Diocesan Communicator

March 2024

Publishes monthly on the second Wednesday

Photo JOHN FEE | THE U.P. CATHOLIC

Fr. Sebastian K. Chacko, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Flat Rock, places a colorful shawl on a mother during the church's annual Blessing of Mothers Mass on Sunday, March 10.

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.

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

Important Dates and Deadlines

March 15, 2024 56^th UPCSA Parish Payment Deadline (Administration & Finance)

March 15, 2024 Bibianne Bessette Scholarship Submission Deadline

(Administration & Finance)

March 21, 2024 Spring Study Day (Evangelization & Education)

April 15, 2024 Deadline to Notify Michigan Catholic Conference of July 1, 2024

Benefit Changes

April 20, 2024 St. Joseph Association/Good Shepherd Sunday Collection

(Stewardship & Development)

April 21, 2024 St. Joseph Association/Good Shepherd Sunday Collection

(Stewardship & Development)

April 30, 2024 Employee Deadline to Enroll in 12-Month Credit Monitoring

through Experian Identity Works (Administration & Finance)

April 30, 2024 Diocesan Catholic Schools Collection Remittance Deadline

(Stewardship & Development)

Office of the Bishop

Bishop John F. Doerfler

Chrism Mass – Thursday, March 21, 2024

This liturgy is scheduled at 3:30 p.m. ET, at St. Peter Cathedral. A memorandum was sent in February to the priests of the Diocese by email and included information regarding the changes for this year and also instructions on how to receive Holy Oils for your parish. Each pastor of a parish or group of parishes may invite a delegate to represent their parish or to represent the group of parishes that are linked. If you have any questions regarding the Chrism Mass, please contact Terry Bailey at (906) 227-9115.

Office of the Chancellor

and Divine Worship

Rev. Daniel Moll

FACULTIES TO CONFIRM
Father Dan Moll has provided information regarding the specific faculties priests have in regards to Confirmation and the situations requiring the permission of the bishop to confirm. If you have any questions regarding the information provided in the document, please contact Fr. Dan at: dmoll@dioceseofmarquette.org or call (906) 227-9154. Addendum Faculties to Confirm.

IN NEED OF CANDLE STANDS/CANDLESTICKS

St. Agnes (Iron River) and St. Cecilia (Caspian) Parishes are in search of used candle stands/candlesticks similar in size (although not necessarily in style) to those in the photo below. If you have some that you are no longer using, please consider donating them to those parishes. Send photos to stagnesstcecilia@gmail.com. Thank you.

Department of Evangelization

and Education

Mark Salisbury

SPRING CONFIRMATIONS

Registration for Spring Confirmations is now open.

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

The Masses have been scheduled as follows:

Diocesan and St. Peter Cathedral Vicariate Confirmations (combined)

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

Holy Name of Mary Vicariate

St. Ignatius Loyola, St. Ignace 3 p.m. ET April 28, 2024

St. Mary Norway Vicariate

American Martyrs, Kingsford 3 p.m. 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 hosting a Confirmation this spring unless there is a scheduling difficulty that may be accommodated.

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

Communication Services

John Fee

DIOCESAN WEBSITE UPDATES

Parishes and schools: If there are any updates needed to your Mass times or other relevant information on the diocesan website, please email cmraz@dioceseofmarquette.org or news@dioceseofmarquette.org with information about the changes needing to be made.

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.

EASTER MASS TIMES

The U.P. Catholic is planning to publish Easter Mass Times in the March 29 issue of the paper. Please submit Mass times using the form below no later than Friday, March 15.

Form: https://form.jotform.com/DioceseofMarquette/easter-mass-times

DIVINE MERCY SERVICE TIMES

Parishes: The U.P. Catholic is planning to publish Divine Mercy service times in the March 29 issue of the paper. Please submit Divine Mercy service times via email to news@dioceseofmarquette.org no later than Friday, March 15.

