CATHOLIC MULTICULTURAL CENTER/GUADALUPE CENTER

About Us

Brief History of Guadalupe Pastoral Center

In June of 1970, Bishop Cletus F. O'Donnell established a special office to serve the Hispanics in the Diocese of Madison and hired Dolores Ann Silha as the first Diocesan Director of Hispanic Ministry in Madison. In 1977 Dolores established Guadalupe Pastoral Center to assist in providing pastoral and social services to the Hispanic people in the Madison Area. She hired the Center's first director, Sr. Vivian Giddings, O.P. At that time the Mass in Spanish was celebrated in the chapel of the Saint Martin House. Soon the number of people became too large for the small chapel, and on September 6, 1992, the Mass was transferred to Holy Redeemer Church, in Madison.

In August 19, 2001, Bishop William Bullock announced plans for a new building to house the programs of Guadalupe Pastoral Center and Saint Martin House. On November 25th 2002, on the 25th anniversary of its foundation, Centro Pastoral Guadalupano moved to its new space at the Catholic Multicultural Center, where it continues to serve the growing numbers of the Hispanic/Latino families, and to celebrate their rich faith, culture, traditions and customs. ☼☼☼