Diocesan Communicator
June 2024
Publishes monthly on the second Wednesday
Photo CATY MRAZ | THE U.P. CATHOLIC
Monsignor Michael Steber, pastor of St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette, leads a Eucharistic procession of the faithful on Corpus Christi Sunday, June 2, 2024. The procession began at St. Michael's church and ended at St. Peter Cathedral.
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 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)
Sept. 01, 2024 Supplemental Personnel Policy Change Deadline (Administration &
Finance)
Sept. 30, 2024 Parish Governance Report Deadline (Administration & Finance)
Sept. 30, 2024 Deadline to send Parish Meeting Minutes from Annual Board
Meeting (Administration & Finance)
Sept. 30, 2024 Parish Annual Administrative Report Deadline (Administration)
Office of the Bishop
Bishop John F. Doerfler
ACTION ALERT SIGN-UP
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. 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/home
PRAYER INTENTION CARD MAILING FROM THE BISHOP
You may have already received the annual “Prayer Intention Card” mailing from the Bishop’s Office which went out via direct mail 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.
FREE TICKETS TO THE NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS
Please continue to promote the National Eucharistic Congress.
The Diocese of Marquette still holds many tickets waiting to be distributed to people for free. Through a Legacy of Faith grant, we purchased 75 tickets to give away to Catholics from the diocese to encourage and support their attendance at the National Eucharistic Congress. The tickets can be used for the whole congress or part of it. Please help promote this amazing opportunity in your parish or school.
People can claim their free tickets here: https://dioceseofmarquette.org/retreats-and-pilgrimages
Department of Ministry Personnel
Very Rev. Timothy Ekaitis
SAVE THE DATES!
- Priest Convocation: Comfort Suites in Green Bay – Sept. 16-19, 2024
- Deacon Convocation: Terrace Bay in Gladstone – Oct. 25-27, 2024
- Deacon Retreat: Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh – March 24-26, 2025
Department of Evangelization
and Education
Rev. Ryan Ford
TEACHER CONTRACTS
All teacher contracts for the 2024-25 school year should be turned into the Catholic Schools Office, attention Sara Shusta by July 22, 2024. Please send the originals to: 1004 Harbor Hills Dr. Marquette, MI 49855.
EVALUATIONS AND SEPARATION FORMS
Teacher evaluations are due to the Catholic Schools Office, attention Sara Shusta as soon as possible. Any staff members leaving at the end of the school year must also have a separation form completed and sent to the Catholic Schools Office.
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 teacher contracts for the 2024-25 school year should be turned into the Catholic Schools Office, attention Sara Shusta by July 22, 2024. Please send the originals to: 1004 Harbor Hills Dr. Marquette, MI 49855.
EVALUATIONS AND SEPARATION FORMS
Teacher evaluations are due to the Catholic Schools Office, attention Sara Shusta as soon as possible. Any staff members leaving at the end of the school year must also have a separation form completed and sent to the Catholic Schools Office.
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.
FALL 2024 CONFIRMATIONS
Registration opens June 17 for Fall 2024 Confirmations. You can find more information about Confirmation requirements on the Diocesan website at https://dioceseofmarquette.org/diocesanconfirmation.
The Masses are scheduled as follows:
St. Mary Rockland Vicariate Confirmations
Our Lady Queen of Peace, Ironwood 11 am CT September 21, 2024
St. Joseph & St. Patrick Vicariate Confirmations
All Saints, Gladstone 3 pm ET September 29, 2024
St. John Neumann Vicariate Confirmations
Resurrection, Menominee 3 pm CT October 6, 2024
Most Holy Name of Jesus Vicariate Confirmations
St. Joseph, Lake Linden 3 pm ET October 13, 2024
Registration opens June 17.
If you have any questions please contact Sara Shusta, 906-227-9137 or sshusta@dioceseofmarquette.org
2024 PARISH ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (PAAR)
The 2024 Parish Annual Administrative Report will be available online on the Diocesan website on June 30, 2024. An email will also be sent to all parishes with the link to the report. PAAR submissions will be due to the Diocese by Sept. 30, 2024. Please contact Sara Shusta with questions on PAAR submission requirements or for general form assistance. The PAAR is a completely separate report from the PAFR which is referenced in the finance section of this newsletter.
Communication Services
John Fee
BISHOP JAMES GARLAND ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
Please join The U.P. Catholic newspaper as we celebrate the 65th anniversary of Bishop James Garland's Presbyteral Ordination. To place a Congratulations Ad from your parish or school, please visit:
Ad requests received after June 21 will be published in the next available issue. Please contact Dcn. Steve directly at ads@dioceseofmarquette.org if you have any questions or problems with the link.
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.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION TIMES
Attention parishes: Please send information regarding Eucharistic adoration times and days by email to news@dioceseofmarquette.org to be published on the diocesan website.
THE U.P. CATHOLIC CENTENARIAN CORNER
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.
PARISHIONER ADDRESS CHANGES
A parishioner change of address should be submitted to the Diocese office to ensure delivery of The U.P. Catholic newspaper and other important mailings. Please use this form https://form.jotform.com/213185397002149 to submit address changes. Thank you!
Financial Services
Timothy Thomas
PARISH INCORPORATION ASSET TRANSFER UPDATES
Real property transfers to parish corporations are now complete for all but a handful of parishes, and applications for property tax exemption have been submitted to local tax assessors. As a reminder, parishes should file the summary of parish land parcels, copies of deeds recorded with local County Clerks/Register of Deeds, and other property transfer-related information with parish incorporation records at the parish office. Please forward any correspondence received from local assessors to Irene McCauley at the diocesan office.
