Hail Mary full of grace!  Tom Stannard, employee at Holy Cross Cemetery in Escanaba, photographed the statue of Jesus being held by the Blessed Mother, on Oct. 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.  October is designated the Month of the Rosary.

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.

Oct. 15, 2025   Open Enrollment Begins (Administration & Finance)

Nov. 7, 2025    Open Enrollment Ends (Administration & Finance)

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 is https://catholicscholars.org/

Please continue to input your weekly weekend Mass attendance counts (for all Vigil and Sunday Masses combined) each week.  The weekly Mass Attendance counts will give us a baseline for our Mass attendance as we work together to increase Mass attendance through evangelization efforts discussed in Bishop John’s Pastoral Letter on Evangelization, entitled: “Transforming Fire: A New Pentecost to form Spirit-Filled Evangelizers.”  If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Bishop at (906) 227-9115.    Weekly Weekend Mass Attendance Counts Form Link - Mass Attendance

In October, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is designated as Respect Life Sunday. To support these annual observances, the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities provides materials to help Catholics understand and value the gift of human life and help build a culture that cherishes and protects it. Please use the following link to view materials that are designed to be brought to life as tools in your hands. These resources may be downloaded, printed, and reproduced for use in your parish, school, or ministry.  Respect Life Month

Parish catechetical leaders and Catholic school principals should register catechists and teachers in your online Bridges and Boundaries dashboard so they can access the lesson plan and video(s) for the safe environment lesson to be taught to K-12 students by Jan. 31, 2026.  Instructions for registering your catechists/teachers in Bridges and Boundaries are found at: yoopercatholic.org/safe-environment.

Couples preparing for marriage are invited to a one-day retreat put on by the Department of Evangelization & Education from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 25 at St. Michael parish in Marquette.  This enjoyable day will focus on marriage as a sacrament, communication, the Church’s moral teaching, Theology of the Body, and NFP, while connecting engaged couples with others and their faith.   Coffee, refreshments, and lunch provided. Confession, Adoration, and community!  yoopercatholic.org/engaged

An investigation into the marriage status of OCIA candidates for baptism or reception into full communion should be done as soon as possible.  Those in irregular marriages are not to participate in the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion (Feb. 22, 2026) until they receive a declaration of nullity from previous marriages or commit to abstinence.

Parents who have lost a child of any age – no matter how long ago – are invited to the Emmaus Walk retreat at St. Peter Cathedral on Saturday, Nov. 1.  This powerful retreat is an opportunity for parents to encounter the love of God in their grief. There is no charge for registrants, and it includes lunch and a catered dinner.  Please invite anyone who has experienced the devastating loss of a child, to register: https://www.emfgp.org/11-01-25-marquette-mi-one-day-retreat-registration/  For more information, contact Tiffany Ampe at tampe@dioceseofmarquette.org (906) 379-3860.

High school students are invited to this fun and engaging experience led by teens who share their faith and witness to Jesus Christ in their lives.  It will be held at Immaculate Conception parish in Iron Mountain Nov. 7-9.   Registration is open!  yoopercatholic.org/youthencounter 

Yoopers will be walking Thursday, Nov. 6 in Lansing for the Second Michigan March for Life: https://rtl.org/event/michigan-march-for-life/.  There is a bus trip organized from Ishpeming, leaving on the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 5.  For more info and registration, visit: ishpemingcatholic.com/march

Fr. Ryan Ford will lead this year’s Wise Men’s retreat Dec. 5-7 at Fortune Lake Camp in Crystal Falls.  This is perfect for men desiring spiritual growth, connection with other men, and time for rest, reflection, and prayer.  Cost is $150.  Register online at yoopercatholic.org/retreats.

Young adults are invited to join our pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the feast day Dec. 11-13.  The trip includes carpooling from Iron Mountain, hotel lodging, Mass and prayer and festivities at the Shrine, fun and meals.  Cost is $100.  Visit yoopercatholic.org/guadalupe to register!

A reminder to all Catholic school principals that the September principals' meeting will be Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Diocese office in Marquette from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

On Oct. 2, 2025, the first episode of Bishop John Doerfler's new podcast titled "The Anchor of Hope podcast" was released. Alongside Bishop Doerfler, the podcast is co-hosted by Hattie Hanold, former assistant editor of The U.P. Catholic. The two discuss Jesus and living with hope in today’s world.

