Tag: pope leo xiv

Biography: Bishop–elect Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap.

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Biography: Bishop–elect Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap.

  • Born: Dec. 15, 1964, Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • 1st Profession Capuchin Franciscan Brother – St. Conrad Novitiate, Pittsburgh, Pa. July 16, 1988, Capuchin Province of St. Augustine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Diaconate Ordination – Basilica Immaculate Conception Washington, DC, May 1, 1993
  • Priesthood Ordination – Shrine of the Sacred Heart, Washington, May 21, 1994

Entered the Capuchin Franciscans in 1984, making first profession of vows in Pittsburgh on July 16, 1988. Having completed philosophical and theological studies was ordained to the diaconate on May 1, 1993, and served at St. John the Evangelist in Center City Philadelphia. Ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1994.

As a newly ordained priest, volunteered and was sent to serve in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea from 1994-2005 in the Capuchin mission. Served predominantly the Kewa and Wiri speaking peoples in the Kagua, Ialibu and Pangia areas. During this period, worked closely with lay leaders and catechists. Served as the Director of Novices for the Capuchin Novitiate in Pangia from 2002-2004.

From January 2005 to January 2007, in preparation for the mission in Cuba, studied at the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family in Washington DC. STL degree, Magnum Cum Laude.

Entered Cuba on February 1, 2007. Served for 12 years, until February 11, 2019. The first year in Havana. Three years in Santa Clara and the last eight years on the eastern side of the country in Bayamo-Manzanillo.

On March 1, 2019, named Pastor at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC.

Hobbies/Special Interests:

  • Grew-up playing many outdoor sports: baseball, basketball, football, especially soccer on organized teams from the age of 5-6 until entrance into the Capuchins Franciscans at 19.
  • Enjoy reading, especially the Scriptures, various Catechisms, spirituality and history.
  • Enjoy participating in pilgrimages on foot.
  • As a missionary priest, especially interested in the spiritual formation of men and women as they enter the Catholic Church and renew their faith through creative OCIA programs that include marriage preparation.

Languages/Cultures:

  • Fluency in three (3) languages. Served as Pastor in: English, Spanish, Melanesian Tok Pisin.

Hunger is focus of Pope’s May prayer intention – Diocese is on the frontline to feed those in need

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Catholic Social Teaching tells us that food is a fundamental human right, not a commodity, emphasizing that every person requires access to adequate nutrition to live with dignity.

Pope Leo XIV, with his May 2026 prayer intention as a platform, prays “That everyone might have food. Let us pray that everyone from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food, and to ensure that everyone has access to quality food.”

Pope Leo demands a moral response to hunger to ensure that everyone has access to quality food while also avoiding waste, calling on the faithful to confront the problem of food insecurity with both prayer and concrete action.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane said that since all human life is sacred, access to food is a basic right necessary to life. “Hunger is not someone else’s problem; it is a shared moral responsibility for all to act.”

Within the Diocese of Venice there are more than a dozen food pantries of varying sizes which combine to help hundreds of families each day and tens of thousands each month.

Among the 15 largest food pantries in the Diocese, including those run by Catholic Charities, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and individual Parishes, tens of thousands of people are spared from going hungry each month.

Food pantries were initially established at Parishes and in communities to help families in a crisis. However, because of rapidly rising costs of not just food, but also gasoline, medicines, and other necessities, combined with season layoffs and a tight local job market, pantry staff and volunteers are now seeing people entering their doors who have previously never needed food before.

To maximize donations, nearly all of the larger food pantries in the Diocese have transitioned from the drive-thru model, which created tremendous waste, to a “Choice Pantry.”

A “Choice Pantry” is when someone comes to a pantry needing food and they have a “mini shopping experience” (similar to shopping at a chosen retail grocery store) where they choose the foods their family will eat.  Volunteers explain the “points system” – how everything on the shelves has a point value and where each household is assigned points for shopping based on the number of people needing food. There is no cash, only points, for food.  Remarkably, most families don’t use all their points as they select only the food their family will eat, meaning food waste is virtually nonexistent.

“The need is growing, and we are doing everything we can to keep up because no one should have to wonder where their next meal will come from,” said Jenny Muñoz, Catholic Charities Desoto County Regional Director. The DeSoto County office in Arcadia hosts a “Choice Pantry” which serves about 2,600 individuals and families each month, up from only 800 a month just six months ago.

Muñoz said the massive increase in demand can be attributed to multiple factors, such as the conversion from a drive-thru to a Choice Pantry distribution, and an expansion of operating hours, including two evenings each week.

“It is really about meeting the needs of the community,” Muñoz said. “Parents, grandparents and neighbors come through our food pantry and shop with dignity for only the items they need and leave with full carts and full hearts. But behind every cart is a growing need. With the generosity of our many benefactors helping to keep our shelves stocked and our doors open, we are providing hope for every family who walks through.”

