Pastoral Messages, Instructions and Resources

Created in the Image and Likeness of God: An Instruction on Some Aspects of the Pastoral Care of Persons with Same-Sex Attraction and Gender Dysphoria

To read Bishop Doerfler's instruction, click here.  

Transforming Fire: A New Pentecost to form Spirit-Filled Evangelizers

To read a two-page summary of Bishop John Doerfler's pastoral letter, click here.
To read Bishop John Doerfler's full pastoral letter, click here.

Prayer for the Formation of Spirit-Filled Evangelizers

O Holy Spirit come into my life and my heart. By the fire of your love, transform me and all Catholics throughout Michigan’s Upper Peninsula into Spirit-filled evangelizers.
I pray that more and more people may come to know the love of Jesus Christ and make a personal decision to follow him. I pray for all the people that I know who are not practicing any faith.
Touch their hearts with your love, O Holy Spirit. Work through me so that they may have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and follow him in faith.
To you, O Holy Spirit, and to the Father and to the Son, be glory and honor for ever and ever, Amen.

To download a PDF of the prayer, click here.

Statement on clergy sexual abuse

In response to the news concerning sexual abuse in Pennsylvania as well as in the Church hierarchy, Bishop John Doerfler has released the following statement.
To read the statement, click here
To read Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, president of the USCCB, statement, click here
To read Pope Francis' letter to the People of God, click here
How to report abuse, click here

Year of Service in honor of Venerable Baraga

A celebration of the life of Venerable Bishop Frederic Baraga, the first bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, and commemoration of the 150th anniversary of his death took place Jan. 19-20, 2018, in Marquette.

On Jan. 19, 2018 Bishop John Doerfler gave a proclamation declaring 2018 a Year of Service in honor of Venerable Baraga. In his opening remarks Bishop Doerfler invited faithful to “begin our proclamation of the faith by reaching out in love, charity and service. Because if people see and experience through us the love of Jesus Christ in serving those who are most in need and those who are lost, those who are hurting, those on peripheral, if they experience the love of Jesus coming through us, it helps to open their hearts to receive the Gospel of salvation.”

Len McKeen, executive director of the Bishop Baraga Association added that the year of service will “follow in Bishop Baraga’s footsteps of ministering to the underserved. We’re asking everyone to help the less fortunate in whatever way they can through our service organizations, church and youth groups, and as individuals.” She pointed out that the St. Vincent de Paul Society is a prime example of an organization that is focused on doing this work.

To read the proclamation, click here.
 

Eccumenical Statement on addictions

The leaders of four Upper Peninsula faith communities released an “Ecumenical Statement on Addictions” on April 12, 2017, during Holy Week. The statement speaks of “destruction caused by addiction in our communities, parishes and families” and offers help and hope by “reaching out to all those in need.” They note that “(p)eople of faith are called to provide healing not only for the soul, but also the body of our neighbors in need” and are pledging to “work together to bring awareness, resources and healing for those suffering the effects of addictions and substance abuse.”

Bishop Rayford J. Ray of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan; Rev. Thomas Skrenes, Bishop of the Northern Great Lakes Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; The Rev. Elbert P. Dulworth, District Superintendent of the Marquette District of the United Methodist Church; and Most Rev. John Doerfler, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette all signed the statement.

To read the eccumenical statement, click here.

Reconciliation and Healing: A Pastoral Message on Declarations of Nullity

To read Bishop John Doerfler's pastoral message, click here.

To view the pastoral message and other videos on The U.P. Catholic's YouTube channel, click here.

2020 Voter Guide

In light of the 2020 elections in the United States, Bishop Doerfler offers this guide on our responsibility to vote and participate in the public square. He writes, “I am not telling you how to vote, nor am I supporting any political party or candidate. Rather, I am speaking to moral principles that we are called to embrace, and it is your responsibility to consider prayerfully how to vote in light of these principles. In doing so, we are not imposing our Catholic faith on others. The moral principles that I will be discussing are rooted in basic truths about the human person.”
For a downloadable PDF of the guide, click here: 2020 Moral Principles in Voting Guide
Additional resources referenced in the guide:
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship-title.cfm
Basic principles guiding the Church’s response to immigration may be found on the website established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: https://justiceforimmigrants.org/ and https://justiceforimmigrants.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Principles-of-Migration-1-18-17.pdf

Guidelines in light of Amoris Laetitia

To read Bishop John Doerfler's document to clergy and religious of the Diocese of Marquette, click here: "Guidelines in light of Amoris Laetitia"

Sacred Music Instruction

Documents

"Rejoice in the Lord Always" - Pastoral Letter by Archbishop Alexander Sample
"Sing Praises to They Name Most High" - Instruction by Bishop John Doerfler


Read about it
Article from the Feb. 19, 2016 issue of The U.P. Catholic

Interviews with Bishop John Doerfler on Sacred Music