New episodes of the podcast will be released on the first and third Thursdays of each month. The show will be hosted on multiple websites and apps, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pandora and more.

To listen to The Anchor of Hope podcast, search “The Anchor of Hope” on any app where podcasts are distributed.

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 2025.

OPEN ENROLLMENT IS COMING – OCT. 15-NOV. 7, 2025
Just a reminder that Open Enrollment for employee benefits will occur from Oct. 15 through Nov. 7, 2025. Parish Bookkeepers will receive Open Enrollment information from Michigan Catholic Conference in early October. Please note that while open enrollment is passive for most plans, Flexible Spending Accounts require active enrollment each year. There are two ways to enroll in MCC Benefits:
1.  Enroll online at Employee Self-Serve (ESS) at micatholic.org/ess, or

2.  Enroll over the phone with MCC Employee Benefits team at (800) 395-5565.

Benefit Coordinators will be available Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. to assist with employee benefits enrollment. If you have any questions regarding this year's Open Enrollment, please contact Michigan Catholic Conference at (800) 395-5565 for assistance.

PARISH & SCHOOL SECRETARY/BOOKKEEPER WORKSHOP THANK YOU
Thank you to all who attended the 2025 Parish and School Secretary/Bookkeeper Workshop! We hope you found this year's topics informative and interesting. For those who missed the Oct. 7 event or want to know more about the topics discussed, please visit the diocesan website at dioceseofmarquette.org/secretary-and-bookkeepers-workshop to find presentations and materials provided at the workshop. Please contact Karli Lancour with any additional questions regarding workshop materials.  

2025 PARISH FINANCIAL GOVERNANCE REPORT
Parish Financial Governance Reports were due to the Diocese on Sept. 30, 2025. All parishes and missions are required to submit Parish Governance Reports annually to provide proof that good stewardship standards have been met and parishioners have been provided with transparent records of church finances. The Parish Financial Governance Report should show a record of parish finance council meeting dates and members as well as a copy of the year-end financial summary provided to parishioners. Parish Governance Report resources can be found on the diocesan website at dioceseofmarquette.org/forms and in Addendum #s 1-2. Completed Governance Reports or questions should be sent directly to Irene McCauley.

REMINDER TO SUBMIT MATERIALS FROM PARISH ANNUAL BOARD MEETINGS TO DIOCESAN OFFICE
Bishop Doerfler directed all parish corporations to submit copies of the minutes from your second annual board meeting(s) and conflict of interest disclosure forms to the diocesan office by Sept. 30, 2025. If you have not yet submitted conflict of interest disclosure forms or minutes from your parish corporate board meeting, please do so at your earliest convenience. These materials should be sent directly to Irene McCauley at the diocesan office.

LEARN ABOUT TAX SCAMS AND CONSUMER ALERTS FROM THE IRS
The Internal Revenue Service regularly publishes information for employers and consumers to protect themselves and their businesses from potential threats. Please see more details on common scams in Addendum #3.

$5,000 MAXIMUM FOR PARISH/SCHOOL RAFFLES
The IRS requires tax-exempt organizations to withhold 25% of raffle winnings over $5,000 and report this amount on Form W-2G. Parishes and schools are advised to limit raffle winnings to no more than $5,000 to avoid tax liability. Federal reporting requirements apply to cash winnings and non-cash prizes whose value exceeds $5,000. If you are interested in holding a small raffle for your parish or school, please visit the State of Michigan charitable gaming website at michigan.gov/cg/ for more information.

REMINDER: INFLATABLES NOT COVERED BY RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
With many parish festivals and fundraisers approaching, parishes and schools may be considering a variety of entertainment options. While bounce houses, moon walks, etc. can be a lot of fun, Michigan Catholic Conference's Risk Management Program does not provide insurance coverage should an incident arise from an inflatable. This exclusion also applies to trampolines, dunk tanks, and any other piece of "rebounding equipment." If your parish or school still wants to have one of these items at your event, please be sure to get a certificate of insurance from the third party you're hiring. The requirements for third-party certificates of insurance and use agreement/contract are as follows:
•    Minimum $1,000,000 in Liability Coverage

•    The certificate explicitly lists the following three entities as Additional Insureds for Liability: the Diocese of Marquette, the Roman Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, and your parish or school (e.g., All Saints Parish, Gladstone)

 •    The use agreement/contract does not contain a hold harmless agreement.

