Diocesan Communicator
October 2023
Publishes monthly on the second Wednesday
Photo COURTESY OF THE CARMELITE COMMUNITY
Sister Maria del Rosario of Jesus Crucified, OCD, prostrates herself during the Litany of Saints at the Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Cross in Iron Mountain on Sunday, Oct. 8. Sister Rosario consecrated herself totally to the Lord by her vows of obedience, chastity and poverty.
Welcome to the
Diocesan Communicator
The Diocesan Communicator is delivered through Flocknote. You are now able to read the information right in your email message!
If you have any thoughts or suggestions to share, please email Sara at sshusta@dioceseofmarquette.org and John at jfee@dioceseofmarquette.org.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions to share, please email Sara at sshusta@dioceseofmarquette.org and John at jfee@dioceseofmarquette.org.
The current Communicator, as well as past issues, are available on the Diocesan website at https://dioceseofmarquette.org/communicator.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Oct. 16, 2023 Open Enrollment Begins (Administration & Finance)
Nov. 3, 2023 Open Enrollment Deadline (Administration & Finance)
Office of the Bishop
Bishop John F. Doerfler
Office of the Chancellor
and Divine Worship
Rev. Daniel Moll
CHRISTMAS EVE MASS SCHEDULING
We have received some inquiries regarding the scheduling of Masses for the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve, since Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year. Priests can celebrate Mass three times on Sundays and Holy Days so parishes may need to make adjustments to their schedule for Dec. 24 or make arrangements for other priests to help out. The faithful have Mass obligations for the Sunday and for Christmas. These obligations have to be fulfilled at two separate Masses.
Department of Evangelization
and Education
Mark Salisbury
RCIA CANDIDATES’ MARITAL STATUS
A reminder to Pastors, Pastoral Coordinators and the RCIA team of the importance of determining the marriage situation of the RCIA candidate and the candidate’s spouse which may require a declaration of nullity before he/she may enter the Church. If the candidate or the candidate’s current spouse has been married previously, an investigation into these marriages must be made.
CONFIRMATION RETREATS AVAILABLE
Confirmation retreats are currently scheduled for the following dates at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ishpeming. Retreats are open to confirmands from all parishes. Retreats will start at noon and end at 6 p.m. ET. An optional Mass will immediately follow. Cost is $20 and registration is required at least one week in advance. Register by emailing: Ishpemingfaithformation@gmail.com.
- Dec. 2, 2023 -- Winter Confirmation Retreat Option 1
- Dec. 9, 2023 -- Winter Confirmation Retreat Option 2
- Feb. 10, 2024 -- Spring Confirmation Retreat Option 1
- Feb. 17, 2024 -- Spring Confirmation Retreat Option 2
Each retreat will be offered twice (Option 1 and Option 2) so a youth could attend one of the winter retreats and one in the spring for a second retreat, but they shouldn't attend two winter retreats or two spring retreats.
In addition, there will be a Teen Retreat for 7th-12th graders on Jan. 27, 2024, at the same times and location. The fee is still being determined.
YOUTH ENCOUNTER REGISTRATION
Registration is now open for the Youth Encounter weekend which will be held Nov. 10-12, 2023 at Fortune Lake Camp in Crystal Falls. Youth Encounter is a Catholic retreat for students in grades 10-12 (between the ages of 16-20). The retreat is led by a student team, supported by adults. The weekend is filled with fun, music, talks, Scripture meditations, small group discussion, prayer, Confession, and Mass. Talks focus on preparing for, receiving, and responding to Christ's call to be His disciple. Registration is limited to the first 30 students and can be found online at youthencounter906.com. Questions? Call Fr. Ryan Ford at (906) 399-0553.
Communication Services
John Fee
THE U.P. CATHOLIC FALL COLORS PHOTO CONTEST
The U.P. Catholic is holding a Fall Colors photo contest. Take a photo of your parish during peak conditions of the fall colors for a chance to win a prize. Also accepted are photos of other places of Catholic interest in the U.P. Photos can be submitted to news@dioceseofmarquette.org. Please send full size, current photos taken in the U.P. for potential use in The U.P. Catholic, other print items, and online, such as The U.P. Catholic's Facebook page and other social media. The deadline to submit fall color photos is Wednesday, Oct. 11.
