Diocese of Venice to celebrate sacred Chrism Mass on Tuesday
The Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Venice in Florida, will be joined by close to 200 priests and deacons from across the diocese for the annual Chrism Mass Tuesday, March 31, 10:30 a.m., at St. Leo the Great Parish, 28290 Beaumont Road, Bonita Springs.
Usually held at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, this year the cathedral is under renovation and the Mass will take place in a new location.
The Chrism Mass, which takes place during Holy Week every year, is one of the most solemn and important liturgies of the Catholic liturgical calendar. It is also the largest annual gathering of the clergy and the faithful in the Diocese of Venice, with more than 1,000 faithful expected to attend, including students from Diocesan Catholic schools.
At the Chrism Mass, priests renew promises made at the time of their ordination as an expression of unity with their shepherd, the Bishop of the Diocese. In addition, Bishop Dewane will bless the holy oils, and bless and consecrate the Chrism Oil, used in the administration of the Sacraments throughout the year at each diocesan parish.
Priests and deacons celebrating 25 and 50 years of ordination will be recognized at this bass for their service to the church.
This year, the following priests and deacon celebrating milestone anniversaries include:
• Priests celebrating 50 years: Father Edward Blackwell, Father Vincent Clemente, Father Lawrence Esposito, Father Francis Hanlon, OSFS, Father Thomas Heck, Father Michael Orsi, and Father Timothy Sheedy.
• Priests celebrating 25 years: Father Lorenzo Gonzalez, Father Philip Joly, Father Jacek Mazur, Father David Pignato, Father Philip Scheff, and Father David Vidal.
• Deacon celebrating 25 years: Deacon Gary Ingold.
Also in attendance at the Chrism Mass will be diocesan seminarians, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the Sovereign Order of Malta, the Knights of Columbus and the Venice Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. All of the faithful of the Diocese of Venice are invited and encouraged to attend in support of the diocese’s clergy and to participate in this important Holy Week celebration.
For those unable to attend in person, the mass will be livestreamed beginning at 10:30 a.m. on March 31, at dioceseofvenice.org/chrism-mass/.
About the Diocese of Venice in Florida
The Diocese of Venice in Florida was established by Pope Saint John Paul in 1984 and today includes 61 parishes, 15 schools and serves an estimated 250,000 Catholics in 10 counties.
Presently, the Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane is the Bishop of the Diocese.
For more information on the Diocese of Venice in Florida visit the Diocese’s website, at dioceseofvenice.org.