The U.P. Catholic Newsletter
January 2026
A seminarian's summer at Camp Sancta Maria
By Caty Mraz
The U.P. Catholic
“It was interesting, as a junior counselor, I was truly able to commit to daily prayer since we had a chapel right there,” Heiny said. He enjoyed the opportunities for silent prayer during the day, and said that returning as a senior counselor with more experience of the faith, and being able to share it, was huge for him.
"It showed me a lot of reality in terms of getting people to care … and get them out of themselves enough that they can discover the Lord,” he said.
CATY MRAZ | THE U.P. CATHOLIC
Diocesan seminarian William Heiny stops for a photo during the annual summer seminarian retreat held Aug. 10-13, 2025.
Siblings at home, Sisters in the same monastery
By Debi Snyder
Guest Column
DISCALCED CARMELITE NUNS OF THE MONASTERY OF THE HOLY CROSS, IRON MOUNTAIN | COURTESY PHOTO
From left, Jennifer (Sister Mary Brigid of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, Solemnly Professed) and Claire (Sister Josefa Maria of the Merciful Heart of Jesus, Temporary Professed) are helping each other set up for Benediction.
Jennifer knew what she wanted; she strove forward in her search. Retreat after retreat, visit after visit, no religious order seemed right, no place felt like “home.” In these moments of frustration it was not uncommon to hear, “Come on, Claire, let’s go hiking!”
One day, Jennifer declared, “I am writing to the Carmelites in Iron Mountain.” ... As we visited with the Sisters and learned of their vocation to pray for priests, I watched Jennifer’s eyes and could see her heart in them. She loved it here, here in this Carmel.
One day, Jennifer declared, “I am writing to the Carmelites in Iron Mountain.” ... As we visited with the Sisters and learned of their vocation to pray for priests, I watched Jennifer’s eyes and could see her heart in them. She loved it here, here in this Carmel.
Two of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns at the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Iron Mountain are sisters in the same monastery. Read the guest column written by their mother to find out more.
Ask the seminarians: Who has been influential in your vocational discernment and why?
By Caty Mraz
The U.P. Catholic
CATY MRAZ | THE U.P. CATHOLIC
Bishop John Doerfler, Fr. Ben Hasse, vocations director, and the seminarians for the Diocese of Marquette gather for a group photo at Holy Rosary Parish in Grand Marais during the annual seminarian retreat held Aug. 10-13, 2025. Front row, from left: Dcn. Drew Langton, William Heiny, Ethan Wilcox, Dcn. Mark Beukema and Dcn. Tyler Rivard. Back row, from left: Fr. Hasse, Charlie Tackman, Alex Gilliam, Bishop Doerfler, Will Heller and James Domitrovich.
Seminarians for the Diocese of Marquette were asked, “who has been influential in your vocational discernment and why?”
Check out their responses by clicking below.
The Anchor of Hope podcast new episode: Healing Wounds of the Heart
THE U.P. CATHOLIC
The logo for Bishop John Doerfler's podcast titled "The Anchor of Hope.: Bishop Doerfler co-hosts the podcast with Hattie Hanold. The podcast is distributed to multiple websites and apps, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and more.
Have you struggled with wounds of the heart and wondered how the Lord can help you move past the hurt?
Listen to the newest episode of The Anchor of Hope released on Jan. 15, titled "Healing Wounds of the Heart" and find out more about how you can seek spiritual healing of the wounds in your heart.
Follow the links below to listen directly on the website, or find the podcast on your favorite app.
The show is available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pandora and more. 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.
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