Office of the Bishop
Pope Francis Prayer intention for May - Let us pray that those in charge of finance will work with governments to regulate the financial sphere and protect citizens from its dangers.
Pentecost Sunday - The great feast that marks the birth of the Christian Church by the power of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost Sunday, is May 23. Pentecost means "fiftieth day" and is celebrated 50 days after Easter. Red is the liturgical color for this day and the Faithful are encouraged to wear red to Mass that day. Red is symbolic of the love of the Holy Spirit and recalls the tongues of fire in which the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles that first Pentecost. The color red also reminds us of the blood of the martyrs. These are the believers of every generation who by the power of the Holy Spirit hold firm to the true faith even at the cost of their lives.
Confirmation - On Pentecost Sunday, May 23, Bishop Frank J. Dewane will be conferring the Sacrament of Confirmation upon those who have been prepared in their Parishes but were unable to be Confirmed there. The Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at Epiphany Cathedral, 350 Tampa Avenue West, Venice. Registration forms in both Spanish and English may be found on the Forms section of the Epiphany Cathedral Website, under Confirmation: Pentecost Sunday. Completed forms must be returned to Stephen McEntegart at Epiphany Cathedral via email at RELED@EpiphanyCathedral.org or via mail to Epiphany Cathedral, 310 Sarasota Street, Venice, Florida 34285. The deadline for registration is May 17.
Year of the Family - On March 19, 2021, the fifth anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, on the joy and beauty of familial love, Pope Francis inaugurated the year “Amoris Laetitia Family” which will conclude on June 26, 2022 on the occasion of the next World Meeting of Families in Rome. When announced, the Dicastery said in a statement “The Pandemic experience has highlighted the central role of the family as the domestic Church and has shown the importance of community ties between families”. To learn more about the effort and the initiatives occurring in the Diocese of Venice during this commemorative year visit Year of the Family - Diocese of Venice.
Solidarity with Seafarers - May 22 is National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Mariners and People of the Sea. A joint effort among the Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking, Stella Maris, and the Apostleship of the Sea pays tribute to and advocate for the world’s seafarers. The many risks faced by these essential workers has been exacerbated as over 400,000 seafarers have been confined to their vessels as their home country borders remain closed during the Pandemic. Pope Francis describes their occupation as one of the most dangerous in the world. In an effort to bring greater awareness to the Faithful, resources have been made available for Parishes. (CLICK HERE for the resource kit including bulletin inserts and prayer intentions.) (CLICK HERE for a social media graphic.)
Year of Saint Joseph - On the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, March 19, 2020 Bishop Frank J. Dewane, in the context of the Coronavirus, consecrated the Diocese of Venice to the care and protection of Saint Joseph, and announced a "Year of Saint Joseph". Pope Francis recently dedicated a “Year of St. Joseph” therefore, the Diocesan celebration will continue through December 8, 2021. Saint Joseph, often referred to as the Protector, can be our protector during these troubling times. The “30 Days of Prayer to Saint Joseph” can be prayed anytime throughout the year and offers the opportunity to ask this great saint to intercede for us. (CLICK HERE for English and CLICK HERE for Spanish.)
Communications
"Witnessing Faith with Bishop Dewane" - Join Bishop Frank J. Dewane, for his monthly radio program on Relevant Radio. "Witnessing Faith with Bishop Dewane" can be heard at 8:30 a.m., on Friday, May 28. Access to the program is available at https://dioceseofvenice.org/our-bishop/relevant-radio-podcasts.
Religious Freedom Week 2021 - Solidarity in Freedom takes place from June 22 to 29. The Week begins with the Feast of Ss. John Fisher and Thomas More, ends with the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul and includes the Feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist. During Religious Freedom Week, Catholics are encouraged to pray and act each day for religious freedom. The (USCCB) United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Pray-Reflect-Act Series aims to help Catholics build solidarity with people of faith who are persecuted abroad and find strength to carry out the mission of the Church here in the United States. For resources and reflections each day of the this week, please visit Pray-Reflect-Act.
