St. Joseph Catholic Church - Bradenton, Florida

Diocese of Venice Statement: Death of Pope Francis

Monday, April 21, 2025

Today, the Catholic Church throughout the world mourns the death of Pope Francis who passed away at 7:35 a.m. Rome time. Pope Francis served as Bishop of Rome from March 13, 2013, until his death. He was 88 years old.

A letter regarding the passing of Pope Francis from the Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane, Bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida, was issued this morning, and can be found here.

The Diocese of Venice in Florida will observe the traditional Novemdiales – nine days of mourning – with daily Masses and prayers offered at Parishes throughout the Diocese for the repose of the Pope’s soul. Additionally during this time, all Diocesan Catholic Schools will incorporate age-appropriate discussions about this momentous occasion in the life of the Church and include moments of silence and special prayers for the Pope.

Parish bells throughout the Diocese of Venice will toll at noon on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, upon official announcement of the Pope’s death.  A traditional funeral toll calls for the bell to be rung once for each year of the Pope’s life:  88 times.

A Mass for Pope Francis will be celebrated in the Diocese of Venice by Bishop Dewane on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 1301 Center Road, Venice, Florida. All are welcome.

Regarding the Election of a New Pope, this will not be addressed until the close of the Novemdiales. After the nine-day mourning period for the Pope, prayers for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the Conclave and special Masses will be offered.

As a Catholic community united in Christ, we are profoundly saddened by the loss of Pope Francis. Together we pray:

“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.”

Focus on Religious Freedom

America's 1st Amendment to our Constitution affirms for all Americans of all faiths the right to believe according to their conscience and to live those beliefs openly and freely in church, home, community, and country.  For more information, click here.

2025 CATHOLIC FAITH APPEAL

For more information or to donate to the

2025 Catholic Faith Appeal, click here.

To view the 2025 CFA brochure, click here.

To explore Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the

 Diocese of Venice Catholic Faith Appeal (CFA), click here.

Funerals

Kathleen Anne Martinez - Sat., May 24, 2025 at 11:00am

To see Masses celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church,

please click here for Youtube Live Videos

or for Facebook, click here.

Please note that only select Masses are livestreamed at this time.

To see Masses celebrated by the Diocese of Venice (Facebook), please click here.

Our Parish is a Safe Environment for Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults ...

The Diocese of Venice is committed to protecting children, youth and vulnerable adults.  Together, and with God's help, we can continue to promote a culture of openness and awareness, and a commitment to safety within our Church and in the larger community.

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. 

For further information, visit the Diocesan website at http://www.dioceseofvenice.org

Report all abuse to the Florida Department of Children and Families at 800.962.2873. 

To report abuse by Diocesan personnel or volunteers, call the Diocesan Victims Assistance Coordinator at 941.416.6114.