February 20, 2026
After broad consultation, Bishop Frank J. Dewane announces the following:
Reverend Marco Mascia, as Parochial Vicar at St. William Parish in Naples, effective February 9, 2026.
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Chrism Mass - The Chrism Mass, which takes place during Holy Week every year, will be held Tuesday, March 31 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Leo the Great Parish, 28290 Beaumont Road, Bonita Springs. Usually held at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, this year the Cathedral is under renovation and the Mass will take place in a new location. During this Mass, Bishop Frank J. Dewane will bless the Holy Oils which are used in the administration of the Sacraments at each parish throughout the year. Priests and Deacons celebrating 25 and 50 years of Ordination are also recognized at this Mass.
New Link to Vatican News - In order to create a stable visual and widespread communication/information link between the Holy See and the Catholic Church around the world, ensuring that Dioceses and Parishes are automatically updated on the latest news about the Holy Father, the Vatican and the Church, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communications has created a new embeddable widget for Diocesan and Parish websites. The widget is free of charge and once installed, it will update automatically with video pieces, content from Vatican News, and a link to the Vatican website. To see how the widget looks once in place, visit the Diocese of Venice new Vatican webpage, here. To embed the widget on a Parish or Catholic School website, in English or Spanish, simply click here, choose the desired language and copy the code. For more detailed instructions, including how to add the widget to a mobile phone, follow the more technical instructions, here.
The Lenten Journey Has Begun! Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. During Lent, we are called to a true inner conversion of the heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully and as we prepare to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.
For more information about the Lenten Season please visit Lent 2026 - Diocese of Venice.
Fact of Faith: Why is Lent 40 Days? The Lenten season is a 40-day period of preparation for the liturgical celebration of the Paschal Mystery of our faith. Why is it 40 days? Click here for an interesting article prepared especially for the USCCB.
Season of Lent Events in the Diocese of Venice
Lenten Youth Retreats – The Diocese of Venice Youth & Young Adult Ministry offers opportunities for Middle School and High School students to have a privileged moment of encounter during Lent. Diocesan Lenten youth retreats are designed to create a time and place for silence, reflection, and shared experience, allowing young people to step away from the pace and distractions of daily life and re-focus their hearts on God. The remaining Youth Retreats for this Lenten Season are:
Sunday, February 22, for High School students, St. Raphael, Lehigh Acres
Sunday, March 1, for High School students, St. Thomas More, Sarasota
Tuesday, March 3, for Middle School students, St. Paul, Arcadia
Cost is $10/student. To register, or for more information, contact Andres Prias, 941-441-1122.
Special Lenten Event: A Visit from The Cooking Priest - Father Leo Patalinghug, the "Cooking Priest" is coming to Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, FL. This is a 2-day event, 5:30 PM on Wednesday, Feb. 25 and Thursday, Feb. 26. The evening will feature an inspirational, Spirit-filled keynote address by Father Leo on Eucharistic faith and devotion as he prepares Penne alla Vodka. The first 160 attendees may reserve VIP section seating at tables under the pavilion, located right next to the stage, for $25. General admission seating will be in the field—bring your lawn chair and enjoy a sample dish. Proceeds from ticket sales are not-for-profit and will be used exclusively to cover the cost of the event. Register here.
Lenten Parish Mission - Father Cedric Pisegna, C.P., an inspirational and motivational speaker and author of 26 books, will be hosting a Lenten Mission Sunday, March 1 through Wednesday, March 4 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 1301 Center Rd, Venice beginning at 5:30 p.m. Call 941-497-2931 for more information.
One Day Lenten Retreat, "Lent Is My Highway to Heaven" - In his ongoing series of talks on Heaven, Fr. Greg Cleveland, OMV, Director of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice, will unpack the mystery of the Beatific Vision as the ultimate fulfillment of human longing in this one-day retreat, offered on March 8 or March 11. This talk invites you into the beauty, joy, and transformative love of seeing God “face to face,” where faith and reason give way to eternal happiness in Christ. No prior sessions are required—come as you are and be spiritually filled. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with continental breakfast and includes two conferences, the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, lunch, and Mass. Time is available for adoration, private prayer, or meditation on the beautiful and peaceful OLPH grounds. The day concludes at 3:15 p.m. The cost is $45. Register on the OLPH website here.
One-Night Parish Retreat During Lent, "10 Minutes to Change Your Life" - The Examen Prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola,” presented by Fr. Leland Thorpe from the OLPH Retreat Center will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 2057 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers on Tuesday, March 10 from 6:00pm-8:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend. All are welcome. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors! Call 239-334-2161 for more information.
