About Diocese of Venice
The Diocese of Venice in Florida (Latin: Dioecesis Venetiarum in Florida) is a Roman Catholic diocese covering ten counties along southwest Florida's Gulf Coast — Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota. It was erected on June 16, 1984 by Pope St. John Paul II from territory taken from the Archdiocese of Miami and the (then) dioceses of Orlando and St. Petersburg, and is a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Miami. Headed since July 11, 2026 by Bishop Emilio Biosca Agüero, O.F.M. Cap. (the diocese's third bishop), it serves more than 227,000 Catholics in 61 parishes and missions, with Epiphany Cathedral in Venice as its mother church and Our Lady of Mercy and St. Mark the Evangelist as co-patrons.
- Bishop
- Emilio Biosca Agüero, O.F.M. Cap.
- Established
- 1984
- Cathedral
- Epiphany Cathedral, Venice, Florida
- Territory
- Ten counties of southwest Florida: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota — covering 22,685 km² (8,759 sq mi) along the Gulf of Mexico from Sarasota south to the Everglades.
- Parishes
- 61
- Province
- Archdiocese of Miami (Ecclesiastical Province of Miami)
About the Diocese of Venice
The Diocese of Venice in Florida serves the Catholic faithful across a ten-county swath of southwest Florida, from Sarasota and Bradenton south through Fort Myers and Naples to the inland farming counties of Hendry, Glades, Hardee, Highlands and DeSoto. Most Reverend Bishop Frank J. Dewane served as the spiritual leader of more than 227,000 Catholics in the diocese from 2007 until May 2026 and is now Bishop Emeritus. The diocesan crest combines the winged lion of St. Mark the Evangelist — in tribute to the patriarchal Church of Venice, Italy — with three golden crowns representing the Magi of the Epiphany, the cathedral's patron mystery. The official diocesan homepage at dioceseofvenice.org offers a Find a Parish and Find a School directory, plus news, statements, and resources for parishes, schools and the faithful.
- Diocesan Center: 1000 Pinebrook Road, Venice, FL 34285
- Phone: (941) 484-9543
- Website: dioceseofvenice.org
- Co-patrons: Our Lady of Mercy and St. Mark the Evangelist
- Established June 16, 1984 by Pope St. John Paul II
History of the Diocese
Catholic life in southwest Florida goes back to the earliest Spanish expeditions: Ponce de León in 1513 and 1521, the de Soto expedition of 1539, the martyrdom of Fr. Luis de Cáncer in 1549, and the Jesuit San Antón de Carlos mission at Mound Key in 1565. After the Civil War the area was served first by Jesuits from Tampa and then by the Diocese of St. Augustine; after World War II Bishop Joseph P. Hurley of St. Augustine began buying property and recruiting priests to build parishes for the boom in population. Pope John Paul II erected the Diocese of Venice on June 16, 1984 from territory carved out of the Archdiocese of Miami and the dioceses of Orlando and St. Petersburg, and named Auxiliary Bishop John J. Nevins of Miami as founding bishop. Bishop Nevins was installed on October 25, 1984, the same day Epiphany Church became the cathedral. Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc. was founded on the same day.
- 1513 – Ponce de León sights the southwest Florida coast
- 1539 – Hernando de Soto lands near Port Charlotte with 12 priests
- 1549 – Dominican priest Luis de Cáncer and companions killed by Tocobaga near Bradenton
- 1565 – San Antón de Carlos founded at Mound Key, first Jesuit mission in the Western Hemisphere
- 1868–1889 – First mission parishes founded in Bradenton, Fort Myers, Arcadia, Punta Gorda and Sarasota
- 1955 – Epiphany Parish established in Venice; first parish in Naples (St. Ann) in 1950
- 1984 – Diocese of Venice erected; Bishop Nevins installed; 39 parishes, 116,495 Catholics
- 1994 – Memorial cross erected at De Soto National Memorial honoring the priests of the Cáncer expedition
- 2006 – Msgr. Frank J. Dewane ordained first bishop in the diocese's history
- 2026 – Bishop-elect Emilio Biosca Agüero, O.F.M. Cap., named third bishop; installed July 11, 2026
Our Bishops
The Diocese of Venice has been shepherded by three bishops in its history. Bishop John J. Nevins, the founding ordinary, served from 1984 to 2007 and is buried at Epiphany Cathedral. Bishop Frank J. Dewane, formerly Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in Rome, succeeded him in 2007, led the diocese through Hurricane Ian in 2022 and through its 40th anniversary, and retired in May 2026 as Bishop Emeritus. Pope Leo XIV named Capuchin Franciscan Father Emilio Biosca Agüero — a missionary in Cuba and Papua New Guinea and former pastor of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington, D.C. — as the third Bishop of Venice on May 13, 2026; he was installed on July 11, 2026.
