Bishop LeVoir led through trying times

Bishop John M. LeVoir’s retirement was announced this week by the Diocese of New Ulm. He has served as the pastoral leader of the diocese since 2008.

Bishop LeVoir has served the Diocese well through trying times. His selection to be a bishop was a bit of a surprise back in 2008. He was a parish pastor in the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese, not an administrator in the church hierarchy. He stepped into the position as the Catholic Church has been trying to clean up the aftermath of the clerical sex abuse scandals. He helped guide the New Ulm Diocese to an agreeable settlement with the victims of that abuse in the past couple of years, and helped set the diocese on the path of reconciliation.

The Diocese will miss his humble, pastoral style of leadership.

Please vote Tuesday

The Minnesota primary election is taking place on Tuesday. We have a couple of local interest races in the area. Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, is being challenged by Tammy Houle of Redwood Falls for the Republican nomination in House 16B. In New Ulm, we have a three-way race for Councilor-at-large, with incumbent Charles Schmitz facing 4th Ward councilor Larry Mack and Andrea Boettger. The field will be narrowed to two.

The state is expecting a heavy mail-in vote due to the COVID-19 virus, but regular polling places will be open. If you are going to vote Tuesday, please mask up, observe social distancing, and take part in this exercise in democracy.

Whether you vote by mail or in person, you are keeping the life blood of this democracy flowing.