Diocesan-wide Reconciliation Times -Please note that the precept of confessing grave sins and receiving Holy Communion, at least once during the Lenten Season, merits a reminder. To facilitate this requirement, in addition to regular Parish Confession hours, 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. 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.
Special One-Hour Televised Masses will air Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday -For many homebound individuals, the televised Mass reminds them that they are loved by their brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the Diocese of Venice, and that they remain a vibrant and loved part of our faith community. For those who are homebound the televised Mass can be viewed via network television, online at dioceseofvenice.org or on YouTube. Visit dioceseofvenice.org/tvmass for more information or contact Rachel Powers.
Pope Leo XIV has announced a special Jubilee Year for 2026, The Year of St. Francis, a celebration of the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. This is a year is which all are called to become saints in the contemporary world following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who was himself a model of holiness in life. This special Jubilee Year invites us not only to honor this holy man, but to walk in his footsteps, rebuilding the Church through lives transformed by the Gospel. Pope Leo, in his Jubilee Decree, points out that Saint Francis, the son of a rich merchant, became poor and humble, providing the world with tangible examples of evangelical life and a real image of Christian perfection. “This Year of St. Francis spurs all of us, each according to our possibilities, to imitate the poor man of Assisi, to form ourselves as far as possible on the model of Christ," Pope Leo said, adding that it is now time to transform the hope generated and shared in the last Jubilee Year of Hope into active charity.
The Year of St. Francis will be realized in the Diocese of Venice in a particular way, as the Diocese is blessed to have a Parish named for this saint. St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Grove City, located at 5265 Placida Road, has been designated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane as a Jubilee site, and will be welcoming pilgrims throughout the Jubilee Year for Mass, visits, and special events and activities. The Church Sanctuary and Poor Clare Adoration Chapel will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to welcome pilgrims, and at other times by arrangement. Visit the Parish’s website here for more information.
The Year of St. Francis continues at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, and around the world, through January 10, 2027, and grants the Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father), which can also be applied in the form of suffrage for the souls in Purgatory.
March Pray for Priests Calendar - Pray for our priests! The Diocese of Venice is blessed to have 128 priests serving in Southwest Florida. Our Pray for Priests Calendar honors a priest each day with a designated day for prayer and gratitude; all priests in the Diocese are listed on at least one day during the year. If you do not see your priest listed this month, please check again next month! (Priests are honored daily throughout the year via alphabetical order.) Print your very own Pray for Priests Calendar click here.
Bulletin Editors please note: The 2026 Mustard Seed Schedule has been revised to better accommodate the year's holiday schedule. The corrected schedule can be found below.
Milestone Wedding Anniversary Masses - An invitation is extended to all couples celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary (25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 or more years) to join Bishop Frank J. Dewane for an Anniversary Mass in your honor. The Diocese of Venice hosts two Wedding Anniversary Masses each year (one in the northern part of the Diocese and the second in the southern part) to accommodate all. The first Mass in 2026 was held on February 14 at St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs. The second Mass will be held on Saturday, March 14, 11:00 a.m., at St. Thomas More Parish, 2506 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota. A luncheon will follow the Mass. Photos with Bishop Dewane will also be provided for each couple. To register for the Anniversary Mass, please contact your local Parish office no later than one week before the Mass. For additional information contact Jim Gontis, 941-484-4754.
Marriage Prep Retreats/Seminars - Marriage Preparation Retreats are required by the Diocese of Venice for those couples preparing for Sacramental Marriage in the Catholic Church. The retreats are from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and the $60 registration fee includes all retreat materials and lunch. Registration is required.
- Day of Reflection Marriage Retreat - A specially prepared volunteer team of married couples, and a priest, share their experiences and information, enabling couples to be more aware of the privileges and responsibilities of marriage. The next Marriage Retreats are scheduled for March 21 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice and June 20 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples. Register now.
- Two Become One Marriage Retreat (55 and older) - Couples 55 and older preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage or convalidation in the Catholic Church. The next Two Become One Marriage Retreat is on May 2 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center. Register now.
Couples unable to attend an in-person retreat may contact the Diocesan Marriage Prep office to register for the online version. Please contact Jim Gontis, (941) 486-4754.
40 Days for Life – Join others in praying for an end to abortion during 40 Days for Life during Lent in the Diocese of Venice, February 18 – March 29. 40 days for Life is an international 40-day campaign that aims to end abortion locally through prayer and fasting, community outreach, and peaceful all-day vigils in front of abortion businesses. In the Diocese of Venice, 40 Days for Life campaigns are held in the Spring and in the Fall, in three locations: Sarasota, Fort Myers, and Naples.To learn more about how to support or participate in 40 Days for Life in the Diocese contact Tavia Ames, 941-441-1101, or visit the 40 Days for Life website, here. Join us! We need your prayers!
