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.

The current Communicator, as well as past issues, are available on the Diocesan website at https://dioceseofmarquette.org/communicator.

Dec. 31, 2023   Late 2023 PAFRs and Governance Reports Due to Diocese

Dec. 31, 2023   Late 2023 PAARs Due to Diocese

Jan. 13, 2024   Mission Combined Collection (Administration & Finance)

Jan. 14, 2024   Mission Combined Collection (Administration & Finance)

To help keep Catholics informed of pertinent issues on both the State and National level, I encourage Catholics to sign up for notices from the Michigan Catholic Conference and the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.  These vehicles issue timely notices and information on issues pertinent to the Catholic Church.  

If you have not already signed up for these action alerts, I encourage you to do so.  I would also ask you to help me spread the word about these valuable resources that help to keep Catholics informed and enable them to take timely action on important issues.
 
You may sign up for alerts from the Michigan Catholic Conference by following this link: http://www.micatholic.org/advocacy/catholic-advocacy-network/.
 
You may sign up for alerts from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops by following this link: https://www.votervoice.net/USCCB/register.

Walking with Moms in Need is a nationwide, parish-based initiative to increase support for pregnant and parenting mothers in need. It works to ensure that any woman who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, or parenting in difficult circumstances, can turn to her local Catholic Church and be connected with the resources she needs. Volunteers walk with moms throughout the motherhood journey, offering them authentic Christian friendship and ongoing support. 

To learn more about Walking with Moms in Need, please visit their website by clicking on the following link: https://www.walkingwithmoms.com/. 

Walking with Moms in Need has also released new videos, to watch, please follow this link: https://www.walkingwithmoms.com/videos. 

Priests or Deacons of the diocese that will be traveling outside of the Diocese of Marquette should request a Letter of Good Standing prior to their departure.  As the letter needs to be signed by the Chancellor, the request should be submitted as soon as possible.  To submit a Priest Letter of Good Standing Request, complete the online form at:  Priest Letter of Good Standing Request Form.
 
 To submit a Deacon Letter of Good Standing Request, complete the online form at:  Deacon Letter of Good Standing Request Form.   The forms may also be found at: www.dioceseofmarquette.org/forms.

Please be aware that much of the wine available in grocery stores is either of doubtful liceity or validity. Therefore, the wine to be used for Mass in the Diocese of Marquette should be wine that is certified for sacramental use. Redemptionis Sacramentum states that:

“The wine that is used in the most sacred celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice must be natural, from the fruit of the grape, pure and incorrupt, not mixed with other substances […]  Great care should be taken so that the wine intended for the celebration of the Eucharist is well conserved and has not soured.  It is altogether forbidden to use wine of doubtful authenticity or provenance, for the Church requires certainty regarding the conditions necessary for the validity of the sacraments.  Nor are other drinks of any kind to be admitted for any reason, as they do not constitute valid matter” (Redemptionis Sacramentum, 50).

Bink’s Wines and Beverages of Escanaba sells wine certified for sacramental use. They deliver to Delta, Dickinson, Menominee and Iron Counties. If you would like to purchase wine certified for sacramental use from Bink’s and you are not located in one of the previously mentioned counties it can be picked up from their warehouse in Escanaba. Also, Dewitt Church Goods of Green Bay sells wine certified for sacramental use. Dewitt’s does not deliver wine, but it can be picked up in Green Bay.

The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion will take place on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024 at St. Peter Cathedral at 3:30 pm ET. Registration for this event is now open.

Please fill out this form even if your parish will NOT be attending. Register at https://form.jotform.com/DioceseofMarquette/rite-of-election-2024.

Inform any catechumens or candidates in your parish to put this date on their calendars and plan on attending.  Please direct any questions to Mark Salisbury at (906) 227-9127 or email msalisbury@dioceseofmarquette.org.

Mark your calendars for Spring Study Day, March 21, 2024. Our presenter this year is Fr. Luke Ferris, a National Eucharistic Preacher and currently pastor of the Kaukauna Catholic Parishes in Kaukauna, Wis.  Fr. Ferris was named a National Eucharistic Preacher by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops last year.

Fr. Ferris will speak about Encountering Jesus in the Eucharist, the Experience of Encountering Jesus in the Eucharist, Obstacles to Jesus’ Eucharistic Presence, and Encountering Jesus in Mass and Adoration.

