Announcements
After consultation, Bishop Emilio E. Biosca, O.F.M. Cap., announces the following appointments and confirmations:
Attorney Joseph DiVito, as General Counsel of the Diocese of Venice, effective August 20, 2026.
Reverend John Fitch, as a member of the Diocesan Finance Council of the Diocese of Venice, effective August 20, 2026.
Very Reverend Robert Kantor, as a member of the Diocesan Finance Council of the Diocese of Venice, effective August 20, 2026.
The following members have been appointed as members of the College of Consultors for the Diocese of Venice:
Very Reverend David M. Vidal, V.G.
Very Reverend Robert Dziedziak, J.V.
Very Reverend Robert Kantor
Very Reverend Msgr. Patrick Dubois, V.F.
Very Reverend José Gonzáles, V.F.
Very Reverend Jayabalan Raju, V.F.
Very Reverend Tomasz Zalewski, V.F.
Reverend Jiobani Batista
Reverend John Costello
Reverend George Ratzmann
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Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated September 28
Bishop Emilio will celebrate a Catholic Mass of Remembrance on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. on the grounds of The Church of the Ascension, 6025 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach. All are welcome. The date marks the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Ian's devastating impact on Southwest Florida, and Fort Myers Beach, including the destruction of the Church of the Ascension. Celebrated by Bishop Emilio, the Mass of Remembrance will be concelebrated by priests from the surrounding area, including Monsignor Stephen McNamara, Church of the Resurrection, Fr. Lorenzo Gonzalez, St. Columbkille Parish, Fr. Jarek Sniosek, St. Leo the Great Parish and Fr. Bill Adams, former Pastor of Ascension Parish.
Bishop Emilio to Lead First Pilgrimage with the Diocese of Venice in October
In response to a gracious invitation from the Most Reverend Erik Thomas Pohlmeier, Bishop of St. Augustine, and the Most Reverend Felipe de Jesús Estévez, S.T.D., Bishop Emeritus of St. Augustine, Bishop Emilio will lead his first pilgrimage for the Diocese of Venice in October. Bishop Emilio invites the young adults of the Diocese of Venice to join him on a special two-day, weekend pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine on October 10–11, 2026. It was at the National Shrine that the first Catholic Mass in the United States was celebrated, and the nation’s first Catholic parish community established. Register online at: St. Augustine Pilgrimage. For additional information contact Andres Prias,Youth & Young Adult Outreach Director, 941-441-1122.
Lighting the Lantern with Bishop EmilioTune in for the first episode of Lighting the Lantern with Bishop Emilio, the bishop's new monthly radio show, on Friday, August 28. The show will air on Relevant Radio on the last Friday of every month at 8:30 AM on 1410 AM and 106.7 FM in Fort Myers, and 1660 AM and 93.3 FM in Naples, and will also be available any time at dioceseofvenice.org/ourbishop. This month, Bishop Emilio will discuss the Diocese’s upcoming Young Adult pilgrimage to St. Augustine’s Our Lady of La Leche Shrine, his first with the Diocese of Venice. The location is the site of the first Catholic Mass in the United States. For this episode, guests Andres Prias, the Diocese of Venice’s Youth and Young Adult Director, and Lynn Mangan, Vice Postulator for the Cause for La Florida Martyrs, will join the discussion.
More Information
More information about Bishop Emilio can be found on the Diocese's website, or in the latest edition of the Florida Catholic.
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