March 1, 2024
Office of the Bishop
After broad consultation, Bishop Frank J. Dewane announces the following:
Reverend Celestino Gutierrez, retired as Pastor of St. Jude Parish, Sarasota, effective February 19, 2024, and thus, is relieved of his duties as Pastor of St. Jude Parish, Sarasota.
Reverend Jiobani Batista, as Pastor of St. Jude Parish, Sarasota, effective March 11, 2024, and thus is relieved of his duties as Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish, LaBelle.
Reverend Marcial Garcia, as Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish, LaBelle, effective March 11, 2024, and thus relieved of his duties as Pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Moore Haven.
Reverend Remigious Ssekiranda, as Administrator of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Moore Haven, effective March 11, 2024, and thus relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar of St. Paul Parish in Arcadia.
Reverend Pawel Kawalec, as Parochial Vicar of St. Paul Parish in Arcadia, effective March 11, 2024, and thus relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar of St. Catherine Parish in Sebring.
Reverend Anthonio Jean, as Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Bradenton, effective February 26, 2024, and thus, is relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar at St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Cape Coral.
Reverend Shawn Roser, as Parochial Vicar of Resurrection of Our Lord Parish, Fort Myers, effective March 11, 2024, and thus is relieved of his duties as Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Lakewood Ranch and as Director of Vocations and Seminarian Formation for the Diocese of Venice.
Reverend Alexander Pince, as Director of Vocations and Seminarian Formation for the Diocese of Venice, effective March 11, 2024, while retaining half time duties as Parochial Vicar of Epiphany Cathedral, Venice.
Reverend Alan Baldarelli, as Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Lakewood Ranch, effective March 11, 2024.
Pope Francis Prayer Intention for March - Let us pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world might imbue the Church with their courage and missionary drive.
Diocese of Venice Eucharistic Conference - All are invited to attend the Diocese of Venice Eucharistic Conference on Saturday, March 16, at Bishop Verot Catholic High School, 5598 Sunrise Drive, Fort Myers. This effort, in support of the Church’s National Eucharistic Revival to place an emphasis on the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist, will be an all-day event of faith and fellowship, featuring inspirational Catholic speakers, including nationally acclaimed Catholic speaker and author Steven Ray, Crystalina Evert, Kathia Aranga, Father Elvis Gonzalez, and Tim Glemkowski. English and Spanish sessions will be offered. The day will include the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, as well as adoration, and confessions. Promotion of this important Diocesan Eucharistic event is encouraged.
For more information, please contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org. Please see below for a flier and schedule of the day in both Spanish and English. For more information, or to register, please click here https://dioceseofvenice.org/eucharistic-conference-2024/. Registration deadline is March 12.
Diocese-wide Opportunity for Sacrament of Reconciliation - This Lent the Diocese of Venice will have the Sacrament of Reconciliation available at the same time at ALL Parishes to allow the faithful ample opportunity to receive God’s Mercy. To make this opportunity as convenient as possible, in consultation with the Diocesan Presbyteral Council, the Bishop has designated the following days and times for Confession at EACH Parish: Friday, March 22, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The precept of confessing grave sins and receiving Holy Communion at least once during the Lenten Season merits a reminder to the faithful to take advantage of this opportunity.
Chrism Mass - The Chrism Mass, which takes place during Holy Week every year, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 26 at Epiphany Cathedral, 350 Tampa Ave. W., in Venice. 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 recognized at this Mass. All are encouraged to attend in support of our clergy and to participate in this important Holy Week celebration.
The 2024 Priest and Deacon Jubilarians are:
- 50 years - Reverend Richard Bondi, Reverend James Drew, Reverend Brian Manning, Reverend Mark Svarczkopf
- 50 years - Deacon Michael Leahy
- 25 years - Reverend Victor Caviedes, Reverend Anthony Hewitt, Reverend Antonio Jean, Reverend Jay Raju
- 25 years - Deacon Peter Fullen, Deacon Edward Gwiazda, Deacon William Hickey, and Deacon Alfred Mauriello
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship - The Catholic Bishops of the United States are pleased to offer once again to the Catholic faithful Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (en Español), a teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics. This statement includes guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy. The Bishops urge pastors, lay and religious faithful, and all people of good will to use this statement to help form their consciences; to teach those entrusted to their care; to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue; and to shape political choices in the coming election in light of Catholic teaching. The statement lifts up our dual heritage as both faithful Catholics and American citizens with rights and duties as participants in the civil order. See Bulletin Announcements for more.