Registration opens Jan. 2, 2024.  Cost is $15; morning refreshments, lunch and materials are included.

Registration for Spring Confirmations is now open.  The Masses have been scheduled as follows:

Diocesan and St. Peter Cathedral Vicariate Confirmations (combined)

St. Peter Cathedral, Marquette                 3:30 pm ET         April 21, 2024

Holy Name of Mary Vicariate

St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Ignace,                 3:00 pm ET          April 28, 2024

St. Mary Norway Vicariate

American Martyrs, Kingsford                    3:00 pm CT           May 5, 2024

The Diocesan Confirmation is open to all adults, youth younger than grade 11 who have permission from the bishop to be confirmed, and youth from vicariates other than St. Peter Cathedral Vicariate, St. Mary Norway Vicariate, and Holy Name of Mary Vicariate. 

Register at:  https://form.jotform.com/DioceseofMarquette/confirmation-registrationspring2024

If you have any questions please contact Mark Salisbury, 906-227-9127 or msalisbury@dioceseofmarquette.org.

Parishes that have not submitted 2023 Parish Annual Administrative Reports must do so by Dec. 31, 2023. These reports can be accessed from the diocesan website and should be submitted to the diocesan office as soon as possible. Please contact Sara Shusta at sshusta@dioceseofmarquette.org with any questions.

Please join The U.P. Catholic newspaper as we celebrate the 10^th anniversary of Bishop John Doerfler’s Episcopal Ordination & Installation.

To place a Congratulations Ad from your parish or school, please visit: https://form.jotform.com/233126772988166

Advertising deadline is Dec. 29.
Please contact Dcn. Steve directly at ads@dioceseofmarquette.org if you have any questions or problems with the link.

Please send photos of the Advent wreath and Christmas decorations at your parish, school, or other places of Catholic interest in the U.P. to news@dioceseofmarquette.org for possible publication in a future issue of The U.P. Catholic and in other diocesan media including social media.

The U.P. Catholic newspaper has an electronic newsletter that is sent through Flocknote.  Rather than a replacement for the print edition, the newsletter accompanies the newspaper.  It is an easy way to find links to photo albums and videos, local stories and more. Visit: https://dioceseofmarquette.flocknote.com/TheUPCatholic to sign up, fill in your name and email address, and you'll be all set.

Attention Parishes: Do you have a parishioner who recently celebrated their 100th birthday? Send their name and a photo of their celebration to news@dioceseofmarquette.org for possible publication in a future issue of The U.P. Catholic’s Centenarian Corner and in other diocesan media including social media.

Are there special events being held at your parish?  Please send information about events, including the date(s) and location to news@dioceseofmarquette.org for possible publication in The U.P. Catholic calendar in future issues and in other diocesan media including social media.

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.

The Diocesan offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 22 and Monday, Dec. 25, 2023, and Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.

Just a reminder that all holiday bonuses are considered taxable income per IRS regulations. Any bonuses for parish/school employees must be recorded in Paycor.

Parishes that have not submitted 2023 Parish Annual Financial Reports or 2023 Governance Reports (Addendum #1) must do so by Dec. 31, 2023 to avoid penalties. These reports can be accessed from the diocesan website and should be submitted to the diocesan office as soon as possible. Please contact Irene McCauley to check the status of your 2023 PAFR or Governance Report.

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. 

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a new IRS determination letter supporting the tax-exempt status of parish, school, and other Catholic entities in the Diocese of Marquette this month. Please find the new proofs of your tax-exempt status (including the determination letter, a memo from USCCB Counsel, and pages from the latest edition of the Official Catholic Directory) on the diocesan website here. This information is also available as Addendum #2 of this Communicator.

Just a quick reminder, the diocesan Standardized Personnel Policies features a checklist of documents (Addendum #3) to be maintained in all employee personnel files. Year-end is a good time to review your files to ensure you have all the necessary documentation.

The maximum contribution for 2024 will increase to $23,000 unless the employee is aged 50 or over. Members over 50 years of age will be allowed an additional "catch-up" contribution of $7,500.