DEACON APPRECIATION ISSUE

Our 2024 Deacon Appreciation Issue will be published on May 10 this year. Please click here for advertising information on how your parish and/or school can show its gratitude for your deacon: https://form.jotform.com/240584981705161

If you have trouble with the link or need additional assistance please contact Deacon Steve directly at ads@dioceseofmarquette.org or (906) 863-7460.

Ad requests which come in after March 27, will be placed in the next available issue. Thank you.

NEWS TO SHARE

Please remember to contact the Diocesan Communications Staff at news@dioceseofmarquette.org if your parish/school is celebrating any major milestones, events, missions or outreach in 2024 or 2025.

Financial Services

Timothy Thomas

4.5% SPENDING POLICY RECOMMENDATION FOR ENDOWMENT FUNDS FOR THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR

The Diocese of Marquette Spending Committee recommends that endowment funds withdraw up to 4.5% in assets for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. They additionally recommend that funds use a five-year weighted average of investment performance to calculate final distribution amounts. Endowment funds participating in the Upper Peninsula Catholic Foundation will receive 4.5% distributions in July 2024. Please refer to the Diocese of Marquette Spending Policy for all Endowment Funds in Addendum #1 for more information on spending policy recommendations.

PARISH UPCSA PAYMENTS DUE MARCH 15, 2024

As a reminder, parish UPCSA payments for the 56^th campaign will be due to the diocese by March 15, 2024. Please plan to remit the balance of your 56th UPCSA goal to the diocesan office on or before March 15. If you need to schedule an ACH/EFT or make other payment arrangements, please contact Tim Thomas or Jamie Feldhusen for further assistance.

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

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 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. Please contact Irene McCauley with any questions on Bessette Scholarship requirements at (906) 227-9135.

NOTICE CONCERNING PAYCOR/MOVEIT SECURITY EVENT AND FRAUD PROTECTION INFORMATION

Tim Thomas sent a memo to all parishes and schools on Jan. 29 concerning the Paycor/MOVEit security breach notice mailed to all employees in the Diocese of Marquette. The letters describe a legitimate security event involving the unauthorized access of employees’ personal information through the MOVEit Transfer server Paycor uses to send and receive personal information over the internet. We take this event very seriously, and upon learning of the breach, diocesan staff worked to address the issue as quickly and completely as possible while providing employees with the best resources to protect themselves from potential fraud.

Please refer to the attached memo and sample letter (Addendum #2) for more information about this event, our response, and fraud protection options available to affected employees. Employees are advised not to discard their letters, as they contain individual activation codes required to enroll in the complimentary 12-month credit monitoring services offered by Experian, as well as other valuable resources to help protect personal information from possible misuse. As a reminder, employees wanting to take advantage of the complimentary 12-month credit monitoring services must enroll through Experian by April 30, 2024. If you have any questions concerning this security event and potential incidents of identity fraud and misuse, please call Experian Representatives at (855) 356-3059. If you have any other questions, please contact Tim Thomas.

PARISH INCORPORATION ASSET TRANSFER UPDATE

Initially scheduled to begin in January 2024, property transfers to parish corporations have been pushed back to later this spring. Diocesan staff are working with legal counsel to convey all properties as soon as possible in the next several months. As soon as properties are transferred to parish corporations, each parish will receive a summary of its land parcels as well as copies of the deeds recorded with local County Clerks/Registers of Deeds. Please file these documents with other parish incorporation records at the parish office once received.

Parishes should not transfer bank accounts to the corporate entities until they receive further instructions from the diocesan office. Look out for additional instructions on transferring parish assets and liabilities in the coming months. If you have any questions about the parish incorporation process, please contact Tim Thomas or Irene McCauley for additional assistance.

REMINDER: PARISH CORPORATIONS REQUIRED TO HOLD ANNUAL BOARD MEETINGS

Pastors are reminded that with the establishment of parishes as civil corporations and observing the requirements of Canon Law, parish corporations must meet certain annual requirements. Each fiscal year, the Member (Bishop Doerfler) and the Board of Directors must act to 1) confirm the appointment of officers and 2) ratify corporate actions taken that year. Bishop Doerfler asks that pastors convene a Board of Directors meeting for each of their parish corporations in July or August 2024.

