April 19, 2024
Office of the Bishop
Pope Francis Prayer Intention for May - We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel.
Florida Bishops’ Statement, Extreme Abortion Amendment - The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that the pro-abortion amendment, now known as Amendment 4, will appear on the ballot in November. It is urgent that all Floridians be alerted to the extreme, dangerous nature of this pro-abortion amendment, and be advised to vote no on Amendment 4! Below, please find in English and Spanish a joint statement from the Bishops of Florida regarding Amendment 4. Please share the statement with your parishioners by all means possible and include it in your parish's weekly bulletin. As the campaign progresses, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Diocese of Venice Respect Life Office, will be providing additional resources including documents explaining in detail how the amendment is misleading and extreme, bulletin and/or pulpit announcements, and homily suggestions. The FCCB's forthcoming resources, as well as the attached Florida Bishops' statement, will be available on the dedicated Amendment 4 page on their website, here flaccb.org/abortion-am.
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, 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. This is particularly important in light of the dangerous pro-abortion amendment that will appear on the ballot this fall! See below for the document and Bulletin Announcements for more.
Formando Conciencias para Ciudadanos Fieles - Los Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos se complacen en ofrecer una vez más a los fieles católicos, un documento de enseñanza sobre la responsabilidad política de los católicos. Esta declaración incluye una guía para los católicos en el ejercicio de sus derechos y deberes como participantes en nuestra democracia. Los obispos exhortan a los pastores, a los fieles laicos y religiosos, y a todas las personas de buena voluntad a utilizar esta declaración para ayudar a formar sus conciencias; enseñar a los que se le confían a su cuidado; contribuir al diálogo público civilizado y respetuoso; y dar forma a las opciones políticas en las próximas elecciones a la luz de la enseñanza católica. La declaración exalta nuestra doble herencia como fieles católicos y ciudadanos estadounidenses con derechos y deberes como participantes en el orden civil. ¡Esto es particularmente importante a la luz de la peligrosa enmienda pro-aborto que aparecerá en la boleta electoral este otoño! Véase más abajo para el español.
Communications
"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 April 26. Outside of the listening area, access to the program is available here.
"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 April 26. 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 email Karen Schwarz, Director of Communications.
Evangelization
National Eucharistic Revival - Parish Year - The second phase of the National Eucharistic Revival is underway and fosters Eucharistic devotion at the Parish level. All can participate! For educational resources on the Diocese of Venice website, please click here.
Totus Tuus, Parish Catechetical Summer Camp Program - The Totus Tuus Parish Catechetical Summer Camp program, open to grades 1-12, has been very well-received by young people, parents, and Parishes in the Diocese of Venice for the last two years. The program will be available in the Diocese of Venice again this summer beginning in June. Totus Tuus 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. All camps are one-week day camps, and programs are divided according to age. See the flyer below for a list of Parishes in the Diocese hosting the program this summer, and the dates. Please share this information with your parishioners, even if your Parish is not hosting the program; parents may be interested in sending their child to a nearby camp program. In addition, the Totus Tuus program is still recruiting for a few missionaries to lead the camps! To apply, or to learn more about the Totus Tuus program in the Diocese of Venice, click here, or contact Jim Gontis.
Respect Life
Novena of Masses for Life and Spiritual Adoption - As soon as your 2025 Mass book is open, please consider scheduling Novena of Masses for Life from March 25 to November 25 or December 25. Below is a form to register your Masses. Although they normally would begin on the Annunciation and run through November or December on the 25th of every month, they can be scheduled monthly on any day that is available. Consider a weekend Mass so that more people will participate. Spiritual Adoption is an excellent program to run separately or in conjunction with the Novena. See www.dioceseofvenice.org/respectlife and scroll down to the “Related Pages” section for more information (including Prayers of the Faithful and fetal development bulletin inserts). For additional information, contact Jeanne Berdeaux at Berdeaux@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-374-1068. If you have scheduled 2024 Novena of Masses for Life, remember to include the intention in your bulletins of “Novena Mass for Life: For a greater respect for all human life” on your scheduled days each month. If you need Spiritual Adoption pamphlets (English or Spanish) or prayer cards, please email Berdeaux@dioceseofvenice.org.
