About Us

Mission Statement

As a Christ-centered Catholic community, Saint William Parish will respond to the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of God's people through active programs to address the issues of spiritual life, social justice and the needs of our youth.  The primary concerns of our parish are: Spiritual Life and Worship, Social Ministry, and Youth & Young Adult Ministries.

Parish History

The parish, which began in October of 1973, under the leadership of Father Dominick O'Dwyer, has seen considerable growth and many changes.  The parish began meeting at Seagate Elementary and moved several times during its formative years.

Ground breaking took place on August 12, 1979 and construction was completed in October of the following year.  The Church was dedicated by Bishop John J. Nevins, Auxiliary Bishop of Miami, on November 30, 1980.

The Diocese of Venice

Saint William is a part of a larger, local family of faith provided over by a successor of the Apostles, like all other parishes.  Saint William is a part of the Diocese of Venice under the leadership of our Chief shepherd, the Most Reverend John J. Nevins, D.D.

The history of the Church of Florida reflects the rapid development of our state.  Until 1958, when the Diocese of Miami was formed, the entire state, except for a small section of the eastern most portion of the panhandle, was under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Saint Augustine.  Ten years later, two additional Diocese were established, the Diocese of Orlando and the Diocese of St. Petersburg.  In 1975, the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee was formed, and in 1984, the Diocese of Venice and the Diocese of Palm Beach.  Thus, in the space of 25 years, the Catholic Church has grown from one to seven diocese and now forms an Ecclesiastical Province with Miami and the Archdiocese.

When the Diocese of Venice was established in 1984, the Most Reverend John J. Nevins, the Auxiliary Bishop of Miami, and a native New Yorker, was named our first Bishop.  The Cathedral seat in Venice is dedicated to the Epiphany of our Lord.  Our Lady of Mercy and Saint Mark are the co-patrons of our Diocese.

The Diocese of Venice is located on Florida's Gulf Coast and stretches north and south from Palmetto to Everglades City, and from Avon Park to Moore Haven in the center of the state.  It is comprised of Collier, Hendry, Glades, Highlands, Manatee, Hardee, Sarasota, Charlotte, DeSoto, and Lee County.  The Diocese is divided into two Vicariates and four Deaneries.