A template for the meeting agenda and minutes will be sent to pastors, parish secretaries, and bookkeepers later this spring. Minutes from the second annual meeting of the Board of Directors must be sent to Irene McCauley at the diocesan office as soon as possible after the meeting.

2024 PARISH INTERNAL AUDIT CHANGES

We are excited to announce that parish internal audits will be handled exclusively by diocesan staff in 2024. Parishes, missions, and schools selected for review of 2022-2023 financials have already been contacted by Karli Lancour, who will be the new point of contact for parish and school internal audits. Please send all audit materials (including bank confirmation forms traditionally mailed to Makela Toutant) directly to the diocesan office, Attention: Karli Lancour, Diocese of Marquette, 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855.

ANNUAL INVESTMENT POOL VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

Have you ever wondered what drives returns in your parish or school investment account? Do you want to know more about what kind of assets the Church invests in? Are you curious about the benefits of joining the National Catholic Investment Pool?

If so, please mark your calendars now to attend the Annual Investment Pool Virtual Conference and get a chance to talk with financial experts from Captrust and Michigan Catholic Conference. This year’s conference will be held on April 23, 2024 from 4-6 p.m. ET. To register for this event, please click here https://www.jotform.com/70323169336151. We hope to see you then!

STANDARD PERSONNEL POLICY REMINDER AND MCC BENEFIT PROGRAM CHANGE DEADLINES

As a reminder, parishes are reminded that changes to the supplemental portion of the Standardized Personnel Policy must be submitted to the diocesan office. Any parishes planning to add or remove sections which affect benefits administered by Michigan Catholic Conference (including short-term or long-term disability benefits, as well as health, dental, vision, or life insurance coverage). If you have made changes to your personnel policy benefits, please notify MCC no later than April 15, 2024 for a July 1, 2024 effective date and no later than Sept. 1, 2024 for a Jan. 1, 2025 effective date.

If you are unsure of whether your parish submitted changes to its supplementary personnel policies, please contact Irene McCauley to verify that your policy was received and approved. All parishes must submit parish supplemental policy drafts to imccauley@dioceseofmarquette.org before implementing new policies at their parishes. Once supplemental policies are approved by the Diocese, copies will be returned to the parish for approval by the pastor and parish finance council before taking effect.

Parish bookkeepers are also reminded that all parish employees must also sign policy acknowledgment forms to be recorded in employee personnel files.

A copy of the supplemental personnel policies can be found on the diocesan website at dioceseofmarquette.org/policies and in Addendum #3 of this Communicator.

REMINDER: INTERNAL CONTROL POLICY REQUIRES TAMPER EVIDENT BAG USE

Bishop Doerfler’s updated Internal Control policy requires the use of tamper evident collection bags to improve security for weekly and special collections. For information on use procedures, please see Addendum #4.

For those parishes using Connover Packaging for their tamper evident bag needs, please also note that materials must be purchased online. To place an order, please visit www.connoverpackaging.com or email the form in Addendum#5 to orders@connoverpackaging.com. Connover Packaging also redesigned the closure on its bags to improve the quality of tamper evident containers. Please see Addendum #6 for a printable instruction sheet for first-time users or new collection volunteers. For more information on tamper evident bag procedures, please contact Irene McCauley.

CONTACT DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE FOR HIRING ASSISTANCE

Parishes and schools are encouraged to contact the Administration & Finance department for hiring assistance. Diocesan staff will be available to assist pastors, pastoral coordinators, and school principals with hiring procedures and provide advertising services for open positions.

Please remember that we are not to ask about the following during the hiring/interview process:

Age
Gender
Medical information
Disability
Religion (unless the position requires that the applicant is Catholic) – Please ask HR first
Height or weight
Race, ethnicity, or color
Marital or family status
Pregnancy
Citizenship

Those interested in hiring assistance should contact Tim Thomas at (906) 225-1141, ext. 114.

