Pastor Fr. Brian Gerber accepts the gifts from young parishioners at Our Lady of Peace in Ironwood during the Mass celebrating the Epiphany on Jan. 5, 2025.

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.

Jan. 11, 2025  Mission Combined Collection (Stewardship & Development)

Jan. 12, 2025  Mission Combined Collection (Stewardship & Development)

Feb. 8, 2025    The U.P. Catholic Newspaper Collection (Stewardship & Development)

Feb. 9, 2025    The U.P. Catholic Newspaper Collection (Stewardship & Development)

March 5, 2025 Diocesan Catholic Schools Collection (Stewardship & Development)

March 9, 2025 Diocesan Catholic Schools Collection (Stewardship & Development)

This liturgy is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. ET, at St. Peter Cathedral.  A memorandum from the bishop will be sent to the priests of the diocese by email and will include a registration/attendance form to be completed online. Each pastor of a parish or group of parishes may invite one delegate to represent their parish or to represent the group of parishes that are linked (one delegate per pastor). All are welcome to attend. Please look to your email for the memorandum in February 2025.

A diocesan prayer calendar is available for 2025, which contains the names of our priests, deacons, women religious, seminarians, parishes and general intercessions. Join us in praying for our dedicated religious, as well as the parishioners of our parishes.  Please refer to the Addendum for the Diocesan Prayer Calendar 2025.

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 Dr., 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.)

The Fellowship of Catholic Scholars has made available to clergy a website feature periodic newsletter, free of charge.   Each monthly installment of Teaching the Faith makes use of the scriptural readings for a given Sunday in order to provide clergy with assistance in preparing homilies on doctrinal topics, difficult and perhaps controversial subjects of current importance, and themes in Catholic prayer and spirituality. The website may be found at:   https://catholicscholars.org/.  (Please note that the website is currently under construction and should be available soon.)

Just a reminder: Reproducing the daily and Sunday readings in parish aids or bulletins requires licensing from the USCCB. It is encouraged to become a licensee if your parish is not already. The current rate is from $200 per year for up to 250 copies per Sunday to $1,500 per year for 1,500 copies or more per week. (Fees are assessed separately for English and Spanish.) To license the readings properly, your parish can simply contact Mary Elizabeth Sperry at msperry@usccb.org. Improper licensing creates a risk of undermining the ability of the Conference to enforce its rights against commercial endeavors that use these Scripture translations in for-profit manners.

The Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion will take place Sunday, March 9, 2025 at St. Peter Cathedral at 3:30 p.m. ET.   Please inform your catechumens and candidates to save the date and plan to attend.  Please fill out the registration form even if your parish will NOT be attending.  The registration form is available at: jotform.com/DioceseofMarquette/rite-of-election-2025

Mark your calendars for Spring Study Day: Thursday, April 10, 2025 from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at St. Peter Cathedral.  The topic this year is 'Discipleship in the Workplace.'  Deacon Mike Houghton from the Archdiocese of Detroit will present practical ways to live your faith in everyday work life, and strategies to share the Good News at work.  Deacon Mike worked 35 years in the automotive industry and now uses his experiences living and sharing the faith in the business world to help others do the same.

Cost is $15 and includes refreshments, lunch, and materials.  Registration is open at: yoopercatholic.org/spring-study-day

The Confirmation Mass registration form is now live for Spring 2025 Confirmations.  Deadlines for registrations are in April.  Visit dioceseofmarquette.org/diocesanconfirmation for updated preparation resources.

One Safe Environment lesson needs to be taught to each parish faith formation class by the end of January.  Options for lessons are in this Google Drive folder. Parent info sheets and opt-out forms are also in that folder.  Please submit your parish safe environment report by Jan. 31.  If you have any questions, contact Carmen Hammes at chammes@dioceseofmarquette.org or (906) 227-9155.

I'm excited to host parish catechetical leaders at St. Mary & St. Joseph parish in Iron Mountain for the catechetical leader retreat day on Thursday, Feb. 6.  Some have asked if this is open to all catechists, but I'd like to keep it for catechetical leaders (Faith Formation coordinators, DREs, etc.).  If you can make it, please register sometime this month!  There will be plenty of time for silent prayer and lectio divina, Mass, lunch, Adoration and Reconciliation.

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 e-mail to news@dioceseofmarquette.org or mailed to The U.P. Catholic, 1004 Harbor Hills Dr., Marquette, MI 49855. 

