June 6, 2025
After consultation, Bishop Frank J. Dewane announces the following:
As of May 30, 2025, Fr. Gerard Critch, Pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Naples is on Temporary Leave. Fr. David Portorreal is assigned as Administrator at St. Peter the Apostle and relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar at St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs.
As of June 2, 2025, Fr. Gilbert Nortilus is assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Naples.
_________________________________
Ordination to the Priesthood - Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Venice, 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 11:00 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. A reception will follow. The Ordination will also be livestreamed: stay tuned! A link to access the livestream will be posted closer to the date.
Jubilee Year 2025, Pilgrims of Hope - Bishop Frank J. Dewane has designated five locations in the Diocese of Venice as Jubilee pilgrimage sites. The sites are located throughout the Diocese for the convenience of the faithful, so that the grace of the Jubilee Year 2025 may be experienced by all. Information about how to participate in the Jubilee Holy Year can be found throughout the year at the Diocese of Venice website: www. dioceseofvenice.org/jubilee-2025-pilgrims-of-hope/
Catholic Relief Services Urgent Request (For Parish Staff) - Please include this urgent request from Catholic Relief Services in upcoming Parish Bulletins: Children Throughout the World Need Our Help! The Administration is terminating all but two of Catholic Relief Services’ school feeding programs, eliminating a daily school meal for close to 800,000 children in 11 countries beginning in July. For many, this was their only meal of the day. These terminations aren’t just broken agreements with CRS. They are broken promises to children, to farmers, to entire communities. Please ask your members of Congress to urge the Administration to reverse these terminations. Visit https://support.crs.org/act/mcgovern-dole to be heard.
New Catholic Resource from local Parish - St. Leo Parish in Bonita Springs offers a new online resource for all Catholics. Visit CatholicJourneyToday.com for daily Scripture-based reflections, spiritual essays, prayers, mediations and accessible teachings of the Church.
Pray for Safety! Hurricane Season is upon us - The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season in Florida runs from June 1 to November 30. With a history of these storms producing destruction in the region, Bishop Frank J. Dewane reminds us that we must pray for safety: “As the new Atlantic Hurricane Season arrives, let us all ask God for protection and safety and also pray for the people who continue to recover from previous disasters." ~ Bishop Frank J. Dewane
TV Mass (For Parish Staff) - Please share the updated station list graphic for the TV Mass, above. Rachel Powers, Communications Coordinator, is now responsible for the TV Mass program in the Communications Department. Please contact Rachel with any questions regarding TV Mass, or to inquire about hosting a television Mass taping at your Parish! Rachel Powers, 941-486-4716, powers@dioceseofvenice.org
Florida Catholic: Be in the know! - Receive the free, weekly e-edition of the Florida Catholic delivered directly to your inbox every Friday! Sign up here: https://dioceseofvenice.org/news/
Relevant Radio: "Witnessing Faith with Bishop Dewane" - Join Bishop Frank J. Dewane for his monthly half-hour radio program on Relevant Radio 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 be heard at 8:30 a.m. on the last Friday of every month, or anytime at dioceseofvenice.org/ourbishop. The next episode will air on Friday, May 30, 2025.
Mustard Seed (For Parish Staff) - Is everyone in your Parish office signed up to receive the Mustard Seed delivered directly to their inbox every other Friday? If not, sign them up here: https://dioceseofvenice.org/news/
National Eucharistic Revival - Now in its third and final year, the Year of Mission, the National Eucharistic Revival asks all Catholics to become "Eucharistic Missionaries." Be sure to stay tuned to Year of Mission! - Diocese of Venice to learn more about how you can participate in the Year of Mission, including how to become an "Official Eucharistic Missionary," sharing your Catholic faith with others. For more information, or with questions, please contact Jim Gontis, gontis@dioceseofvenice.org, 941-486-4754.
Volunteers Needed for Prison Outreach - Join the team of Diocesan volunteers who enter county jails and state prisons within the 10-county Diocese of Venice to do pastoral outreach, distribute the Eucharist and facilitate programs. Priests, Deacons, and lay volunteers are encouraged to assist in this ministry. Volunteers will first participate in an orientation program before entering the facility and will shadow experienced volunteers until they feel comfortable. Times and days vary by facility. Please contact Joe Mallof at 224-217-7139 or Bob Hiniker 863-558-0407 to learn where you can fit into this joyful opportunity.
Pray for the end of abortion! Learn about the dangers and alarming increase of chemical abortion - Abortion is always a tragedy that takes the life of an innocent child and significantly wounds the mother and family. For decades, surgical procedures accounted for most abortions, but today chemical abortion is the most common form in the United States. Sadly, this form of abortion not only takes the life of a child but also poses significant risks to the health and safety of women. Learn more about the topic of chemical abortion. Fact sheets to better understand the threat to women’s health are available and will equip you to share your knowledge with friends and family: usccb.org/chemical-abortion-fact-sheets.
