THE ANCHOR OF HOPE PODCAST
Need some hope? Join Bishop John Doerfler and Hattie Hanold as they discuss Jesus and living with hope in today’s world on The Anchor of Hope podcast.
Listen to the newest episode and find past episodes of The Anchor of Hope podcast at theanchorofhope.transistor.fm/episodes, or scan the QR code to find out more. The show is available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pandora and more. Find the show on your favorite podcast app of choice by visiting theanchorofhope.transistor.fm/subscribe. Be sure to follow or subscribe to the podcast feed to be notified of new episode releases. New episodes will be released on the first and third Thursdays of each month.
RETREAT FOR MARRIED COUPLES FEB. 28
Married couples are invited to connect with each other and with the Lord Saturday, Feb. 28 at Immaculate Conception parish in Iron Mountain. The retreat will feature brief presentations, prayer and Eucharistic Adoration, a fun activity, Mass, a catered dinner, and an evening game competition. A block of hotel rooms are available at the Holiday Inn Express and Comfort Inn. There will be a Friday night social for those who can come early! Register at
yoopercatholic.org/couples.
UPCOMING TEEN RETREATS
Teens from around the U.P. are invited to register for upcoming retreats:
A
NET Team is coming Wednesday, April 1 (Spring Break week) to offer a retreat for
7th-12th graders at St. Mary Queen of Peace parish in Kingsford:
yoopercatholic.org/net-retreat.
SPRING STUDY DAY MARCH 26
Monica Ashour is an author, international speaker, and founder of the Theology of the Body Evangelization Team. She holds two Masters’ Degrees from the University of Dallas—one in Theological Studies and one in Humanities. She will present "Teaching the Theology of the Body to Tots, Tweens, and Teens” for the
Spring Study Day at St. Peter Cathedral: Thursday, March 26 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The Chrism Mass begins at 3:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome, especially priests, deacons, religious, parish staff, catechists, and parents:
yoopercatholic.org/spring-study-day
COLLECTION ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Collection Schedule
Please see the Diocesan Collection Schedule for 2026 and 2027 here: https://dioceseofmarquette.org/stewardship-development. If you have any questions about the collection schedule, please contact Megan O’Connor at (906) 379-5057 or
moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org.
Collection Remittance Deadlines
Several diocesan collections are held in the early part of the new year. Please be sure to mark collection remittance deadlines on your calendar to ensure parishioner donations are transferred to individual organizations promptly for maximum impact. Please contact
Megan O’Connor at (906) 379-5057 or moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org with questions regarding parish remittance deadlines.
The Mission Collection was held on Jan. 10-11. Please remit funds to the Diocese by Feb. 28, 2026. We thank you for your generous support of 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.
Collection For the U.P. Catholic Newspaper
Support your parish by supporting The U.P. Catholic Newspaper collection on Feb. 14-15. 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.
Collection For Diocesan Catholic Schools
The Marquette Diocesan Catholic Schools collection is on Feb. 18 (Ash Wednesday) or Feb. 22 (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!
NOMINATE A CATHOLIC SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT
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. A SPECIAL INVITATION TO JOIN THE BISHOP’S AMBASSADORS
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. To learn more, please contact Megan O’Connor at (906) 379-5057 or
moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org or pledge online at upcatholicfoundation.org/bishops-ambassador.
Interested in Creating a UPCF Endowment Fund?
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 $25,000 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 Megan O’Connor at (906) 379-5057 or
moconnor@dioceseofmarquette.org.
A TAX-SAVING WAY TO SUPPORT THE DIOCESE—AND PASS ON YOUR FAITH
As the year comes to a close, it’s a wonderful time to consider how you can make a lasting impact in the Church while also maximizing your tax benefits. One meaningful option is to support the Catholic Diocese of Marquette through your IRA. Making a qualified charitable distribution can help you make a difference today while potentially reducing your tax burden. Learn more at:
dioceseofmarquette.planmygift.org/give-from-your-iraYou can also pass on your faith for generations to come by considering a planned gift to your parish or the Diocese. If you’re discerning a legacy gift, please explore the helpful tools and resources also available at:
dioceseofmarquette.planmygift.org.
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