FAMILY LIFE
Over the last few weeks Michigan Catholic Conference has been heavily engaged in efforts to defeat legislation called the Reproductive Health Act (RHA), which promotes an unregulated abortion industry in Michigan. Planned Parenthood and ACLU believe with the Democrat majority in the legislature they have the opportunity to pass RHA, and with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer making it her fall priority they think they can act quickly to overturn all state laws and regulations that limit abortion in Michigan. Bills in the package include:
- Overturning state licensing and inspection standards for abortion facilities
- Overturning the state ban on late-term partial birth abortion
- Overturning a 24 hour Right to Know period before an abortion
- Overturning the state ban on taxpayer-funded abortion
- Overturning state law that screens for coercion before an abortion
- Overturning statutes that require the humane disposal of aborted children
While the package of bills, aside from the taxpayer funding piece, passed out of a House committee recently, there are legislators who want to vote against these bills but are being heavily pressured to pass them.
Catholics and all similarly-minded Michiganders are encouraged to contact their legislators and express their opposition of the RHA. Emails may be sent easily by visiting https://www.votervoice.net/MICATHOLIC/campaigns/107419/respond.
For a shorter version, please see the bulletin announcements section.
SACRAMENTS AND RCIA PHOTOS
Please send photos of First Communion, Confirmation and RCIA groups for publication in The U.P. Catholic’s annual Sacraments and RCIA issue. Be sure to list names (left to right) front row, second row, third row, back row, etc. Photos may be sent by email to news@dioceseofmarquette.org or mailed to The U.P. Catholic, 1004 Harbor Hills Dr., Marquette, MI 49855.
Please send photos of First Communion, Confirmation and RCIA groups for publication in The U.P. Catholic’s annual Sacraments and RCIA issue. Be sure to list names (left to right) front row, second row, third row, back row, etc. Photos may be sent by email to news@dioceseofmarquette.org or mailed to The U.P. Catholic, 1004 Harbor Hills Dr., Marquette, MI 49855.
Pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain and France - April 3-17, 2024
Join Bishop John Doerfler, Monsignor Michael Steber, and Deacon Steve and Jackie Gretzinger on a Spirit-filled pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain and France. Highlights of the pilgrimage include visits to Fatima, Lourdes, Avila, Lisieux, TGV Experience - High Speed Train Ride, Normandy: Omaha Beach and American Cemetery, Louvre Museum, motor coach sightseeing of Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower and so much more. For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/CarmelitePilgrimage2024
PUT YOUR OLD IPAD TO GOOD USE
The U.P. Catholic/Diocesan Communications is working on a project that needs a couple iPads. They don’t have to be the latest or any particular size. If you have a working iPad that you would like to contribute, please contact John Fee at jfee@dioceseofmarquette.org.
Financial Services
Timothy Thomas
Thank you to all who attended the 2023 Parish and School Secretary/Bookkeeper Workshop! We hope you found this year's topics informative and interesting. Jamie Feldhusen will send out presenter information to all parish secretaries and bookkeepers who may have missed the Oct. 10 event or wish to reference the topics discussed. Please contact Jamie at jfeldhusen@dioceseofmarquette.org with any additional questions regarding workshop materials.
MATERIALS FROM PARISH INITIAL CORPORATE BOARD MEETINGS AND IRS CORRESPONDENCE DUE TO THE DIOCESE
Bishop Doerfler directed all parish corporations to submit copies of their signed bylaws and minutes from initial Board meetings to the Diocese by Sept. 15, 2023. If you have yet to submit these documents, please do so at your earliest convenience to assist in the incorporation process.
Diocesan staff are also working to transfer existing Employer Identification Numbers to parish corporate entities. Please scan or forward any correspondence/documentation received from the Internal Revenue Service to the diocesan office, attention: Irene McCauley.