Communications
WARNING - Text/Email SCAM Alert - The Diocese of Venice has been made aware that parishioners continue to receive text/email messages from people pretending to be clergy – including Bishop Frank J. Dewane – or Parish/School staff, requesting donations in the form of gift cards and/or wire transfers. It is Diocesan policy that neither the Bishop, nor priests or staff request donations in the form of gift cards, PayPal, MoneyGram, etc. Without this awareness, some have responded to the spoofed messages, with consequences, including loss of funds. There is an established process in place on how parishioners can make donations and participate in the life of the Diocese/Parish/School. If you receive such a SCAM text or email, please immediately contact the Diocesan/Parish/School directly!
"Witnessing Faith with Bishop Dewane" - Join Bishop Frank J. Dewane for his monthly 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 March 29. This month the topic will be Good Friday. Outside of the listening area, access to the program is available here.
Are you a Flocknote Parish yet?! - Flocknote is a Catholic email and text message delivery system, specifically designed for ease of use! Flocknote provides access to simple, drop-in Catholic content for your emails or texts, and is a great way to engage your flock. The Diocese of Venice, and many individual Parishes in the Diocese, now use Flocknote. It’s easy to get started, and for a limited time only, the Diocese of Venice is covering 50% of the cost of the first year! For more information, or to get started, please contact Karen Schwarz, Director of Communications, at schwarz@dioceseofvenice.org.
For Blind and Visually Impaired Catholics - Free Catholic resources are available, including Mass Missals and the Bible, in hard copy braille, BRF (a downloadable braille-ready file), audio, and large print formats, in both English and Spanish for those who are blind or visually impaired. To access these resources, visit The Xavier Society for the Blind’s website, or reach out to them at info@xaviersocietyfortheblind.org, 800-637-9193, or 212-473-7800.
Para los Católicos ciegos y con discapacidad visual - Hay recursos Católicos gratuitos disponibles, incluidos los Misiles de Misa y la Biblia, en braille impreso. BRF (un archivo descargable listo para braille), audio y formatos de letra grande, tanto en inglés como en español. Para acceder a estos recursos, visite el sitio web de la Sociedad Xavier para Ciegos, o comuníquese con ellos en info@xaviersocietyfortheblind.org, 800-637-9193, o 212-473-7800.
Evangelization
Lenten Resources - The Lenten Journey has begun! For information and resources, visit the Diocese of Venice website at Lent 2024 - Diocese of Venice.
National Eucharistic Revival - Parish Year - The second phase of the National Eucharistic Revival began on June 11, 2023, and will foster Eucharistic devotion at the Parish level. All can participate! For educational resources on the Diocese of Venice website, please click here.
Respect Life
Pray to Defeat Florida’s Abortion Amendment - The Florida Supreme Court heard oral arguments on February 7 and then convened privately to decide the fate of the Pro-Abortion Amendment, specifically whether or not the wording is misleading and should be blocked from inclusion on the November 2024 election ballot. By law they must release their opinion by April 1. Please pray that they make the right decision so that voters will not be misled into voting for this dangerous amendment. Florida does not need to have abortion enshrined in the constitution forever, preventing any laws that will protect women and their children. To learn more, go to TooExtremeforFL.com. For questions, contact Jeanne Berdeaux at Berdeaux@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-374-1068.
St. Joseph Adoption Novena - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Respect Life Office encourages the faithful to participate in the annual St. Joseph Adoption Novena from Sunday, March 10 through Monday, March 18. The novena invokes the intercession of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, to pray for all whose life stories include adoption. Participants can download the novena or sign up to receive the daily prayers (in English or Spanish) via email or text message at St. Joseph Adoption Novena | Respect Life. The daily prayers will also be posted at 8:30 a.m. (EST) on USCCB Respect Life's Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) accounts March 10-18, as well as a closing prayer on the solemnity (March 19).
BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS
40 Days for Life Spring Campaign - Show your support for life by simply praying for an end to abortion on the public sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood between now through March 24. For details and flier go to www.40daysforlife.com (add /sarasota or /fortmyers or /naples for a direct link to the location near you). Questions? Contact Jeanne at 941-374-1068 or Berdeaux@dioceseofvenice.org.
Dangerous Pro-Abortion Initiative Inches Forward! - The "Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion" has collected enough signatures to qualify for the November 2024 ballot. The Florida Supreme Court is currently considering whether the language of the proposed amendment is misleading. Their decision, due by April 1, will determine if the amendment will appear on the November ballot. How can you help? Stay informed and be ready to defeat this amendment if it makes it to the ballot! Visit TooExtremeforFL.com, a website created by Florida Voters Against Extremism, and share what you learn with your friends. This deceptive amendment is not what it seems and would disallow any government regulation of abortion, allowing it up until birth.