Contact information is critical to ensure all diocesan communications are being sent to the correct staff.  We often do not hear about staffing changes until a communication is missed, so we’d like to try to capture changes as they happen versus just annually on the Parish Annual Administrative Reports.  To help us keep you all up to date, please begin using the link below - Parish Staff Update Form - to let us know when there are changes in administrative staff, bookkeepers, faith formation coordinators, etc.  Please note the fields on the form will expand as you type.  Direct any questions to Sara Shusta sshusta@dioceseofmarquette.org. Thank you!

The U.P. Catholic publishes wedding, baptism and death notices of parishioners in each issue that are submitted by parish secretaries. Please see the links below to submit any of these for your parish(es).  If you have any questions, please contact Sara Shusta, sshusta@dioceseofmarquette.org.

The Diocese of Marquette presents a “Rolling” Retreat/Pilgrimage to Catholic Shrines of the Midwest from April 29 to May 1, 2025.

Join Spiritual Director Fr. Corey Litzner and travel hosts Dcn. Steve & Jackie Gretzinger on an amazing motorcoach journey to visit Catholic shrines in Wisconsin and upper Illinois. It’s a retreat; it’s a pilgrimage; it’s a fun-filled, religious ride! Pilgrimage starts/ends at Holy Spirit Church in Menominee. Cost is $995 per person double occupancy and includes round-trip motorcoach travel, 2 nights lodging, 3 light meals, entrance fees. Deposit due Feb. 1.

For full itinerary and/or reservations, visit: https://petersway.com/1294.html or contact: Megan at Peter’s Way Pilgrimages (516) 605-1551/megan@petersway.com

The 2025 Priest Accountable Reimbursement Report Form with the mileage

rate of 70 cents, effective Jan. 1, 2025, can be found in Addendum #1 of this communicator. The form is also available on the Diocesan website under Administration/Policy Manuals/Diocesan Policies/Administration and Finance/Forms & Resources. If you have any questions, please contact Irene McCauley.

Please note the following scheduled wage increases in 2025: 

Please see Addendum #2 for a poster outlining minimum wage laws in the State of Michigan. These posters can also be found on the Michigan Catholic Conference’s website 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.

The Diocese will be releasing updated Standardized Personnel Policies in February 2025 to reflect recent changes to Michigan Law. To comply with these changes, all parish corporations will need to update their personnel policies and provide copies to employees by Feb. 21, 2025. More information, including editable copies of the updated Standardized Personnel Policies, will be provided to pastors and bookkeepers in late January. If you have any questions following the release of the updated personnel policies, please contact Terry Bailey or Tim Thomas for further assistance. 

The maximum 403(b) contribution for 2025 is $23,500 unless the employee is age 50 or over. Members over 50 years of age will be allowed an additional “catch-up” contribution of $7,500.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a new IRS determination letter supporting the tax-exempt status of parishes, schools, and other Catholic entities in the Diocese of Marquette last 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 #3 of this Communicator.

Looking for financial assistance with your college education? Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 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 Dr., Marquette, MI 49855 or email transcripts to Irene McCauley at imccauley@dioceseofmarquette.org. Applications must be received no later than March 15, 2025.

Legacy of Faith invites grant applications that foster a deeper understanding and renewed belief in the Eucharist, as well as support religious education that aligns with the bishop's vision for forming Spirit-filled evangelizers. This vision includes three key steps: 1) Be a friend of Jesus: through personal encounter and prayer; 2) Make a friend: by building a community of love and forming welcoming parishes; 3) Introduce your friend to Jesus: by sharing Jesus with others and helping them make a personal decision to follow him in faith.

Submit Legacy of Faith grant applications Jan. 1-April 1, 2025, at upcatholicfoundation.org/grant-information

Please pass this notice on to anyone in your parish who may wish to apply for a grant for Faith Formation.

Parish UPCSA payments for the 57th campaign are due to the diocese by March 15, 2025. However, to include parishioner-personalized pledge data for the 58th UPCSA campaign, please submit your information to the diocese by Feb. 1. If received after this date, parishioners will not be reminded of their previous year's contributions in the initial UPCSA kickoff letter. For assistance with scheduling an ACH/EFT or making other payment arrangements, please contact Tim Thomas for further assistance.

Looking for financial assistance with your college education? Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 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 Awards & Scholarships - Diocese of Marquette - Marquette, MI and either mail an Official Transcript and ACT/SAT scores (via postal mail) to Bessette Scholarship Fund, Diocese of Marquette, 1004 Harbor Hills Dr., Marquette, MI 49855 or email transcripts to Irene McCauley at imccauley@dioceseofmarquette.org. Applications must be received no later than March 15, 2025.