Support After Abortion - Are you or someone you know struggling because of a past abortion? You are not alone! Know that healing retreats and support are available for anyone who has experienced an abortion, including mothers, fathers and other family members who have been hurt. To learn more, call or text 941-412-5860 or email project.rachel@dioceseofvenice.org, in either English or Spanish. All contacts are confidential.
Apoyo después del Aborto -- ¿Usted o alguien que conoce está luchando debido a un aborto anterior? ¡NO estás solo! Sepa que los retiros de sanación y el apoyo están disponibles para cualquier persona que haya experimentado un aborto, incluidas las madres, los padres y otros miembros de la familia que hayan sido lastimados. Para obtener más información, llame o envíe un mensaje de texto al 941-412-5860 o envíe un correo electrónico a project.rachel@dioceseofvenice.org, en inglés o español. Todos los contactos son confidenciales.
Respect Life Volunteers Needed! - Do you have a passion for life? The Diocese of Venice needs you! We are looking for volunteers and leaders interested in becoming involved in local respect life activities with their Parish. Many new families are moving to Southwest Florida, and we need your help! It's very rewarding work!
If you live in the Palmetto or Parrish area, we could especially use your help- ASAP!
To get involved, please contact Tavia Ames, ames@dioceseofvenice.org,
941-441-1101.
Totus Tuus Summer Catechetical Camp - The Totus Tuus one-week Parish Catechetical summer day camp program, for students entering grades 1-12, aims to inspire young people to long for holiness, develop a deep desire for conversion and personally renew their faith with a stronger prayer life. In 2022, the Diocese of Venice launched its pilot program, with great success. The program has continued and expanded each year and will be offered at several Parishes throughout the Diocese this summer, beginning June 1. Register your children through the hosting Parish! For more information, or with questions, visit Totus Tuus 2025 - Diocese of Venice or contact Andres Prias, prias@dioceseofvenice.org, or Jim Gontis, gontis@dioceseofvenice.org
Safe Environment Training - As part of the Safe Environment Program, the Diocese of Venice requires that all employees and those volunteers who work with children and/or vulnerable adults be fingerprinted and complete online training in Safe Environment prior to beginning employment or volunteering. To report any abuse against minors to the Florida Department of Children and Families please call 800-962-2873. Further, if Diocesan personnel or volunteers are involved, also notify the Diocesan Victims Assistance Coordinator, Susan Benton, at 941-416-6114. Please visit the Diocese of Venice website for further information.
For all OLPH events, register online (www.olph-retreat.org) and click on “Schedule of Events.”
OLPH Available for Private Retreats - The Spring schedule is posted and has openings for 3, 5, and 7-night individual (directed) retreats. Group retreats are also available: To learn more or to register for a group or private retreat, please visit olph-retreat.org or call (941) 486-0233.
Jubilee Prayer Site - Visitors are welcome at OLPH Mondays - Fridays 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. throughout the year. The grounds provide a peaceful place to reconnect with the Lord, reflect in solitude and offer up your intentions. Refer to our website for more information: www.olph-retreat.org/jubilee-of-hope-2025
Ave Maria Youth Conference - The 2025 Ave Maria University “Proclaim” Youth Conference is July 11-13. The theme for the Conference is “But as for you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God” (Luke 9:60). The Conference will include talks from Sister Maria Jose Socias, SCTJM, Michael Gormley, Mari Pablo, and Father Joseph Lugalambi. Music will be by Epic Music Ministries. The Conference will include Mass, Adoration, praise and worship, lodging, meals, t-shirts, a pizza night, and more. Registration is $195. per person. For more information or to register, please visit www.aveconferences.com/
Brazilian Festival - Saturday, June 14 from 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. St. Jude Parish, 3930 17th St., Sarasota, will host a Brazilian Festival. Enjoy food, live music, bingo, kids’ games and more!
St. Jude Parish Big Drive Away Raffle - Enter before June 15 at noon for a chance to win a new 2025 Jeep Wrangler. Tickets are available in Parish office at 3930 17th St., Sarasota or online at www.stjudesarasota.org. All proceeds to benefit the St. Jude Catholic Church, Building Fund.
Free Rosary Repair Service - Send your broken rosaries in a padded envelope to Betty and Dick Holden, Free Rosary Repair Service, 7930 Estero Blvd., Unit 502, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931. Rosaries will be repaired and returned within the week of receipt. Donations of old rosaries are also accepted which will be repaired and sent to missions. Include a note indicating repair or donation. For more details, please call 239-463-3993, 860-595-6370 or email the Holdens.