Today the Catholic faithful of Spring Valley, Elmwood, and Boyceville are served by one priest. Over the years the configuration by which priestly care of souls has been delivered in our area has changed with an attentiveness to changing circumstances and God's will.

Saint Joseph Parish, El Paso (1875-1982)

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Spring Valley (1884)
In 1884 for the first time the Mass was celebrated in Spring Valley in the local schoolhouse. From 1884 to 1917 the Catholic faithful in Spring Valley were served from nearby Saint Joseph Parish, El Paso. Construction on the first Catholic church in Spring Valley began in 1903 under the patronag of the Most Sacred Heärt of Jesus. Although it was not yet completed, Mass was celebrated for the first time in the church on Christmas morning of that year. The third Bishop of La Crosse, James Schwebach (1892-1921) dedicated the church on May 19, 1904. By 1917 the Spring Valley congregation had grown to such an extent that the roles were now reversed - Sacred Heart Parish served the Catholic faithful of El Paso. On September 17, 1942, a catastrophic flood of the Eau Galle River caused severe damage to the church and rectory. A new church was built in 1954 with the old church being used for various parish activities. The old church was razed and a multipurpose Catholic Catechetical Center was built on the site in 1964. In 1984 the parishes of both Spring Valley and Elmwood were entrusted to one Pastor. Fire caused extensive damage to the interior of the church in 1987. On Christmas Eve of 1987 the first Mass was celebrated in the newly-renovated church. The seventh Bishop of La Crosse, John Joseph Paul (1983-1994), rededicated the church on August 28, 1988.

Saint Nicholas Parish, Farm Hill (1883-1949)
In 1883 the 34 Catholic families of the Town of Rock Elm bought land for a church and cemetery in a small trading center known as Farm Hill. The fledgling faith community called itself the Rock Elm Catholic Congregation. Construction on a wooden frame church began in 1884. The following year Mass was celebrated in the new church for the first time by the Pastor of neighboring Plum City. The third Bishop of La Crosse, James Schwebach (1892-1921) delegated Father Bauer to dedicate the church under the patronage of Saint Nicholas on June 29, 1893. The Catholic faithful of Farm Hill were served alternately from Saint Henry Parish, Eau Galle, and Saint John the Baptist Parish, Plum City, with Mass being celebrated at Saint Nicholas only once or twice a month. In 1912 the first resident Pastor was assigned to Saint Nicholas Parish and the newly-formed Sacred Heart Parish in the village of Elmwood. In 1949 Saint Nicholas Parish was suppressed and the church razed.

Sacred Heart Parish, Elmwood (1912)
In the summer of 1912 the third Bishop of La Crosse, James Schwebach (1892-1921), consented to the building of a Catholic church in the Village of Elmwood. The new parish was placed under the patronage of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and received its first resident Pastor serving both Elmwood and Farm Hill. The cornerstone of the new church was laid and blessed in the Spring of 1913. On December 21, 1913, Mass was offered for the first time in the new church. Bishop Schwebach dedicated the church in 1914. A rectory was built in 1915. In 1949 Saint Nicholas Parish was suppressed with members becoming parishioners of Sacred Heart Elmwood. In 1984 the parishes of both Elmwood and Spring Valley were entrusted to one Pastor.

Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish, Boyceville (1961)
At the direction of the fifth Bishop of La Crosse, John Patrick Treacy (1946-1964), a 1961 census of Boyceville, Knapp, Wheeler, Connorsville, Ridgeland, and Downing identified 50 Catholic families. No suitable place for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist was found until Arnie Wold, a non-Catholic, offered his small carpenter shop as a temporary solution. The first Mass was celebrated in this makeshift church on November 10, 1963. Hearing of the new parish, Henry Praschak of Marshfield donated $10,000.00 toward the erection of a church. Ground was broken on September 27, 1964. Holy Week and Easter Sunday of 1965 were the first liturgical celebrations in the new church. The sixth Bishop of La Crosse, Frederick W. Freking (1964-1983), dedicated the new church on August 29, 1965. Saint Luke Parish has never had a resident Pastor and has been served by priests of the parishes in Menomonie, Eau Galle, Elk Mound and Rock Falls. In July 2012 Boyceville was linked with Spring Valley and Elmwood under the care of one Pastor.