Current Announcements

Please keep all sick members of our community in your prayers. A few are struggling with bad cases of covid. Please keep especially Andrew Wojak in your prayers. 

Fr. Chris Mahowald FSSP, who was the assistant at Christ the King, Sarastoa, last year, and recently transferred with Fr. Dorsa to Scranton, PA, contracted covid and has been hospitalized for over a week and is still very delicate. The next few days will determine much. 

Surely you have all heard of the very esteemed American Cardinal- Raymond Burke, who is also very delicate but now improving. Many prayers are asked on his behalf. One can read updates on his health here. 

Fr. Romanoski also tested positive for covid, after experiencing symptoms on Sunday night (August 15). He will thus be quarantined for 10 days coupled with a negative test. Thankfully, in his case, a prescription for Azithromycin (Zpak) and Ivermectin, coupled with Vitamin D3, greatly relieved him of worsening symptoms within 24 hours. He is grateful for any prayers, and is not in need of any other assistance, medical advice, or 700 packets of Vitamin C. Though in isolation, he continues to work on administrative tasks and is virtually available for regular communications. 

Fr. Adams and Seminarian Schwab, continue to test negative, as they have previously had covid and will continue to serve our community with public masses provided they do not test positive. 

As some have inquired about the liceity of taking some of the experimental vaccines against covid, we remind you that the Church has already pronounced on the topic-that it is morally permitted when there is a proportionate reason, as any cooperation in evil of testing the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine against a cloned cell line which may have come from an aborted child, is not intrinsic to the product and is neither a direct or proximate cooperation but remote and thus permitted for a proportionate reason. A summary of our catholic principles, the latest and repeated judgement of the Vatican since 2005, and internal link to another article on how it applies to many other moral choices of remote cooperation that we make every day can be found here.  It is the same degree of remote, non direct, non intrinsic- cooperation as in buying most pharmaceutical products like Aspirin or Tylenol, for ex. An independent study by our own Priestly Fraternity and other traditional communities have all reached the same conclusions. That said, we should fight as citizens for the production of medicine not even remotely related to any immoral actions. For an up to date list of different vaccines and their ethical profiles, including templates to write to pharmaceutical companies to request them to produce vaccines excluding even the testing on the HEK293 cloned cell line visit here. 

Though permitted for a proportionate reason, nevertheless, reasons based on catholic principles to not be mandated to receive an experimental vaccination, which can include a right to not cooperate even remotely in an evil can be found here, for example.

All that said, your priests only can assure you of moral theology, not medical advice. Please consult a medical expert for that. Taking care of your health and precautions for the health of others is obviously part of our moral responsibility of justice and charity. 

So please be safe, use prudence in taking your own precautions, always thinking first of the common good. Though the general dispensation from Sunday Mass is no longer in effect, it does still apply for those who are sick or at risk. In general, traditional moral theology teaches that a moderately serious cause dispenses one from the Sunday obligation to attend Mass. Therefore if you suspect you may have a contagious illness, for ex., do not try to tough it out and go to public mass, as it would not oblige due to the justice you owe your neighbor in not putting their health at risk. 

Please contact us if you have any further questions. 

Our Lady, Health of the Sick: Pray for us!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

On August 14, 2021, an earthquake of magnitude 7.2 hit the southwestern region of Haiti. This earthquake was stronger than even the devastating earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince in 2010. Though the full extent of the damage is yet unknown, over 1,400 people have lost their lives, those injured is now estimated at over 6,000 and thousands of buildings, including homes and Churches, are destroyed. This has been complicated by heavy rains and flooding. Our Catholic Faith calls each of us to care for those in need, and, at this time in particular, for those who are suffering in the wake of this terrible tragedy. Recognizing the need of those who have been so severely impacted by the earthquake, I am asking Pastors and Administrators throughout the Diocese of Venice to take up a second collection on the weekend of August 21-22, which will be sent to assist in recovery. Your generosity and your prayers for the people of Haiti are deeply appreciated. If you are not prepared when the collection is taken, donations may be sent with a check marked “Diocese of Venice Haitian Relief” to: 

 Diocese of Venice in Florida Haitian Relief
1000 Pinebrook Road
Venice, Florida 34285

 May Almighty God bless you and your families. Please continue to pray for all who are suffering in Haiti. 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

+ Bishop Frank Dewane

The Blessing of Herbs, Flowers, and Fruit on the Feast of the Assumption will be given before the 8:45am, 12pm and 4:30pm Masses this Sunday, Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Read this article for more information about this millenial old blessing.

Our sung mass will be a Solemn High Mass at St. Williams at 4:30pm instead of 8:45am. 

The Diocese of Venice has approved the assignment of our new assistant- Fr. Martin Adams FSSP. He will arrive on August 3 and will hopefully be cleared and ready for public mass on Thursday. He arrives like Fr. Dorsa, young, at 30 yrs of age and 3 yrs ordained. He is from our apostolate in Post Falls, Idaho, where then Deacon Romanoski knew him as a youth of the parish. It is a particular joy for us to see youth from our parish now serving at our altars. Deo gratias! May we say the same about our Corpus Christi acolytes some day! 

