Hearts are on fire for Jesus Christ for the more than 1,200 young faithful who took part in the Totus Tuus weekly sessions throughout the summer.
The goal of the Totus Tuus program is to help young people develop in their understanding of the faith and strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ. Totus Tuus is a Latin phrase meaning “Totally Yours.” It was a motto of St. John Paul II, taken from St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary.” It signifies our desire to give ourselves entirely to Jesus Christ through Mary.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, who brought the Totus Tuus program to the Diocese of Venice in 2022, said the summer program has proven to be effective in uplifting children in ways which other, more traditional summer camps and religious education programs do not. Bishop Dewane has been impressed by the response each child has had to the uplifting program.
“Throughout the summer the Totus Tuus missionaries brought an excitement about the faith to different Parishes each week, helping to awaken in children of all ages a desire and enthusiasm for holiness,” Bishop Dewane said.
Through evangelization and catechesis, Totus Tuus seeks to foster openness to the sacrifices and blessings of the various Christian vocations. The program inspires young people to develop a deep desire for conversion and personally renew their faith with a stronger prayer life.
Totus Tuus works to complement what the children are learning from their parents, who are the first and best educators of the faith. This is something Bishop Dewane has stressed since the program had its trial run in the Diocese in 2022.
This summer, there were 10 missionaries who worked in two teams, though for Parishes with large groups of children the teams merged for the week. Twelve Parishes served as hosts through the seven-week program. The weeklong program was divided into two sessions, with the day component for students grades 1 – 6, and the evening session for middle school and high school students grades 7 – 12.
Lessons for the younger children build during the week as the children learn about the importance of prayer, and ways to pray, which includes the basics of the Our Father and Hail Mary through the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary. This year, there was also a special emphasis on learning the key lessons of the Apostles’ Creed. In addition to dancing, music and prayer, the children had time for activities such as crafts and games.
The younger children participated in four classes each day, attended daily Mass, learned the parts and liturgical songs of Mass, and participated in games, skits, songs, recess and prayer. The older students participated in instruction, small group discussions, quiet meditations, prayer and fellowship and importantly had the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration.
The Totus Tuus missionaries went through an intensive training session in early June in preparation for the summer. By the end of the summer, each missionary left the Diocese feeling blessed by the experience.
Missionary Anne Moultrie, who is studying education at Ave Maria University, said the Totus Tuus program was an amazing experience as she quickly connected with students, from the youngest of her charges to the teens. She hopes to become a teacher, and this experience reinforced her desire to impart knowledge, particularly about the Catholic faith.
“It was a challenge, but most rewarding as the children embraced what we were teaching with their whole heart and soul,” Moultrie said. “It was a struggle to say good-bye to each group. To see the excitement and joy of the faith in a young face is so beautiful.”
“With the support of Bishop Dewane, the Parish Pastors, Parish lay leaders, and the missionaries, the Totus Tuus program continued to have great success here in the Diocese of Venice,” said Jim Gontis, Diocese of Venice Director of Evangelization. “Everyone worked together to help the young people find out that, besides everything else, the Catholic Faith can be fun!”
Gontis said the impact of the Totus Tuus summer program goes beyond reaching 1,206 children and youth. This includes reaching the families of the participants, the host Parishes, the volunteers and more. At least two program participants, he said, were encouraged to seek a conversion to the Catholic Faith through a Parish religious education program.
Looking forward, Gontis said that due to the ongoing success of the program, in 2025, the Diocese will be seeking to recruit an additional Totus Tuus missionary team. If this occurs, it is also hoped that the number of Parishes served will grow in number!
Parishes hosting Totus Tuus this summer were: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Parrish, and Our Lady of Grace, Avon Park (June 2-7); Ave Maria, Ave Maria (June 9-14); St. Finbarr, Naples, and St. Paul, Arcadia (June 16-21); Epiphany Cathedral, Venice, and St. Katharine Drexel, Cape Coral (June 23-28); Our Lady Queen of Heaven, LaBelle (July 7-12); Our Lady of Light, Fort Myers, and St. Cecilia, Fort Myers (July 14-19); Our Lady of the Angels, Lakewood Ranch, and St. Peter the Apostle, Naples (July 21-26).
The leadership of the Southwest Florida Guild of the Catholic Medical Association met with Bishop Frank J. Dewane at the Diocesan Catholic Center in Venice on July 10, 2024. The group provided Bishop Dewane with their annual report on their latest activities, including plans for continuing Catholic medical educational seminars within the Diocese.