Communications
New Film Tells Story of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini - Cabrini, a new film by the director of Sound of Freedom, Alejandro Monteverde, tells the true story of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Italian immigrant Francesca Cabrini, after witnessing disease and poverty in the slums of New York, embarks on a daring journey to persuade the hostile mayor to provide housing and healthcare for hundreds of orphaned children, and ultimately succeeds in building “an empire of hope.” The film has been described as “uncompromising in its Catholicism” by reviewers. It will be released Friday, March 8, International Women’s Day. Theater locations and group discount information (in select locations only) can be found here.
Keep up with what’s happening in the Diocese of Venice! - Sign up for messages from the Diocese, including direct messages from Bishop Frank J. Dewane by texting DIOCESEOFVENICE to 84576.
¡Manténgase al tanto de lo que sucede en la Diócesis de Venecia! - Regístrese para recibir mensajes de la Diócesis, incluidos mensajes directos del obispo Frank J. Dewane, enviando un mensaje de texto con DIOCSEOFVENICE al 84576.
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship - "We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern" - Pope Francis. In this election year, please remember that shaping the moral character of society is a requirement of our faith, and a basic part of the mission we have received from Jesus Christ. Guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy is available from the USCCB, at faithfulcitizenship.org. Visit the website to deepen your understanding of Catholic Social Teaching, and the teachings of the Church that relate to the social, economic, and political issues of our time.
Catholic Charities
Venetian Charity Ball - Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc., presents the Venetian Ball ’24, at 6:00 p.m., March 9, at St. Leo the Great Parish Hall, 28290 Beaumont Rd., Bonita Springs. The Ball is themed “Restoring Our Community.” This event supports the programs in Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties, the communities hardest hit by Hurricane Ian in 2022. The evening includes a cocktail hour, live and silent auctions, fine dining, dancing, and live entertainment. Tickets are $250. Register online at http://bidpal.net/vb2024. For more information, call 239-334-4007 ext. 2100 or email VenetianBall@catholiccharitiesdov.org.
Emerald Ball - Celebrating 40 years of service, Catholic Charities of Collier County presents the annual Emerald Ball. The Ball will take place at 5:30 p.m., March 14, at Ritz-Carlton Tiburon Golf Resort, 2600 Tiburon Dr., Naples. The evening includes a cocktail hour, live and silent auctions, fine dining, dancing, and live entertainment. Tickets are $400. Register online at http://bidpal.net/eb2024. For more information, email emeraldball@catholiccharitiesdov.org or call 239-455-2655.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center
Monthly Days of Prayer - In March, the Monthly Days of Prayer will be held on Sunday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 13. The presenter will be Father Mark Yavarone, OMV and the topic will be “Carrying Our Cross.” The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with continental breakfast, and includes two conferences, lunch, Eucharistic Adoration, and opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, private meditation, and prayer. The day concludes with Mass that ends at 3:15 p.m. The topic is the same for both dates, so choose the day that works best for your schedule. To register, please visit:// https://olph-retreat.org/monthly-day-of-prayer.For more, please visit www.olph-retreat.org or call 941- 486-0233.
Various Retreat Opportunities - The spring schedule is posted and there are several openings for Desert Days, 3,5- and 7-night silent directed retreats. The semi- annual Matt Talbot Retreat is scheduled for March 15 to 17 and the Sacred Tridium Retreat will be held from March 28 to 31. To learn more or to register for a group or private retreat, please visit www.olph-retreat.org or call 941-486-0233.
Youth and Young Adults
Theology on Tap Sarasota - Theology on Tap takes place on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Mandeville Beer Garden in Sarasota, 428 N. Lemon Ave, Sarasota. Join us outside in the garden for food and refreshments, presentations, and discussions about the Catholic Faith. The next scheduled date is March 21. The speaker will be Tim Shipe, Theology Teacher at Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School and Youth Ministry Leader at St. Martha Parish, both in Sarasota. Shipe will be speaking on The Paschal Mystery. For any questions, please email Jim Gontis.
OUT AND ABOUT THE DIOCESE
Royal Rummage Sale - The St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish Royal Rummage Sale XVI, the biggest and best on Longboat Key, will take place Friday March 8, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ($5 admission), and Saturday, March 9, 9:00 a.m. – noon (free admission). The sale will take place in the Parish Hall, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. For more information, please call Nancy Gornto at 410-227-6940.