Father Adam's previous assignment was for three years at our apostolate in Maple Hill, Kansas, where he was much loved and appreciated by their pastor and faithful. With a missionary spirit he also visited our apostolate in Nigeria as a seminarian and went back there to offer a first mass after he was ordained. 

We are sure that you will appreciate his energetic talent and readiness to serve and that he will soon feel at home and grateful to be a spiritual father of our Corpus Christi family.   

Dear Corpus Christi Chapel parishioners, 
As I mentioned to you in a previous announcement, that although many of us are saddened and worried by the new Motu Proprio- Traditionis Custodes, which restricts more universal permissions for the Latin Mass which were given previously under Summorum Pontificum, it would not directly affect out already established apostolates. Fr. Hathaway FSSP and I recently met with Bishop Dewane who reassured us of this point, that Christ the King Church and Corpus Christi Chapel will remain the spiritual home for those who  go to the Latin Mass in the diocese. In particular he assures us- Corpus Christi Chapel, here in the southern portion of the diocese, that we will continue the same in the meantime and our building project as planned so that we can one day soon have our own permanent home. 

Please thank the good Bishop who brought us to the diocese and has supported us every step of the way. Please be reminded that negative clamor or a negative impression of Latin Mass attendees is the pretext that is cited in the Motu Proprio whereby some restrictions have been issued. It is thus always important that our spiritual shepherds hear our gratitude and appreciation, and see the wonderful positive side of our community that we are grateful to experience every day. 

So please say an extra prayer for our good Bishop and "rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Pastor's Note

Here follows the annual fiscal report breakdown. 

Current members of the Finance Committee include: Bob Friedmann, Constance Burke, Michael Williams, Gregory Colker, Renee SanGiacomo, Alex Morris. Diane Pappalardo is the Bookkeeper

Income

Corpus Christi Chapel Income For the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2021

Income	Amount
Building Collections	$1,041,417.40
Offertory	$231,447.89
Interest	$53,449.50
Catechetical and Devotional Materials	$19,871.61
CFA*	$2,310.00
Miscellaneous	$1,572.00
Gifts	$700.00
Total Income	$1,350,768.40

* CFA: Corpus Christi Chapel is not currently subject to the Diocesan Catholic Faith Appeal which supports the Diocese. Therefore any donations to the Catholic Faith Appeal in the Diocese of Venice in Florida which are marked as being for Corpus Christi Chapel are passed through to the Chapel in full.

Expenses

Corpus Christi Chapel Expenses For the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2021

Expense	Amount
Salaries*	$93,722.38
Rent For the use of the St. Agnes Chapel, and office space.	$30,340.00
Catechetical and Devotional Materials	$24,823.12
Table Expense*	$16,800.00
Office Expense	$7,873.22
Liturgy	$5,461.96
Music	$3,050.00
Vehicle Insurance	$1,963.22
Mileage Reimbursement	$1,497.30
Extra Clergy	$1,127.68
Ministry Expense	$586.22
Building & Grounds	$284.40
Religious Publication	$267.66
Diocesan Non-Parochial Collection	$250.00
Stipends-Religious	$180.00
Telephone	$91.43
Utilities	$80.98
Household Expense	$65.95
Other Facility Expense	$64.19
Total	$188,529.71

* Salaries: Corpus Christi Chapel pays the diocesan standard salary for priests directly to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) which covers insurance, retirement, etc. as well as the $1000 monthly stipend paid to FSSP Priests, including ours. * Table Expenses: Corpus Christi Chapel pays the diocesan standard $700 monthly "table expense" to our priests for their food and for all of the mass intentions and "stole fees" for weddings, baptisms, etc.

Final Position

Corpus Christi Chapel Final Position For the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2021

Income	Amount
Net Income	$1,162,238.69
Building Fund	$2,603,626.77
Operating Fund	$121,003.23
Total Assets	$2,724,630.00

The following are the total amounts donated in the second quarter of 2021 to support our chapel today, and build our permanent home for tomorrow.

2021 Q2 Corpus Christi Chapel Giving by City and Fund

Location	Building Fund	Offertory	Total
Sanibel	$101,582	$0	$101,582
Naples	$34,737	$30,302	$65,039
Collection (St. Agnes & St William)	$16,485	$20,073	$36,558
Ave Maria	$11,648	$7,280	$18,928
Fort Myers	$13,263	$5,491	$18,754
Other	$15,600	$760	$16,360
Bonita Springs	$7,300	$480	$7,780
Marco Island	$4,710	$2,235	$6,945
Cape Coral	$4,230	$1,965	$6,195
Collection (Resurrection)	$175	$4,470	$4,645
Lehigh Acres	$1,375	$796	$2,171
Punta Gorda	$365	$300	$665
Grand Total	$211,470	$74,152	$285,622

Total current balance of Building Fund as of July 15th, 2021 is: $2,603,626.77.

