Tag: parish life

Diocesan Jubilee Year offerings

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Throughout the 2025 Jubilee Year, a special holy year of grace, hope, and pilgrimage that happens at least once every 25 years, Pope Francis is calling all Catholics to go on a journey of conversion as “Pilgrims of Hope,” seeking to grow closer to the Lord, cultivating hope in their heart, and bringing hope to others.

Below is a list of some of the activities taking place within the Diocese of Venice where the faithful can participate in the 2025 Jubilee Year.

Five Diocesan Pilgrimage Sites

Bishop Frank J. Dewane has designated five locations as Jubilee pilgrimage sites within the Diocese of Venice. These Pilgrimage Sites in the Diocese are Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, St. John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers, St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples, St. Paul Parish in Arcadia, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice. Bishop Dewane said, “In designating the retreat center and four Parishes, located in each of the geographical regions (Deaneries) of the Diocese of Venice, it is my prayer that the faithful of the Diocese take advantage of the grace of the Jubilee Year, and visit the Jubilee Pilgrimage Site and be filled with hope.” The public schedule for each of the Diocese of Venice Pilgrimage Sites will be posted the first week in February at https://dioceseofvenice.org/ and on social media.

Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Eastern Deanery Feb. 15

A Eucharistic Pilgrimage will visit the parishes of St. James, St. Catherine, Our Lady of Grace, St. Michael, and St. Paul, on Saturday, Feb.15, 2025. This is a unique opportunity to respond to the call of the Eucharistic Revival Mission and celebrate the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope declared by Pope Francis. The pilgrimage begins at 7:30 a.m., at St. James Parish, 3380 Placid View Drive, Lake Placid, and will include Mass, a Eucharistic Procession and breakfast. Pilgrims will then travel by their own vehicle to St. Catherine Parish, 820 Hickory St., Sebring, for a 10 a.m. Eucharistic Procession. Next will be at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 595 E. Main St., Avon Park, for a noon Eucharistic Procession, followed by lunch. Pilgrims will then proceed to St. Michael Parish, 408 Heard Bridge Road, Wauchula, for a 3 p.m. Eucharistic Procession, followed by snacks. The final stop will be at St. Paul Parish, 1330 E. Oak St., Arcadia (this is a designated Diocesan Jubilee Year Pilgrimage Site), for a 6 p.m. Mass, which will be followed by food. Pilgrims can participate in as many of the stops as they wish. For more information, please contact Sister Maria Nikopoia, SSVM, at m.nikopoia@servidoras.org or call 863-232-9284.

Youth Jubilee Adoration Nights

Youth Jubilee Adoration Nights present young Catholics the opportunity to take part in group Eucharistic Adoration as part of the 2025 Jubilee Year. The evenings include prayer and conclude with Benediction. There will also be the opportunity to take part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. While these special Youth Jubilee Adoration Nights are geared toward younger Catholics, with youth-centric music and talks, all are welcome. Each Adoration Night is 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Remaining opportunities to participate are: Saturday, March 22, St. Patrick Parish, 7900 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota; and Friday, May 2, St. Paul Parish, 1330 E. Oak. St., Arcadia. There is no cost to attend, but registration is requested at https://dioceseofvenice.regfox.com/jubilee-2025-adoration-nights-. For more information contact Andres Prias at prias@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-441-1122.

Save the Date! 3rd Eucharistic Conference in Diocese of Venice!

As part of the three-year National Eucharistic Revival called for by the Bishops of the United States, and part of the 2025 Jubilee Year, the Diocese of Venice will host its third Eucharistic Conference on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda. The theme for day-long event is “Becoming Eucharistic Missionaries” and it offers an opportunity to celebrate your Catholic faith with others and be inspired during this 2025 Jubilee Year. The Eucharistic Conference will feature dynamic presentations by nationally renowned Catholic speakers including Dr. Scott Hahn, Kimberly Hahn, Mary Ann Wiesinger-Puig, and Andrés Arango. There will also be breakout sessions in Spanish. The event will include Mass celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane. In addition, there will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the opportunity for Confession, as well as Catholic vendors and exhibitors. The cost to attend is $35. per person and includes lunch. To register, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.regfox.com/eucharistic-conference. For more information, contact Jim Gontis at 941-486-4754 or gontis@dioceseofvenice.org.