SALES TAX ON PREPARED FOOD AT PARISH FUNDRAISING EVENTS

A parish that has total sales (by all affiliated parish groups) in excess of $10,000 per calendar year must collect and remit sales tax to the State of Michigan. You do not have to collect sales tax on fundraising items such as pizza kits, door-to-door candy sales, homemade noodles, bake sales, etc. because these items are not sold for immediate consumption. You do have to collect and remit sales tax on fundraising dinners such as fish fries, spaghetti dinners, etc. and if you sell alcohol at an event, it is all taxable no matter the amount of sales.

What if the parish just accepts donations for the dinner and does not charge anything?
You would be liable for sales tax on the fair market value of the meals served.
What if I collect sales tax on the dinners but the gross sales do not exceed $5,000?
If you collect any sales tax you must remit the tax to the State of Michigan no matter what the total of the sales.
Does sales tax apply to gambling or charitable gaming?
No but food sales at the event would be taxable.
What groups would fall under the parish?
Any parish affiliated organization that falls under the parish federal EIN.
Do I have to pay sales tax on other items that we may sell?
Yes, if the parish sells anything at retail such as items at a rummage sale, religious store items, school shirts, hats, etc. then you are required to collect and remit sales tax.
How do I remit the sales tax to the State?
If you only have a few fundraisers per year, it would be best to use the “Concessionaire’s Sales Tax Return and Payment” form 2271. This form must be filled out and sent to the State along with your tax payment within three business days after the event. Another method would be to apply for a Sales Tax License from the State of Michigan and make regular reporting and remittance of sales tax collected on form 165. (Annual filing if total tax liability is less than $750 per calendar year, Quarterly Filing if annual tax liability is between $750 - $3,600 per calendar year, and monthly filing if total tax liability is greater than $3,600 in a calendar year.)
Where can I get more information and the proper forms?
All forms are available on the State of Michigan – Department of Treasury Website at the following address: http://www.michigan.gov/treasury

The “Concessionaire’s Sales Tax Return and Payment” form 5089 can be found at: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/taxes/5089_642085_7.pdf

The “Sales Tax, Use Tax, Income Tax Withholding and Michigan Business Tax Estimates” forms and instructions can be found at: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/taxes/78_442440_7.pdf

The “Michigan Business Taxes Registration Booklet” can be found at: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/uia/Employer_Handbook1-14_455893_7.pdf

LEARN ABOUT TAX SCAMS AND CONSUMER ALERTS FROM THE IRS

The Internal Revenue Service regularly publishes information for employers and consumers to protect themselves and their businesses from potential threats. Please see more details on scams used in 2024 in Addendum #7.

Department of

Stewardship & Development

Scott Fenley

ST. JOSEPH ASSOCIATION (GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY) COLLECTION

Make plans now to promote the annual Good Shepherd Collection scheduled to be taken up on April 20-21 in all parishes. Materials to promote the collection can be found in Addendum #8 and were emailed to all pastors, associate pastors, and pastoral coordinators on March 7, 2024. Please see the Bulletin Announcements section for materials to include in upcoming parish bulletins to promote this collection.

COLLECTION REMITTANCE DEADLINES

Several diocesan collections are held in the early part of the new year. Please be sure to mark collection remittance deadlines on your calendar to ensure parishioner donations are transferred to individual organizations promptly for maximum impact. Please contact Scott Fenley with questions regarding parish remittance deadlines.

Parishes held the Mission Collection on Jan. 14, 2024, to support the Black & Indian Mission, Catholic Home Mission, Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa, and the Propagation of the Faith. Collection funds should have been submitted to the Diocese by Feb. 28, 2024.

Parishes held the optional U.P. Catholic Newspaper Collection on Feb. 11, 2024. 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.

The Marquette Diocesan Catholic Schools Collection 2024 was held on Feb. 14 (Ash Wednesday) or Feb. 18 (first Sunday of Lent). Please remit funds to the Diocese by April 30, 2024.