All parishes in the Diocese of Marquette will be taking up the 2024 Mission Collection on Jan. 13-14, 2024.  The Mission Collection supports the following outreach ministries to the Universal Church:  the Black & Indian Missions, Catholic Home Missions, the Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa, and the Propagation of the Faith Mission. Parish bookkeepers are advised to use the Collection Counting Sheet (Addendum #4) and to divide unspecified Mission fund donations evenly between the four individual collections.  Bookkeepers may then complete the updated Combined Collection Transmittal Form found in Addendum #5 to include with their payment to the Diocese.  Please make checks out to "Diocese of Marquette-Mission Collection."

Please see the Bulletin Announcements section for an advertisement that can be placed in your parish bulletins to promote this collection. Parishes may also print and use the Addendum #6 Mission Collection flyer as an optional bulletin insert. Thank you for your attention to this very important matter. 

Please see the Diocesan Collection Schedule for 2025 included in Addendum #7. This schedule and corresponding sample envelopes have been mailed to parish-identified envelope companies. If you have any questions about the 2025 Collection Schedule, please contact Irene McCauley at imccauley@dioceseofmarquette.org. 

Looking for financial assistance with your college education?  Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 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 online 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, 2024.

Christmas is coming early at the Bishop Baraga Association!  We are bringing Lifetime Memberships back for a Membership Blitz until Dec. 31, 2023.

Annual Members may purchase a Lifetime membership for $50 (Domestic) and $100 (International).  Your membership may be purchased online at www.bishopbaraga.org/store.

Already a Lifetime member?  You can gift an annual membership to friends and family and there are NO LIMITS to the number of memberships you can gift!  Please send contact information (name, mailing address, phone and email) to lmckeen@bishopbaraga.org .

Help us spread the word about this saintly man!

Visit our website to find new merchandise available.  Let us help with your Christmas shopping, while you help support Bishop Baraga’s Cause for Canonization!

The Baraga Educational Center and Museum will be open on Thursdays and Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. through the end of March.  We are happy to schedule additional days/times for you to visit the Museum and shop from the Gift Shop. Please contact us at (906) 227-9117 if you would like to schedule a tour outside of our Seasonal hours.

The U.P. Catholic newspaper has an electronic newsletter that is sent through Flocknote. Rather than a replacement for the print edition, the newsletter accompanies the newspaper. It is an easy way to find links to photo albums and videos, local stories and more. Visit https://dioceseofmarquette.flocknote.com/TheUPCatholic to sign up, fill in your name and email address, and you'll be all set.

The U.P. Catholic newspaper is a publication that seeks to inform, evangelize and educate the faithful in the Diocese of Marquette.  All parishioners should be receiving the newspaper as a member of their parish.  Please contact your parish office if you are not receiving The U.P. Catholic newspaper.

The Black and Indian Mission Collection exists to help local African American and Native American diocesan communities throughout the United States spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and respond to real and pressing needs. This collection advances causes important to native and African American Catholics. To learn more, visit blackandindianmission.org. 

"Home Missions” is the name for dioceses and parishes in the United States, including its territories and former territories, which cannot provide basic pastoral services to Catholics without outside help. Basic pastoral services include Mass and sacraments, religious education, and ministry training for priests, deacons, religious sisters, and lay people. For more information, visit usccb.org/committees/catholic-home-missions. 

While the Church in Africa is growing, many still lack access to basic resources and pastoral care. Many suffer due to high rates of poverty and unemployment, illiteracy, and poor education. The Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa supports pastoral projects that foster lasting peace and reconciliation in a continent often marked by division and tension. To learn more about this ministry, visit usccb.org/committees/church-africa. 

The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is vital to the missionaries serving in 1,111 dioceses throughout Asia, Africa, parts of Latin America and Europe, and on the Islands of the Pacific. Your generosity makes it possible for local priests, religious, and catechists to reach out to communities, families, and children in desperate need, bringing the light of Christ to the darkest of circumstances covering more than half the globe. For more information, visit onefamilyinmission.org.

We are bringing Lifetime Memberships back for a Membership Blitz until Dec. 31, 2023.  Annual Members may purchase a Lifetime membership for $50 (Domestic) and $100 (International).  Your membership may be purchased online at www.bishopbaraga.org/store.

Already a Lifetime member?  You can gift an annual membership to friends and family and there are NO LIMITS to the number of memberships you can gift!  Please send contact information (name, mailing address, phone and email) to lmckeen@bishopbaraga.org.