Respect Life
New Spiritual Adoption Cards Available - A new 5”x4” prayer card with three babies and containing both English and Spanish spiritual adoption prayers is available for order at no charge. Please place your order (packages of 100) before May 18 by contacting Berdeaux@dioceseofvenice.org or call 941-347-1068 to be included in the initial order. (To preview the card, CLICK HERE.)
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 trained in Safe Environment prior to beginning employment or volunteering. For further details on Safe Environment, please visit https://dioceseofvenice.org/offices/programs/safeenvironment/. Report any abuse against minors to the Florida Department of Children and Families at 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
Catholic Charities
Do You Need Help? - If you need assistance from Catholic Charities for food, financial assistance, or tele-mental health counseling, please call the number for your area listed below between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday:
Sarasota/Manatee/DeSoto/Hardee/Highlands counties: 941-355-4680;
Charlotte/Lee/Hendry/Glades counties: 239-390-2928;
Collier County: 239-793-0059.
Food Distribution - Catholic Charities efforts toward food distribution will take place only at the following times and locations:
Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Guadalupe Social Services - 211 South 9th Street, Immokalee, FL
Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen open daily. As of May 10, the Soup Kitchen Dining Room re-opens for dine-in and will also provide take-out/meals-to-go.
Mondays - Fridays: 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. and Tuesdays - Fridays: 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Judy Sullivan Center - 3174 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL
Thursdays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
St. Margaret Catholic Church - 208 Dean Duff Street, Clewiston, FL
Fridays: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Bonita Springs - 28360 Beaumont Road, Bonita Springs, FL
Fridays: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
EKG Pantry - 4235 Michigan Avenue Link, Fort Myers, FL
Fridays: 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
St. Paul’s Catholic Church - Parish Hall, 1208 E Oak Street, Arcadia, FL
Saturdays: 7:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.
St. Michael Catholic Church, 408 Heard Bridge Road, Wauchula, FL
Tele-Mental Health Counseling Services - Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice Inc. is offering Mental Health Counseling for adults and children provided by licensed mental health therapists. If you or someone you know are feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, depressed or helpless, Catholic Charities can help. For more information, please call 239-455-2655. There is no charge for this service.
Evangelization
Have Your Children Left the Catholic Church? - A troubling statistic shows that 50% of young people raised Catholic are no longer practicing Catholics today. The Catholic Church is losing young people at an alarming rate. Behind this are millions of mothers, fathers and grandparents praying for their children and grandchildren to come home to the Church. To understand why young people drift away Brandon Vogt and Word of Fire Ministries released the book "Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church". The passive wait-and-see approach is no longer an option. We need a game plan to bring them home! For further information or to order the book please visit "Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church" by Brandon Vogt (www.wordonfire.org).
Respect Life
Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - On May 31, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Visitation, commemorating the Blessed Mother’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth and the encounter of Jesus and St. John the Baptist while in the wombs of their mothers. To sign up for a Novena for Life from May 22-30, go to https://www.respectlife.org/visitation. (Additional information and downloadable graphics are at www.respectlife.org/word-of-life for May.)
Keep your tax dollars from going to abortion! Please visit www.notaxpayerabortion.com. (Note to bulletin editors: A variety of graphics encouraging people to advocate against taxpayer funding of abortion are available at www.usccb.org/resources/respect-life-graphics-no-taxpayer-abortion in English and Spanish.)
(Lee and Collier Counties)
Abortion Center Prayer Vigils - 40 Days for Life continues year-round in Fort Myers! Please join in prayer outside of Planned Parenthood in Fort Myers. Help is needed on Wednesdays and Thursdays when abortions take place. Your presence makes a difference! When people are there on the sidewalk, the “no show rate” for abortion appointments can go up 75 percent. Contact Maureen at monash127@aol.com for details and to sign up.
