2023 PRIEST ACCOUNTABLE REIMBURSEMENT REPORT FORM
The 2023 Priest Accountable Reimbursement Report Form with the mileage
rate of 65.5 cents, effective Jan. 1, 2023, can be found in
Addendum #1 of this communicator. The form is also available on the Diocesan website under Administration/Policy Manuals/Diocesan Policies/Administration and Finance/Forms & Resources. If you have any questions, please contact
Irene McCauley at 800-562-9745, ext. 135, or 906-227-9135.
MICHIGAN MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE
Effective Jan. 1, 2023, Michigan workers will see an increase in the minimum wage rate from $9.87 to $10.10 per hour. Please see
Addendum #2 for a poster outlining this minimum wage law. These posters can also be found on Michigan Catholic Conference’s website at
http://www.micatholic.org/risk-management/information-and-forms/ and are updated routinely. For more information regarding employment posting requirements, please contact Michigan Catholic Conference’s Risk Management department at 800-395-5565.
LAST CHANCE TO APPLY FOR ERC FUNDING – DEADLINE MARCH 2023
The Diocese encourages parish and school bookkeepers who have not already applied for ERC funding to do so as soon as possible before the March 2023 IRS deadline. Parishes and schools interested in receiving ERC funding who have not already applied should plan to do so as soon as possible, as the filing process takes approximately 10-12 weeks to complete. Bookkeepers should consult with their pastors and Parish Finance Councils to make sure this is the way they want the funds represented on the Income Statement. To start the filing process, please contact Brian Locker at Paycor
blocker@paycor.com. For any other ERC questions, please contact Casey Banks at 906-227-9105 or
cbanks@dioceseofmarquette.org.
MAXIMUM 403(b) CONTRIBUTIONS FOR 2023
The maximum 403(b) contribution for 2023 is $22,500 unless the employee is age 50 or over. Members over 50 years of age will be allowed an additional “catch-up” contribution of $7,500.
THE U.P. CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER COLLECTION – FEB. 11-12, 2023
Parishes may take the optional U.P. Catholic Newspaper collection on Feb. 11-12, 2023. Parishes should retain the proceeds of this collection to offset the expense of providing the newspaper to their parishioners. Please do not mail a check to the diocesan office for funds collected. Please find a bulletin insert for this collection in the Bulletin Announcement section of this communicator.
MARQUETTE DIOCESAN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS COLLECTION – FEB. 22-26, 2023
Parishes may hold the Marquette Diocesan Catholic Schools collection on Feb. 22 (Ash Wednesday) or Feb. 26 (first Sunday of Lent). Please find a bulletin insert for this collection in the Bulletin Announcement section of this communicator. Parishioners can also donate to this collection online by visiting
https://www.osvhub.com/dioceseofmarquette/giving/funds and scrolling down to the Marquette Diocesan Catholic Schools Ash Wednesday Give Now link
.
While not a diocesan collection, parishes are also encouraged to participate in the CRS Rice Bowl Lenten initiative in 2023. Materials and information can be found at
crsricebowl.org.
2024 COLLECTION SCHEDULE
Please see the Diocesan Collection Schedule for 2024 included in
Addendum #3. This schedule and corresponding sample envelopes have been mailed to parish-identified envelope companies. If you have any questions about the 2024 Collection Schedule, please contact Irene McCauley at
imccauley@dioceseofmarquette.org.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Looking for financial assistance with your college education? Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Bibianne Bessette Scholarship Fund. The scholarships aid graduating high school seniors who are pursuing a college or vocational education at an accredited degree granting institution. Consideration is based on academic achievement. Applicants
must complete the on-line application found at
https://dioceseofmarquette.org/awards-scholarships and either mail an
Official Transcript and ACT/SAT scores (via postal mail) to: Bessette Scholarship Fund, Diocese of Marquette, 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855 or email transcripts to Irene McCauley at
imccauley@dioceseofmarquette.org. Applications must be received no later than March 15, 2023
SURVEY FOR THREAT MITIGATION IN HOUSES OF WORSHIP
It is imperative that pastors and parish leaders take steps to protect parishioners from active threats. This is best accomplished by evaluating existing security measures and developing plans to respond quickly to threats as they occur. Please find the survey in
Addendum #4 as a tool to help evaluate parish security concerns and keep individuals safe. If you have any questions concerning active threat mitigation, please contact Terry Bailey at 906-227-9138 or
tbailey@dioceseofmarquette.org for more information.