The recent conclusion of the 2024-2025 academic year at the 15 Diocese of Venice Catholic schools was a banner year, as more than 6,500 students received an education that was not only based on faith and prayer life but serves as a beacon in a world full of distractions.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, speaking during the recording of the upcoming Relevant Radio “Witnessing Faith with Bishop Dewane” program said, “Catholic education provides not only that faith component and a prayer life but is also so important for young people as a support and as a guide. As various topics come up, they are hearing the context that the Church sets that issue in. This is a reinforcement of moral values – what society calls ethics. The first and best place these values form is in the home, but sometimes there needs to be a supplemental or complementary approach, that is what the Diocese offers.”
In a greater sense, Bishop Dewane explained how Catholic education provides a shared experience of living the faith – wherein Catholic school students are surrounded by not only teachers but peers who also share the same value system – a powerful beacon as they sort through the clutter in their lives.
Father John Belmonte, SJ, Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Education, explained how Catholic schools offer the best value system in the world, providing a world view that can’t be found anywhere else.
“That is why we educate and form the whole person – not just the brain. Truly the head and heart – unapologetically looking for them to be disciples of Christ,” Father Belmonte continued. “We want our young people to pray, become friends with Christ, and to bring that into their adult life.”
The education of students in Diocesan Catholic schools is important work, Father Belmonte added. Done in partnership with families, where the students learn many of their lessons, Catholic education is in the business of teaching students to make the right decisions so that they can do the good that is needed, not only by their families and themselves, but by society.
Each school offers a comprehensive STREAM (science, technology, religion, engineering, art, and math) learning model which is combined with the Diocesan curriculum called, “The Gifts of Christ: Truth, Beauty, Goodness, Affability, Fortitude, Humility, and Prudence,” creating students of good moral character equipped to succeed in the world of today. This program has a strong robotics component as well.
Annually, a Diocesan Catholic Schools Devotional Project offers leadership opportunities in the middle schools as junior catechists are trained on the annual devotion and then teach their peers on the topic. The method is engaging, captivating and fun, explained Jennifer Falestiny, Diocesan Schools Director of Curriculum.
“This project offers high quality content that is relevant to all students,” Falestiny said.
John Gulley, Principal of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School in Fort Myers, echoed Falestiny’s assessment of the Devotional Project, saying that having the junior catechists present lessons has a big impact on the other students as they learn to take ownership of their faith and share it with others.
When questioned about the challenges facing modern Catholic educators, Gulley explained how students face a “fire hose” of unfiltered misinformation/disinformation on a large scale because “it comes in without filters. The best response is our Church. Jesus is Jesus, and the lessons of the Gospel are consistent. It lets us talk about where we come from. As educators, that is approaching the problem from a beautiful place. We are uniquely equipped to help these students and families because we are capable of fulfilling their dreams through the love of Jesus Christ.”
With more than 6,500 students, the Diocese of Venice has been recognized, in a national study done by Boston College, as the fastest growing Catholic school system in the country during the past 5 years.
In May 2025, 481 men and women graduated from the four Diocesan Catholic high schools. The 2025 graduating class is the largest in Diocesan history. The students leave their respective schools with impressive accomplishments, such as completing more than 58,000 community service hours, and earning more than $40 million in scholarship offers. The graduates have been accepted to many of the top colleges and universities in the country with many going on to military service academies and the Ivy League. Most notably, 30% are going on to Catholic college and universities.
To hear the June 27 Relevant Radio “Witnessing Faith with Bishop Dewane,” please tune in at 8:30 a.m. on 106.7 FM and 1410 AM in Fort Myers and 93.3 FM and 1660 AM in Naples. “Witnessing Faith with Bishop Dewane” can also be heard anytime at www.dioceseofvenice.org/ourbishop.
For more information about Diocese of Venice Catholic schools, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/catholicschools.