In the most recent fiscal year, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice Inc. provided food to 95,588 at six locations and is projected to reach 119,500 by the end of the current fiscal year. This is in addition to disaster relief operations after Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton in 2024, which distributed food to 8,100 families in a two week period. Following Hurricane Ian in 2022 Catholic Charities distributed 2,504 tons of supplies, and provided food to 115,747 people, plus an additional 22,492 hot meals, in the first month after the storm. In addition to those impressive numbers, Catholic Charities also provides after school food for 75 children each week, a number that jumps to 150 each week for children participating in summer camps.

Sadly, most of the increase in demand at Catholic Charities and other pantries is from fixed-income senior citizens, said Catholic Charities CEO Christopher M. Root. “The seniors must make hard choices when it comes to expenses. Catholic Charities is there to provide the food they need to survive.”

Dan Freidrich, Director of the St. Joseph Food Pantry in Bradenton, noted that 31 percent of the population of Manatee County does not earn enough to sustain their standard of living. “People must make choices everyday between paying for childcare, paying for medicines, rent or groceries. At St. Joseph Food Pantry we believe nobody should go hungry.”

On a smaller scale, the more than 200 families every month who receive food at the St. Michael Parish Choice Pantry in Wauchula rely on donations from regional food banks, as well as other Parishes and individual benefactors, said Pantry Director Sister Maria de Talpa, a Servant Sister of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara.

“We have Knights of Columbus who bring trailers of food, and we have good relationships with other providers,” Sister Maria said.  “Sometimes I worry if we will have enough to meet the demand, but it all comes down to Divine Providence.”

One of the newest food pantries in the region is the Twelve Baskets Food Pantry at St. Thomas More Parish in Sarasota. Open every Wednesday, the pantry was opened in 2025 to meet a demand in the community to help people with food insecurity.

Another new food pantry is Table of Plenty at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Cape Coral. The pantry operates out of the Parish Hall and had only four visitors when it debuted in 2022. Kathy Anderson, who helped found the food pantry, said the pantry “now serves 40 to 60 families on the third Friday of each month. We distributed more than 30,000 pounds of food in 2025.”

The St. Vincent de Paul Sacred Heart Conference in Punta Gorda has Choice Pantry hours three days a week and provides five days of food to 17,437 individuals each year.

Tony Rivera, Vice President of the Sacred Heart Conference said the switch to a Choice Pantry made a huge difference in lowering the waste and helped streamline the food distribution process. “We help our friends and neighbors in a dignified way,” Rivera said. “It is not easy for someone to come asking for food. We understand that.”

The food pantries in the Diocese of Venice receive food from donations, Parish food drives and regional food banks, such as Midwest Food Bank of Florida based in Fort Myers, All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota, Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers and Naples, and Feeding Tampa Bay.

If you need food, or would like to support a food pantry in your area, please contact individual food pantries, or Parishes to learn of an affiliated food pantry, as well as to learn details on future food collections or how to volunteer.

Helping Catholic Charities food pantries

You can support each food pantry by donating food directly to each location, or by specifying your financial donation by visiting https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/donate.

Food Pantries within the Diocese of Venice

  • Arcadia – DeSoto County Catholic Charities – 863-494-1068 – 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Monday and Wednesday, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday, and 9 a.m. – 11a.m. Friday,
  • Bokeelia – Pine Island Food Pantry – Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish – 760-529-7238 – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., Monday and Thursday,
  • Bonita Springs – Juan Diego Outreach Center, Catholic Charities – 239-390-2928 – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Fridays,
  • Bradenton – St. Joseph Food Pantry – 941-756-3732 – 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. Monday – Friday. For details visit https://www.stjoepantry.com/,
  • Cape Coral – St. Katharine Drexel Food Pantry – 239-283-9501 – 9 a.m. – noon, third Friday of each month,
  • Clewiston – St. Margaret Parish, Catholic Charities – 239-334-4007, ext. 2103 – 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Friday,
  • Fort Myers – Elizabeth K. Galeana Food Pantry, Catholic Charities – 239-334-4007, ext. 2103 – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Thursdays,
  • Fort Myers – Jesus the Worker Food Pantry – 239-693-5333 – 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Tuesday and Saturday,
  • Grove City – St. Francis of Assisi Food Pantry – 941-697-4899 – 9:15 a.m. -11:15 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
  • Immokalee – Guadalupe Social Services of Catholic Charities 239-657-6242, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Monday – Friday,
  • Naples – Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center, of Catholic Charities – 239-793-0059 – 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Wednesday and Thursday,
  • Naples – St. Vincent de Paul Family Assistance Center – 239-775-2907: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday. For details visit https://www.svdpnaples.org/,
  • Punta Gorda – St. Vincent de Paul, Sacred Heart Conference – 25200 Airport Road – 941-575-0767: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday. For details, visit https://www.svdppg.org/,
  • Sarasota – St. Jude Food Pantry – 941-955-3934 – 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Wednesday,
  • Sarasota – St. Thomas More Food Pantry – 941-923-1691 – 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., Wednesday,
  • Wauchula – St. Michael Food Pantry – 863-773-4089 – 7 a.m. – 8:45 a.m., Saturday.