Magnificat Breakfast - The next Magnificat Breakfast for women will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9 at the Crown Plaza Fort Myers Gulf Coast, formerly Holiday Inn Airport. The speaker will be Kim Rodriguez-Torres, a wife, mother, grandmother, and woman of God. Kim has been involved in Lay Ministry for 30 years and takes every opportunity to share the power of prayer, the love of God and the Mission of Jesus Christ. Make reservations until noon on March 5 at https://magnificatfortmyers.com/order-tickets/. For further information please contact Margaret Mengle at 239-826-7475.
Emmaus Women’s Retreat - Epiphany Cathedral Parish is hosting a Women’s Retreat from early evening Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 10 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, 4989 S. Moon Drive, Venice. This retreat is an opportunity to experience, renew and deepen your relationship with the Lord. There is limited enrollment. The registration fee is $225 for a double room and $300 for a private retreat. Registration deadline is February 19. To register and for more information, please contact Donna Vodraska at donnavodraska@aol.com.
Lenten Fish Bake - St. Peter the Apostle Parish, 51030 Rattlesnake Hammock Road, Naples, is hosting a Lenten Fish Bake every Friday during Lent (except Good Friday), 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Cost is $12 per person with drive thru or dine in options in the Spirit Center. For more information, please call 239-774-3337.
School Gala - St. Elizabeth Catholic School, Naples, is hosting a Roaring 20’s Gala and Auction, Saturday, March 16 at the Vineyards Country Club, 400 Vineyards Blvd, Naples. The evening will include cocktails, dinner, silent/live auctions, entertainment, and dancing. For additional information, please contact the school at 239-455-2262.
Faith and Ale and Faith and Wine Lee County - Plan to attend this joint event between Faith and Ale and Faith and Wine, 6:00 p.m., Thursday, March 21 at St. John XXIII Catholic Church Parish Life Center, 13060 Palomino Lane, Fort Myers. The guest speaker is Father Larry Richards, EWTN radio host, author and pastor in Erie, Pa., who will speak on “Living Easter Joy.” Tickets are limited and will not be available at the door. The cost is $25 and includes wine, beer, and heavy appetizers. Register at faithandale.com/.... Ticket sales end March 18.
Naples Pro-Life Summit - Join local and national Pro-Life leaders and advocates for the 2nd Annual Naples Summit, Wednesday, March 20 through Friday, March 22, in Naples, (New Hope Church). The first day, March 20 includes an excursion and meet-up opportunities. March 21 includes trainings and panel discussions on a wide range of important topics from Sidewalk Advocacy to legal trends and so called lawfare against pro-lifers. Additional activities include: a sneak peek for Abby Johnson’s new movie, Unthinkable; a legal panel presented by Thomas More Society; a maternity home visit; and tour a mobile pregnancy unit. Network with leaders and advocates at this end annual Naples Summit! There is also an expo and lunch events planned. Space is limited. Register and learn more at www.NaplesSummit.com.
Lenten Retreat - Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Osprey proudly announces their Parish Lenten retreat will feature international speaker and musician Jimmy Mitchell. The theme is Wounded by Love: Understanding Salvation from Creation to the Cross. This retreat is 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Saturday, March 23, and will be held at the Epiphany Cathedral Parish Hall, 310 Sarasota St., Venice. Tickets are $35 per person. Please contact Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish for more details at 941-966-0807.
Migrant Care Grants - The application period for grant requests for funding of projects in 2024 available from the Foundation for the Care of the Migrant Poor Fund are now open and need to be submitted no later than Monday, April 1. To be considered for a grant, the project must clearly be seen as a service to the migrant poor or new immigrants. Preference will be given to those projects under Catholic auspices. Visit https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=ccfsf to submit an application.
First Friday Adoration - St. Peter the Apostle Parish, 51030 Rattlesnake Hammock Road, Naples, offers a Holy Hour of Adoration, every First Friday at 6:00 p.m. This takes place in the main church with the Chant Choir. The next First Friday offering is March 1. For more information, please call 239-774-3337.
Save the Date - Community Pregnancy Clinics Inc. (CPCI) is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a Gala. “A Legacy of Life" will take place beginning at 5:00 p.m., on Saturday, April 6 at the Ritz-Carlton Tiburon, 600 Tiburon Drive, Naples. Tickets start at $500 and include cocktail social hour, silent auction, elegant 3-course dinner, keynote speech from The Daily Wire's Michael Knowles, and after party with live music and dancing. For further information and to purchase tickets, please contact Joel Chute at jchute@communityforlife.com or 239-328-7547.
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.