(Sarasota and Manatee Counties)
Abortion Center Prayer Vigils - 40 Days for Life continues year-round in Sarasota! Please join in prayer outside of Planned Parenthood in Sarasota. Your presence makes a difference! When people are there on the sidewalk, the “no show rate” for abortion appointments can go up 75 percent. Contact 40dflsarasota@gmail.com for details and to sign up.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center
Private Retreats - Limited space is still available for the 3-Day Ignatian Preached Retreat from May 21-24, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) Retreat Center, 3989 South Moon Drive, Venice. This silent retreat will introduce you to the great themes of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises in a group setting and includes six conferences, 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. For more information or to register call Denise Riley at 941-486-0233, ext. 3004, or visit the website at www.olph-retreat.org.
Office of Family Life
Stepping into Marriage with Children - Did you know that when couples remarry there is a 60% chance the marriage will fail? This failure rate increases to 70% when there are children from a previous marriage in the home? The difficulties of parenting and stepparenting, seemingly insurmountable, are often the root cause of such failures. A free half day workshop entitled “Stepping into Marriage with Children” is designed for those couples beginning or currently in a stepfamily situation, and will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturday, May 15, at Our Lady of Light Parish, 19680 Cypress View Drive, Fort Myers. This workshop takes a realistic look at blended families and offers strategies and tools to meet unique challenges. There is no cost to attend but registration is required at https://dioceseofvenice.regfox.com/stepping-into-marriage-with-children. For further information please contact Carrie Harkey at harkey@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-484-9543. (CLICK HERE for a brochure.)
2021 Marriage Preparation Retreats - The Diocesan Office of Family Life is offering “Day of Reflection” retreats for couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage. A specially prepared volunteer team of married couples and a priest will share their experiences and information with the intention of enabling couples to be more aware of the privileges and responsibilities of marriage. The retreats in English are from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on the following Saturdays: August 7, and November 13. Please visit https://dioceseofvenice.regfox.com/marriage-preparation-retreat-2021 to register for the English retreats. Retreats in Spanish take place: 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., August 7 and October 30 at St. Jude Parish, 3930 17th Street, Sarasota, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., August 14 and December 4, at Our Lady Queen of Heaven, 355 S. Bridge Street, LaBelle. To register for a St. Jude retreat date please contact the parish at 941-955-3934. Please visit https://dioceseofvenice.regfox.com/retiro-de-formacion-matrimonial. to register for a retreat at Our Lady Queen of Heaven, For further information contact Carrie Harkey at 941-484-9543 ext. 3019.
Save the Date - Diocesan Marriage Conference - The Diocese of Venice in Florida and the St. John Paul II Foundation announce the “Together in Holiness Marriage Conference” will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday, October 2 at St. Agnes Parish, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples and St. Thomas More Parish, 2506 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota. The speakers are Kevin and Lisa Cotter. For more details contact Carrie Harkey at harkey@dioceseofvenice.org. (CLICK HERE for a flier)
Hispanic Ministries
Spiritual Exercises in Spanish - Ignatian Preached Retreats in Spanish will be offered at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center, 3989 South Moon Dr. Venice, FL 34293. Registration is now open. For further information on these Retreats please visit Pastoral Hispana Facebook or e-mail us at pastoralhispana@dioceseofvenice.org and/or contact us by phone at 941-484-9543. (CLICK HERE for a list of dates).
Ejercicios Espirituales en Español - Retiros Ignacianos predicados en español serán ofrecidos en Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center (3989 South Moon Dr. Venice, FL 34293). La inscripción ya está abierta en RegFox. Para obtener información adicional sobre estos Retiros por favor visite nuestra página de Pastoral Hispana en Facebook, envíenos un correo electrónico a pastoralhispana@dioceseofvenice.org y/ó llámenos por teléfono al 941- 484-9543. (Haga CLIC AQUÍ para obtener la lista de fechas y registrarse.)
Youth and Young Adults
Theology on Tap Sarasota - Theology on Tap has resumed 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 faith. Please contact Joshua Mazrin at evangelization@dioceseofvenice.org with any questions.