St. Joseph the Worker, Patron of the Universal Church recognized in May

Posted on by Bob Reddy

To foster deep devotion to St. Joseph among Catholics, on May 1, 1955, Pope Pius XII instituted the Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker to provide a Christian context for labor, specifically to coincide with International Workers Day. He aimed to highlight the dignity of work, calling St. Joseph “the humble workman of Nazareth” and the “provident guardian of families.”

The Catholic Church has long placed an importance on the dignity of human work. By working, we fulfill the commands found in the Book of Genesis to care for the earth and be productive in our labors.

The Catholic Church teaches that work is a fundamental dimension of human existence, a form of continuing participation in God’s creation, and a means of personal fulfillment. Work possesses dignity because it is performed by the human person, not just to produce goods or profit, and is, therefore, a right.

“Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation,” said Bishop Frank J. Dewane. “Working can draw us closer to God by helping us to find and fulfill our purpose on this Earth. Work can be sanctified by the idea that every task has been given to us by God and is completed for His greater glory.”

St. Joseph is one of the few saints who is celebrated in the Liturgical Calendar with two Feast Days (St. John the Baptist, birth and martyrdom, St. Peter, Chair of St. Peter and Solemnity, St. Paul, conversion and Solemnity, and St. Benedict, traditional death and translation of relics). In addition to May 1, St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19, when he is honored as Patron Saint of the Church, which he cares for just as he cared chastely for the Son entrusted to him by the Lord, and his wife, Mary.

“St. Joseph is a figure who led by example, while also offering powerful prayer and protection as Patriarch of the Universal Church,” Bishop Dewane said. “As a worker, St. Joseph offers fruitful protection of the workers who learn from his example and entrust themselves to his intercession.”

Pope Leo XIV on the Dignity of Work

Throughout the first year of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV has returned repeatedly to the topics of labor, economics and the dignity of work. To a group of young professionals on April 18, 2026, the Holy Father said, “Be a living presence in the Church in the places where you work; in international institutions, in diplomacy, in organizations, in the world of work. Be men and women who build bridges, while others raise walls. Be credible in the silence of deeds, rather than visible in your words. Be a sign, not merely a presence.”

During an audience for the Jubilee of the World of Work on Nov. 8, 2025, Pope Leo said, “Work must be a source of hope and life, allowing the expression of individual creativity and capacity for good.” And then on Dec. 22, 2025, to the employees of the Roman Curia, the Holy Father said, “Sometimes we are so caught up in our occupations that we do not think about the Lord or the Church; but the very fact of working with dedication, trying to give our best, and also — for you lay people — with love for your family, for your children, gives glory to the Lord.”

St. Joseph the Worker as Saint

In some images, St. Joseph is seen holding lilies, which symbolize integrity and indicate that he was the earthly spouse of the Blessed Mother, whose purity is represented by a white lily. A group of three lilies can represent the Trinity. It is believed that St. Joseph died before Jesus began his public ministry.

In addition to being the patron of the Universal Church and workers in general, St. Joseph is also the patron saint of several professions including craftsmen, carpenters, accountants, attorneys, bursars, cabinetmakers, cemetery workers, civil engineers, confectioners, educators, furniture makers, wheelwrights, and lawyers.

The Diocese of Venice has several locations named in honor of St. Joseph including the following: St. Joseph Parish and Catholic School in Bradenton; St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Moore Haven; San Jose Mission in Fort Myers and Campo San Jose Retreat Center in Lake Placid.

May – month dedicated to Mary – Growing closer to Jesus through His Mother

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The Blessed Virgin Mary’s path of faith and hope serves as an example to all.

This is just one of the reasons that the Universal Church dedicates the Month of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The month serves as an opportunity to reflect upon the season of the Liturgical Year which largely corresponds with the fifty days of Easter. Therefore, time should be taken to reflect on Our Lady’s participation in the Paschal mystery and in Pentecost at which point the Church has its beginning through the arrival of the Holy Spirit.

The path of faith and hope the Blessed Virgin Mary provides to the world is something that is celebrated during the month of May. This path brings us into a closer relationship with Christ.

When Mary, the Immaculate handmaid of the Lord, said “Yes!” to the message of the Archangel, She followed the One who bestows universal favors, and the human race would never, ever be the same. Mary trusted in the will of God to the fullest measure: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled (Luke 1:45).”

Pope Leo XIV said Mary’s “Yes!” was not a one-time act but a daily commitment. “Jesus invites us to be part of his Kingdom, just as he asked Mary for her ‘yes,’ which, once given, was renewed every day,” Pope Leo said.

Pope Leo has a great affection for the Blessed Virgin Mary. Two days after he was elected, his first trip outside of Rome on May 10, 2025, was to Genazzano, a small town of just over 5,000 inhabitants located about 19 miles southeast of the Italian capital, to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel. This shrine was founded in the 15th century by an Augustinian nun, Blessed Petruccia, and is cared for by an Augustinian community.

When Pope Leo went to the Shrine, he said that after choosing to “offer his life to the Church,” he wanted to reiterate his “trust in the Mother of Good Counsel,” describing her as a companion “of light and wisdom.” The Holy Father later said we must always be faithful to the Virgin Mother, recalling the words of the Virgin Mary during the episode of the Wedding at Cana in the Gospel of St. John: “Do whatever he tells you.”

