the Parish.

Never one to seek the limelight, Sister Regina devoted her time preparing for Mass, or the many Parish activities. A religious education teacher for children and adults, she was also involved in planning and getting food and volunteers for the many youth camps, festivals, retreats, and large celebrations for the feasts of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Michael, the Sacred Heart, and Corpus Christi, and well as large Nativity and Passion plays.

However, the biggest difference Sister Regina made during her years in Wauchula was the personal connections she made with the families at St. Michael.

“I would like you to know that it has been an honor for me to have been among you,” Sister Regina said at the reception. “Although some might laugh at me because I say that this mission has been like a paradise to me; that’s because you all are naturally warm and kind.”

She went on to explain her call to please God and through that do His will. Her religious family, the Servant Sisters, has a very special style of bringing souls closer to God that is part of the charism.

“My religious family accepted the commitment to mission here and since we are missionaries, we must be willing to go where God sends us. That is why I am leaving, but more sisters have come and will continue to come,” Sister said. “I will not forget about you, because you all are and will continue to be my spiritual children. This sacrifice is worth it because missionaries have been called by Jesus to help Him save souls and according to Archbishop Fulton Sheen, souls cost and the price is our prayers and sacrifices.”

The assignment in Guyana includes 19 chapels spread over a huge area, with only three priests and four women religious working on mission. The assignment is where Sister Therese Nikopoia Kolbe, SSVM, the current St. Michael Director of Religious Education was stationed there for five years, before coming to Wauchula. All transportation in the region is by boat, with one large river system and a few lakes in the region.

Father Wilner Durosier, CS, Administrator of St. Michael Parish, praised Sister Regina for being an example for others in the community, living out her missionary work in a humble way, and helping to bring all closer to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ.

Sister Regina concluded her remarks by stating: “I want to thank you for all the kindness you have shown me. Thank you for helping me with everything. In these past 12 years I believe that no one has been spared from working with me. And to be honest, I have invited you to help so that when you have to give an account to our Father in heaven, you have something in your favor. God has his plans, and if we don’t see each other again, we will see each other in heaven.”

To learn more about the Servant Sisters of the Virgin of Matara, please visit www.ssvnusa.org, or you can follow the missionary work in Guyana on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ssvmguyana.

Many continue to struggle in wake of Milton – Parishes mostly spared, much work needs to be done

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The winds, rain and storm surge have long passed since Hurricane Milton struck the Diocese of Venice on Oct. 9, 2024, but the recovery process is only just beginning.

Most Diocesan Parishes and Catholic schools were spared severe impacts but there are clear exceptions, most notably Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Boca Grande; St. Bernard Parish in Holmes Beach; St. Joseph Parish and Catholic School in Bradenton; and Sacred Heart Parish in Punta Gorda.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane has been at the forefront in ensuring the response to Hurricane Milton continues to be effective throughout the Diocese.

Once access to Boca Grande was possible, the true extent of the damage done to Our Lady of Mercy Parish was evident. More than five feet of storm surge swept through the property, inundating the church, Boca Grande Preschool and the rectory. The new Parish Hall was spared damage having been built in 2022 to a higher elevation.

The Parish was still recovering from storm surge damage during Hurricane Helene in late September and the mitigation of that water was completed before Milton’s arrival. Unfortunately, Milton’s water was several feet higher. In the church, the water reached the top of the pews and spread into the sanctuary. The preschool, where drywall had been cut following Helene, now has all walls cut to the bare studs.

In addition, Milton’s water reached the rectory. While the water did not reach the flooring, it did damage the garage and crawlspace where various utilities were located.

Father Anthony Hewitt, Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy, said the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass returned on Oct. 13, with daily Mass taking place at noon instead of 8 a.m., as access to the island community is restricted. It is deemed too hazardous to stay in the community as there is no running water. Early each morning there are long lines of traffic going through checkpoints. This is occurring even though access is restricted to residents, business owners, recovery workers, and contractors.

Working under the direction of staff from the Diocese of Venice Buildings and Construction Office, contractors have removed all the debris from the church, preschool and rectory as part of the mitigation work. How best to proceed with the reconstruction of each building will be determined in the coming days and weeks.

Huge piles of debris, or dumpsters, stand in front of each residence and business in the community, a testament to the force of the water.

“The parishioners, as well as the community, are all turning to God in this difficult time and the comfort and strength from the Holy Eucharist has been a tremendous blessing,” Father Hewitt said.

The same can be said in many other area island communities.

St. Bernard Parish in Holmes Beach had additional damage to the rectory and Parish Hall during Milton, as the area was also still recovering from Hurricane Helene. The latest storm damage set back the progress of mitigation and reconstruction efforts by several weeks, if not longer, as resources for the cleaning and rebuilding are being stretched to the limit by the widespread destruction caused by back-to-back hurricanes.

Diocesan Building and Construction Director Joe Rego said the Diocese was well prepared to cope with the impacts of the hurricanes, but the recovery process takes time.

At Sacred Heart Parish in Punta Gorda, the mitigation work to remove storm surge water from the Parish Center and rectory is progressing well. The same is true at St. Joseph Parish and Catholic school in Bradenton where the damage was limited to roofs and some water leaks. Each of the roofs has been temporarily sealed while repairs await plans and contractors.

While some of the focus has been on the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., is focusing on the human impact of the storm, the thousands who have lost homes or jobs because of the flooding. These include service workers at restaurants, businesses, hotels, resorts, and more.

Catholic Charities very quickly set up several different points of distribution in Palmetto, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Bonita Springs. These sites allowed people to drive through and receive food, water and other disaster supplies.

The Catholic Charities Disaster Response Team also includes case management services which are being offered for survivors of the disaster with the goal to meet an individual’s or family’s immediate need. Many are in need of permanent housing, rental assistance or utility payments. This effort also assists those in need to cope with changes while home repairs are being made and helps them access available resources.

In the first 10 days following Hurricane Milton, Catholic Charities assisted more than 7,000 people. This help included water and food, as well as emergency financial assistance.

In the wake of Hurricane Milton, the Diocese of Venice has activated its Disaster Relief Fund to aid in the necessary repairs to churches and schools. To support this fund, you can visit www.dioceseofvenice.org/disasterrelief.

To learn how you can help support the disaster relief efforts of Catholic Charities, please visit www.catholiccharitiesdov.org.

 

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