First Spirit Mission Opens In Milwaukee Wisconsin To Provide Spiritual Support

First Mission to provide spiritual support 24-7 in Milwaukee's South side

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 6, 2010

Milw.,WI - Charismatic Catholic Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez, 50, being interviewed during the Grand Opening of non-profit Spirit Mission, which will provide first 24-7 spiritual services to anyone in the predominately Latino community and surrounding communities.
Father Eleazar posed with supporters during the Grand Opening of Spirit Mission at 1629 S. 21st. Street. Eleazar said, Spirit Mission will provide services to everyone who would be in need of spiritual support, and invited the community in becoming part of the mission. "Spirit Mission is in need of donations such as furniture, curtains, and other items. I would like to invite people and members of the community to donate what ever they can and become part of Spirit Mission. I'm a catholic priest, and Spirit Mission is opened to anyone needing spiritual support when difficult and hard times arise," Father Eleazar said.
Marla Possell who attended the Grand Opening said, "I am very proud of Padre Eleazar and the Spirit Mission community for their commitment to provide spiritual services to anyone in need. This is a much needed service in our community especially when Spirit Mission services are offered to all regardless of race, religion or economic status, etc.
Donations are always welcomed no matter how minimal being monetary, voluntary services, donations of furniture, window dressing, computers, books, paint, kitchen supplies, labor and much more. Padre Eleazar and Spririt Mission community, Keep up the great journey you have undertaken in your quest to provide this very much needed service to our community at large."
Spirit Mission will make its first rent payment with option to buy the building in June, through arrangements made with the generosity of the Jose and Teresa Gutierrez family who currently owns the building. The building was formerly a convent used by Catholic nuns and the Gutierrez family would like to see Spirit Mission accomplished its spiritual support goal in the community.
People can donate at Spirit Mission located at 1629 S. 21st Street in Milwaukee's South side. Volunteers are on duty from 5-9 p.m., and for those who would like to donate they can call me personally at 414.467.3036, Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez said. Spirit Mission is a non-profit oganization and donations are tax deductible.

Related story Internet link on Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez and Grand Opening of Spirit Mission: Popular Mexican Catholic Father Eleazar Perez Fulfills Dream By Opening 24hrs-7days Spirit Mission in Milwaukee, WI http://bit.ly/8OQLOs

Rosca De Tres Reyes

The Reynas Bakery on 1238 S. Cesar E. Chavez Dr. provided La Rosca for the Grand Opening of Spirit Mission. In photo, Yolanda Morales and Alfonso Morales, owner of Reynas Bakery.
Last year in late December, Reynas Bakery broke their own record for baking a "Rosca de Reyes" (The Kings coffee cake) which measured 245 feet long. La Rosca is a ring shaped bread with small dolls baked inside which represents baby Jesus. Who ever gets a doll, the person then gets to sponsor a Rosca party.
La Rosca is baked to celebrate the holidays. As a tradition numerous families wait until January 6, the day of the Three Magicians Kings "El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos" to open their holiday and Christmas gifts.

Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile

Charismatic Father Eleazar Perez To Open Spirit Mission In New Year

Exclusive: Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez opens first 24-hour Latino community spiritual assistance service through non-profit Spirit Mission

