Florida Bishop Emeritus Frank Dewane Dies at Age 76 who Led the Diocese of Venice for Nearly 20 Years - RIP

Florida Faithful Mourn Passing of Bishop Emeritus Frank J. Dewane

VENICE, Fla. — Catholics across Southwest Florida are mourning the loss of the Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Venice, whose nearly two-decade tenure as spiritual leader left a lasting mark on the ten-county diocese.

Bishop Emilio E. Biosca, O.F.M. Cap., announced that the Bishop Emeritus Frank J. Dewane has died, after a brief illness. He was 76.

“It is with profound sadness, yet with faith in the promise of the Resurrection, that I announce the passing of the Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Venice in Florida. Bishop Dewane died this morning at 3 a.m., Oct. 7, 2026, on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, surrounded by close family and friends.”

“As we mourn the loss of Bishop Dewane, we also give thanks to God for the gift of his life and for the many ways in which he served the Church,” Bishop Biosca said. “Bishop Dewane leaves behind a remarkable legacy of faithful service to the Church. For nearly two decades, he served as the spiritual shepherd of the Diocese of Venice. His years as a priest and bishop were marked by a sincere love for Christ, His Church, and the people entrusted to his pastoral care, especially those most in need. Please join me in praying for the repose of Bishop Dewane’s soul, that the Lord may welcome His faithful servant into eternal life.“

Born on March 9, 1950, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Dewane was ordained to the priesthood before serving in diplomatic and administrative capacities, including roles with the Vatican’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in Rome.

In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Dewane as the Coadjutor Bishop of Venice, where he subsequently served as the diocese's second bishop until his retirement in 2026.

Throughout his episcopate, Bishop Dewane oversaw a period of significant growth for the Catholic Church in Southwest Florida. His legacy includes:

• Pastoral Leadership: Celebrating roughly 10,000 public Masses, ordaining 34 priests and 28 permanent deacons, and establishing six new parishes and several missions.

• Community & Housing: Directing diocesan efforts to construct over 450 affordable housing units for seniors, low-income families, and farm workers.

• Youth & Education: Expanding Catholic education through the establishment of new diocesan schools and regularly ministering to students and youth across the region.

Local parishes, Catholic schools, and community members throughout the region have offered prayers and tributes, remembering Bishop Dewane for his dedication to the Church, his social outreach, and his pastoral service. Funeral arrangements and memorial mass schedules will be released by the Diocese of Venice.

Source: https://www.thefloridacatholic.org/news/florida/southwest-florida-catholics-mourn-beloved-shepherd-bishop-dewane/article_0f3a868d-6695-44e9-9ccf-70c7625860b3.html