During a Mass for the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality, Pope Leo said, “Our affection for Mary of Nazareth leads us to join her in becoming disciples of Jesus. It teaches us to return to Him and to meditate and ponder the events of our own lives in which the Risen One still comes to us and calls us.”

Pope Leo XIV concluded his remarks during the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality with a prayer entrusting the Church to the Blessed Mother. “May Mary Most Holy, our hope,” he prayed, “intercede for us and continue to lead us to Jesus, the crucified Lord,” he prayed. “In Him, there is salvation for all.”

May is also the time when young Catholics often receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time. Further, at Parishes and Catholic Schools in the Diocese there are May Crowning ceremonies in which a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary is given a crown of flowers. In addition, many teens receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane, added that May should also be a time to renew a commitment to praying the Mysteries of the Rosary (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous). Our Lady has 117 titles but selected this title at Fatima: “I am the Lady of the Rosary.” St. Francis de Sales said the greatest method of praying is to “Pray the Rosary.”

“Praying the Mysteries of the Rosary strengthens us in faith, in our vocation and in our mission,” Bishop Dewane added. “By Her example of humility and openness to God’s will, She helps us to transmit our faith in a joyful proclamation of the Gospel to all, without any reservation.”

Bishop Dewane, in unity with the priests and faithful of the Diocese of Venice, formally consecrated the Diocese to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Dec. 24, 2017, the Fourth Sunday of Advent. The consecration was the culmination of the structured 33-day “Diocesan Advent Journey to Jesus through Mary.” By this Act of Consecration, the faithful conferred the Diocese and its good works to Our Lady so as to strive fulfill the will of her Divine Son for His Church.

Our Lady is an important symbol throughout the Diocese. Our Lady of Mercy is the Patroness of the Diocese of Venice and is the name of a Parish on Boca Grande. In addition, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice bears Her name, and numerous other Parishes are named in honor Our Lady including: St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Longboat Key; Our Lady of the Angels, Lakewood Ranch; Our Lady of Grace, Avon Park; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Immokalee; Our Lady of Light, Fort Myers; Our Lady of Miraculous Medal, Bokeelia; Our Lady of Lourdes, Venice; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Osprey; Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Sarasota; and Our Lady Queen of Heaven, LaBelle.

Pope Paul VI wrote an encyclical in 1965 citing the Month of Mary devotion as a means of obtaining prayers for peace. May is the month during which the piety of the faithful has especially dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Paul VI wrote, and May is the time for a “moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world [pay] to the Queen of Heaven. During this month Christians, both in church and in the privacy of the home, offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially fervent and loving homage of prayer and veneration. In this month, too, the benefits of God’s mercy come down to us from her throne in greater abundance”

The Christian custom of dedicating the month of May to the Blessed Virgin arose at the end of the 13th century. In this way, the Church was able to Christianize the secular feasts which were to take place at that time. In the 16th century, books appeared and fostered this devotion.

May is not the only month dedicated to Mary, October, with its celebration of Our Lady of the Rosary (Oct. 7), is also dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The rededication of this month to praying the rosary is used to help bring the faithful closer to Christ. The month is also designated as Respect Life Month as the faithful seek the intercessions of Mary and Jesus Christ to bring an end to abortion in the U.S. and the world.

Grove City Parish designated Year of St. Francis Jubilee pilgrimage site

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Bishop Frank J. Dewane has designated St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grove City to serve as a pilgrimage destination for the Diocese of Venice in the extraordinary Jubilee Year honoring St. Francis of Assisi on the 800th anniversary of his death.

By decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary issued on January 10, 2026, at the request of Pope Leo XIV, the Church has solemnly proclaimed a special Year of St. Francis of Assisi, running from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027.​ ​This Jubilee Year commemorates the 800th anniversary of the passage into Heaven of Saint Francis of Assisi (1226), the Seraphic Patriarch and one of the most beloved saints in Christian history. ​​

More than a remembrance of the past, this Jubilee is offered as a gift of grace for the entire Church – not only for the Franciscan Family, but for all the faithful – so that this anniversary may become a moment of authentic spiritual renewal in our own time.

Father Cory Mayer, Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, said he was deeply moved that Bishop Dewane designated the Parish as a Jubilee Pilgrimage Site for the Diocese.

“It is a profound honor for us to open our doors as a place of encounter, prayer, and renewal for all who seek the Lord,” Father Mayer said. “I personally invite all to come and find rest in the presence of Christ. Our Church and the Poor Clare Adoration Chapel will be open to welcome pilgrims every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and at other times by arrangement.”

The Papal Decree emphasizes the enduring relevance of St. Francis in today’s world. His radical Gospel life – marked by poverty, humility, peace, and love for creation – continues to speak powerfully to a humanity wounded by division, violence, and indifference. The Holy Father invites all Christians to “become saints in the contemporary world, following the example of the Seraphic Patriarch,” transforming hope into concrete charity and a sincere commitment to peace. ​In this jubilee, the Church calls the faithful to rediscover Francis not merely as a gentle lover of nature, but as a man conformed to Christ Crucified, whose life was a living proclamation of the Gospel, and a model of Christ’s peace.