The Bishop’s Ambassadors, led by Bishop John Doerfler, is a membership organization focused on passing down the living tradition of faith to future generations.

Who Can Join: Leadership-level donors who commit at least $25,000 (as a one-time gift, multi-year pledge, or legacy gift) to any endowment fund within the Upper Peninsula Catholic Foundation benefiting a parish, school, or diocesan entity.

What to Expect: Monthly Mass intentions for the living and deceased Ambassadors celebrated by Bishop John in his private chapel, an annual Zoom meeting, and a fall Mass and dinner with the bishop. Ambassadors also advise the bishop on key diocesan initiatives.

How Can I Pledge: Gifts can be fulfilled through various types of planned gifts such as cash, securities, pledges, and deferred gifts. Contact Scott Fenley at (906) 227-9108 or sfenley@dioceseofmarquette.org or pledge online at upcatholicfoundation.org/bishops-ambassador.

Add a link to the diocesan Planned Giving website on your parish website! New content is updated quarterly. Below is the latest for you to use in your bulletin:

The end of the year is a good time to consider how you will pass on your faith. If you are considering a planned gift to your church, please visit the diocesan planned giving website here: https://dioceseofmarquette.planmygift.org/ and utilize the resources we have made available for you.

The U.P. Catholic Foundation (UPCF) is a permanent endowment organization supporting the Diocese of Marquette by fostering the financial sustainability of parishes, Catholic schools, and other diocesan entities. Its mission is to unite Catholics in faith, invest endowed funds responsibly, and offer a means to create and manage endowed funds in accordance with donor wishes.

Endowments are permanent funds from which only the income is used, not the principal, and they provide long-term financial stability for vital Church programs. The Foundation helps individuals, parishes, and schools establish or contribute to these funds. A minimum donation of $10,000 can establish a new fund, with distributions beginning once the fund reaches $50,000. Gifts may be made to existing funds at any time. You can give online at tinyurl.com/upcfgiving or through mail. To learn more or start your own endowment, please contact Scott Fenley at (906) 227-9108 or sfenley@dioceseofmarquette.org.

Make a difference today and save on taxes. It is possible when you support the Catholic Diocese of Marquette through your IRA! Check out dioceseofmarquette.planmygift.org/give-from-your-ira for more information!

Check out the latest issue of the Stewardship E-News here. Don’t forget to invite your parishioners to subscribe using this link: Stewardship E-News Subscription. We respect your privacy and will not share subscriber emails outside our organization.

Mark your calendars for the Bishop Baraga Association’s VIRTUAL SNOWSHOE WALK in honor of Venerable Bishop Baraga, our beloved Snowshoe Priest!

The virtual walk runs Jan. 19-31.

Log your miles!  Walk, hike, bike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski (weather permitting) in honor of our beloved Snowshoe Priest. 

 Enjoy the great outdoors and think about Bishop Baraga during your travels.

The adult and youth participant who log the most miles in honor of Baraga will receive a gift from the BBA. Winners will be announced Feb. 7, 2025! Please email your mileage and a short description of your adventures to lmckeen@bishopbaraga.org!

As we enter into the 2025 Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope, the Bishop Baraga Association would like to invite you to a Year of Hope with Bishop Frederic Baraga, the first Bishop of Marquette! 

Join us in praying Baraga's nine-day novena starting Jan. 11-19, 2025, and on the first nine days of every month, February-December of this year. 

BISHOP BARAGA PILGRIMAGES
The BBA will be highlighting Bishop Baraga's teachings and will offer three pilgrimages at the end of June, August and September. Stay tuned for details! 

The BBA will launch its 2025 Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope- Bishop Baraga Edition Passport in mid-January. A 2025 guide complete with challenges, adventures and activities to cross off, bringing us all closer to Jesus through Bishop Baraga, deepening our faith and restoring hope. Those who complete the entire passport and turn it into the BBA will receive a gift in January 2026.

Novenas, prayer cards and the 2025 Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope- Bishop Baraga Edition Passport are available by contacting the Bishop Baraga Association at (906) 227-9117 or stopping at the Baraga Educational Center and Museum (Thursday & Friday 12-5 p.m.) located at 615 S. Fourth St., Marquette, MI 49855 or

 by visiting our website at www.bishopbaraga.org

FREE – Men and women, young and old, strengthen and grow in your faith for your families with five short videos produced by the Knights of Columbus called the “Mission of The Family.”  The videos can be found on the Knights of Columbus website for free!  Here is the link to find “The Mission of The Family” videos:  https://www.kofc.org/en/campaigns/into-the-breach.html. The five videos are less than 14 minutes in length. 

