I pray each of you had a peaceful and blessed Memorial Day, filled with gratitude for the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. As Catholics, we honor their sacrifice and entrust their souls to the mercy of God, who is our hope and salvation.
The Upper Peninsula Catholic Foundation (UPCF) board announces a new endowed fund - The Father Marquette Catholic Academy Tuition Assistance Fund!Gifts to this fund will provide support to the Father Marquette Catholic Academy (FMCA) for the purpose of assisting students with financial need to meet tuition requirements.
The FMCA Tuition Assistance Fund will enable access to a quality Catholic education rooted in faith and values, regardless of economic background. Contributions can create a lasting legacy, as the fund’s principal will generate ongoing income to provide tuition assistance for future generations. By supporting the fund, donors directly empower students to develop academically and spiritually, fostering a stronger, more inclusive Catholic community.
If you are interested in starting a new fund with the UPCF, please contact me, Megan O’Connor, at moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org or (906) 379-5057. Suggested fund types include parish building funds, evangelization funds, and scholarship funds.
God Bless!
Megan O'Connor
Executive Director
Department of Stewardship & Development
Diocese of Marquette, 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855
Email: moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org | Phone: (906) 379-5057
Department of Stewardship & Development
Diocese of Marquette, 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855
Email: moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org | Phone: (906) 379-5057
You Are Invited
THE PRIESTLY ORDINATION OF DEACON ZACK MAZUREK
All are invited to the Ordination Mass of Dcn. Zack Mazurek to the priesthood! If you have never experienced an Ordination Mass, this is your chance!
Friday, June 6, 2025 at 3:30 pm
St. Peter Cathedral, Marquette
A light reception will follow in the church hall, with a chance to talk to the newly ordained man. The ordination will be live-streamed on The UP Catholic's YouTube Page: https://www.youtube.com/@theupcatholic/streams and Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/theupcat. More info can be found at https://www.dioceseofmarquette.org/ordination.
Welcome Billy Mullett
WELCOME BILLY MULLETT
Please welcome Billy Mullett to the staff of Stewardship & Development as Administrative Assistant. Billy is a member of St. Michael's (Marquette) and will be married there this June 7 to Kaci Hodge, who converted to Catholicism this Easter! Billy looks forward to working with everyone and getting to know the people of the Diocese.
Meet Tom Kurkowski
MEET TOM KURKOWSKI
UPPER PENINSULA CATHOLIC FOUNDATION BOARD SECRETARY
Thank you, Fr. Dustin Larson!
THANK YOU, FR. DUSTIN LARSON! In addition to serving Catholic Campus Ministry at NMU, where he supports and guides students in their faith journeys, Fr. Dustin is also serving on the Upper Peninsula Catholic Foundation Board. You can learn more about Fr. Dustin's diverse and impressive educational background by clicking the blue button below.
Upcoming Music Concerts
JUNE DIOCESAN MUSIC EVENTS
June 17 (Tuesday)
St. Joseph’s & St. Patrick’s, Escanaba
Pipe Organ Recital with David Troiano at (time TBD)
June 18 (Wednesday)
St. Peter Cathedral, Marquette
Pipe Organ Recital with David Troiano at 7 p.m.
June 19 (Thursday)
Holy Name of Mary, Sault Ste. Marie
Pipe Organ Recital with David Troiano at (time TBD)
June 20 (Friday)
St. Peter Cathedral, Marquette
Summer Sacred Music Concert featuring Cathedral Choir & Youth Schola singing liturgical themes from the feasts of The Most Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Ordinary Time at 7 p.m.
*All events are freewill offerings (no tickets required)
World Church Combined Collection
Living the Promise
THE ANNUAL MICHIGAN CATHOLIC WOMEN'S CONFERENCE
Women from across Michigan are invited to come together to focus on their faith and experience the fellowship of sisterhood in Christ Jesus. Throughout the day, women will be encouraged and inspired to ignite their spirits and grow their faith by hearing from Catholic speakers, engaging in praise and worship music, and celebrating holy Mass with our bishops. The conference will be held at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan, on October 11, 2025. For more information, visit https://michigancwc.org/
Religious Freedom Week
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WEEK
Religious freedom allows the Church and all religious communities to live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all. Beginning June 22, 2025, the feast of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, the USCCB invites Catholics to pray, reflect, and act to promote religious freedom.
During Religious Freedom Week, Catholics are encouraged to pray, reflect, and act each day for religious freedom. The Pray-Reflect-Act series aims to help Catholics build solidarity with people of faith who are persecuted abroad and find strength to carry out the mission of the Church here in the United States.
Visit the USCCB website here for more information: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/religious-freedom-week/index.cfm
During Religious Freedom Week, Catholics are encouraged to pray, reflect, and act each day for religious freedom. The Pray-Reflect-Act series aims to help Catholics build solidarity with people of faith who are persecuted abroad and find strength to carry out the mission of the Church here in the United States.
Visit the USCCB website here for more information: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/religious-freedom-week/index.cfm
Invitation from St. Francis de Sales
FR. BEN PARIS CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION
All are welcome to join in the festivities! Megan will be attending the event with her fabulous Grandma. Hope to see you there!
Ave Leo Pontifex!
POPE LEO XIV!
We, in the Stewardship & Development Office, are so excited about our new Pope Leo XIV! We are already making plans for our pilgrimage to Chicago to see him in what (we expect) will be an epic visit sometime soon.
In the meantime, we thought we'd dedicate a portion of our monthly newsletter to help keep you up to date on his papacy.
Highlights of Pope Leo's first month include:
Choice of Papal Name. Leo XIV chose his name to honor Pope Leo XIII, signaling a commitment to social justice and the Church’s role in addressing modern challenges like technology and AI.
Emphasis on Peace and Social Justice. In his first public addresses, including his Urbi et Orbi blessing on May 8 and Sunday address on May 11, Leo XIV called for global peace, specifically urging ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, and praising the India-Pakistan truce. He also highlighted social justice, echoing Pope Leo XIII’s advocacy for workers’ rights.
Inaugural Mass Draws Global Attention. On May 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV presided over his inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square, attended by over 200,000 people, including world leaders like U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte. The Mass emphasized unity, peace, and love, setting the tone for his papacy.
First General Audience and Gospel Focus. On May 21, 2025, Leo XIV held his first General Audience, reflecting on the parable of the sower to emphasize God’s inclusive love and the Church’s mission to spread the Gospel. He stressed that “Jesus’ word is for everyone,” reinforcing evangelization as a priority.
If you'd like to respond to this newsletter, either publicly or privately, you can do so by clicking the blue Reply button below. We love hearing from you!
Megan O'Connor
Executive Director
Department of Stewardship & Development
Diocese of Marquette, 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855
Email: moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org | Phone: (906) 379-5057
Department of Stewardship & Development
Diocese of Marquette, 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855
Email: moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org | Phone: (906) 379-5057