Congratulations to Brother Michael Mandernach whose 60^th anniversary of profession of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience as a Brother of Saint Pius X was June 6! He is the last remaining member of this diocesan order of religious brothers founded by Bishop Treacy in 1951. During the Priest Unity Days this past week Brother Michael was assisting behind the scenes and I had the opportunity to chat with him. He congratulated me on celebrating 25 years of Priesthood and said with his typical good humor: ?You?re still a young man! You?ve got a ways to catch up to me!? May God continue to bless him with abundant graces and good health in his retirement! This past week Brother Michael also had the joy of becoming a published author. Congratulations to him on the publication of his book Together as Brothers: A History of the Brothers of Saint Pius X. Through the generosity of Bishop Callahan copies of the book were distributed to all the priests during our recent convocation. I have been thoroughly enjoying reading this account of this religious community of men of our Diocese of La Crosse. Brother Michael is to be congratulated not only for publishing a book, but for publishing an excellent book! He told me that copies will be available to parishioners in the near future. Brother added that he hopes to return to Spring Valley very soon to enjoy his retirement now that this labor of love is completed!
The recently-completed Priest Unity Days seemed to be the most joy-filled one of my 25 years of participating in them. There just seemed to be such a positive and upbeat spirit among all us priests. I mentioned that to Bishop Callahan and he whole-heartedly agreed as he had thought the same thing. During the days I had the opportunity to have a lengthy conversation with the Bishop ? something that I had not previously had the chance to do since his arrival three years ago. We talked about my greatly improved health, although he was aghast that the doctors have me on track to lose 50 pounds. He looked at me with wide-eyed horror and said: ?Wow! If they?re telling you to lose 50 can you imagine the goal they?d set for me!? We talked about the numerous responsibilities he has given me. We also talked at great length about the joys, challenges, and struggles of the people of our three parishes. In particular, I reiterated our gratitude to him for assigning Deacon Kevin Ray to our parishes as well as Deacon Billy Dodge. He asked me how the ministry of the Deacons is being received by the parishioners. I assured him that the overwhelming majority of parishioners are truly joyful and appreciative of having Deacons minister in their communities ? a first for all three parishes. I told the Bishop that, unfortunately, their presence in our parishes has exposed a massive gap in the faith formation of our parishioners as the majority had little or no previous knowledge of who and what Deacons are. I assured him we are trying to get caught up! And we talked about the handful of parishioners that seem to grouse about the ministry of the Deacons among us (for example, one parishioner mocking Deacon Ray as ?Father Louis? dishwasher?) and the commitment the parishes must make to the Deacons so that they can carry out their ministry (for example, providing them with room and board and the purchase of vestments for the Deacons).
Boyceville, like Spring Valley, is facing the unenviable necessity of replacing the roofs of their respective churches. As required by diocesan policy for such substantial building projects, the members of Saint Luke?s Pastoral and Finance Councils met together in special session this past week to look at various options and set forth a strategy to address the needs. As I listened to the conversation unfold for nearly two hours, I was deeply impressed with these councilors. Indeed, it was a joy to be a part of their conversation. And meetings generally are not the kind of things that give one a sense of joy! Over these past 25 years I have served in parishes where a very different spirit (certainly not the Holy Spirit we celebrate today at Pentecost!) has been at work in councilors at such gatherings ? sometimes a person thinks he (or she!) has to be in charge controlling everything and dominating the others (including the Pastor!), or a person thinks he (or she!) knows all there is to know about the topic at hand and no one else could possibly have anything useful to add, or a person is so rigid in thought and behavior that he (or she!) is unable to consider a different perspective or solution, or a person jumps to a conclusion reacting impulsively without first checking the context and all the facts, or a person acts or speaks disrespectfully of and uncharitably towards others, or a person seeks to generate division and discord by fomenting an ?us versus them? dynamic among the group or parish. I was deeply impressed by these Boyceville parishioners as no one person dominated the conversation, everyone took part in the conversation sharing freely their ideas, and everyone respectfully spoke and listened to all the others. With so many and complex options on the table to solve the roof dilemma, there was no spirit of ?us versus them? forcing people to take up a side. Rather, it was simply a conversation among disciples of Christ working together to find a solution to a problem they shared. This is a tribute to the councilors? humanity and maturity, but more importantly, it is a manifestation of their Catholic faith. Through Baptism and Confirmation we are given a share in the very life and love of the communion of persons that God is ? Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our communion with the Triune God entails a communion or union of life and charity among the baptized that is the Body of Christ, the Church. This recent meeting of Saint Luke parishioners was a concrete manifestation of that communion with Christ and that supernatural union we share with Him in the Church.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! Saint Luke, pray for us!
Father Kevin C. Louis, STL