06/16/2026
Message from Fr. Jamie Ziminski: "On Friday, June 5th, Bishop John Doerfler ordained three deacons to the priesthood at St. Peter Cathedral: Frs. Mark
Beukema, Drew Langten, and Tyler Rivard. Ordination Masses are always exciting celebrations, and that Friday was no exception. In addition to the 30 or so people attending the Mass from Menominee, the Cathedral was packed with
Catholics from around the Upper Peninsula. About 60 priests concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Doerfler. It truly is a day of thanksgiving, because you cannot help but imagine all the great impact these three priests will have on the Church over the next 50 years. Think of all the sacrifice, all the service, all sacraments they will celebrate in the name of the Church!
It has become Bishop Doerfler’s custom to make the official appointments of the new priests at the end of the ceremony. Just before the newly ordained offer the Bishop their first blessings as priests, he announced that Fr. Tyler Rivard will be coming to Menominee on July 1st, to begin his first assignment at Resurrection and Holy Spirit. Fr. Tyler will be arriving at the same time we say farewell to Fr. Zachary, who will be moving to Marquette to begin work on Bishop Doerfler’s staff
as the new Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Marquette.
Fr. Tyler grew up just outside of Gladstone, MI. He is one of ten children. Many of you may know his older brother, Fr. Ben Rivard, who was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Marquette just a few years ago. Currently, Fr. Ben serves as the
pastor for the parishes in L’Anse, Baraga and Assinins.
For his education, Fr. Tyler did some of his college work at Bay College in Escanaba, then completed his bachelors’ degree at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He also completed his seminary training and graduate degree at Sacred Heart. And somewhere in between, he also earned a masters degree in special education. The children at our Catholic school
already know Fr. Tyler, because during the past couple years, the students at Saint John Paul II Catholic Academy “adopted” Tyler, praying for him as he continued his seminary studies. Fr. Tyler came to visit our school several times
during his seminary studies.
I have been very fortunate to have known Fr. Tyler and his family for many years. When Fr. Ben and Fr. Tyler were in high school, their family attended Family Retreats at Marygrove Retreat Center, where I was the director. And then when I
became the pastor of All Saints Parish in Gladstone, their family became my parishioners. Thankfully, when Fr. Tyler and Fr. Ben were in the seminary, they would come home for Christmas and Holy Week, and help out at the parish as masters of ceremonies for the complicated special Masses! I was always relieved knowing that they would be home to help direct everything.
During the difficult years of the COVID pandemic, Fr. Tyler was living at home, working on his special education degree.
I was able to hire him to help with our religious education program, and to run the OCIA for All Saints. So I can tell you first hand, he not only has practical experience that will be a great resource to our parish and Catholic school; but he has also worked with me before! We’ll be able to pick up right where we left off.
I am personally very excited that Fr. Tyler has been assigned to our parish. He has a good and generous heart, a love for families, and a deep devotion to the Lord and His Church. I know you are going to love having him here. Please keep
Fr. Tyler in your prayers as he prepares to begin ministry in Menominee."