- Bishop John J. Nevins (1984–2007) — Founding Bishop
- Bishop Frank J. Dewane (2007–2026) — Bishop Emeritus
- Bishop Emilio Biosca Agüero, O.F.M. Cap. (2026–present)
- Motto of Bishop Nevins: "ITE AD JOSEPH — Go to Joseph" (Genesis 41:55)
- Motto of Bishop Dewane: "To serve with mercy"
Diocesan Crest and Identity
The diocesan coat of arms ties the new diocese to both its heavenly patrons and the universal Church. The blue field honors Mary, Our Lady of Mercy; the chief shows the ancient winged lion of St. Mark the Evangelist in deference to the patriarchal Church of Venice in Italy — but with blank pages on the Gospel book, symbolizing a new history being written in southwest Florida. Three golden crowns recall the Magi of the Epiphany (the cathedral's patron mystery) and represent all the People of God of the diocese on their pilgrimage toward God. A silver crescent honors Mary's spiritual role as Mother of the new Church, and the wavy blue and silver lines at the base of the shield represent the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The colors of the arms are taken from the shields of the Archdiocese of Miami and the dioceses of St. Petersburg and Orlando, from whose territory the diocese was formed.
- Field: blue, in honor of Our Lady of Mercy
- Chief: winged lion of St. Mark, with blank Gospel pages
- Charges: three golden crowns of the Epiphany
- Silver crescent for Mary; wavy lines for the Gulf of Mexico
- Colors drawn from the parent dioceses of Miami, St. Petersburg and Orlando
Epiphany Cathedral
The mother church of the Diocese of Venice, Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, Florida, began in 1935 as a winter mission of St. Martha's Parish in Sarasota; the first Mass was celebrated in the old Gulf Theatre on the corner of Venice Avenue and Nassau Street, drawing about 20 people. In 1947 a former military chapel from the Venice Army Air Base was moved to Tampa Avenue and Nassau Street, refurbished for $11,165.30, and became the first permanent Epiphany Church. A new sanctuary was completed in 1960, and on June 29, 1980 Bishop W. Thomas Larkin of St. Petersburg dedicated the present church — the building that was elevated to cathedral when the diocese was erected on October 25, 1984. The cathedral parish has founded four daughter parishes: St. Raphael's in Englewood (1958), San Pedro in North Port (1966), Our Lady of Lourdes in Venice (1986) and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Osprey (2001). After Hurricane Ian caused damage in 2022, Bishop Dewane broke ground on May 30, 2024 for a major renovation expected to take about two years, including a new front entrance and gathering space, a barrel-vaulted ceiling, new furnishings and upgraded HVAC.
- First Mass in 1935 in the old Gulf Theatre, Venice
- 1947 chapel moved from Venice Army Air Base — first permanent church
- Present church dedicated June 29, 1980 by Bishop W. Thomas Larkin
- Elevated to cathedral October 25, 1984
- Four daughter parishes: St. Raphael's (Englewood), San Pedro (North Port), Our Lady of Lourdes (Venice), Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Osprey)
- Major renovation in progress (groundbreaking May 30, 2024)
Parishes and Missions
The Diocese of Venice today counts 61 parishes and missions across its ten counties, up from 39 at its founding in 1984. The diocesan website's Find a Parish directory organizes them by county (Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee and Sarasota), with each parish page providing Mass and confession schedules, a parish history, staff and ministries. New parishes and missions have been added steadily as southwest Florida's population has boomed — from the postwar foundations laid by Bishop Hurley through the rapid coastal growth of recent decades.
- 61 parishes and missions in 10 counties
- Find a Parish directory at dioceseofvenice.org/find-a-parish
- Counties served: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, Sarasota
- 39 parishes at founding in 1984
Catholic Schools
Catholic education is a centerpiece of diocesan life. The Diocese of Venice operates 14 Catholic schools — 10 elementary schools, 3 high schools, and the Dreams Are Free School at Bishop Nevins Academy in Sarasota (the diocese's special-needs school, serving children with mild to moderate learning disabilities and high-functioning Asperger's). More than 4,100 students are enrolled in grades Pre-K (3) through 12, and the diocese provides over $4.5 million in direct tuition assistance every year. In addition, parish-based religious education programs reach more than 13,500 K–12 students, and adult faith formation is offered across the diocese. The Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida (ccfdioceseofvenice.org) channels endowed scholarships for elementary, middle, high school, special-needs, college and vocational education.
- 14 Catholic schools: 10 elementary, 3 high schools, 1 special-needs
- Dreams Are Free School at Bishop Nevins Academy, Sarasota — special needs
- Over 4,100 students in Pre-K through grade 12
- Over $4.5 million in direct tuition assistance annually
- Parish religious education programs serve 13,500+ K–12 students
- Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida administers endowed scholarships
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice, Inc.