Education
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. Please visit the Diocese of Venice website for further information. 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. (BULLETIN EDITORS: Please publish above text in Parish bulletins.)
BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS
Respect Life
Extreme Abortion Amendment Decision - A cruel and dangerous abortion amendment will be added to the ballot in November. Please acquaint yourself with the facts by visiting www.TooExtreme4FL.com, and vote NO on Amendment 4! If you are concerned about this recent Florida Supreme Court decision to allow the extreme abortion amendment to appear on the ballot and are interested in doing something about it, contact Jeanne Berdeaux at Berdeaux@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-374-1068.
Calling all Pro-Life Advocates! If you’d like to volunteer to help educate people on the truth about the pro-abortion amendment on the November ballot, plan to attend a training session! Two sessions will be offered:
- Sarasota: Leadership Institute, 2163 Main Street, (downtown), Monday, May 13, from 11:45 to 3:00 (lunch included).
- Fort Myers: St. John XXIII Parish Center, 13060 Palomino Lane, (I-75, Exit 131), Wednesday, May 15, from 11:45 to 3:00 (lunch included).
For either session, register online at www.LeadershipInstitute.org/ProLife by May 8. Questions? Contact Jeanne Berdeaux, Berdeaux@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-374-1068. See below for a flier.
Eucharistic Adoration for Life - You are invited to spend time with Our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (abortion days at Planned Parenthood) at Mary’s House (next to Community Pregnancy Clinic, 1419 Seventh Street, Sarasota) to pray for an end to abortion. Questions? Contact Ginger at ggosling2@aol.com or 941-224-0662.
Communications
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 DIOCESEOFVENICE 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.
Formando la Conciencia para ser Ciudadanos Fieles - "Necesitamos participar por el bien común. A veces escuchamos: a un buen católico no le interesa la política. Esto no es cierto: los buenos católicos se sumergen en la política ofreciendo lo mejor de sí mismos para que el líder pueda gobernar" - Papa Francisco. En este año electoral, recuerde que moldear el carácter moral de la sociedad es un requisito de nuestra fe y una parte básica de la misión que hemos recibido de Jesucristo. La orientación para los católicos en el ejercicio de sus derechos y deberes como participantes en nuestra democracia está disponible en la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos (USCCB, por sus siglas en inglés), en Formando la conciencia para ser ciudadanos fieles | USCCB. Visite el sitio web para profundizar su comprensión de la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia y las enseñanzas de la Iglesia que se relacionan con los problemas sociales, económicos y políticos de nuestro tiempo.
Office of Marriage and Family Life
A Walk With Jesus For Grieving Parents - The pain from grief can be extreme, but the death of a child is even more intense. Parents experience an emptiness like no other. If you are mourning the loss of a child (from infancy to adulthood), consider attending a Catholic faith-based weekend retreat from Friday, October 11 until Sunday October 13 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, 3989 S. Moon Drive, Venice. Deacon Henry De Mena will lead the Retreat. The cost is $150.00 per person based on double occupancy and $250.00 for single occupancy. Financial assistance is available. To register scan the QR code in the flier below or contact Jim Gontis at gontis@dioceseofvenice.org for further information.
Un Caminar con Jesús para Padres en Duelo - El dolor de la pena puede ser extremo, pero la muerte de un hijo es aún más intensa. Los padres experimentan un vacío como ningún otro. Si está de luto por la pérdida de un hijo (desde la infancia hasta la edad adulta), considere asistir a un retiro católico basado en la fe de fin de semana desde el viernes 19 de julio hasta el domingo 21 de julio en el Centro de Retiros de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro, 3989 S. Moon Drive, Venice. El diácono Henry De Mena dirigirá el retiro. El costo es de $150.00 por persona en base a ocupación doble y $250.00 en ocupación individual. Hay asistencia financiera disponible. Para registrarse, escanee el código QR en el folleto a continuación o comuníquese con Jim Gontis en gontis@dioceseofvenice.org para obtener más información.
