Message from Bishop John
September 2024
JOHN FEE | THE U.P. CATHOLIC
Bishop John Doerfler anoints the wall of the new St. Kateri Tekakwitha church building while parishioners look on.The new building was dedicated on Aug. 11, 2024. The previous church had burned down after a fire in 2020.
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Last month I had the privilege of dedicating the new St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Bay Mills. The tragedy of the former church burning down and the building and dedication of the new church reflects what we all go through in life as Christians. We all live the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ. Where there is death, the Lord longs to bring new life. Where there is sin, redemption. Where there is despair, hope.
St. Kateri Parish is one of the Native American parishes in our diocese, and the occasion of the dedication of the church is an opportunity for us to be grateful for the gift that the indigenous culture is to the Church.
Think of a flower garden arrayed with a variety of flowers. Each flower contributes its own unique beauty to the splendor of the garden. In fact, the variety of the flowers make the garden more beautiful.
In a way, the Church is like a flower garden with a multitude of beautiful flowers, with peoples of many nations, races, tribes, cultures and languages. All that is good in a culture is a beautiful flower that reflects an aspect of God’s beauty. Each culture gives a unique expression to the one faith that we all share. We do violence to the Church if we try to make all the flowers the same.
In this light on behalf of the Church, I wish to offer an apology if any bishop, priest, deacon, religious, or lay person has disrespected the goodness and beauty in the indigenous culture.
Let us take a moment to reflect on the beauty of the Church, and how each of the flowers radiates God’s beauty for His glory and praise.
+Most Reverend John F. Doerfler
Bishop of Marquette
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Last month I had the privilege of dedicating the new St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Bay Mills. The tragedy of the former church burning down and the building and dedication of the new church reflects what we all go through in life as Christians. We all live the mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ. Where there is death, the Lord longs to bring new life. Where there is sin, redemption. Where there is despair, hope.
St. Kateri Parish is one of the Native American parishes in our diocese, and the occasion of the dedication of the church is an opportunity for us to be grateful for the gift that the indigenous culture is to the Church.
Think of a flower garden arrayed with a variety of flowers. Each flower contributes its own unique beauty to the splendor of the garden. In fact, the variety of the flowers make the garden more beautiful.
In a way, the Church is like a flower garden with a multitude of beautiful flowers, with peoples of many nations, races, tribes, cultures and languages. All that is good in a culture is a beautiful flower that reflects an aspect of God’s beauty. Each culture gives a unique expression to the one faith that we all share. We do violence to the Church if we try to make all the flowers the same.
In this light on behalf of the Church, I wish to offer an apology if any bishop, priest, deacon, religious, or lay person has disrespected the goodness and beauty in the indigenous culture.
Let us take a moment to reflect on the beauty of the Church, and how each of the flowers radiates God’s beauty for His glory and praise.
+Most Reverend John F. Doerfler
Bishop of Marquette
The U.P. Catholic Flocknote Newsletter