Bishop Baraga Association

Lenora McKeen

NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK

We are excited to announce that our new children’s book The Snowshoe Priest written by Elizabeth Fust and Illustrated by Olivia Theut is now available. The book details the life and labors of Bishop Baraga, outlining his life with real-life events, history and stories! This has been a labor of love by Elizabeth and Olivia. It is a great way to introduce children to the first Bishop of the Diocese of Marquette. Copies can be purchased at the Baraga Educational Center and Museum or online at www.bishopbaraga.org. The book is $12 plus shipping and handling.

EDUCATIONAL CENTER AND MUSEUM CLOSED ON MARCH 21

The Baraga Educational Center and Museum will be closed Thursday, March 21, to attend Spring Study Day and the Chrism Mass. We will have a table at Spring Study Day with new merchandise including stickers, new mugs and our newly released children’s book. Stop by and say hello. As always, the Prayer Garden and Votive House will be open if you would like to stop by for a visit.

HOURS BEGINNING APRIL 1

Beginning April 1, we return to our regular hours of Monday through Friday noon to 5 p.m. for tours and to visit the gift shop. We will be closed on Thursday, April 11, however, as I will be in the Gaylord Diocese for a presentation on Bishop Baraga.

Bulletin Announcements

Good Shepherd Collection Bulletin Insert #1

For weekend of April 6-7, 2024

The Diocese of Marquette is blessed with many senior (retired) priests (those who are no longer assigned to a parish). These men make present Christ, the Good Shepherd, and continue to give of themselves in countless ways of service for which we are grateful.

As is the case with many pension plans in today’s world, our priests’ retirement program is not fully funded. On Good Shepherd Sunday, April 20-21, our Diocese will take up a special collection to support our priests’ retirement and help remedy the shortfall in the St. Joseph Association. I hope you will consider using the envelope provided in your packets to support this important collection. Parishioners can also donate to the St. Joseph Association online by visiting osvhub.com/dioceseofmarquette/giving/funds/st-joseph-association.

Good Shepherd Collection Bulletin Insert #2

For weekend of April 13-14, 2024

Retired priests of the Diocese of Marquette receive health and automobile insurance and a monthly pension from the St. Joseph Association, the diocesan priest retirement fund. Diocesan priests live independently during their retirement, and they use their pension for basic needs, such as food, housing and transportation.

All parishes and missions in the Diocese of Marquette will participate in a special collection on April 20-21 to help provide for our senior diocesan priests. It is essential that we ensure adequate retirement and health coverage in the years ahead for our priests, especially in these challenging times. Please return your collection envelope during next weekend’s Masses or donate to the St. Joseph Association online by visiting osvhub.com/dioceseofmarquette/giving/funds/st-joseph-association.

Good Shepherd Collection Bulletin Insert #3

For collection weekend – April 20-21, 2024

This weekend all parishes and missions in the Diocese of Marquette are holding a Good Shepherd Sunday special collection to support our priests’ retirement fund, called the St. Joseph Association. This collection directly benefits priests of the Diocese of Marquette and is separate from the annual collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious, which supports retired clergy and sisters of religious orders across America.

Please prayerfully reflect on how you can best help support our own priests’ retirement and return your envelope in today’s collection or donate to the St. Joseph Association online by visiting osvhub.com/dioceseofmarquette/giving/funds/st-joseph-association.

Good Shepherd Collection Bulletin Insert #4

A week following collection weekend – April 27-28, 2024

On Good Shepherd Sunday, our parish and all parishes and missions throughout our diocese took up a special collection to support our priests’ retirement fund, known as the St. Joseph Association. Collectively, our parishioners have raised $AMOUNT to date. We truly appreciate your support. If you were unable to donate last weekend, you may still support our retired priests by returning your envelope marked for the benefit of the “Good Shepherd Collection” in today’s collection or by dropping it off at the parish office. Parishioners can also donate to the St. Joseph Association online by visiting osvhub.com/dioceseofmarquette/giving/funds/st-joseph-association.