As diocesan staff wrap up property transfers, parishes will soon proceed to the next steps in the parish incorporation process, including the transfer of financial/investment accounts, other financial assets, tangible property, assignment of bank loans, lines of credit, lease/contract agreements, vehicle titles, and payroll accounts. Pastors will receive letters from Tim Thomas later this month outlining these asset transfer steps in more detail. Parishes are reminded that while they should not transfer bank accounts to corporate entities until receiving further instructions, they should begin transferring utilities into the name of the parish corporate entities. If you have any questions about the parish incorporation process, please contact Tim Thomas or Irene McCauley for additional assistance.
PARISH INCORPORATION ANNUAL MEETING AND CORPORATE REPORTING REMINDER
Parish corporations are required to hold an annual meeting of the Board of Directors. We recommend that pastors hold these meetings between July 1 and Sept. 15, 2024. As before, the diocese will email meeting agenda and minutes templates as well as other relevant meeting materials to pastors and parish staff to assist in preparations; pastors should expect to receive these resources later this month. Please submit copies of the final minutes from the second annual Board meetings to the diocesan office by Sept. 30, 2024. If you have any questions concerning the annual Board meetings, please contact Tim Thomas or Irene McCauley for additional assistance.
Parish corporations must also file their first annual report to the State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) this summer. Pastors will receive forms from the diocesan office in July 2024 and must return signed and completed copies no later than Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 to ensure that documents are filed by the State’s deadline. For more information concerning these reports, please contact Irene McCauley.
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.
2024 PARISH GOVERNANCE REPORT
MANDATORY EMPLOYMENT POSTERS AVAILABLE ON MCC RISK MANAGEMENT WEBSITE
MANDATORY EMPLOYMENT POSTERS AVAILABLE ON MCC RISK MANAGEMENT WEBSITE
Just a reminder that all state/federally mandated employment posters are available on the Michigan Catholic Conference website. These posters can be found 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.
DIOCESAN DIRECTORY CHANGES
There have been several changes in diocesan staff in the last year. Please refer to the Diocesan Directory for updated contact information. This can be found on the diocesan website at https://dioceseofmarquette.org/contactus.
Department of
Stewardship & Development
Scott Fenley
ASK BISHOP JOHN DOERFLER TO PRAY FOR YOU
A direct mailing was sent to all registered households from Bishop John
Doerfler in early June. 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. You can also ask him to pray for you electronically here: Prayer Intention Card Link
LEGACY OF FAITH GRANTS & DEADLINES
- Due June 15, 2024: Catholic School 2023-2024 Grant Report. Click here to complete your report.
- Due June 30, 2024: Faith Formation 2023-2024 Grant Evaluations. If you received a 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 me for further instructions at sfenley@dioceseofmarquette.org.
- New Grant Awards: Thanks to all who submitted applications for Faith Formation grants. Grant award notification emails have been sent out. If you have not received notification yet, please get in touch with me. Awarded grant payments will be paid in July 2024. An updated list of 2024 Grantees will be uploaded to the UPCF/LOF website sometime this month.
STEWARDSHIP E-NEWS
Click here to see the latest issue. Share in whole or in part on your parish website, Facebook page, or in emails to parishioners. Use this link in emails, parish bulletins, websites, and more to invite your parishioners to subscribe, click here. 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 parish website, Facebook page, or in emails to parishioners. Use this link in emails, parish bulletins, websites, and more to invite your parishioners to subscribe, click here. We do not share subscriber emails outside of our organization.
REMINDER: DIOCESAN COLLECTION REMITTANCE DEADLINES
Thank you to all who have already sent proceeds from diocesan collections to the office. We ask that all parishes and missions who have not yet remitted donations from the Mission collection (held on Jan. 14, 2024), Marquette Diocesan Catholic Schools collection (held on Feb. 14 and 18, 2024), and St. Joseph Association/Good Shepherd Sunday collection (held April 21, 2024) to please do so as soon as possible. Parishes should also remit Rice Bowl offerings collected during Lent to the diocesan office as soon as possible.
Please be sure to mark 2024 Diocesan Collection Schedule remittance deadlines on your calendar to ensure parishioner donations are transferred to individual organizations promptly for maximum impact. Bookkeepers are also reminded to include Combined Collection Transmittal forms with their payments to the Diocese. These collection resources can be found at Administration & Finance - Diocese of Marquette - Marquette, MI and in Addendum #2 and Addendum #3.
Bishop Baraga Association
Lenora McKeen
HEALING MASS, L’ANSE
Save the date for the Healing Mass at the Bishop Baraga Statue at 6 p.m. on July 2, 2024, in L'Anse. Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Corey Litzner. Private blessings with Bishop Baraga’s crucifix will follow. Lenora McKeen, Executive Director of the Bishop Baraga Association from Marquette will provide a brief presentation of the life and labors of Bishop Frederic Baraga and an update of his Cause for Canonization.
This event is FREE and open to the public. All are welcome!
Bulletin Announcements
SAVE THE DATE – JULY 2, 2024 HEALING MASS, L’ANSE
The Healing Mass at the Bishop Baraga Statue in L'Anse will be celebrated at 6 p.m. on July 2, 2024, by Fr. Corey Litzner. Private blessings with Bishop Baraga’s crucifix will follow. Lenora McKeen, Executive Director of the Bishop Baraga Association from Marquette will provide a brief presentation of the life and labors of Bishop Frederic Baraga and an update of his Cause for Canonization. This event is FREE and open to the public. All are welcome!
Addenda
Addendum #1 - Governance Report 2024
Addendum #2 - 2024 Collection Schedule
Addendum #3 - Combined Collections Transmittal Form
