Catholic Multicultural Center

Organization: Catholic Multicultural Center

Contact Person:-

Phone: 608-442-4019

Bilingual Services: Yes

Services Rendered:
 * Immigration Services
 * Education and Employment Programs
 * Classes
 * Employment Search Assistance
 * Food Service Training
 * Computer Lab
 * Youth Activities
 * Basic Needs
 * Food Pantry
 * Personal Essentials Pantry
 * Free Meal
 * Health Advocacy
 * Shower and Laundry
 * Community Engagement through...
 * Care for Creation
 * Rural Service

History/Description:

Mission

The Catholic Multicultural Center is dedicated to helping our brothers and sisters in need by serving the whole person. We accomplish this mission by meeting immediate needs, providing educational services, and offering spiritual and cultural activities to recognize and respect the dignity of each person.

History

...

With the arrival of more and more Spanish-speaking migrant workers in Wisconsin, Centro Guadalupe was formed by Dolores Ann Silha in 1977 to aid the Latino population and worked alongside St. Martin House. Much of the early work of Centro Guadalupe was to provide spiritual assistance to families because no local parishes had bi-lingual clergy or staff. Its offerings included children’s catechism classes, sacramental preparation, clothing program, Spanish Mass and English classes. Though they shared the same building, Centro Guadalupe was operated by the Diocese Office of Hispanic Ministry and was a separate organization from St. Martin House. The current CMC food pantry was begun by Centro Guadalupe to assist newly arrived immigrants struggling to feed their families.

In 2002, Centro Guadalupe and St. Martin House officially united and became the Catholic Multicultural Center when the original building was razed and the new Center was built. After seeing the impoverished state of the original building, Diocese of Madison Bishop William Bullock led the way in building the new Center in order to better serve the community and meet its needs with dignity. The new building was designed and built to accommodate the services the Center offered, like the free meal program and educational classes.

In 2009, the CMC hit a bump in the road when the Madison Diocese, which had operated the CMC since the early 90s, closed the Center due to budget problems caused by the economic downturn of 2008. However after much outcry, immediate rallying of the community, and the leadership of one local parish, the CMC re-opened two months later under Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish. The CMC is now stronger than ever, continually growing and changing to better serve the needs of the community.