Project Rachel Retreat – Are you or someone you know struggling because of a past abortion? You are not alone. Healing is possible, and help is available. Project Rachel in the Diocese of Venice offers confidential help, healing and hope, including one-day retreats offered four times a year. The next Healing Retreat will be held Tuesday, February 24. For more information, or to join, call or text Sylvia at 941-412-5860 in English or Espanol.
Prayer Vigils to End the Death Penalty – Execution Vigils Feb. 24 and March 3
The execution of Florida inmates by the State of Florida continues at an alarming rate. A record 19 executions took place in Florida in 2025, with the first execution of 2026 taking place on Feb. 10. For each Florida execution, a Prayer Vigil is scheduled at San Pedro Parish Chapel, 14380 Tamiami Trail, North Port. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. The Prayer Vigils begin at 5:30 p.m., last less than an hour and include hymns, a Gospel reading, reflections, intercessions and a praying of the Rosary. A pause takes place at 6 p.m., the time the actual executions take place. Everyone involved in the execution process is prayed for; the doctor administering the execution, the witnesses, the victims and their families, and we pray for a conversion of the condemned, and an end to the death penalty. The next execution Prayer Vigil is Feb. 24, 2026, which will coincide with the scheduled execution of Melvin Trotter, who is scheduled to be the second person executed in Florida this year. Another Vigil will take place March 3, to coincide with the execution of Billy Leon Kearse. For more information, contact Tavia Ames, Director of Respect Life.
Vocations Awareness Weekend - Considering the priesthood? On the weekend of March 6 - 8, join us for a weekend in the life of a seminarian at Saint John Vianney College Seminary! Open to young men ages 17 and up. Transportation is provided. Contact Lina Johnson to register at johnson@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-486-4720.
Diocese of Venice Missionary Opportunity for Summer 2026 Now Open - Could the Lord be calling you? The Diocese of Venice is inviting college-age young adults to apply to serve as Totus Tuus Missionaries for the Diocese’s Parish Catechetical Summer Totus Tuus Camps. As a Totus Tuus Missionary, you will be an authentic witness to Christ’s love, teach the Catholic faith to children and youth, and grow in leadership, community, and your personal relationship with Christ. Many missionaries describe Totus Tuus as one of the most meaningful and life-changing experiences of their lives, a summer where faith deepens, friendships grow, and God’s call becomes clearer. Don't miss this unique opportunity! Apply today! Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, and available from May 20 through July 31, 2026. For further information, contact Andres Prias, Diocesan Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry, at prias@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-441-1122.
(For Parishes) Youth Adoration Nights – The Diocese of Venice Youth & Young Adult Ministry is offering Youth Adoration Nights for Parishes that would like to host this experience locally. This evening of Adoration is designed especially for young people, providing a space for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, music, silence, and reflection. Parish Youth Adoration Nights are a great opportunity for young people to encounter Christ in the Eucharist. If your Parish is interested in hosting a Youth Adoration Night, please contact Andres Prias, 941-441-1122.
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.
Our Mother’s House Wine Tasting Auction and Dinner Dance - The annual Catholic Charities Our Mother’s House Wine Tasting Auction and Dinner Dance is February 26, 5:00 p.m., at Plantation Golf & Country Club, 500 Rockley Blvd., Venice, to benefit the mothers and children at Our Mother’s House, a 2-year transitional living program located in the heart of Venice, dedicated to empowering single mothers with a child. Tickets $150. For tickets, please visit Catholic Charities online. For more information, 941-485-6264 or omhwinetasting@ccdov.org.
Mental Health Counseling Services - Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice is offering Mental Health Counseling, and Tele-Health Counseling, for adults and children provided by licensed mental health therapists. If you or someone you know is feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, helpless, or overwhelmed, Catholic Charities can help. For more information, please call 239-455-2655 or visit Catholic Charities online
Venetian Ball - The annual Catholic Charities Venetian Ball is 6 p.m., March 7, at St. Leo the Great Parish Hall, 28290 Beaumont Road, Bonita Springs. This gala benefits programming and services in Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties. Tickets are $250 and are available at https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/events.
For more information, call 239-342-1620 or email venetianball@ccdov.org.
Emerald Ball - The annual Catholic Charities Emerald Ball is 5:30 p.m., March 14, at the Ritz-Carlton Tiburon Golf Resort, 2600 Tiburon Drive, Naples. This event benefits the programs and services in Collier County. Tickets are $500 and are available at https://catholiccharitiesdov.org/events. For more information,
call 239-455-2655 or email emeraldball@catholiccharitiesdov.org.