Every day, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., serves in the 10 counties that constitute the Diocese of Venice the most vulnerable population by feeding, housing, empowering, and helping all in need. This summer, you can be the one that makes a difference. Your acts of kindness have the power to transform lives and leave a positive impact in our community. The Catholic Charities Summertime and the Giving is Easy Appeal is asking for your support. The giving is easy! Your gift will make a positive impact on our less fortunate brothers and sisters! To donate to Summertime and the Giving is Easy Campaign, please visit 
The final two weeks of the Diocese of Venice Totus Tuus summer program are here. The week-long program is visiting different Parishes each week and offering day camp for students entering grades 1 – 6, as well as evening camp for middle school and high school students entering grades 7 – 12. The camp is inspiring young people to long for holiness, develop a deep desire for conversion and personally renew their faith with a stronger prayer life. Two missionary teams are going to different Parishes each week. In the first four weeks, the program has taken place at eight Parishes, with the most recent at Our Lady Queen of Heaven in LaBelle. For the week of July 14-19, the program will be at Our Lady of Light, Fort Myers during daytime and St. John XXIII in the evening; with a separate program running the same week at St. Cecilia, Fort Myers. The final week of the program runs from July 21-25 at Our Lady of the Angels in Lakewood Ranch, and St. Peter the Apostle in Naples.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation upon several inmates at Avon Park Correctional Institute on June 3, 2024, and then again at DeSoto Correction Institute In Arcadia on June 4. When celebrating the Mass for the incarcerated, Bishop Dewane emphasized that he is bringing the forgiveness, mercy, compassion, peace, love and joy of the Lord to others. Each year, the Bishop celebrates Mass for inmates at different facilities throughout the 10-county Diocese, and has conferred the Sacraments of Confirmation, First Communion and Baptism for dozens of inmates since 2006. The Diocesan Prison Ministry provides a variety of services, including Bible study, religious education and assistance with receiving the Sacraments. Within its boundaries, the Diocese has five state prisons, 10 county jails and one civil commitment program. There are approximately 15,000 incarcerated within the Diocese; meaning the need for priests and volunteers is great. If you are interested in learning more about the Diocesan Prison Ministry, please contact Bob Hiniker at 
Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School hosted the Inaugural Sarasota Camp Shriver in partnership with Special Olympics the week of June 10-14, 2024. The event kicked off June 10 with a celebratory ribbon cutting with Special Olympics President and CEO Sherry Wheelock. Also present was Lucy Nicandri, Executive Director for Suncoast Charities for Children. Each day, the Special Olympics campers participated in various sports and activities, such as lacrosse, football, baseball, softball, volleyball (beach and indoor), cheerleading and more. Mooney buddies, seen at right, paired up with the campers for the week, while Mooney coaches organized the different activities. When not having fun playing sports, there were plenty of other activities, including a dance party and other fun games.
To learn the facts about Amendment 4 and how it is designed to mislead voters, visit the websites of the Florida Voters Against Extremism, 
One of these candidates was Shawn Marren, who first received the Sacrament of Confirmation and then the Sacrament of First Holy Communion from Bishop Dewane at Epiphany Cathedral.
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Avon Park included the commemoration when Jesus Christ established the Sacrament of Holy Communion prior to His arrest and crucifixion. It also observes His institution of the priesthood. This Liturgy included the presentation of the oils blessed and consecrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane during the March 26 Chrism Mass, at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, which will be used for the Sacraments in the Parish throughout the year. Later was the traditional washing of the feet, reenacting Jesus washing the feet of the Disciples. Following the Prayer after Communion, the Mass concluded with a procession to transfer the Holy Eucharist to a place of repose in the Parish Hall. This action left the tabernacle vacant until the Easter Vigil.
On Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion, the faithful at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples participated in the Liturgy which included the reading of the Passion from the Gospel of John. Next was the presentation of the cross, brought forth by the priest and unveiled as the priest sang: “This is the wood of the cross, on which hung the salvation of the world,” and the congregation responded: “Come let us adore.” The faithful were then encouraged to come forward to venerate the cross. This was done by either touching, bowing, or genuflecting.
For the first time, a public Stations of the Cross took place in downtown Venice, starting at Epiphany Cathedral and proceeding into nearby Centennial Park and then down Venice Avenue. Approximately 800 took part, including members of the youth group, as streets were temporarily blocked.
