Helen Kowalska was born in 1905 in Poland.  Her family was materially poor and lived deeply their Catholic faith.  Already as a youngster, Helen was known for her genuine piety, depth of prayer, and concern for the poor.  At 20 she entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and took the name Sister Maria Faustina of the Most Blessed Sacrament.  In her community, she worked as a cook, gardener, and doorkeeper.  Her inner life was very rich as the Lord blessed her with many extraordinary spiritual gifts.  Jesus communicated to Sister Maria Faustina that she was to be the apostle of His Divine Mercy in our modern world.  The mission entrusted to her was to (1) remind the world and the Church of the truth of God’s mercy for every human being, (2) entreat Divine Mercy for the whole world, especially sinners, through the new forms of devotion to the Divine Mercy, and (3) initiate the apostolic movement of Divine Mercy, the followers of which proclaim and beg Divine Mercy for the world and practice the works of mercy.  Sister Faustina Kowalska died of tuberculosis at 33.  On April 30, 2000, Saint John Paul II canonized her as the first saint of the New Millennium.  During his homily on that occasion, the Holy Father also announced that the Second Sunday of Easter would now be celebrated throughout the entire Church as Divine Mercy Sunday.  In her diary, Saint Faustina reported this message of the Savior: “My daughter, tell the whole world about my inconceivable mercy.  I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and a shelter for all souls, and especially for the poor sinners.  On that day the very depths of my tender mercy are open.  I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of my mercy.  The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.  On that day are opened all the divine floodgates through which graces flow.  Let no soul fear to draw near to me, even though its sins be as scarlet” (699).  For more information on this devotion you can visit the official website of our National Shrine of the Divine Mercy (Stockbridge, MA) at thedivinemercy.org.  This Divine Mercy Sunday has additional significance for the Church as Pope Francis declares two Popes from our lifetime to be saints – Saints John XXIII and John Paul II.  Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world!  Jesus, I trust in you!

            By universal and diocesan Church law there are two bodies of consultation at the parish level, namely, the Pastoral Council and the Finance Council.  The basic task of the Parish Pastoral Council, “is to serve, at institutional level, the orderly collaboration of the faithful in the development of pastoral activity which is proper to priests.  The Pastoral Council is thus a consultative organ in which the faithful, expressing their baptismal responsibility, can assist the parish priest, who presides at the Council, by offering their advice on pastoral matters” (Congregation for the Clergy, Instruction on the Priest: Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community, 26).  More concretely, the purpose of the Parish Pastoral Council is to investigate pastoral matters, to consider them thoroughly, and to propose practical conclusions about them.  The Pastoral Council’s task is, first of all, to study those matters brought to its attention and shed light on them.  Its second task is to reflect on them thoroughly, to discern their true nature, to evaluate and to ponder them.  Its final task is to draw sound conclusions.  The Pastoral Council presents these conclusions to the Pastor in the form of recommendations.
According to the norms for Parish Pastoral Councils in our Diocese of La Crosse ( On Consultation in the Parish and Deanery, 19-20), two-thirds of the members are elected by parishioners and one-third are appointed by the Pastor.  Members serve a two-year term that can be renewed twice.  In our parishes, the terms of some members of the Pastoral Council are expiring.  Please give prayerful consideration to the nomination of their replacements.  To nominate a parishioner (including yourself) simply submit the name (or names) of the nominee(s) in writing by placing it in the offertory collection basket, mailing it to the Central Office, or emailing it to my Administrative Assistant, Becky Schmitt ( admin@svecatholic.org).  Nominations close after the last Mass of Sunday, May 11.  Elections in all three parishes will be held the weekend of May 17-18.

Please keep in mind that a parishioner is eligible to serve on the Pastoral Council who: (1) is at least sixteen years of age; (2) is baptized, confirmed, and registered member of the parish in full communion with the Catholic Church; (3) is willing and able to serve for the elected or appointed term; (4) is a contributing member of the parish in prayer, time, talent and treasure; and (5) maintains a public posture not inconsistent with the teachings of the Church.  In order to serve fruitfully on the Pastoral Council, the councilor should be wise and prudent – a committed Catholic with the capacity for study, for reflection, and for reaching sound conclusions.

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