Throughout the entire Year of St. Francis, the Apostolic Penitentiary grants the possibility of obtaining a plenary indulgence, applicable either to oneself or in suffrage for the souls in Purgatory.

“A pilgrimage is more than a journey of the feet; it is a journey of the soul,” Father Mayer said.  “As a Jubilee site, those who visit our Parish may receive a Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions (Sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father). This is a beautiful opportunity to experience the depth of God’s mercy and to begin anew.”​

With pastoral sensitivity, special consideration is given to the elderly, the sick, and those unable to leave their homes. They, too, may obtain the indulgence by spiritually uniting themselves to the Jubilee celebrations, offering their prayers and sufferings to God with trust and love.

The Year of St. Francis presents itself as a time of favor and grace, offered freely to all. As the Holy Father expresses his hope, may this Jubilee awaken anew in hearts “feelings of Christian charity toward one’s neighbor and an authentic desire for harmony and peace among peoples.”

Eight centuries after his death, St. Francis still calls the Church—and the world—to conversion. This Jubilee Year invites us not only to honor him, but to walk in his footsteps, rebuilding the Church through lives transformed by the Gospel.

“In a world often fractured by noise, materialism, and conflict, St. Francis speaks to us across the centuries,” Father Mayer said. “His radical embrace of simplicity and his love for every creation of God remind us that we are all part of one family in God. This Jubilee challenges us to move from the “Hope” we have shared into active charity, rebuilding the Church through lives transformed by the Gospel. Please come and visit us at St. Francis of Assisi Parish. Our doors and our hearts are open to you.”

For more details on the Jubilee Year, the schedule of events and additional resources being offered by St. Francis of Assisi Parish, please visit Saint Francis Jubilee 2026 | SFOA Church. If you have any questions or would like to make group reservations for a pilgrimage, please call the Parish Office at 941-697-4899.

Jubilee Prayer cards

In celebration of the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, the Diocese of Venice has provided Jubilee prayer cards to each Parish in the Diocese. The prayer cards are available in English and Spanish and include the prayer written by Pope Leo XIV for the 800th Jubilee of St. Francis, which asks the saint to intercede for the faithful, inspiring hearts to live in peace, humility, and faithful witness to Christ during this holy year.

Prayer for the Jubilee Year of St. Francis

Saint Francis, our brother, you who eight hundred years ago went to meet Sister Death as a man at peace, intercede for us before the Lord.

You recognized true peace in the Crucifix of San Damiano, teach us to seek in Him the source of all reconciliation that breaks down every wall.

You who, unarmed, crossed the lines of war and misunderstanding, give us the courage to build bridges where the world raises up boundaries.

In this time afflicted by conflict and division, intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers, unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ.

Amen.

Pope Leo XIV

Universal Diocesan Confession times ahead of Holy Week

Posted on by Bob Reddy

With Holy Week just days away, it is not too late to ponder how well prepared we are for the Resurrection of the Lord on Easter Sunday.

One way to help in this effort is through participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

To facilitate this requirement, every Parish in the Diocese of Venice will be open with a confessor present from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Friday, March 27, 2026, and from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 28. These opportunities, facilitated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane, are made available so that the faithful may find ample opportunity to receive God’s Mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Lenten Season.

“It is heartbreaking to hear stories from those who have avoided confession for many years after carrying around a burden,” Bishop Dewane said. “It is heartwarming to talk to people of all ages who go to confession and are relieved and overjoyed at the benefits. Some even scold themselves for missing such a beautiful Sacrament for so long.”

Throughout the Lenten Season, many Parishes have offered extended hours for the Sacrament, in addition to offering Penance Services, where multiple priests from the region were made available to hear the confessions of large numbers of people.

Pope Leo XIV said the Sacrament of Reconciliation functions as a “workshop of unity,” restoring a person’s relationship with God, generating inner peace, infusing sanctifying grace and ultimately fostering reconciliation among people.

Speaking on March 13, to a gathering of young priests and seminarians at the Vatican, Pope Leo said the Sacrament of Reconciliation is “a treasure of great mercy that is often not utilized,” because many believers are reluctant to go to confession despite their need for God’s forgiveness. He recalled that the Church, since the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215, has been calling on believers to confess their serious sins at least once a year.

“The Church, our Mother and Teacher, has progressively recognized its meaning and function, broadening the scope of its celebration,” the Holy Father said. “Yet the fact that the Sacrament can be received repeatedly is not always matched by a willingness on the part of the baptized to make use of it: it is as though the infinite treasure of the Church’s mercy remained ‘unused,’ due to a widespread distraction among Christians who, not infrequently, remain in a state of sin for a long time, rather than approaching the confessional with simplicity of faith and heart to receive the gift of the Risen Lord.”

Reflecting on the teaching of St. Augustine, Pope Leo said, “To recognize our sins, especially in this time of Lent, therefore means ‘being in harmony’ with God, uniting ourselves with Him,” the Holy Father said.

Please contact your local Parish for additional available confession times.