If you have any questions about the parish incorporation process, please contact Tim Thomas or Irene McCauley for additional assistance.
2023 PARISH GOVERNANCE REPORT DUE
The Governance Report was due to the Diocese on Sept. 30, 2023. If your parish has not submitted a 2023 report yet, please send your Parish Governance Report to the Diocese, attention: Irene McCauley or imccauley@dioceseofmarquette.org. This report is available on the Diocesan website http://dioceseofmarquette.org/forms and has been included as Addendum #1. Please contact Irene McCauley with any questions at imccauley@dioceseofmarquette.org or (906) 227-9135.
REMINDER: COLLECTION REMITTANCE DEADLINES
Please remember to submit proceeds from diocesan/special collections held in 2023. Your attention to this issue helps the Diocese ensure that parishioner donations are transferred to individual organizations promptly for maximum impact. Please contact Irene McCauley with questions regarding parish remittance deadlines.
Parishes held the World Church Collection on June 11, 2023, to support the Catholic Relief Services Overseas Fund, Holy Land & National Communications, and Peter's Pence causes. Proceeds from this collection were due by July 31, 2023.
Parishes held the National Church Collection on Aug. 13, 2023, to support the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, National Retirement Fund for Religious, and Catholic University causes. Proceeds from this collection were due by Sept. 30, 2023.
Parishes also held collections for the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church rebuilding project in Bay Mills over the summer. Please submit proceeds from these collections at your earliest convenience to lend support to this effort.
$5,000 MAXIMUM FOR PARISH/SCHOOL RAFFLES
The IRS requires tax-exempt organizations to withhold 25 percent of raffle winnings over $5,000 and report this amount on Form W-2G. Parishes and schools are advised to limit raffle winnings to no more than $5,000 to avoid tax liability. Federal reporting requirements apply to cash winnings and non-cash prizes whose value exceeds $5,000. If you are interested in holding a small raffle for your parish or school, please visit the State of Michigan charitable gaming website at www.michigan.gov/cg/ for more information.
Department of Stewardship & Development
Rob Taylor
#IGIVECATHOLIC
#iGiveCatholic is an online donation event held on Giving Tuesday, right after Thanksgiving. It gives parishes, schools, campus ministries, and other Catholic ministries the opportunity to make use of social media and an online format to engage in a blitz style, one-day fundraising campaign. The deadline to register is fast approaching. If you have not already done so, please register at https://marquette.igivecatholic.org/. If you have any questions or need assistance contact dkube@dioceseofmarquette.org.
Bulletin Announcements
PILGRIMAGE TO PORTUGAL, SPAIN AND FRANCE - APRIL 3-17, 2024
Join Bishop John Doerfler, Monsignor Michael Steber, and Deacon Steve and Jackie Gretzinger on a Spirit-filled pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain and France. Highlights of the pilgrimage include visits to Fatima, Lourdes, Avila, Lisieux, TGV Experience - High Speed Train Ride, Normandy: Omaha Beach and American Cemetery, Louvre Museum, motor coach sightseeing of Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower and so much more. For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/CarmelitePilgrimage2024
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ACT
Legislation called the Reproductive Health Act (RHA), which promotes an unregulated abortion industry in Michigan, is before the Michigan legislature. Bills in the package include:
- Overturning state licensing and inspection standards for abortion facilities
- Overturning the state ban on late-term partial birth abortion
- Overturning a 24 hour Right to Know period before an abortion
- Overturning the state ban on taxpayer-funded abortion
- Overturning state law that screens for coercion before an abortion
- Overturning statutes that require the humane disposal of aborted children
Catholics and all similarly-minded Michiganders are encouraged to contact their legislators and express their opposition of the RHA. Emails may be sent easily by visiting https://www.votervoice.net/MICATHOLIC/campaigns/107419/respond
Addenda
Addendum #1 - Governance Report 2023
Addendum #2 - Diocesan Days of Consecrated Life-Prayers of the Faithful
