IRON MOUNTAIN — The Most Rev. John F. Doerfler, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Marquette, recently approved recommendations for more than $281,333 in grants to Upper Peninsula initiatives that benefit social services and faith education. Catholic parishes, missions, Catholic schools and Catholic Social Services of the Upper Peninsula are among the recipients.

The Legacy of Faith Fund, held by the U.P. Catholic Foundation, was founded in 2001 by Bishop James Garland. The fund’s grant review committee submits recommendations to Doerfler.

In accordance with Legacy of Faith endowment guidelines, half of the available grant funds support Catholic schools, 30 percent parish faith formation, 10 percent Catholic Social Services of the U.P. and 10 percent Catholic Action Fund, which supports new and emerging programs and ministries.

Highlights from the 64 grants approved include initiatives in:

— Evangelization: Under Doerfler’s leadership, the focus of grants has been on evangelizing programs and ministries that support his three-fold invitation to the people of the Diocese of Marquette to be a friend of Jesus, make a friend and introduce that friend to Jesus. This year’s grants include support for the 2019 Evangelization Summit set for Oct. 11-12. To register for the summit, go to www.dioceseofmarquette.org/summit19.

— Catholic Social Services: It provides help for people across the Upper Peninsula from locations in Marquette, Iron Mountain and Escanaba. Legacy of Faith provides a $29,133 distribution for services this year.

— Youth education: The nine diocesan Catholic schools receive an unrestricted grant each year from the Legacy of Faith Fund. In addition, Legacy of Faith supports Vacation Bible Schools, Catholic Summer Camps, Totus Tuus and participation at Steubenville, among other Catholic Youth Education programs available throughout the diocese.

— Adult continuing education: Legacy of Faith supports continuing Catholic education for adults. Many parishes are participating in a powerful, video-based education tool that encourages parishes to come together for faith formation but can also be utilized by parishioners for at-home learning.

— Technology: Keeping up with advances in technology is important in any organization, and the Catholic Church is no exception. Investment in new faith formation technology this year at Precious Blood Parish in Stephenson and St. Christopher’s in Marquette will mean cost savings for these parishes over the long term.

Local recent endowment grants to the program include:

— St. John Neumann Vicariate, $33,909;

— 2019-20 unrestricted, Bishop Baraga Catholic School, Iron Mountain, $15,642;

— Menominee Area Adult Faith Formation, Holy Redeemer, Menominee, $176;

— Faith Formation technology upgrades, Precious Blood, Stephenson, $800;

— Black/white books, St. Bruno, Nadeau, $600;

— Vacation Bible School 2019, St. John Neumann, Spalding, $450;

— 2019-20 unrestricted, St. John Paul II Catholic Academy, Menominee, $16,241.

— St. Mary Norway Vicariate: $14,498

— 2019-20 unrestricted, Holy Spirit School, Norway, $14,198;

— Altaration and Quick Catholic Lessons, St. Mary and St. Joseph, Iron Mountain, $300.

For a complete list of grants, go to the Diocesan website at www.dioceseofmarquette.org/images/files/2020_Recent_LOF_Grants.pdf.

For more information on Legacy of Faith or to make a legacy gift, contact Terri Gadzinski at tgadzinski@dioceseofmarquette or 906- 227-9108.

To donate online, go to www.LegacyofFaith.net or mailed to Legacy of Faith, 1004 Harbor Hills Drive, Marquette, MI 49855.