Marquette Diocese opens cause for Michigan father and stigmatic

Marquette, Mich., Jan 4, 2019 / 03:34 am (CNA).- Irving “Francis” Houle was a Michigan father of five known for his holy life. He appeared to bear the stigmata, a physical manifestation of the wounds of Jesus Christ, and said he experienced the Passion and visions of Jesus and Mary.

Now the Diocese of Marquette is asking whether he was a saint.

For Gale Houle, his wife of more than 60 years, he was also her husband.

“Irving is my saint, and this is well deserved,” she said, speaking to the U.P. Catholic newspaper about the inquiry into his canonization.

“He was a husband and father and a grandfather. I love him with all my heart,” she continued, “But some days he just wasn’t there!”

In November 2018, Bishop John Doerfler of Marquette, Michigan opened the cause of canonization for Servant of God Irving C. Houle, who passed away Jan. 3, 2009 at the age of 83.

continue at CNA

Diocese of Marquette replaces Common Core with Classical Curriculum in all diocesan schools

via Father Z

Educators and parents are increasingly dissatisfied with secular standards that neglect to emphasize virtuous development in K-12 academics, but one diocese in Michigan has responded by making the bold decision to implement a classical, liberal arts curriculum for all diocesan schools. And the diocese’s superintendent of Catholic schools, Mark Salisbury, told The Cardinal Newman Society that the program has been widely well-received by teachers and students and is improving education for the entire diocese.

“We are enthusiastic about our early successes,” Salisbury shared. “Teachers are happy with the results as well. We have improved our ability to teach students how to write well, students are learning and memorizing more poetry” and the curriculum’s integration of Latin studies “has helped students with English grammar, vocabulary and critical thinking skills.” A recent satisfaction survey of more than 440 parents for the 2015-16 school year revealed that 76 percent of parents were highly satisfied with the academic programs.

Prior to the classical education shift, the Diocese of Marquette had no set curriculum. 

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The Marquette diocese also started an annual training conference for Catholic educators last year, and is hosting the 2016 Midwest Conference on Catholic Liberal Arts Education in Escanaba, Mich., this June. The conference gives participants the opportunity to discuss integrating beauty and truth into every subject. 

continue at Cardinal Newman Society

I think we are getting to the point where everyone gets that this is just a common sense move.  On the flip side, why would any Catholic school employ something other than a Classical Catholic curriculum to train students to think?

Diocese of Marquette is getting a liturgical music overhaul

I received word that the Diocese of Marquette, Michigan, is getting a liturgical music overhaul. Based on the work of the previous bishop, now-Archbp. Alex Sample in Portland, Oregon, Bp. John Doerfler has issued a document that requires all the parishes to adopt a single diocesan-produced hymnal and that all parishes will learn to sing chants in both English and in Latin.

Someone sent the document to me, but since I didn’t see it on the diocesan website, I’ll not post it here… yet. Most of the document pertains to the development of the diocesan hymnal, but there is this:

“All parishes and schools will learn to chant the Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei from the Missa Iubilate Deo, and they will be sung by the congregation some of the time throughout the year.”

continue at Father Z

Also:
http://www.ccwatershed.org/blog/2016/jan/28/diocese-marquette-taking-brave-step/

Bp. Doerfler (D. Marquette) responds to removal of gay man from ministry duties

Bobby Glenn Brown was a cantor, lector and choir member at St. Michael’s Parish for the past three years. He’s been with his partner for 31 years. The two men held a commitment ceremony on Saturday.

Father Larry Van Damme, a pastor at St. Michael’s, told Brown on Sunday that he could no longer perform his ministry duties.

“In the Catholic Church, we love and embrace and want to include among our members persons with same-sex attraction,” Bishop John Doerfler said in a news conference today. “Having a same-sex attraction in no way will disqualify someone from being a member of the Church, and we also give people the benefit of the doubt that people tend to live chastely.”

Bishop Doerfler says that to the Church, having same-sex attractions and acting on them publicly are two different matters. The bishop says it was the commitment ceremony, and only the ceremony, that disqualified Brown from ministry.

“If someone were to give some type of public affirmation that it’s morally OK to act on those attractions, that’s where the departure would be,” he said. “The commitment ceremony would indicate that it would be permissible to act on those attractions, and that’s where the disconnect is from the Church’s teaching.”

