Message from Bishop John
October 2025
CATY MRAZ | THE U.P. CATHOLIC
A stained glass window depicts Our Lady of Sorrows at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Calumet.
Suffering and Grace
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I recently finished reading one of my favorite novels, Diary of a Country Priest, by George Bernanos. I had read it a long time ago and decided that it was time for me to reread it.
The novel is written in the form of a diary of a young priest who is serving his first assignment as a pastor. He pours his heart into this diary, filled with struggles and doubts. Do we not all have thoughts like this?
Moreover, he is misunderstood, mistreated, and ridiculed by people. All the while, he is pouring himself out to care for his people. Through all this, he is dying of cancer. Eventually, cancer takes his life. His last words were, "All is grace."
The novel is about God’s grace that comes to us in the midst of suffering. We all face some form of suffering in our lives. It is inescapable. Did not our Lord say, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
Suffering does not have to be pointless. Jesus Christ redeemed suffering and gave it meaning by his suffering and death on a cross. When we gaze upon Christ’s cross, we marvel at the greatest expression of love that the world has ever known.
Whenever we face suffering in our lives, let us offer that suffering in love for others by uniting it to the suffering of Jesus. Just pray in your heart, "Jesus, I offer you this suffering for the sake of [insert name]." This is how we pick up our cross each day and follow Jesus. This is how our suffering assumes the meaning of love like his. This is where we find God’s grace in the midst of suffering.
Sincerely in Christ,
+Most Reverend John Doerfler
Bishop of Marquette
Bishop’s new podcast focuses on hope
On Oct. 2, 2025, Bishop John Doerfler's new podcast titled "The Anchor of Hope" was been launched.
Click the website link below to find links to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.
Episodes will also be uploaded to The U.P. Catholic YouTube channel in audio format. A link to the YouTube playlist can be found below.
Be sure to follow or subscribe to the podcast feed on your app of choice to be notified of new episode releases. New episodes of the podcast will be released on the first and third Thursdays of each month.
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.
Episodes will also be uploaded to The U.P. Catholic YouTube channel in audio format. A link to the YouTube playlist can be found below.
Be sure to follow or subscribe to the podcast feed on your app of choice to be notified of new episode releases. New episodes of the podcast will be released on the first and third Thursdays of each month.
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.
THE U.P. CATHOLIC
The logo for Bishop John Doerfler’s new podcast titled “The Anchor of Hope podcast.” The podcast is distributed to multiple websites and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and more.