Lent – becoming worthy to share in the Resurrection in 2026

Posted on by Bob Reddy

The Lenten Season presents a unique opportunity to grow closer to God and to distance oneself from evil.

Lent is one of the most important liturgical seasons of the Church’s calendar and begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year falls on Feb. 18, 2026. The faithful prepare during this season for Holy Week, those sacred days in the Church calendar when we celebrate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Paschal Mystery of the Faith.

“The faithful are all called to know better their faith, to live it more deeply, and share their love of the Lord with others,” Bishop Frank J. Dewane said. “This ties in directly with our Lenten call to turn our lives over to Christ and to be more that man or woman of God He calls us to be. We are called to bear witness to the Lord by following the example of His suffering, making us worthy to share in His Resurrection.”

The three pillars of the Lenten observance, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others. The Lord calls each person to total commitment, something the Bishop said was not a suggestion but a command as written in the Gospel of Matthew.

“It is a command that you and I are to go out to pray, to fast and we are to give alms. Set about during this Lenten Season to raise your mind and heart to God. Choose how you are going to do that, keeping in mind that Matthew identifies the path you should take,” Bishop Dewane said.

By practicing these observances together, they become more than the sum of their parts. Bishop Dewane said by joining the pillars together we hear the Word of God more deliberately and devote ourselves to prayer more ardently as we celebrate the Paschal Mystery. The pillars become part of a faith that flourishes and a heart that is increasingly dedicated to the Lord.

Fasting and abstinence

Fasting and abstinence is not just about food, or lack of it, but instead about sacrifice for the benefit of our spiritual lives – a fasting from sin. Sacrifice and self-denial should not be viewed as something to lament but instead should be viewed as an opportunity to remove anything that distracts us from Jesus Christ and a reception of grace. Fasting and abstinence are about spiritual conversion and renewal, not solely about meat and no food.

For early Christians, fasting was an important and meaningful Lenten practice in commemoration of Christ’s Passion and Death. The current Lenten discipline, set forth by the Roman Catholic Church, consists of both fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18) and Good Friday (April 3), as well as abstaining from meat each Friday of Lent.

“This is an opportunity to teach ourselves an internal discipline,” Bishop Dewane said. “It is good to recognize and to use as a reminder of what it is we should be fasting from and that is sin. When fasting, or abstaining from meat, this Lenten Season try not to just ‘follow the motions,’ so to speak, make an extra effort to improve upon the spiritual areas of one’s life.”

Prayer

The second Lenten pillar is prayer, which the Catechism tells us is coupled with charity. All Catholics are called to a meaningful prayer life. A prayer life includes both personal, which comes from the heart, and traditional prayer. With both dimensions, the faithful grow closer to both Christ Himself and His Church.

Prayer is an indispensable component of the Catholic Faith. By growing and maturing in faith, prayer becomes an act of worship. Prayer is recognized as a critical act of public worship in the Church, especially in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The five basic forms of prayer are blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise. When someone prays in any one of these forms, they are expressing a different emotion, need, concern or appreciation. No two prayers from the heart are the same, just as no two conversations are the same.

“In this Lenten Season we are called to pray with a deeper sense of spirituality and examine how we can step up our prayer life,” Bishop Dewane said.  “This goes beyond a short rote prayer, which can be done in a second and does not require meditation or reflection; prayer requires the input of the heart and soul. And just as importantly, we have to have the patience to listen in prayer. Listen to what the Lord is saying and how is it that God speaks to you.”

Almsgiving

The third pillar of Lent, almsgiving, is coupled in the Catechism with self-denial. While often mentioned as the last of the three traditional pillars of the Lenten observance, it is certainly not the least of the three and is often completely misunderstood. The Church’s expression of almsgiving is an act of self-denial, or an expression of charity and assistance extended to the needy.

By almsgiving during Lent, one not only expresses care for those in need, but also expresses a sign of gratitude for all God has provided in one’s own life. These acts of charity are connected to the responsibilities of living the faith that begins with baptism and is reignited in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

“Almsgiving is about taking the extra step in reaching out in charity and love for the right reason, not just to impress others,” Bishop Dewane said. The Catechism states, “almsgiving, together with prayer and fasting, are traditionally recommended to foster the state of interior penance.”

“In a sense, almsgiving is a type of prayer,” Bishop Dewane said. “Because almsgiving requires sacrifice. It is also a sort of fasting from the material world, in what could have been purchased. We try too hard to silo these pillars and not let them be an integrated expression from our soul as to why we are doing this – to recall the Paschal Mystery – how Jesus saved us – and our being open to receiving the greatness of that gift.”

Reconciliation

In addition, Bishop Dewane said the precept of confessing grave sins and receiving Holy Communion, at least once during the Lenten Season, merits a reminder.

To facilitate this requirement, every Parish in the Diocese of Venice will be open with a confessor present 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 27, and 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 28. Check with your local Parish for additional confession times or the availability of a Penance Service. These opportunities are made available so that the faithful may find ample opportunity to receive God’s Mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Lenten Season.