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us

in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity enkindled

in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

reawaken in us the blessed hope

for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us

into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

 

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos

in the sure expectation

of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee

reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,

a yearning for the treasures of heaven.

May that same grace spread

the joy and peace of our Redeemer

throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed,

be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

 

 

Pro-Life message needs to resonate for all

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Made in the image and likeness of God, every life matters.

From conception to natural death, the fight to defend the life of the most vulnerable continues. Although there have been victories in recent years in curbing access to abortion in Florida and nationwide, much work still needs to be done.

For this reason, more than 1,300 took part in the Fourth Annual Ave Maria March for Life on Jan. 18, 2025, including Bishop Frank J. Dewane. The March was a joint effort of the Parish Respect Life Ministry, Ave Maria University, and the Knights of Columbus, and included inspirational speakers.

In addition, on Jan. 24, a group of nearly 200 from the Diocese of Venice, mostly high schoolers, travelled to the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. joining tens of thousands of others on the national stage.

Each of these events occurred in connection to the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn, Jan. 22, a day designated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for the faithful to pause and reflect on the damage caused by more than 65 million abortions since the 1972 Roe v. Wade U.S. Supreme Court decision cleared the way for unlimited abortion in the country. While that decision was overturned in 2022, the fight didn’t end there. The states are now responsible for setting laws on abortion access and the result is chaotic, meaning some states allow abortion nearly to the moment of birth, while states like Florida have banned all abortions beyond six weeks of gestation.

The fight is clear, because as Bishop Dewane noted, when Pope Francis was recently asked to respond to the “issue” of abortion, the Holy Father stated: “Abortion is not an issue. It’s murder.”

“Too often the political realm drags us into a fight over this ‘issue,’ but that is wrong,” the Bishop said. “We are not in a political fight over an issue in this country, we are in a moral struggle in our country because no longer do many see the value of life. We must remember, each individual life is made in the image and likeness of God. That is what we are fighting to uphold.”

Speaking directly to the youth at the Ave March, Bishop Dewane said it is they who will carry the fight into the future.

“It is murder that you have to reach out and stop,” the Bishop said. “You are our hope. You are our prayer. The Lord has given you a mission in life. He says in the Gospel, ‘Follow me!’ If we don’t follow Him about the sanctity of life, we not only fail Christ, but we also fail ourselves, we fail our neighbors, we fail our families, and we fail our Creator. Stand up and speak out. Let this question make you become more the man or woman of God you are called to be.”

Several of the high school participants spoke after the March about being excited to be part of the Pro-Life movement, knowing how important it is for their generation to speak up for the unborn.

One young lady from St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples not how impressed she was that “the Bishop said our generation is on a mission. That mission is to be a witness for life before our friends and family, but most importantly for the Glory of God.”

Speakers during the Ave March included Sharon Levesque, Ave Maria Parish Respect Life Ministry leaders and coordinator of the March; Jim Havens, radio and podcast host and president and founder of The Men’s March; Steven W. Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute; Kimberly King, vice president of student affairs at Ave Maria University; Campbell Rose Yates, middle school vice president of the Pro-Life Club at Donahue Academy of Ave Maria; Audrey Fairchild, high school vice president of the Pro-Life Club at Donahue Academy; and Kate Richardson, of the Ave Maria University Pro-Life Club.

All of the speakers spoke about the defeat of the extreme Amendment 4 in the November 2024 Florida election which would have radically expanded access to abortion in the state. The vote was too close, and Bishop Dewane said that the work to educate people on the horrors of abortion starts with events such as this Ave Maria March.

