Congregation of the Great Spirit
For this reporting period, the main focus of Congregation of the Great Spirit main has been preparing for the 30th Anniversary since the establishment of the parish. Several community educational events took place as a preparation to the 30th Anniversary celebration. For example, in its December 12, 2019 issue, the Catholic Herald featured a story, “Congregation of the Great Spirit a Haven for Native Americans.” The Catholic Herald States, “As a multi-tribal region, the liturgy at the Congregation of the Great Spirit honors all of the represented Native American traditions and corresponding languages.” The Catholic Herald again stated, “Over the three decades of its existence, the Congregation has endured budget cuts and survived a building fire. In 2008, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ran a story about the Congregation titled, “Closing Possible Next Year,” the Catholic Herald headline read, “Congregation of the Great Spirit must raise funds to survive.” Congregation of the Great Spirit survived and thrived in spite of many challenges.
Congregation of the Great Spirit, the only urban parish dedicated to serve intertribal and urbanite Native Americans is a landmark in the community as a venue for Natives and non-Natives to experience the richness of the Native spirituality as compatible to the sacred scripture and the Catholic Christian tradition. Lately, it has become evident that Congregation of the Great Spirit is the only one standing as other denominations dedicated to Native Americans have been closing. This is a challenge and an opportunity of doubling our efforts to reach out; witnessing the Gospel in our cultural tradition and Native spirituality.
The 30th Anniversary celebration took place on December 22, 2019 at the Indian Community Center in Franklin, WI. The venue was selected to accommodate the large number of anticipated guests. Bishop James Schuerman, Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee presided at the Mass. Several hundred parishioners and guests attended the liturgy and the reception afterwards.
In the absence of other Christian denominations that authentically representing the Native American spiritual and cultural practices, Congregation of the Great Spirit has become the de facto parish for all Native Americans regardless of their faith traditions. Congregation of the Great Spirit also participated at Archdiocesan event “Celebration of the Consecrated Life,” themed “Gratitude and Responsibility;” honoring Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si” on February 9, 2020. The Catholic Herald in its February 6 issue wrote, “The program will open with American Indian drumming and cleansing of the space by ‘smudging.’ Followed by an Indian hymn recognizing the roots of our legacy of Creation that Laudato Si calls us to protect.” In the worship aid it explains, “Drumming in the Native American tradition signals the convening of a community for a common purpose – in this instance, to pray together smudging is a form of cleansing, of protecting oneself from the forces of evil, danger, or harm in any form.” Many Catholics are eager to know about the Native American spirituality and culture and Congregation of the Great Spirit is a real witness to the unity in diversity of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