REGULATIONS ON FASTING AND ABSTINENCE

Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, and Good Friday, April 3, are days of fast and abstinence. All Fridays of Lent are also days of abstinence from meat.

Fasting is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday by all Catholics between the ages of 18 years and 59 years (inclusive). On a fast day, one full meal is allowed. Two smaller meals, sufficient to maintain strength, may be taken according to each one’s needs, but together they should not equal another full meal. In the context of observing the fast, eating between meals is not permitted, but liquids are allowed. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is to continue until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection.

Abstinence from meat is to be observed by all Catholics who are 14 years of age and older on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent, including Good Friday.

(Note: If a person is unable to observe the above regulations due to ill health or other serious reasons, they are urged to practice other forms of self-denial that are suitable to their condition.)

Diocese of Venice youth participate in national Catholic youth conference

Posted on by Bob Reddy

By Andres Prias, Special to the Florida Catholic

A group of 30 young parishioners from Holy Cross Parish in Palmetto represented the Diocese of Venice at the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) 2025, held in Indianapolis from Nov. 20–22, 2025. Filled with joy and excitement, the young people from the Diocese of Venice joined more than 16,000 Catholic teenagers from across the United States.

Throughout the weekend, the young people had the opportunity to encounter their faith in profound and moving ways. It was especially inspiring to witness thousands of teenagers spending time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation in long, continuous lines, and participating in the celebration of the Eucharist with deep devotion and reverence.

 

One of the participants, Evelyn Guadalupe, expressed what many felt during the conference: “Being here with other Catholic youth who share the same faith and face the same struggles is just beautiful. Hearing people who truly understand what we go through is so moving and inspiring. Talking about God brings us peace, and knowing that He loves us and is always there for us, that’s the most important part.”

A highlight of the trip came when the youth had the opportunity to participate in a live video conference with Pope Leo XIV, who engaged directly with young people from around the world. For many, this moment offered clarity, reassurance, and encouragement.

 

Participant Luisa shared her reflection on the experience: “I thought this experience with Pope Leo was really great! It was wonderful to see teens like me asking questions, because we have a lot of questions about our faith, and I loved the way they asked things that we overthink. Pope Leo helped bring us peace. I loved it. It was pretty great.”

 

As part of the video conference from Pope Leo, students from Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers and St. John Neumann Catholic High School in Naples were able to participate in the digital experience from their own classrooms.

 

At Bishop Verot, theology students listened in on Pope Leo. Many noted how impactful it was to hear the Holy Father speak naturally in their own language – a simple but powerful reminder of the Church’s reach and connection to every culture, and especially how exciting it is to be witness to the Church’s first American Pope.

 

Experiences like NCYC strengthen the young Church in meaningful ways. For many of the teens, encountering thousands of others their age, joyful, prayerful, and confident in their Catholic identity, deepened their sense of belonging to the Church. The group from Holy Cross Parish returned home inspired, renewed in their faith, and are encouraged to live their discipleship with greater conviction.

 

Andres Prias is the Diocese of Venice Youth and Young Adult Outreach Director.

Bishop meets with Pope Leo

Posted on by Bob Reddy

Bishop Frank J. Dewane had the honor and opportunity to greet Pope Leo XIV during a recent trip to Rome.

Bishop Dewane was in Rome on business and attended the Sept. 24, 2025, General Audience in St. Peter’s Square. Following the audience, as is tradition, the Holy Father greeted the Bishop’s who were present.

                                             @Vatican Media

“It was an honor and thrill to have the opportunity to speak with Pope Leo,” Bishop Dewane said. “He is such a warn and kind man who puts you at ease when you are in his presence. Of course, anytime you are in the presence of a Pontiff, it is a special experience. More so this time, because he is an American with a Chicago accent.”

While the encounter was brief, Bishop Dewane did extend an open invitation for a papal visit to the Diocese. While such a request is normal when meeting a newly elected Holy Father, the request had a seriousness to it, because Pope Leo’s brother, Louis Prevost, lives in Port Charlotte and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Maximilian Parish.

“We could find someplace for him to stay,” Bishop Dewane said. “Although he expressed gratitude for the invitation, he remarked that such a visit was unlikely because of his enormous responsibilities and consummate busy schedule.”

The meeting in September was not the first time the pair had met. the two spoke in depth during a dinner at the North American College in Rome in 2023, while seated next to each other.

“It was a nice evening, and we spoke about many different things,” Bishop Dewane said shortly after Pope Leo was elected. “My mother was from the South Side of Chicago, where Pope Leo is from, and we spent some time discussing that. When I told him that I was from the Diocese of Venice in Florida, he smiled and said ‘Oh! I know the area well!’ He went on to say that one of his brothers lived in Port Charlotte, and that he had been to the area for a visit,” Bishop Dewane said.

The pair also spoke about the service of the Augustinian priests in the Diocese of Venice, and the positive contribution that had in the life of the Church.

“He was a very humble man who expressed interest in what was happening here in Florida, and in the Diocese of Venice,” Bishop Dewane said.

Pope Leo is the fourth Holy Father that Bishop Dewane met, the others included St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XIV, and Pope Francis.

