2025 Catholic Service Award Recipients Named
2025 CATHOLIC SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS NAMED
Two dedicated lay leaders from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette have been selected as the 2025 recipients of the Legacy of Faith Catholic Service Award:
Barbara Van Ermen of St. Anne Parish in Escanaba
and Frederick St. John of St. Peter Cathedral Parish in Marquette.
Presented annually by the diocese, this prestigious award honors Catholics who have shown a lifelong commitment to service, stewardship, and leadership within the Church.
The Catholic Service Award is a program of Legacy of Faith, an endowment fund within the Upper Peninsula Catholic Foundation. The award was created in 2006 with the spirit and intent of the endowment to preserve and foster the Catholic faith in the Upper Peninsula. Nominations for the annual award are due by May 1 of each year, and forms can be found here.
With gratitude,
Megan O'Connor
Megan O'Connor
Executive Director of Stewardship & Development
Direct line: (906) 379-5057
Email: moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org
Email: moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org
Photo: Dcn. Terry Saunders, Barbara Van Ermen, and Fr. Fran DeGroot at St. Anne's (Escanaba).
Barbara Van Ermen’s decades-long dedication to faith and service has made her a beloved and integral part of the Escanaba Catholic community. Since moving to the area in 1972 with her husband, Dale, and family, she has selflessly given of her time and talents to St. Anne Parish, transforming its annual picnic into a major fundraising event that helped eliminate parish debt.
Over the last 30 years, Van Ermen has trained altar servers, not only teaching them to serve at Mass but also instilling in them a deeper understanding of the sacred nature of their role. She has led parish funeral luncheons, served on the parish council, taught religious education, coordinated decorations for liturgical seasons, and continues to lead an offertory counting team.
Her commitment extends into the wider community. Beginning in 1976, Van Ermen and her husband led the first teams for the Cursillo, a worldwide Catholic movement focused on Christian renewal, faith, community, and learning to live a deeper Christian life. Their efforts included group reunions in their home and leading Ultreyas, or faith-based community meetings, for the Escanaba area. After Dale’s passing in 1996, she continued to work in the movement, often encouraging others to leadership in their parishes.
Barbara participated in mission trips to Honduras and has been a team member for college student retreats at St. Albert the Great Parish in Houghton. She has served as the manager of the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry for the past 13 years. Known for her compassion and personal touch, she ensures clients are treated with dignity and often goes beyond expectations—by shopping for and organizing thoughtful seasonal food packages.
Even in her late 80s, Van Ermen remains actively involved in daily Mass, parish activities, and community outreach, and continues to be a source of support to the homebound and those in need. A mother of 10, grandmother of 28, and great-grandmother of six, Van Ermen lives her Catholic values quietly and faithfully, inspiring all who know her.
Photo: Fr. Brandon Oman, Frederick St. John, and Bishop John Doerfler outside of St Peter Cathedral (Marquette)
Frederick St. John of Marquette has also demonstrated a lifetime of deep commitment to the Church, his family, and the greater community. A World War II veteran who served his country with courage, St. John returned home and built a life centered on faith. He and his late wife, Lyrel, raised four children, all of whom received a Catholic education and were instilled with a devotion to faith and service that continues to this day.
His example of sacramental love and family life is an enduring witness to the vocation of marriage—one marked by kindness, resilience, and joy. St. John served the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier for 27 years, where he became known for his compassion and personal touch—walking mail to doorsteps in the snow, checking on the elderly, and seeing the face of Christ in every person he served.
A founding member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Peter Cathedral, he was active for more than five decades, often responding to urgent needs with his own generosity. He has supported diocesan appeals, constructed the Chrism Mass oil stand with his sons, and used his woodworking skills to help families in need—building furniture, delivering vegetables and flowers from his garden, and quietly caring for those around him. His life and service reflect the heart of Christian stewardship: offering time, talent, and treasure not for recognition, but for the joy of serving God and neighbor.
Yoopers for Seminarians
YOOPERS FOR SEMINARIANS FALL 2025
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Upcoming Events
YOUTH ENCOUNTER
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
SACRED MUSIC
Renowned choral group FLORIANI is coming to St. Peter Cathedral on Saturday, Nov. 15, for a 7 p.m. concert (freewill offering). FLORIANI is a men's vocal quartet ensemble dedicated to performing and reviving sacred music. At their concert, they offer a meditative experience, performing an assortment of Gregorian chant, music from the Eastern and Western traditions, and original pieces.
In addition to the concert, FLORIANI will be singing for all the weekend Cathedral Masses (Saturday Vigil 4 p.m. Mass on Nov. 15 and Sunday 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses on Nov. 16), so consider taking a trip to visit our beautiful and historic "Mother Church" of the Diocese! More info can be found at floriani.org.
WISE MEN’S RETREAT
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.
GUADALUPE PILGRIMAGE
Young adults (18-30s) 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!
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Megan O'Connor
Megan O'Connor
Executive Director of Stewardship & Development
Direct line: (906) 379-5057
Email: moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org
Email: moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org
Billy Mullett
Admin. Asst. to Stewardship & Development