Office of Vocations
Vocation Discernment Retreat - A Vocations Discernment Retreat is taking place beginning at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, May 11at Saint Katherine Drexel Parish, 1922 SW 20th Avenue, Cape Coral. If you are of high school or college age, or a young adult, and wish to discover more about different vocations, plan to attend this one-day Retreat. The day will include breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and presentations regarding the different Vocations. The cost for the day is $25.00. To register, or for additional information, please contact aileen@drexelcc.org or rose@drexelcc.org.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center
Retreats - The Spring Schedule for Retreats is posted, and there are several openings for 3-, 5- and 7-night silent directed retreats in June. 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 May 16. For any questions, please email Jim Gontis.
Totus Tuus - Totus Tuus, Diocese of Venice in Florida, is in need of recent high school graduates or college-age men and women committed to their Catholic Faith who feel called to share it with the youth throughout the Diocese. The Mission is a temporary nine-week commitment from May 23 - July 27 (excluding week of June 29 – July 6). Applicants must be 18 years old by May 23, 2024. The deadline to apply is May 8. To apply, please click here.
OUT AND ABOUT THE DIOCESE
The Parable Project - Magic Carpet Theater will present the “The Parable Project",Thursday, April 25 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at St. Agnes Parish Center, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. The Parable Project tells the stories Jesus told through drama, humor, and audience participation. Be inspired as the Scriptures come to life and reveal God’s love for us. There is no charge or registration for this event, however, there is a maximum capacity of 330. Bring a friend! All are welcome! Please contact Ivy O’Malley at ivy@stagnesnaples.org or 239-307-4264 with any questions.
First Friday Adoration - St. Peter the Apostle Parish, 5130 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 May 3. For more information, please call 239-774-3337.
13th Annual Ave Maria University Marian Eucharistic Conference - All are invited to the 13th Annual Ave Maria University Marian Eucharistic Conference May 10-12, “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of Our Lord.” Featured speakers will include Fox News and EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo, Fr. Robert Sirico co-founder of the Acton Institute, “Women of Grace” Founder Johnnette B. Williams, President and Co-Founder of “Foundation of Prayer for Priests” Kathleen Beckman. In addition to these great talks special Spanish sessions will also be offered including talks by Sister Maria Jose of Servants of the Pierced Heart of Jesus, Fr. Rafael Capo Director of the US Bishops' Regional Office in Miami and Rev. David Vidal, Pastor of Ave Maria Catholic Church. Music ministry will be provided by Jon Nevin. The cost is $190 per person, which includes lodging, meals, and conference fee for the weekend all on the beautiful campus of Ave Maria University. For more information about our speakers or to register for this event visit www.aveconferences.com, call (239) 348-4725, or email aveconferences@gmail.com.
Vacation Bible School - St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 625 111th Ave N, Naples, is hosting Vacation Bible School for children (entering kindergarten fall 2024 through entering 5th grade fall 2024) from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon each day, June 3 to June 7. Join us for SCUBA: Diving into Friendship with God! Please register your child using the link: vbspro.events/p/11f5fe.
For Mothers Grieving the Loss of a Child - Red Bird Ministries, a non-profit Catholic grief support ministry is hosting a Grieving Mother’s Retreat from June 7 to June 9 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, 3989 South Moon Drive, Venice. This retreat is for women who have experienced the loss of a child from pregnancy through adulthood. Mothers will be helped in addressing the profound healing that needs to happen while also honoring the memory of the child throughout their grief journey. Please visit www.redbird.love/revival for information and registration.
15th Annual Ave Maria University High School Youth Conferences - All high school age youth from incoming freshman to outgoing seniors are invited to join us for the 15th Annual Ave Maria University High School Youth Conference, “CALLED.” This incredible weekend will be full of faith, fellowship, music, and great speakers. Including Fr. Timothy Antastos from the Diocese of Chicago who is currently serving as a National Eucharistic Preacher and featured regularly on “Reel Homilies”, Noelle Garcia a Catholic recording artist who shares her faith through scripture and music, nationally known chastity speaker Pam Stenzel, and Fr. Joseph Lugalambi, Adjunct Professor of Theology at Ave Maria University. Music will be provided by EPIC Music Ministries. The cost is $190 per person. This includes lodging in the dorms, meals, conference fee, and a cool t-shirt! Register now by visiting 2024 Youth Conference - July 12-14 — Ave Maria University Conferences or for more information call 239- 348-4725, or email aveconferences@gmail.com.
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.