Included in the Ave Maria March was a group of 175 from St. Michael Parish in Wauchula guided by the Servant Sisters of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara.

In addition to other faithful from throughout the Diocese, there were groups from as far away as the Archdiocese of Miami, Diocese of St. Petersburg and Diocese of Orlando.

The effort to protect life does not end with the Marches. Starting March 5, Ash Wednesday, and continuing through Lent, there will be three 40 Days for Life spring campaign locations within the Diocese (Fort Myers, Naples, and Sarasota). During the campaign, the faithful will stand in peaceful prayer to end abortion. For more details, please visit https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/.

If you would like to learn more about Respect Life issues and how you can be a witness for life, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/respectlife.

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.

Diocese to celebrate Jubilee Year events

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The 2025 Jubilee Year, as established by Pope Francis, has begun and Bishop Frank J. Dewane has designated five locations as Jubilee pilgrimage sites within the Diocese of Venice. These pilgrimage sites are Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, St. John XXIII Parish in Fort in the Diocese of Venice Myers, St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples, St. Paul Parish in Arcadia, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice.

“In designating the retreat center and four Parishes, located in each of the geographical regions (Deaneries) of the Diocese of Venice, it is my prayer that the faithful of the Diocese take advantage of the grace of the Jubilee Year, and visit the Jubilee pilgrimage site and be filled with hope,” Bishop Dewane said.

The public schedule for each of the Diocese of Venice pilgrimage sites will be announced in the coming weeks and posted at https://dioceseofvenice.org/ and on social media.

A Jubilee Year is a special holy year of grace and pilgrimage that happens at least once every 25 years. The Pope can call for extraordinary jubilee years, such as the 2016 Year of Mercy. During the Jubilee, Catholics are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to Rome. For pilgrims who can’t travel to Rome, the Bishops of the world were encouraged to designate local pilgrimage sites for the Jubilee

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. The motto for the special year is “Pilgrims of Hope.”

One grace that “Pilgrims of Hope” on the Jubilee may obtain is the “Jubilee indulgence.” This grace is granted by the Holy Father to anyone who travels to any sacred jubilee site, whether in Rome, the Holy Land, or a locally designated sacred site.

The 2025 Jubilee Year, a year filled with special spiritual, artistic, and cultural events in Rome, will conclude during the Christmas Season 2025. Some of the biggest events of the Jubilee of Hope will be the canonizations of Blessed Carlo Acutis, during the Jubilee of Teenagers on April 27, and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, during the Jubilee of Young People on Aug. 3. Finally, will be celebration of the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents, and the Elderly on the weekend of May 30 – June 1.

Jubilee Adoration Nights

As part of the 2025 Jubilee Year, the Diocese of Venice Office of Evangelization is hosting Jubilee Adoration Nights at four Parishes in the coming months. These Jubilee Adoration Nights, which include guest speakers and time to spend in the presence of the Lord in the Most Holy Sacrament, are the first in a series of opportunities within the Diocese of Venice to participate in the larger 2025 Jubilee Year as established by Pope Francis. The motto for the special year is “Pilgrims of Hope.” Each Jubilee Adoration Nights is 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the following dates and locations: Thursday, Jan. 16, St. Agnes Parish, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples; Friday, January 31, St. Andrew Parish, 2628 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral; Saturday, March 22, St. Patrick Parish, 7900 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota; and Friday, May 2, St. Paul Parish, 1330 E. Oak. St., Arcadia.

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,

may the faith you have given us

in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,

and the flame of charity enkindled

in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,

reawaken in us the blessed hope

for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us

into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.

May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos

in the sure expectation

of a new heaven and a new earth,

when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,

your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee

reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,

a yearning for the treasures of heaven.

May that same grace spread

the joy and peace of our Redeemer

throughout the earth.

To you our God, eternally blessed,

be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

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.

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