Diocesan Communicator
May 2024
Publishes monthly on the second Wednesday
Photo CATY MRAZ | THE U.P. CATHOLIC
Diocesan priests give Bishop Emeritus James Garland a standing ovation at the Priest Appreciation Dinner at St. Louis the King in Harvey. The priests gathered to celebrate Mass and share a meal. Bishop Garland celebrated his 65th Jubilee of priesthood.
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
June 8, 2024 World Church Collection (Stewardship & Development)
June 9, 2024 World Church Collection (Stewardship & Development)
June 15, 2024 St. Joseph Association/Good Shepherd Sunday Collection
Remittance Deadline (Stewardship & Development)
July 31, 2024 World Church Collection Remittance Deadline (Stewardship
& Development)
Aug. 10, 2024 National Church Collection (Stewardship & Development)
Aug. 11, 2024 National Church Collection (Stewardship & Development)
Aug. 31, 2024 Parish Annual Financial Report Deadline (Administration &
Finance)
Office of the Bishop
Bishop John F. Doerfler
SCAM EMAILS AND TEXTS
There is currently an individual representing themselves as the bishop using an email address that is not similar to his valid diocesan email address. Diocesan email addresses follow a pattern of FirstInitialLastName@dicoeseofmarquette.org such as tbailey@dioceseofmarquette.org. Would you kindly remind your parishioners via a bulletin announcement that the bishop, our priests and employees of the Diocese of Marquette will never request the purchase of gift cards to be sent via text message or email for any type of fundraising project. Regardless of what email address or cell phone number the request comes from, parishioners should never purchase gift cards and send pictures of them via text or email. Scammers are using any information they can find to initiate these requests on our diocesan website, information in our parish bulletins, and on parish websites.
PRAYER INTENTION CARD MAILING FROM THE BISHOP
Coming up mid-June, the annual “Prayer Intention Card” mailing from the Bishop’s Office will be direct mailed to all registered households. Helping to fulfill one of his primary obligations, to pray for the people of the Diocese of Marquette, Bishop John Doerfler invites parishioners to send personal prayer requests. Returned prayer cards are kept in his private chapel, where he will pray for the intentions for the next year. Please encourage your parishioners to respond. A bulletin announcement is included for your convenience.
MASS STIPEND AND MASS INTENTIONS
Just a reminder: Any parish that has more Mass intentions and Mass stipends than they can satisfy in a year should send the Mass intentions and corresponding Mass stipend check to the diocesan office c/o: Terry Bailey, Office of the Bishop, 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855. You will receive a letter acknowledging our acceptance of the responsibility to see that the Mass intentions are celebrated. The Mass intentions and stipends will be distributed to senior priests of the diocese who celebrate Masses or may be distributed to parishes who are in need of Mass intentions. (Canon 953 No one is permitted to accept more offerings for Masses to be applied by himself than he can satisfy within a year.)
Office of the Chancellor
and Divine Worship
Rev. Dan Moll
MARRIAGE AND NULLITY FORMS
Just a reminder that the current prenuptial forms can be found on the Diocesan website under the Chancellor’s Office section. This includes the Prenuptial Questionnaire and the Dispensation request form. Also, the updated application for a declaration of nullity can be found under the Marriage Tribunal section. This includes the libellus form which we send to the Respondent party when the case is accepted.
If you have any questions about these forms or if you have any suggestions for improvements to the forms, please contact Fr. Dan at (906) 227-9154.
Department of Ministry Personnel
Very Rev. Timothy Ekaitis
SAFE ENVIRONMENT
Reminder: The Safe Environment Policy requires all volunteers and employees to complete refresher training every five years. This training, Keeping the Promise Alive, was assigned in December to all known active clergy, employees, and volunteers. A reminder was sent to the individual if an active email address is listed in their VIRTUS account. Please work with your active employees and volunteers to ensure the training is completed prior to active involvement at the parish or school.
Department of Evangelization
and Education
Mark Salisbury
SCHOOL COUNCIL MINUTES
All schools are reminded they are to submit all agenda and minutes from school council meetings and supporting committee meetings to our office after each meeting. Minutes and agendas can be sent to Sara Shusta, sshusta@dioceseofmarquette.org.
All schools are reminded they are to submit all agenda and minutes from school council meetings and supporting committee meetings to our office after each meeting. Minutes and agendas can be sent to Sara Shusta, sshusta@dioceseofmarquette.org.
Communication Services
John Fee
SACRAMENTS AND RCIA PHOTOS
Please send photos of First Communion, Confirmation (vicariate groups), and RCIA groups for publication in The U.P. Catholic’s annual Sacraments and RCIA issue. The deadline to submit photos for the 2024 sacraments issue is Friday, June 7. Be sure to list names (left to right) front row, second row, third row, back row, etc. Photos may be sent by e-mail to news@dioceseofmarquette.org or mailed to The U.P. Catholic, 1004 Harbor Hills Dr., Marquette, MI 49855.
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
2024-2025 BENEFIT AND INSURANCE RATE INFORMATION
Please find 2024-2025 Benefit and Insurance rate information in Addendum #1 of this Communicator. If you have any questions regarding rate changes, please contact Terry Bailey.
PARISH INCORPORATION ASSET TRANSFER UPDATE
Property transfers to parish corporations are currently underway. Parishes will receive a summary of parish land parcels and copies of deeds recorded with local County Clerks/Registers of Deeds later this month. Please file these documents with other parish incorporation records at the parish office once received.
Pastors should look out for several time-sensitive documents associated with these transfers, which will be sent to their emails for prompt digital signature.