Application deadline for Foundation scholarships is March 1 - The deadline for entry for college and vocational scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year from the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida is 11:59 p.m., Sunday, March 1, 2025. To apply for all available scholarships, visit ccfdioceseofvenice.org. For more information contact Anna Kollmeyer at 941-486-4722 or ccf@dioceseofvenice.org.
To view all OLPH events, visit www.olph-retreat.org and click on Events, then Schedule of Events. Register online for all events.
Volunteers - Our Lady of Perpetual Help is in need of volunteers. Areas of need include: Reception, Gardening, Dishwashing, Serving meals. Contact the office to sign up - 941-486-0233 or visit www.olph-retreat.org/new-volunteer
Matt Talbot Men's Spiritual Weekend Retreat at OLPH - March 13-15, 2026
A Matt Talbot retreat is for people of all faiths and is an opportunity for recovering alcoholics to enhance their spirituality and sober way of life. The people who attend these retreats also attend the 12-step program through AA. The Matt Talbot retreat is private and everything is confidential. Save the date for this upcoming retreat. Choose from a private room, or a shared, double occupancy room, or as a commuter (no room). $385.00 per retreatant for a private room, $275.00 per retreatant for a shared, double occupancy room or $195.00 per commuter.
Triduum Retreat: Easter Weekend at OLPH - April 2-5, 2026
This retreat begins with supper on Holy Thursday and ends with breakfast on Easter Sunday. The liturgies of the Lord’s Supper, Way of the Cross, Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion, Easter Vigil, and Sunrise Easter Liturgy are celebrated. A series of six one-hour conferences on varying topics is offered throughout the retreat. In addition, the opportunity for Confession is available. $525.00 per retreatant for a private room or $360.00 per retreatant for a shared, double occupancy room (retreatant to locate appropriate roommate where silence can be maintained). No commuter rate is offered.
Ignatian Preached Retreat at OLPH - May 8-11, 2026 - This 3 Night silent retreat will introduce you to the great themes of the Spiritual Exercises in a group setting. The schedule includes conferences each day, daily Mass, and an opportunity to meet at least once with the retreat director for Confession and/or spiritual direction. Conference topics center on Ignatian spirituality, prayer, and discernment. The cost is $525.00 per retreatant for a private room and $360.00 per retreatant for a shared room (retreatant to locate appropriate roommate where silence can be maintained).
Private Retreats at OLPH - Our spring schedule 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 the OLPH website.
Monthly Days of Prayer at OLPH - The Monthly Day of Prayer is an opportunity to take time out of your busy and hectic life to focus on God. Learn more here.
Royal Rummage Sale XVIII - The St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish Women’s Guild presents Royal Rummage Sale XVIII, in the Parish Hall, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. The early bird sale is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., March 6, and the admission is $5. The regular sale, with free admission, is Saturday, March 7, 9:00 a.m. - noon. Don’t miss out on the biggest and best rummage sale on Longboat Key which includes clothing, furniture, art, collectible, jewelry, housewares, linens, toys, electronics, books, and much more.
Emmaus Experience - Women's Retreat 2026 - This weekend retreat scheduled Friday, March 6 through Sunday, March 8 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center in Venice, is based on the Gospel of Luke 24:13-35 in which Jesus joins two disciples on their way to Emmaus. Women will receive tremendous healing, lifting of burdens, and experience love and joy. Limited Enrollment: registration deadline is February 16, 2026. For registration information please contact Donna Vodraska donnavodraska@aol.com or 630-336-0918.
Annual Life is Beautiful Galas - Church leadership teams and congregations are invited to choose a night at The Ora, 578 McIntosh Road, Sarasota, for these annual events to benefit Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center. The events will be held Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13. To register, visit sarasotapregnancy.com/LIB. For more information, email events@sarasotapregnancy.com or call 941-702-9974.
Heart of Community Gala - Join Community Pregnancy Clinics (CPCI) for an evening of hope and inspiration at the “Heart of the Community Gala,” Saturday, March 28, 5:00 p.m., at the Ritz-Carton Tiburon, 2600 Tiburon Drive, Naples. Begin with a cocktail reception and fellowship alongside other dedicated advocates, followed by a delicious dinner, paddle-raise fundraiser, and a powerful keynote address from Matt Walsh, a renowned filmmaker, author, and pro-life voice. The cost is $500 per person. Tickets are available at www.supportcpci.com.
Magnificat Breakfast - Be blessed and encouraged at the next Magnificat breakfast for women, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., March 28, at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Gulf Coast. The speaker is Kathy Corona, a woman of deep faith who will share her spiritual journey. Join for breakfast, fellowship, and worship to hear her inspiring testimony of Jesus Christ’s love and healing! Reservations can be made online until noon, March 24 at https://magnificatfortmyers.com/order-tickets/. For more information, contact Margaret Mengle, 239-826-7475.
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.
"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you."