Thousands Attend Three Day ‘Unity In Diversity’ Festival

Spirit Mission Inc. was founded by the charismatic Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez

By H. Nelson Goodson
El Conquistador, LNS
May 29, 2009

Milwaukee- Main musical attraction ‘Sonora Dinamita’ draws thousands to three day festival at the Wisconsin State Fair Park over the weekend. The festival was sponsored and funded by Spirit Mission Inc. a local group in Milwaukee. The group was able to gain support and co-sponsorship from El Conquistador Newspaper and numerous other groups, businesses and financial institutions.
This was the first year that they held the event at the state fair. Last year, the Spirit Mission Inc. members and volunteers helped run the St. Adalbert’s Catholic Church festival at 1923 W. Becher St. Ruben Rosales, chairman of the Unity in Diversity Festival, said last year's St. Adalbert's festival drew more than 30,000 people during the three day event. The church festival at St. Adalbert’s reported at least $80,000 in profit after all expenses were paid off.
Spirit Mission Inc. decided to do their festival separately from St. Adalbert’s church traditional festival, which will be held next July 10-12, according to Father Luis Pacheco, pastor and administrator of St. Adalbert's. Pacheco said, Spirit Mission Inc. and its festival is separate from St. Adalbert’s church.
Spirit Mission’s charismatic founder Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez is on a mission to generate funding for spiritual services 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Spirit Mission serves as a beacon of light providing support to the hospitalized and to those who fall into despair for whatever reason. Father Perez-Rodriguez is gaining interests and most likely will get support from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to continue with his 24 hours religious outreach. Perez-Rodriguez’s new initiative is the first of its kind for the Archdiocese.
"Drugs and prostitution are available 24 hours a day, but people who are suffering from depression, a family crisis or trouble with police often don't have anyone to turn to," Father Perez-Rodriguez said. "If they call a church at night, they will probably get an answering machine because most churches are only open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.," Perez-Rodriguez said. "People in this country have a lot of abundance, but there's a need for a richer spiritual life."
This year, an array of cultural events, including food, music, entertainment, crafts, a car show, rides, activities for children and a car raffle made it attractive for festivalgoers.