Our community continues to grow rapidly. Deo gratias! 

586 Souls on Average in Attendance on Sundays.
(Naples 415, Fort Myers 171)

22 New household registrations for the quarter.
(Nearly 2 households every week) 

  

 

Dear Corpus Christi Chapel parishioners, 

Fr. Dorsa will depart for his new assignment this coming Wednesday. Whereby we will have a farewell party for him this Saturday, July 24, from 4pm-6pm at St. Agnes parish cente (located behind/north of the main church). 

It will be a potluck style party, so please bring something to eat or drink to share with others. A cake will be provided. 

 Do you have questions about homeschooling? Sacred Heart of Jesus Private Homeschool Group would like to invite you to our parents meeting, August 7th , 10am at Olga Park in Fort Myers. Here you will learn about the support SHJ can offer your family, upcoming activities we have planned, meet other homeschool parents in the area, and learn what is required to homeschool in our state. If you have any questions, you may also call Lisa Stalnaker 239-634-3684.

Dear Corpus Christi Chapel parishioners, 

As many have already asked us for our thoughts this morning of July 16^th, on which a new Motu Propio has been issued by Pope Francis restricting more ample permissions for the use of the Latin Mass which were given by his predecessor Pope Benedict, in the Motu Propio Summorum Pontificum, and how it might affect our community, I make the following observations:

Obviously, those of us who were gladdened by the more ample rights for all priests of the Roman Rite to celebrate according to the 1962 missal are saddened to see that more possible restrictions may be established. Nonetheless, though more restrictive, it still remains possible for Bishops to delegate diocesan priests to offer the Latin Mass. Furthermore, it does not directly affect our FSSP communities as we have the Latin Mass by particular law as the mass that we were founded to celebrate according to our Constitutions which have been definitively approved by the Holy See.

Whether new foundations of our community in a diocese will be established with the canonical status of a parish, remains to be seen with the practical implementation of this document. Here in the diocese of Venice, Florida, Corpus Christi is already canonically established as a Chapel, and Mission of Christ the King Parish, a Latin Mass parish entrusted to the Fraternity of St. Peter in the diocese of Venice, which is to say we are already part of a permanently established Latin Mass FSSP parish in the diocese. If our future church were not canonically erected as a separate new parish, it would simply remain canonically as a mission of our already established FSSP parish in Sarasota and practically function in the same way.

Over the past 33 years we have more often begun and worked in a diocese without the canonical status of a parish, though many have been established as such over time. All of our apostolates in the US have established contracts which define their traditional nature and establish them in a stable way in the diocese, which unfortunately cannot be said about many of our apostolates in Europe, where Bishops, particularly in France, sometimes give us only a verbal permission to work in the diocese. Yet, if I am correct, in only one recent case was even such a verbal permission withdrawn. Latin Mass communities can be structured as a Chapel, Mission, etc. while practically functioning like a a parish in most respects, and we have done this with great fruit and success amidst even difficult circumstances and labors for over 30 years. So, although these new norms appear to be more restrictive and unfavorable for the spread of the Latin Mass at large, our service to the Church continues the same both in the diocese and throughout the world where we are established.

My pastoral advice for you in this moment is to simply stay focused on your spiritual life as the unwavering commitment of our ministry to you and your obligations to more faithfully love and serve the Lord by denying yourself and taking up your cross daily remain the same. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Mt. 6:34)

From our commitment to holiness comes all blessings and favors from the Lord. Love the Mass and appreciate it always, as it is, according to the Church, “the source and summit of the Christian life” (Sacrosanctum Concilium 10), and attending and praying the mass devoutly is the most powerful arm that we have so that His kingdom come and His will be done.

“In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6).

Our newly appointed Provincial Superior Fr. William Lawrence FSSP (who noted in his circular to our priests that many bishops where we serve have already made overtures to assure us that our apostolates will continue the same) makes the following announcement: 

Dear Faithful in Christ, 

With the publication of Pope Francis’ latest motu proprio, Traditionis Custodes, which has placed new restrictions on the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, many of us are disheartened and anxious. At this point, it is too early to tell what all the implications will be for the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter and for our apostolates, but we assure you that we remain committed to serving the faithful in accordance with our Constitutions and charism as we have done since our founding.  

 We must strive to see this Cross as a means of our sanctification, and to remember that God will never abandon His Church. Our Lord Himself promises us the necessary graces to bear our Crosses with strength and courage. We must not, however, neglect to do our part as faithful Catholics; let us pray and offer sacrifices in our daily lives, and trust in the intercession of Our Lady, St. Joseph, and our patron, St. Peter. Please continue to pray for the Pope and for the Bishops, and especially for your priests."