Theology on Tap Fort Myers - Young Adults are invited to attend Theology on Tap at Southern Fresh Farms, 8500 Penzance Blvd, Fort Myers, for a lovely outdoor venue with picnic benches for food and refreshments as well as practical presentations. Feel free to bring a lawn chair if you are more comfortable. The event runs from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Please contact Joshua Mazrin at evangelization@dioceseofvenice.org or Patty Cox at patty@ourladyoflight.com with any questions.
OUT AND ABOUT THE DIOCESE
English Catholic Charismatic Renewal - The Diocese of Venice English Charismatic Renewal will hold a Pentecost Celebration on May 23 beginning at 2:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 211 W. Charlotte Avenue, Punta Gorda. No registration is required. For more information, please email info@dvccr.org or contact Renee Mazaron at 419-343-1604. CLICK HERE for a flier. Reminder: Bring your prayer group banner and stand to the event.
Diocesan CCW Convention - The Venice Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s 34th Annual Convention, with a theme of “What have you done for the least of my people?” (Matt 25:40), will be held June 4 and June 5, at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1301 Center Road, Venice. The cost of the two-day convention is $75, or $65 for one day (lunch included). Each day will include personal development time, dynamic speakers and workshops, as well as providing the opportunity to meet women from around the Diocese along with the President of the Florida Council of Women. For registration information, please contact Bernadette Raftery at 704-968-9580 or raffs2@mindspring.com or Ellen Bachman at 941-721-7393 or pennyln99@aol.com. Please register by May 25.
Sunday Mass In Spanish - St. Jude Parish in Sarasota broadcasts the Holy Mass in Spanish celebrated by Father Celestino Gutiérrez, every Sunday at 8:00 a.m. on radio station 99.1 FM, and at 10:00 a.m. on 105.3 FM. A thank you is offered to the sponsors for this Mass and SOLMART Media for their collaboration in this effort.
Misa Dominical En Español - La Iglesia de San Judas en Sarasota transmitirá la Santa Misa en español, oficiada por el Padre Celestino Gutiérrez, todos los domingos a las 8:00 a.m. por la emisora de radio 99.1 y a las 10 a.m. por la 105.3. Agradecemos a los Patrocinadores para esta Misa y a SOLMART Media por su colaboración en este esfuerzo.
Vaccines for Homebound Seniors - Seniors and/or their caregivers can sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in their home by sending their request by email to HomeboundVaccine@em.myflorida.com. Also, Senior Friendship Centers (Sarasota, Venice, Fort Myers and Arcadia) has organized a program to connect seniors with volunteers who can drive them to their scheduled vaccine appointment. Anyone needing a ride to their vaccination appointment should contact Lillian Cleveland, Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 941-556-3223 or lcleveland@friendshipcenters.org. The above is for information purposes only as these are independent programs. Inquiries should be directed to the email/phone numbers for each program.
St. Jude Food Pantry - The St. Jude Parish Food Pantry, 3930 17th St., Sarasota, is open and distributing food on Wednesdays from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., following all social distancing protocols. Please bring an ID and do not exit your vehicle. Volunteers will load cars. Please call 941-955-3934 if you have any questions or visit: https://www.stjudesarasota.com/info/st-jude-food-pantry-schedule.
Wauchula Food Pantry - St. Michael Parish in Wauchula is home to a food pantry located at 408 Heard Bridge Road, Wauchula. The pantry has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 Pandemic response. To accommodate those who work, the food pantry is open Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. If you need food at a different time or would like to support the efforts to assist the community, please call the Parish at 863-773-4089.
Bradenton Food Pantry - The St. Joseph Parish Food Pantry, 3100 26th St. W., Bradenton, is distributing food from 9:00 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. Call 941-756-3732 with any questions. Please visit https://www.stjoepantry.com/ to donate money or food.
Free Rosary Repair Service - Send your broken rosaries in a padded envelope to Betty and Dick Holden, 7930 Estero Blvd. #502, Fort Myers, 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 or email holdenbnd@gmail.com.