You can also find the original “Into The Breach” video series by rolling down on this webpage and under CATEGORIES click on “Into The Breach.”  This series is also free of charge and is sure to help you grow in your faith.

The Diocese of Marquette presents a “Rolling” Retreat/Pilgrimage to Catholic Shrines of the Midwest from April 29 to May 1, 2025.  Join Spiritual Director Fr. Corey Litzner and travel hosts Dcn. Steve & Jackie Gretzinger on an amazing motorcoach journey to visit Catholic Shrines in Wisconsin and upper Illinois. It’s a retreat; it’s a pilgrimage; it’s a fun-filled, religious ride!  Pilgrimage starts/ends at Holy Spirit Church in Menominee. Cost is $995 per person double occupancy and includes round-trip motorcoach travel, 2 nights lodging, 3 light meals, entrance fees. Deposit due Feb. 1.

For full itinerary and/or reservations, visit: https://petersway.com/1294.html or contact: Megan at Peter’s Way Pilgrimages (516) 605-1551 or megan@petersway.com

Developed in the spirit of Legacy of Faith to preserve and foster the Catholic faith in the Upper Peninsula, the Catholic Service Award annually recognizes lifetime dedication and service to the Church. Learn more about the prestigious award and nominate someone that you feel deserves this honor and recognition at upcatholicfoundation.org/catholic-service-awards. Nominations due annually by May 1.

You’re invited to join the Bishop’s Ambassadors, a membership organization led by Bishop John Doerfler which is focused on passing down the living tradition of faith to future generations.  Leadership-level donors commit at least $25,000 (as a one-time gift, multi-year pledge, or legacy gift) to any endowment fund within the Upper Peninsula Catholic Foundation benefiting a parish, school, or diocesan entity.

Bishop John will celebrate monthly Mass intentions in his private chapel for the living and deceased Ambassadors, as well as inviting members to an annual Zoom meeting, and a fall Mass and dinner with him. Ambassadors also advise the bishop on key diocesan initiatives.

Gifts can be fulfilled through various types of planned gifts such as cash, securities, pledges, and deferred gifts. Contact Scott Fenley at (906) 227-9108 or sfenley@dioceseofmarquette.org or pledge online at upcatholicfoundation.org/bishops-ambassador.

Make a difference today and save on taxes. It is possible when you support the Catholic Diocese of Marquette through your IRA! Check out dioceseofmarquette.planmygift.org/give-from-your-ira for more information!

MISSION COMBINED COLLECTION

Support the Mission Collection on Jan. 11-12, 2025. This collection benefits several outreach ministries of the Universal Church, including 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 encouraged to use the Collection Counting Sheet and allocate any unspecified Mission fund donations evenly across these four collections. Once completed, bookkeepers should submit the updated Combined Collection Transmittal Form along with their payment to the Diocese. Please make checks payable to "Diocese of Marquette - Mission Collection."

See below for a description of each mission: 

Black & Indian Missions

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.

Catholic Home Missions

"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.

Solidarity Fund for the Church in Africa

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

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.

Support your parish by supporting The U.P. Catholic newspaper collection on Feb. 8-9. Your donation goes to your parish to help pay its portion of the subscription cost for the diocesan newspaper, which is mailed to all registered Catholic households. If your parish does not take up this collection, you can still contribute by placing your donation in an envelope marked “The U.P. Catholic Newspaper” and dropping it in your parish collection basket or at your parish office. You can also donate to this collection online by visiting osvhub.com/dioceseofmarquette/giving/funds.

The Marquette Diocesan Catholic Schools collection is March 5 (Ash Wednesday) or March 9 (first Sunday of Lent). Funds from this collection support all our Catholic Schools in their mission to teach our Catholic Liberal Arts curriculum, which forms our children both spiritually and academically. Your support provides critical tuition assistance for families who might not otherwise be able to send their children to a Catholic school. An envelope has been provided for registered parishioners to participate in this year’s collection. You can also donate to this collection online by osvhub.com/dioceseofmarquette/giving/funds.  We thank you in advance for your generous support of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Marquette!

Please see the Diocesan Collection Schedule for 2026 here: dioceseofmarquette.org/administration-finance. If you have any questions about the 2026 Collection Schedule, please contact Scott Fenley at (906) 227-9108 or sfenley@dioceseofmarquette.org.