By Ana Rodriguez Soto - The Archdiocese of Miami
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
- The body of Bishop John Nevins will be received at Epiphany Cathedral, Venice, at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, and lie in state until midnight, with a memorial Mass celebrated at 7 p.m.
- Visitation will continue from 8 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 11 a.m.
- Priests who wish to be present for the Mass should call the Chancery Office, 941-441-1115 or email: [email protected].
- The cathedral is located at 350 Tampa Ave W, Venice, FL 34285.
MIAMI | Catholics on Florida's southwest coast are mourning the passing of Bishop John Nevins, 82, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Venice and a former priest and auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Miami.
Bishop Nevins died peacefully at his home Aug. 26 after a long illness, according to a statement issued by Bishop Frank Dewane, his successor in Venice. Bishop Nevins had retired from the office in January 2007, at the age of 75, after serving as the diocese�s founding bishop since July 1984.
Known for dancing Irish jigs and playing the accordion, for his joy, simplicity and gentleness, Bishop Nevins was the first of two sets of �twin� auxiliary bishops named for Miami. He and the late Bishop Agust�n Rom�n were named bishops at the same time, March 29, 1979, and consecrated together in a massive ceremony at the Miami Beach Convention Center. (The other �twins� were Bishop Thomas Wenski and Bishop Gilberto Fernandez in 1997).
Before being named a bishop, Bishop Nevins served as rector of St. John Vianney Seminary, and before that, as executive director of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Miami. He had earned a master�s degree in social work from Tulane University in New Orleans and undergraduate degrees in philosophy and theology from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he studied for the priesthood.
Born Jan. 19, 1932 in New Rochelle, N.Y., the only son of John and Anne Nevins, he attended elementary and high school there, then graduated from Iona College, also in New Rochelle, before enrolling at Catholic University. He was ordained a priest June 6, 1959 at the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Washington, D.C.
He immediately joined the then-Diocese of Miami, where he served as parochial vicar at: Immaculate Conception, Hialeah; St. Hugh, Coconut Grove; St. Michael, Miami; Sacred Heart, Homestead; and Blessed Trinity, Miami Springs. He also served as administrator of St. Lawrence in North Miami Beach (1969-�70) and St. Louis in Pinecrest (1970-�74).
In the summer of 1962, he studied Spanish at the University of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
His involvement with Catholic Charities began in 1963, when he was named assistant executive director of what was then known as the Catholic Service Bureau. He remained there, as executive director, until 1975, when he was appointed rector of the seminary.
In a 1965 column in the diocesan newspaper, The Voice, a fellow priest, Msgr. Rowan Rastatter, described Father Nevins as �gifted in mind and spirit and possessed of unbounding energy.� Pope Paul VI gave him the honorary title of monsignor in 1974.
During his 25 years in Miami, Bishop Nevins also served as director of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, chaplain of the Catholic Police and Firemen Guild, director of the Marian Center (school for the developmentally disabled), and archdiocesan director for the White House Conference on Children and Youth (1970-�71).
Bishop Nevins was appointed founding bishop of Venice July 17, 1984, and installed Oct. 25, 1984. According to his biography on the diocesan website, the Catholic population in the 10-county diocese exploded from approximately 115,000 to more than 200,000 parishioners under his tutelage.
In an effort to meet their spiritual needs, he added 15 parishes to the original 39, and increased the number of chapels and missions to 13. He also oversaw the ordinations of 50 men to the priesthood. Bishop Nevins established a new elementary school, a school for adult formation and two retreat centers in the diocese.
His motto was �To serve with mercy,� and he did so by instituting many diocesan ministries in response to changing social needs. Among these ministries were those to migrant farm workers, unwed mothers, refugees, and people with HIV/AIDS.
Photographer: PHOTO COURTESY | Diocese of Venice
Bishop John Nevins: Born Jan. 19, 1932; ordained June 6, 1959; appointed auxiliary bishop of Miami, March 29, 1979; appointed founding bishop of Venice, July 17, 1984; retired Jan. 19, 2007; died Aug. 26, 2014.
Before being named a bishop, Bishop Nevins served as rector of St. John Vianney Seminary, and before that, as executive director of Catholic Charities for the Archdiocese of Miami. He had earned a master�s degree in social work from Tulane University in New Orleans and undergraduate degrees in philosophy and theology from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he studied for the priesthood.
Born Jan. 19, 1932 in New Rochelle, N.Y., the only son of John and Anne Nevins, he attended elementary and high school there, then graduated from Iona College, also in New Rochelle, before enrolling at Catholic University. He was ordained a priest June 6, 1959 at the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception on Washington, D.C.
He immediately joined the then-Diocese of Miami, where he served as parochial vicar at: Immaculate Conception, Hialeah; St. Hugh, Coconut Grove; St. Michael, Miami; Sacred Heart, Homestead; and Blessed Trinity, Miami Springs. He also served as administrator of St. Lawrence in North Miami Beach (1969-�70) and St. Louis in Pinecrest (1970-�74).
In the summer of 1962, he studied Spanish at the University of Ponce, Puerto Rico.
His involvement with Catholic Charities began in 1963, when he was named assistant executive director of what was then known as the Catholic Service Bureau. He remained there, as executive director, until 1975, when he was appointed rector of the seminary.
In a 1965 column in the diocesan newspaper, The Voice, a fellow priest, Msgr. Rowan Rastatter, described Father Nevins as �gifted in mind and spirit and possessed of unbounding energy.� Pope Paul VI gave him the honorary title of monsignor in 1974.
During his 25 years in Miami, Bishop Nevins also served as director of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, chaplain of the Catholic Police and Firemen Guild, director of the Marian Center (school for the developmentally disabled), and archdiocesan director for the White House Conference on Children and Youth (1970-�71).
Bishop Nevins was appointed founding bishop of Venice July 17, 1984, and installed Oct. 25, 1984. According to his biography on the diocesan website, the Catholic population in the 10-county diocese exploded from approximately 115,000 to more than 200,000 parishioners under his tutelage.
In an effort to meet their spiritual needs, he added 15 parishes to the original 39, and increased the number of chapels and missions to 13. He also oversaw the ordinations of 50 men to the priesthood. Bishop Nevins established a new elementary school, a school for adult formation and two retreat centers in the diocese.
His motto was �To serve with mercy,� and he did so by instituting many diocesan ministries in response to changing social needs. Among these ministries were those to migrant farm workers, unwed mothers, refugees, and people with HIV/AIDS.
Updated Aug. 27, 2014: Funeral arrangements added
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