You will recall that two years ago we hit the ?restart? button for the bodies of consultation (Pastoral Council and Finance Council) of Spring Valley and Elmwood. This was necessary to bring their structure and practices into conformity with universal Church law (namely, the 1983 Code of Canon Law) and the directives of our own Diocese of La Crosse (namely, the 1985 On Consultation in the Deanery and Parish). Normally, the term of service is two years (renewable twice). However, because it was a year of transition, the terms of three members were selected to be only one year. In this way, a certain continuity would be assured as terms of all members would not expire at the same time. Last year it is Boyceville?s turn to hit the ?restart? button! So now we all are functioning according to the manner foreseen by universal Church discipline and legislation of our own Diocese of La Crosse. Forward!

Thank you to the members of the Pastoral Councils of our parishes whose terms of service recently expired ? Greg Kannel, Joelle Miller, and Bob Richardson from Spring Valley; Tim Bates, Aaron Cebulla, and Greg Fesenmaier from Elmwood; and Pat Flynn, Betty Jean Smith, and Jerry Sabelko from Boyceville. They ? along with those whose terms have not expired ? served our parishes well during this period of transition and change as a third parish was added to our family of parishes! I was inspired by the manner in which the councilors of our three parishes studied matters and formulated their recommendations to me ? with thoroughness, sensitivity, readiness to listen, willingness to sacrifice, and, above all, charity. They have set a high standard for the fruitful collaboration among our parishes!
Thank you to all who accepted nomination to our Pastoral Councils. Your offer of generous service is inspiring! Congratulations to Joelle Miller who was reelected for Spring Valley along with newly-elected Mary Anderson; reelected for Elmwood is Greg Fesenmaier and newly-elected for Elmwood is Derek Auth; and newly-elected for Boyceville are Joyce Hill and Joe Pieters. Appointed to the Pastoral Councils are Teresa Fogarty (Spring Valley), Mary Ann Jensen (Elmwood), as well as Pat Flynn (Boyceville). They join those who continue to serve: Pam Burke, Lynn Johnson, and Mary Lansing for Spring Valley; Mary Baier, Craig Feuker, and Barb Schneider for Elmwood; and Lori Boesl, Barb Hellman, and Georgia Williams for Boyceville.

The Sacred Scriptures tell us that 40 days after His Resurrection from the dead the Lord Jesus ascended into Heaven (Luke 24:50-52 and Acts 1:6-11). The Church has observed this in her liturgy on that Thursday as the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Several years ago the Bishops of the United States transferred the liturgical celebration of the Ascension from Thursday to the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Thus, next Saturday and Sunday we celebrate the Mass of the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! Saint Luke, pray for us!
Father Kevin C. Louis, STL