The Diocese of Venice Totus Tuus summer program continues to inspire young people to develop a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. 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. Three missionary teams are leading the campers. In the first two weeks, the program has taken place at six Parishes, with the most recent at St. Agnes in Naples. Upcoming host Parishes include: Ave Maria in Ave Maria and St. Jude in Sarasota (June 22-27); St. Cecilia, Fort Myers; Our Lady of Light, Fort Myers; St. John XXIII, Fort Myers; St. Thomas More, Sarasota (July 6-11); St. Joseph, Bradenton; Epiphany Cathedral, Venice; Our Lady Queen of Heaven, LaBelle (July 13-18); Our Lady of the Angels, Lakewood Ranch; St. Peter the Apostle, Naples (July 20-25). Youth are welcome to attend any of the Totus Tuus camps, but registration is requested ahead of time. To register, please contact the hosting Parish directly. Parish contact information can be found at 
Bishop Frank J. Dewane invites the faithful to the Ordination to the Priesthood of Transitional Deacons Joseph Doherty, Jacob Gwynn and Pat Long. The Ordination will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, July 12, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 1301 Center Road, Venice. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this important event in the lives of Deacons Joseph, Jacob and Pat as well as the Diocese of Venice. The Ordination will also be livestreamed at the following link: 
Samantha chose to serve St. Cecilia Parish by expanding the Parish rosary garden. During Phase I, she earned her Abigail Adams Level Award through a service project that created the basic rosary walkway. During Phase II, Samantha and volunteers built an elevated garden bed in the center of the walkway, featuring a beautiful statue of the Blessed Mother. The team constructed paver platforms and installed two park benches with accompanying planters so that parishioners and passersby may enjoy sitting in the garden. The rosary garden project also included the installation of a flyer box with pamphlets on ways to pray the rosary, stations of the cross, and more.
Theology on Tap is a program for young adults in their 20s and 30s, providing an opportunity to explore faith topics in a relaxed social setting at Oak & Stone, 5405 University Parkway, University Park. The next gathering is June 19 and will feature a presentation from Father Christian Chami, Parochial Vicar at St. Jude Parish in Sarasota with the topic: “St. Charbel: Lessons in silence, faith and obedience.” The evening begins with food and refreshments at 7 p.m., with the presentations and discussions about the Catholic Faith beginning at 8 p.m. Please email Andres Prias at 
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., is still on the ground helping families recover from Helene and Milton, as well as Ian, stated Christopher M. Root, CEO of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice.
Experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting a range of 13-19 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), slightly above the seasonal average. This follows the 2024 season which produced 18 named storms, including Hurricanes Debby (Aug. 6-7), Helene (Sept. 26), and Milton (Oct. 9), each of which brought their own misery of wind and rain. Helene, which paralleled the coast, and Milton, whose eye went over Siesta Key, both brought unprecedented storm surges to the barrier islands from Naples in the south through Palmetto to the north. NOAA stated that numerous factors were considered in the forecast, including warmer than average ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear, all of which tend to favor tropical storm formation, NOAA reported.
St. Andrew Catholic School fifth-grader Destiny Campos has been recognized as a Studio 3:16 contest winner. The Cape Coral student was chosen from 2,000 student applications nationwide. Studio 3:16, a faith-based program that shares the Gospel through storytelling, music, and humor, encouraged students to draw and write about a day spent with co-founder Shevin McCullough. Destiny’s story, inspired by John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness” – shared a powerful message about cheating, forgiveness, and shining the light of Jesus to others. Her story deeply moved the judges and earned her class a pizza party and a live Zoom with Shevin himself!
The student choir at St. Joseph Catholic School in Bradenton performed a sacred music concert on May 25, 2025. The “Choir Concert – Ode to Joy” featured the full school choir, the “Joy Singers,” and groups of 3rd and 4th grade students, 5th-8th grade students, and 8th grade singers. This included several singers performing solos and duets. The choir was accompanied by string and percussion musicians. Music teacher Jody Kienzler organized the concert, which was dedicated to outgoing Principal Deborah Suddarth, who has taken a position as Associate Superintendent for Catholic Schools in the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