INTRODUCING CAMINO – A NEW DATA MANAGEMENT PLATFORM FOR PARISHES!
We are excited to share that the Diocese of Marquette has identified Camino, a Catholic-specific data management system built for parish life. Camino can track parishioner households, record sacraments, and manage appeals, giving, communication, and ministry—all in one place. Recommended by Bishop John and endorsed as the Diocese’s preferred system, Camino will simplify parish and diocesan records, reduce duplication, and ensure accuracy through a user-friendly platform. Even better, Camino’s team will guide each parish through onboarding to ensure a smooth transition. Learn more and explore pricing at diocesan.com/marquette.

Please remember to submit proceeds from diocesan/special collections held in 2025. Your attention to this issue helps the Diocese ensure that parishioner donations are transferred to individual organizations promptly for maximum impact.   

For parishes that held the National Church Collection in August, please note that proceeds from this collection were due Sept. 30, 2025.

The Stewardship and Development Department is seeking high-quality photos for use in various publications. If you have photos from your parish that you’d like to share, we’d love to include them in future materials such as UPCSA, annual reports, social media graphics, and more. Please submit your photos here:
 https://www.jotform.com/DioceseofMarquette/parish-photo-share

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.

In honor of the Bishop Baraga Association’s 95th Anniversary, we are offering a limited-time brick special for $95!  Learn more and start designing your brick today at https://bishopbaraga.org/bba-brick-program. *Please note that this offer is good through Oct. 31, 2025.

Join us for the 2025 Bishop Baraga Association's Silent Auction! Bidding is open until Nov. 1, 2025, with 100% of the proceeds supporting the Bishop Baraga Association and Bishop Baraga's Cause for Canonization. Bid on quilts, rosaries and more at www.bishopbaraga.org/silent-auction. 

On Oct. 2, 2025, the first episode of Bishop John Doerfler's new podcast titled "The Anchor of Hope podcast" was released. Alongside Bishop Doerfler, the podcast is co-hosted by Hattie Hanold, former assistant editor of The U.P. Catholic. The two discuss Jesus and living with hope in today’s world.

New episodes of the podcast will be released on the first and third Thursdays of each month. The show will be hosted on multiple websites and apps, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pandora and more.

To listen to The Anchor of Hope podcast, search “The Anchor of Hope” on any app where podcasts are distributed.

Emmaus Walk Retreat for grieving parents will be held at St. Peter Cathedral on Saturday, November 1^st.  This powerful retreat is an opportunity for parents who have lost a child of any age – however long ago – to encounter the love of God in their loss. There is no charge, and it includes lunch and a catered dinner. Please personally invite any Catholics who have experienced the devastating loss of a child, to register emfgp.org/11-01-25-marquette-mi-one-day-retreat-registration/  For more information, contact Tiffany Ampe at tampe@dioceseofmarquette.org (906) 379-3860. 

On Saturday, October 25th there will be a dynamic retreat at St. Michael Parish in Marquette for all Engaged Couples. This enjoyable day will cover marriage as a sacrament, communication, the Church’s moral teachings, Theology of the Body, and NFP while connecting engaged couples with others and their faith. Coffee, refreshments and lunch provided. Confession, Adoration and community! yoopercatholic.org/engaged

High school students are invited to the Youth Encounter retreat weekend, led by teens who share their faith and witness to Jesus Christ in their lives.  It will be held at Immaculate Conception parish in Iron Mountain November 7-9.   Registration is open!  yoopercatholic.org/youthencounter 

Fr. Ryan Ford will lead this year’s Wise Men’s Retreat December 5-7 at Fortune Lake Camp in Crystal Falls.  This is perfect for men desiring spiritual growth, connection with other men, and time for rest, reflection, and prayer.  Cost is $150.  Register online at yoopercatholic.org/retreats.

Young adults are invited to join our Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the feast day December 11-13.  The trip includes carpooling from Iron Mountain, hotel lodging, Mass and prayer and festivities at the Shrine, fun and meals.  Cost is $100.  Visit yoopercatholic.org/guadalupe to register!