Fr. Eric Scanlan is a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Venice in Florida, where he serves as Pastor of Incarnation Catholic Church and Chaplain of Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota. Ordained in 2013 at Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, he is a native of Fort Myers, Florida and the oldest of eleven children. During his college years while on pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Medjugorje, he experienced the love of God in a powerful and life changing way. Renewed in his love for the Catholic Church and relationship with Jesus Christ, he began to discern a call to the priesthood. Eucharistic Adoration and Marian devotion were instrumental in his discernment. Fr. Scanlan graduated with Marketing and Political Science degrees from University of Florida. He studied philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, theology at the Gregorian University in Rome, and finished in 2014 with a Licentiate (STL) in Spirituality from the Teresianum in Rome. Fr. Scanlan loves sharing the richness and beauty of the Catholic faith with others, and believes strongly in its unique ability to transform the culture. As a priest, his greatest joy is helping people encounter and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.   “It is a great joy to be able to walk with you on pilgrimage to these beautiful and truly inspiring holy places. Rome and Assisi have all played a significant role in helping me grow in my relationship with the Lord and I hope and pray it will do the same for you. May God bless you and may Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us.”