Office of the Bishop
After consultation with the Priest Personnel Board, Bishop Frank J. Dewane announces the following appointment:
Reverend Daniel A. Flens, as Parochial Vicar of St. Andrew Parish, Cape Coral, effective March 1, 2021.
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.
Returning to Mass and Parish Life during Covid-19 - As Bishop Frank J. Dewane continues to listen to public health data and hear from Priests and Parishioners about the experiences at Diocesan Parishes, the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass will be lifted in the Diocese of Venice beginning May 1. For a letter from Bishop Dewane to the Faithful along with updated Diocese of Venice guidelines for Parish Life in the context of COVID-19 in English CLICK HERE, and for the unofficial translation of the letter and guidelines in Spanish CLICK HERE. (Parishes are strongly encouraged to include the Bishop letter in Parish bulletins, websites and on social media.)
Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker - The Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker takes place on Saturday, May 1. During this Year of Saint Joseph let us remember all workers, especially those in the health care industry as well as essential workers, who have consistently provided the services needed during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Also let us pray for the unemployed and underemployed that they may enjoy the dignity of work and a living wage. CLICK HERE for the Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker and CLICK HERE for a reflection for the Feast Day.
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 - Many of the niceties we enjoy today are a result of seafarers and the movement of goods by sea. They are considered “the essential workers of the seas”. There is presently a joint effort among the Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking, Stella Maris and the Apostleship of the Sea to pay 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.)
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, April 30. Access to the program is available at https://dioceseofvenice.org/our-bishop/relevant-radio-podcasts.
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.)
Respect Life
Word of Life - Bulletin editors are invited to subscribe to this monthly USCCB resource for Parishes, available in both English and Spanish. Each month, you will be able to access the Feature for the Month, Intercessions for Life, Bulletin Quotes and Bulletin Art at www.usccb.org/resources/word-of-life.
BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS
Catholic Charities
Foster Homes Needed in Florida - There are over 20,000 children requiring foster care in the State of Florida with only 5000 families certified to meet their needs. During May, National Foster Care Awareness Month, please consider providing a loving home where a child can heal and thrive. If you are interested in learning more about foster parenting children in Florida who do not have relatives who are able to care for them, please call 1-83-FOSTERFL or visit MyFloridaMyFamily.com. CLICK HERE for a bulletin flier
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 thru Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Guadalupe Social Services, 211 S. 9th St., Immokalee. Food Pantry and Soup Kitchen now open daily. Soup Kitchen will provide meals-to-go.
• Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center, 3174 Tamiami Trail E., Naples.
• Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., St. Margaret Parish, 208 Dean Duff St., Clewiston.
• Fridays, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., St. Paul Parish Hall, 1208 E. Oak St., Arcadia.
• Fridays, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., St. Leo the Great Parish, 28360 Beaumont Road, Bonita Springs.
• Fridays, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Elizabeth K. Galeana Pantry, 4235 Michigan Ave. Link, Fort Myers.
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.
Education
Youth Mental Health First Aid Workshop - Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach Priests, Deacons, Seminarians, Directors of Religious Education, Youth Ministers, Principals and Teachers how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. The course will be held on Thursday, April 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at St. Agnes Parish, 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, and on Saturday, May 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, 833 Magellan Drive, Sarasota. Advanced registration is required, and the cost is $25 which includes the book, lunch and certificate of completion. Visit www.dioceseofvenice.regfox.com/workshop-on-youth-mental-health-first-aid for registration and payment. (CLICK HERE for the flier.)
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
Keep your tax dollars from going to abortion! - See 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%. 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%. Contact 40dflsarasota@gmail.com for details and to sign up.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center
Monthly Day of Prayer and Private Retreats - As we enter the full swing of spring, Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) Retreat and Spirituality Center, 3989 South Moon Drive, Venice, will offer its final Monthly Day of Prayer (MDOP) for the season on May 9 (Mother’s Day) and May 12. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with continental breakfast and includes two conferences, lunch, Eucharistic Adoration, Mass, and opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, private meditation and prayer. Please note that the MDOP will resume in October. In addition, limited space is still available for the 3-Day Ignatian Preached Retreat on May 21-24. 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 info or to register call Denise Riley at 941-486-0233, ext. 3004, or visit our website at www.olph-retreat.org.
Office of Family Life
Porn: Seven Myths Exposed - The porn industry has taken our culture hostage! The Diocese of Venice Family Life Office is hosting an event at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 4, in the Epiphany Cathedral Parish Hall, 399 Sarasota Street, Venice, to address and educate teens, parents and all others on the tyranny of pornography in our society. Matt Fradd is the speaker who has authored and coauthored several books, and creates and hosts the podcast, “Pints with Aquinas”. There is no cost to attend. For further information, please contact Carrie Harkey at harkey@dioceseofvenice.org or 941-484-9543. (CLICK HERE for the postcard.)
Stepping into Marriage with Children - Did you know 60% of second marriages fail and the 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. Retreats in Spanish are at the same time and will be the following Saturdays: August 7, and October 30. Please visit https://dioceseofvenice.regfox.com/marriage-preparation-retreat-2021 to register for the English retreats. To sign up for the retreat in Spanish, please contact St. Jude Parish in Sarasota at 941-955-3934. For more information or to inquire about a virtual option contact Carrie Harkey at 941-484-9543 ext. 3019.
Hispanic Ministries
Sunday Mass in Spanish - Epiphany Cathedral live streams the Sunday Vigil Mass in Spanish on Saturday evenings at 6:00 p.m. The Mass can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/EpiphanyCathedral/. Please CLICK HERE for the Prayer for the Act of Spiritual Communion in Spanish.
Misa de Vigilia Dominical en Español - La Catedral de la Epifanía transmite en vivo la Santa Misa de Vigilia dominical en español los sábados por la noche a las 6:00 p.m. La misa se puede ver en: https://www.facebook.com/EpiphanyCathedral/. Haga CLIC AQUI para la Oración por el Acto de Comunión Espiritual en Español.
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
8th Annual Marian Eucharistic Conference - All are invited to the 8th Annual Marian Eucharistic Conference at Ave Maria University from Friday, May 14 to Sunday, May 16. Featured speakers will include Dr. Mark Miravalle, John Paul II Chair of Mariology, Franciscan University of Steubenville; Kathleen Beckman L.H.S., author and President of Foundation of Prayer for Priests; Dr. Edward Sri, theologian, author, and co-founding leader of FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students); and Roy Shoeman, speaker and author of “Salvation is from the Jews” and “Honey from the Rock.” Please visit www.aveconferences.com to register for this event. Lodging and meals available. For more information call 239-348-4725 or email aveconferences@gmail.com
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) have 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