Brown says he’ll find another, more accepting place to worship.

continue at ABC10

Also video:

Bishop John Doerfler speaks at Marquette, MI 40 Days for Life Kickoff

You might remember that late last summer, the abortion facility in Green Bay closed its doors for good. A few months later, the Diocese of Green Bay lost its Vicar General, Fr. John Doerfler, who was named and installed as the Bishop of Marquette, MI.

What do these two news items from 2013 have in common?

Unfortunately, Planned Parenthood in Upper Michigan started dispensing chemical abortion pills following the end of abortion in Green Bay. As such, some Yoopers for Life launched a 40 Days for Life campaign in Marquette. Bishop John Doerfler offered remarks at the kickoff event. The diocesan newspaper, UP Catholic, was there to cover his remarks:


If any of the Wisconsin dioceses are doing video reporting, I haven't seen it. Well done, Yooper Catholics!

Here is additional footage from the kickoff rally.

I'll be speaking at the midpoint rally on Tuesday, March 25 (the Feast of the Annunciation!) at 5:30 p.m. in Marquette.

Bishop Doerfler's installation

Bishops present offer Prayer of Ordination with Book of Gospels suspended over Bishop-Elect Doerfler. pic.twitter.com/9eldH0s9Q5
— Relevant Radio (@relevantradio) February 11, 2014

FoxUP: It's official... The Diocese of Marquette has a new Bishop

Q&A: Bishop-elect Doerfler reflects on his new role

Editor’s note: Bishop-elect John Doerfler will be ordained the 13th bishop of Marquette, Mich., on Feb. 11. On Dec. 19, two days after his appointment by Pope Francis, Bishop-elect Doerfler, 49, agreed to answer a few questions about his new role as shepherd of the Marquette Diocese.

Q: Can you share with readers how you learned about your appointment as Marquette’s 13th bishop and the series of events that took place leading up until the appointment was announced Dec. 17?

A: On late afternoon of Dec. 9, I was down at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Milwaukee, where I’ve been teaching part-time, and Terri Wickman (executive assistant at the chancery) called me and said the nuncio called for me. So I called the nuncio’s office. … Because they are in the Eastern Time zone, by the time I called their office had just closed. I had a good amount of time to spend in the chapel on Monday night, not knowing exactly what this is about. It would not have been too unusual if it had been a member of the nuncio’s staff who called because there is diocesan business sometimes that we have with the nunciature, but it would be a little bit unusual if the nuncio called. So I was asking myself a little bit Monday night, “Did (Wickman) really mean the nuncio or a member of his staff?” So the next morning on Tuesday, it was about 8:15, I called the nuncio’s office, indicating that I was returning the nuncio’s call. The person who answered the phone said, “Are you sure it was the nuncio who called or a member of his staff?” I just indicated that this was the message I received. She said that she would find out who called for me and they would get back to me. Five minutes later the nuncio called back and at that time informed me that the Holy Father had chosen me to be the next bishop of Marquette. So I had some remote preparation from spending a fair amount of time in the chapel the night before. So I very readily said that I would accept this. I told the Lord, “Whatever you want me to do, I will do.” It happened to be exam week at the seminary, so this was around 8:20 that I was on the phone with the nuncio. At 9 o’clock began my round of oral final exams for the students I was teaching. So it was an interesting day to say the least.

continue at The Compass 

Diocese of Green Bay's Fr. Doerfler named Bishop of Marquette, Mich.

Fr. John Doerfler is pictured at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in 2010. Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Doerfler as bishop of Marquette, Mich. (File photo by Sam Lucero | The Compass)

BREAKING NEWS: WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has named Father John Doerfler, 49, a priest of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and vicar general of the diocese, as bishop of Marquette, Michigan. He succeeds Archbishop Alexander Sample, who became archbishop of Portland in Oregon, January 29, 2013.

The appointment was publicized in Washington, December 17, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Bishop-elect Doerfler was born November 2, 1964, and was ordained a priest for the Green Bay diocese in 1991. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota; and a bachelor of theology from the Gregorian University, Rome. He holds a licentiate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America and a licentiate and doctorate from the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family, Washington.

continue at The Compass 

Update1: Legatus interviewed then Fr. Doerfler back in 2010

Even though as a young man he had his mind set upon becoming an engineer, Fr. John Doerfler has absolutely no qualms about his vocation. By the time he turned 40, he was the chancellor of the Diocese of Green Bay. Now 45, he’s added vicar general of the diocese to his portfolio. The Appleton, Wis., native was ordained for his home diocese 18 years ago. The chaplain enjoys classic movies, bicycling and cooking. He says his five years as Legatus chaplain has been very rewarding.

continue at Legatus