“Episcopal Highlights, Multicultural Festival, Red Mass, and More: Catholic News Oct 13”
Bishop attends a Catholic Charities event
Bishop Frank J. Dewane, the Episcopal Liaison to Catholic Charities USA, was one of 550 delegates from throughout the nation who attended the 2023 CCUSA annual meeting held in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 3–5, 2023. The conference featured workshops, panel discussions, vendor exhibits during breakout sessions, and site visits to a few Catholic Charities projects. On October 4 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Bishop Dewane participated in the Mass as one of the co-celebrants.
Parish hosts a multicultural festival
On October 7, 2023, as part of a Feast Day commemoration, the faithful of St. John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers took part in a multicultural festival. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in honor of St. John XXIII’s Feast Day (October 11) marked the beginning of the festivities. Before the start of the Mass, Vietnamese dancers presented their talents. Father Jayabalan Raju, the parish administrator, blessed a multicultural exhibit that was placed on a pedestal to the left of the altar. The display contained flowers donated by members of the Vietnamese, Hispanic, Filipino, and Anglo populations as well as tiny flags from many different countries, and it was surrounded by the Vatican and American flags. In the Parish Hall, where the celebration continued, there was food from many different cultures.
Sarasota’s Red Mass Oct. 18
Since 2008, the Diocese of Venice has held an annual Red Mass, a medieval custom of the Roman Catholic Church. The Red Mass will be held this year on October 18 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Martha Catholic Church, located at 200 N. Orange Street in Sarasota. The principal celebrant will be the Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Venice. The Catholic Lawyers Guild (CLG) will hold a reception at the Parish Hall just after. Contact Attorney Paul Consbruck at 866-558-7285, 941-966-6706, or [email protected] for further details.
Resurrection Parish’s Faith & Ale event
The Fort Myers, Florida, Catholic men’s organization Faith & Ale will be back on Thursday, October 19, at Resurrection Parish, 8121 Cypress Lake Drive. Deacons John Gaulin of St. John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers, Deacon Jeff Ball of Ave Maria Parish in Ave Maria, and Deacon Bob Gaitens, the diocesan director of diaconate formation, are the speakers. A panel will describe what a deacon is, how each person became a deacon, and what each person does to carry out their deacon responsibilities at their designated church. For a $10 donation, the event starts at 6 p.m. with pizza and refreshments and ends at 8 p.m. www.faithandale.com requires reservations.
Careers Weekend
St. John Vianney College Seminary is holding a free Vocations Weekend for young men (high school age or older) who feel the Lord calling them to the priesthood. The celebration starts on Friday, October 27, 2023, with pizza and night prayer and concludes with Holy Mass and brunch on Sunday, October 29. During this profound weekend retreat, join with other discerners from across the state of Florida to get a taste of seminary life, get to know the young men who are already studying to be priests as seminarians, and pray and fellowship with them. (The normal weekend itinerary consists of adoration, spiritual discourses, daily Mass, confessions from seminarians, meet-and-greets with the professors, a tour of the campus, games, and athletic competition.) Visit venicevocations.org, send Father Shawn Roser, the Director of Vocations at the Diocese of Venice, an email at [email protected], or call 941-486-4720 for additional information and to RSVP.
40 Days for Life keeps on
The fall 40 Days for Life campaign is still running strong and will last until November 5, 2023. It aims to use the strength of prayer to peacefully put a stop to abortion in the United States and around the world. More than a million prayer warriors from 681 cities throughout the world, including Fort Myers, Naples, and Sarasota, will make a difference in this crucial fight to protect unborn children. The Fort Myers prayer vigil is held at 6418 Commerce Park Drive from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The vigil is held at 736 Central Ave. in Sarasota every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (7 days a week). The Naples prayer vigil is held at 1425 Creech Road from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Visit https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/ for more information, or get in touch with Diocesan Respect Life Director Jeanne Berdeaux at [email protected] or 941-374-1068.
Luncheon in November supporting life
On November 4, 2023, Ave Maria University will host the Jon Sharfenberger Pro-Life Scholarship Luncheon, an occasion to promote pro-life programs on the university. After former AMU student Jon Sharfenberger passed away in October 2011, the university established the Jon Sharfenberger Memorial Scholarship to inspire students to become Catholic leaders in a world that is becoming more secular. The ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a Mass officiated by Jon’s uncle, Most Rev. Edward Sharfenberger of the Diocese of Albany. At 12:30 p.m., a lunch will be served in the Bob Thomas Student Union Ballroom at AMU. Seth Gruber, the creator and leader of The White Rose Resistance and host of the well-known podcast “UnAborted,” will give the keynote address. Gruber, a well-known human rights advocate and in-demand speaker, is striving for a society in which everyone has the right to life. Visit Ave Maria University for details on registration.