As a reminder, parishes should not transfer bank accounts to 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: FILE LOSS CLAIMS TO GALLAGHER BASSETT USING 24/7 HOTLINE
As a reminder, MCC advises parishes to use the 24/7 hotline to file losses and claims at (833) MCC-LOSS (833-622-5677). This hotline can be used to file claims for workers’ compensation, property damage, auto injury, general liability, cyber liability, student accidents, and some boiler/machinery damage, and is the quickest and most effective way to receive assistance with these incidents. Please call the hotline number to file claims with Gallagher Bassett. For more information, please visit micatholic.org/risk-management/file-a-claim/ or see Addendum #2 for a summary page with these resources.
2024 PARISH ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT (PAFR)
The 2024 Parish Annual Financial Report will be available online on the Diocesan website at dioceseofmarquette.org/parish-annual-financial-report on June 15, 2024. Parishes will note that this year’s report will be shorter than in past years to lessen the work of parish staff as they handle additional UPCSA duties and work associated with the transfer of assets to parish corporations. Because of this, it is vital that bookkeepers include prior-year Statements of Financial Position/Balance Sheets, Statements of Revenue & Expense/Income Statements, and current-year budget attachments with each parish submission using the recommended statement format. PAFR submissions will be due to the Diocese by Aug. 31, 2024. Please contact Irene McCauley with questions on PAFR submission requirements or for general form assistance.
BOOKKEEPER & SECRETARY WORKSHOP – Oct. 15, 2024
Please plan to join us in the fall for the Workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 15, for a day of education and fun. This year it is being held at St. Joseph’s Parish, 1889 Prairie Avenue, Ishpeming. More information will be sent out soon. You can check out the website at any time for last year’s workshop information and for this year’s upcoming details. We hope to see you there! Thanks for all you do.
Department of
Stewardship & Development
Scott Fenley
LEGACY OF FAITH NEWS & DEADLINES
- Due June 30, 2024: Faith Formation 2023-2024 Grant Evaluations. If you received an LOF grant last year, please submit your evaluations. Click here to complete your grant evaluation. If you could not use all or part of your grant, please contact Scott for further instructions.
- Due June 15, 2024: Catholic School 2023-2024 Grant Report. Click here to complete your report.
- New Grant Awards. Thanks to all who submitted applications for Faith Formation grants. Announcements will be made by May 15.
- Nominations for 2024 Catholic Service Award are now closed. Mark your calendar to submit nominations for the 2025 award – those are due May 1, 2025.
STEWARDSHIP FLOCKNOTE
Click here to see the latest issue. Share in whole or in part on your own parish website, Facebook page, or emails to parishioners. Invite parishioners to subscribe here: https://dioceseofmarquette.flocknote.com/Stewardship/notes. We do not share subscriber emails outside of our organization.
Click here to see the latest issue. Share in whole or in part on your own parish website, Facebook page, or emails to parishioners. Invite parishioners to subscribe here: https://dioceseofmarquette.flocknote.com/Stewardship/notes. We do not share subscriber emails outside of our organization.
WORLD CHURCH COMBINED COLLECTION -- JUNE 8-9, 2024
All parishes in the Diocese of Marquette will be taking up the 2024 World Church Collection on June 8-9, 2024. The World Church Collection supports the following outreach ministries to the Universal Church: the Catholic Relief Services Overseas Fund, the Holy Land & National Communications collection, and the Peter’s Pence Collection (Collection for the Holy Father). Parish bookkeepers are advised to divide unspecified World Church fund donations evenly between the three individual collections using the Collection Counting Sheet. Bookkeepers may then complete their Combined Collection Transmittal forms to include with their payment to the Diocese. These collection resources can be found at dioceseofmarquette.org/administration-finance. Please make checks out to “Diocese of Marquette-World Church Collection.”
Please see the Bulletin Announcements section for an announcement that can be placed in your parish bulletins to promote this collection. Parishes may also print and use the Addendum #3 World Church Collection flyer as an optional bulletin insert. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Bulletin Announcements
Catholic Relief Services Overseas Fund
Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Funds will help six Catholic agencies to provide relief and support to struggling communities and to work toward peace and reconciliation among our marginalized brothers and sisters here and around the world. Learn more at crs.org.
Holy Land & National Communications Collection
The political, religious, and military challengers in the Holy Land are more complex than ever. The wars, unrest, and instability have been especially hard on Christians. The Holy Land Collection offers hope to the Holy Land Christians in these times of hardship. To learn more, please visit myfranciscan.org.
The National Communications collection helps connect people to Christ, here and around the world, through the internet, television, radio, and print media. A portion of the funds collected will remain here in the Diocese of Marquette to support our local efforts. Learn more at usccb.org/committees/catholic-communication-campaign.
Peter’s Pence Collection (Collection for the Holy Father)
The Peter’s Pence Collection enables the Holy Father to respond with emergency financial assistance to requests to aid the neediest throughout the world—those who suffer because of war, oppression, and natural disasters. It likewise provides the faithful with a tangible opportunity to not only empower the weak, defenseless, and voiceless but also sustain those who suffer. To learn more, visit usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/peters-pence.
ASK BISHOP JOHN DOERFLER TO PRAY FOR YOU
A direct mailing will be sent to all registered households from Bishop John Doerfler in the next six weeks. Helping to fulfill one of his primary obligations, to pray for the people of the Diocese of Marquette, Bishop John Doerfler invites parishioners to send personal prayer requests. Returned prayer cards are kept in his private chapel, where he will pray for your intentions for the next year.
Addenda
Addendum #1 - Annual Update for Benefits 2024-2025
Addendum #2 - Procedure to File Gallagher Bassett Claims
Addendum #3 - World Church Collection Bulletin Insert