The Bishop’s first encounter with a Pontiff was St. John Paul II, while he was in seminary in Rome. Many years later, Bishop Dewane was appointed to a post at the Vatican and as part of his work he participated in regular working lunches with Pope John Paul II.

While working in the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace, Bishop Dewane had the opportunity to also have working meetings with Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Benedict later appointed Bishop Dewane to the Diocese of Venice in 2006. Afterward, they met on several occasions, including during visits to Rome and during World Youth Days in Sydney 2008 and Madrid 2011.

During the reign of Pope Francis, Bishop Dewane met with the Holy Father during visits to Rome and World Youth Days in 2016 Krakow, 2019 Panama City, and 2023 Lisbon. In addition, Bishop Dewane met Pope Francis during his 2015 Apostolic Journey to the United States.

Most Blessed Sacrament and Rosary focus of 2025 Diocesan Rosary Congress

Posted on by Bob Reddy

While the Diocese of Venice Rosary Congress has concluded, the entire month of October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary.

The Rosary Congress began Oct. 4, 2025, and concluded on Oct. 10, with 60 different Parishes in the Diocese participating in this important evangelization effort.

The faithful were encouraged to place all prayer intentions and needs into the loving arms of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A special emphasis on praying for peace in our nation and the world was also offered. Parishes also included the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and the hourly praying of the Holy Rosary. The Congress was hosted at some Parishes for a full 24 hours, while others for a large portion of a day.

In its fifth year, the Rosary Congress was introduced by the Diocesan Office of Evangelization in response to Our Lady of Fatima’s call to prayer and conversion. The theme this year was “My Soul Magnifies the Lord” (Luke 1:46). This is Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s exulting in God’s supreme power, her recognition of her own lowly status and the understanding that all honor belongs to God, not to her.

Initiated in 2021, the Rosary Congress is presented by Bishop Frank J. Dewane as a unique opportunity to place all prayer intentions and the needs of the faithful into the loving arms of Our Blessed Mother.

Bishop Dewane said praying the Rosary is, and can be, a key component in one’s spiritual/prayer life. Citing the example of St. Mother Teresa, Bishop Dewane referred to the power of the Rosary, calling everyone to pray it, live it and persevere.

“We pray the Rosary to honor Our Mother, who said that glorious ‘Yes!’ to God, bringing His Son into the world for our salvation,” Bishop Dewane said. “The Rosary Congress encourages us to renew our relationship with Our Lord, through Mary!”

At Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, the Rosary Congress started with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The main celebrant was Parochial Vicar Father Chris Piotrowski.

Father Piotrowski said it is true that the faithful will pray the rosary and adore Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist, but that they need to remember their true identity as beloved children of God whose names are written in heaven.

“Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.’ What do our eyes see; not only white bread, but Jesus himself, alive in the Eucharist,” Father Piotrowski said. “During the next 24 hours Christ will be living in our midst in a special way.”

Father said St. Francis of Assisi adored Jesus in the Eucharist with a burning love, saying that humans should tremble, the world should quake, and all heaven should be deeply moved when the Son of God appears on the altar in the hands of the priest.

At the conclusion of his homily, Father Piotrowski kicked off the Congress by saying, “May St Francis of Assisi intercede for us; May Mary guide us through the rosary; and may Jesus Christ, who is truly present in the Eucharist, be our strength of peace, and our joy during these 24 hours.”

Following the conclusion of the Mass, Father Piotrowski led the faithful in praying of five decades of the rosary while the Most Blessed Sacrament was exposed in a monstrance on the altar. Next, a Eucharistic Procession took place from the church, through the parking lot to the Parish Adoration Chapel. This was repeated following the evening Spanish-language Mass. The Congress celebration concluded with Mass on Sunday morning.

At Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Lakewood Ranch, participation in the Congress took place on Oct. 7, the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. Following Mass was the praying of the devotion of the Seven Sorrows of Mary. First initiated by St. Bridget of Sweden, where the faithful pray and meditate on the seven sorrows (dolors). By doing this, Our Lady promised to grant seven graces upon those who honor her and her Son every day. On display at the front of the sanctuary was a painting of St. Bridget and a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a large wooden rosary draped over her shoulders.

Students at St. Joseph Catholic School in Bradenton participated on Oct. 3, with the entire student body gathered in the Parish church for praying of the rosary and Eucharistic Adoration.

The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, Oct. 7, directly commemorates the 1571 naval Battle of Lepanto. The Holy League (a naval coalition of European Catholic maritime states) defeated the vastly superior Ottoman navy in the Gulf of Patras near modern day Greece, overcoming tremendous odds after Pope Pius V called upon all Catholics to pray the Rosary for victory. This victory successfully halted the spread of the Ottoman Empire into Rome and beyond. The Feast Day is also referred to as Our Lady of Victory.

To promote praying of the rosary, Pope Leo XIV has invited everyone to pray the Rosary for Peace, each day of the month of October, individually, as a family, or as a community. On Saturday, Oct. 11, at noon Florida time (6 p.m. Rome time), Pope Leo will lead the praying of Rosary from St. Peter’s Square. This coincides with the vigil of the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality, while also recalling the anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.

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