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 4, 2010

Milwaukee -On Wednesday, January 6, Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez, 50, will finally fulfill his dream in the New Year to provide a much needed 24-hour spiritual assistance service since leaving St. Adelberto Catholic Church and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Father Eleazar will officially open the non-profit Spirit Mission this Wednesday, with a Grand Opening ceremony at 1629 S. 21st St. starting at 5:00 P.M., according to Alex Preciado who is helping to spread the word for Father Eleazar. Preciado spent the day on Monday contacting long time supporters and followers of the charismatic Catholic Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez.
"Spirit Mission was able to rent with option to buy the building," Father Eleazar said Monday. Father Eleazar had put up his home for sale in order to acquire the building where Spirit Mission will be located.   
Father Eleazar left St. Adalbert Catholic Church, 1923 W. Becher St. on October 28, after giving his last mass to his parishioners and members of the community who attended. Perez-Rodriguez, who is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico is best known and credited for reviving St. Adalbert's parishioner attendance. The St. Adalbert Polish church was having difficulties in attracting new parishioners and was on the verge of closing in 2003, according to other Catholic priests in the South side neighborhood.
Since Father Eleazar's departure, attendence at St. Adalbert Church has dwindle.
Last year, Perez-Rodriguez help created Spirit Mission a non-profit organization to provide spiritual assistance 24 hours - 7 days a week to people in need of service. Spirit Mission serves as a beacon of light providing support to the hospitalized and to those who fall into despair for whatever reason. He says, while at St. Adalbert, people came in for spiritual support and at times the parish office was closed or a priest wasn't available to help them. Once the parish office closed at night during the week, it would be very difficult for people to contact a priest in case of an emergency.
"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."
While in Milwaukee in 2005, he lost part of his left leg in a hit-and-run accident in front of his residence. An intoxicated driver lost control of his vehicle and hit Perez-Rodriguez while unloading groceries from his vehicle. The undocumented driver was later charged in the incident and was deported. Perez-Rodriguez forgave the driver while testifying in court.
Father Perez-Rodriguez said his Bishop Juan Guillermo Lopez Soto of Cuauhtémoc from the Archdiocese of Cutervo Maderas in Mexico had given his approval to continue to develop Spirit Mission in Milwaukee. The bishop granted Perez-Rodriguez permission to also go on a spiritual retreat from November to December. After the retreat, he returned to Milwaukee and continued to work for Spirit Mission.
Father Eleazar attracted and invited thousands of Catholic  parishioners to attend the weekend mass services at St Adalberto, and there were at least 20 church groups composed of youth, men, women, married couples, and others. During Perez-Rodriguez stay at the church, the church basement and restrooms have been remodeled, including several Statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe have been erected inside and outside the church. In the rear church yard, where there was once dirt and mud there's now a plaza with a fountain and a mural, according to parishioners.
In a mass gathering before leaving St. Adalbert, "This all happened thanks to you and your work...I'm grateful for all we've done together...Si se puede" (Yes we can), Perez-Rodriguez said to those attending.
Spirit Mission held their festival of Unity in late May at the Wisconsin State Fair to raise funds for their organization. In 2008, volunteers from Spirit Mission helped St. Adalbert raise more than $80,000 in profit during its church festival. Afterwards, parishioners and volunteers became disappointed when church remodeling stalled.
In May, Father Luis Pacheco, pastor and administrator of St. Adalbert's. Pacheco said, Spirit Mission Inc. and its festival was separate from St. Adalbert’s church, which was held in July.
"No decision has been made on a possible replacement for Perez-Rodriguez," Julie Wolf, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee said.

Connected by MOTOBLUR™ on T-Mobile

Charismatic South Side Catholic Priest To Give Last Mass

Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez to leave St. Adalbert Catholic Church to continue his work in developing a non-profit Spirit Mission

By H. Nelson Goodson
October 7, 2009

Milwaukee - On Wednesday, October 7, Father Eleazar Perez-Rodriguez, 49, said that he will be performing his last mass at St. Adalbert Catholic Church, 1923 W. Becher St. on October 28 at 6:00 p.m. and invited his parishioners and community to attend. Perez-Rodriguez, originally from Mexico is best known and credited for reviving St. Adalbert's parishioner attendance. The St. Adalbert Polish church was having difficulties in attracting new parishioners and was on the verge of closing in 2003, according to other Catholic priests in the South side neighborhood.
Last year, Perez-Rodriguez help created Spirit Mission a non-profit organization to provide spiritual assistance 24 hours - 7 days a week to people in need of service. Spirit Mission serves as a beacon of light providing support to the hospitalized and to those who fall into despair for whatever reason. He says, while at St. Adalbert, people came in for spiritual support and at times the parish office was closed or a priest wasn't available to help them. Once the parish office closed at night during the week, it would be very difficult for people to contact a priest in case of an emergency.
"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."
While in Milwaukee in 2005, he lost part of his left leg in a hit-and-run accident in front of his residence. An intoxicated driver lost control of his vehicle and hit Perez-Rodriguez while unloading groceries from his vehicle. The undocumented driver was later charged in the incident and was deported. Perez-Rodriguez forgave the driver while testifying in court.
Father Perez-Rodriguez said his Bishop Juan Guillermo Lopez Soto of Cuauhtémoc from the Archdiocese of Cutervo Maderas in Mexico has given his approval to continue to develop Spirit Mission in Milwaukee. The bishop has granted Perez-Rodriguez permission to go on a spiritual retreat from November to December. After the retreat, he will return to Milwaukee and continue to work for Spirit Mission.
Today, thousands of parishioners attend the weekend mass services, and there are at least 20 church groups composed of youth, men, women, married couples, and others. During Perez-Rodriguez stay at the church, the church basement and restrooms have been remodeled, including several Statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe have been erected inside and outside the church. In the rear church yard, where there was once dirt and mud there's now a plaza with a fountain and a mural, according to parishioners.
In recent mass gathering, "This all happened thanks to you and your work...I'm grateful for all we've done together...Si se puede" (Yes we can), Perez-Rodriguez said.
Spirit Mission held their festival of Unity in late May at the Wisconsin State Fair to raise funds for their organization. In 2008, volunteers from Spirit Mission helped St. Adalbert raise more than $80,000 in profit during its church festival. Afterwards, parishioners and volunteers became disappointed when church remodeling stalled.
In May, Father Luis Pacheco, pastor and administrator of St. Adalbert's. Pacheco said, Spirit Mission Inc. and its festival was separate from St. Adalbert’s church, which was held in July.
"No decision has been made on a possible replacement for Perez-Rodriguez," Julie Wolf, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee said.