Catholic Charities was founded on the same day the diocese was erected (October 25, 1984) and has grown into the largest social-services agency in southwest Florida. Operating from sites in Arcadia, Boca Grande, Bonita Springs, Bradenton, Clewiston, Fort Myers, Immokalee, Naples, North Port, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, Venice and Wauchula, the agency organizes its work around six priorities: food security, housing, anti-human trafficking, behavioral health, immigration and youth development. Its annual reports describe more than 100,000 services delivered each year — including emergency assistance, food and pantry distribution, transitional and affordable housing, a residential program for mothers and children, trauma-informed counseling, immigration legal services, after-school and summer programs, and disaster response and recovery. Southwest Florida ranks among the highest regions in the nation for incidents of human trafficking, and Catholic Charities' anti-trafficking program includes direct assistance, counseling and safe housing for survivors.
- Founded October 25, 1984
- Six priorities: food security, housing, anti-human trafficking, behavioral health, immigration, youth development
- 13 service locations across the diocese
- Affordable, transitional and senior housing; farmworker housing; emergency shelter
- Anti-human trafficking program includes safe housing for survivors
- Disaster response and recovery, including post-Ian work
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Beyond Catholic schools, the diocese supports a robust faith-formation effort through its parishes. More than 13,500 K–12 students are reached through parish catechetical programs that substantially prepare youth for the reception of the sacraments and incorporate them into parish life. Adult faith formation programs help enliven the role and mission of the laity and are described by the diocese as central to making missionary disciples. The Office of Faith Formation and the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools coordinate sacramental preparation, RCIA, family catechesis and youth ministry across the ten counties.
- Parish catechetical programs for 13,500+ K–12 students
- Adult faith formation across the diocese
- Sacramental preparation coordinated through parishes
- RCIA, family catechesis and youth ministry offered at the parish level
Vocations, Clergy and Religious Life
The diocese is served by diocesan priests, religious-order priests and deacons ministering in parishes, schools, Catholic Charities and the chancery. Bishop Dewane, before his appointment, was himself a priest of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin — and noted in his retirement statement that he has become a southwest Florida resident "as it has for so many others from the Midwest." The diocese's Capuchin Franciscan connection runs deep: Bishop-elect Emilio Biosca Agüero, O.F.M. Cap., belongs to the Capuchin Province of St. Augustine in Pittsburgh and was a missionary in Cuba and Papua New Guinea before pastoring the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington, D.C. The Office of Vocations accompanies men discerning the diocesan priesthood and supports diaconal formation for married and single men.
- Diocesan priests, religious-order priests, and deacons
- Office of Vocations supports discernment of priesthood and diaconate
- Religious orders active in the diocese include the Capuchin Franciscans (Province of St. Augustine, Pittsburgh)
Outreach, Social Justice and Disaster Response
Catholic Charities' six priorities — food security, housing, anti-human trafficking, behavioral health, immigration, and youth development — represent the diocese's primary social mission. The diocese also responds directly to disasters: after Hurricane Ian struck southwest Florida in September 2022, Catholic Charities coordinated disaster response and recovery, and the storm also damaged Epiphany Cathedral, delaying a planned renovation. Bishop Dewane had previously served as Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican, and the diocese continues to take an active role in the Church's social teaching through Catholic Charities and parish-based Respect Life, social justice and migrant ministries.
- Catholic Charities disaster response and recovery (including post-Ian)
- Respect Life ministry
- Immigration legal services through Catholic Charities (DOJ-accredited staff)
- Parish-based social-justice and outreach ministries
Territory and Statistics
The Diocese of Venice covers 22,685 km² (8,759 sq mi) of southwest Florida — ten counties stretching from Sarasota and Manatee in the north down through Charlotte, Lee, Hendry, Glades, Collier, Highlands, Hardee and DeSoto to the Everglades. As of 2023, Wikipedia reports a total population of 2,444,235 in the territory, of whom 242,156 (9.9%) are Catholic. The diocese has 61 parishes and missions, 14 Catholic schools, and one special-needs school, and is one of the fastest-growing dioceses in the southeastern United States. The Archdiocese of Miami is its metropolitan see in the Province of Miami.
- Area: 22,685 km² (8,759 sq mi)
- Counties: Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, Sarasota
- Total population (2023): 2,444,235; Catholic population 242,156 (9.9%)
- 61 parishes and missions; 14 Catholic schools
- Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Miami, Province of Miami
Contact and Find Help
The Diocesan Center is at 1000 Pinebrook Road, Venice, FL 34285 (phone 941-484-9543). The diocesan website offers a Find a Parish search by county or city, a Find a School directory, a Find Help directory linking to Catholic Charities programs, and pages for Vocations, Catholic Schools, Faith Formation, the Catholic Community Foundation and the Tribunal. News, statements from the bishop, diocesan events, and resources for clergy and parish staff are published on the homepage and the News section of the site.
- Diocesan Center: 1000 Pinebrook Road, Venice, FL 34285
- Phone: (941) 484-9543
- Find a Parish: dioceseofvenice.org/find-a-parish
- Find a School: dioceseofvenice.org/find-a-school
- Find Help (Catholic Charities): catholiccharitiesdov.org
