C.O.G.S. Needs & History

Established in 1989, the Congregation of the Great Spirit is a predominantly Native American Indian parish of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, WI. In collaboration with other Native American churches in the city of Milwaukee, the Congregation founded and maintained the Siggenauk Interfaith Spiritual Center as an urban spiritual outreach and social welfare agency based at the parish from 1988 to 2004. Thereafter, the new Siggenauk Center has continued the outreach programs to this day.



  • Urgent Needs

    An updated list of items will be posted soon.

  • Ongoing Needs

    An updated list of items will be posted soon.

  • Ways to Support

    An updated list of ways to support will be posted soon.

  • Events

    An updated event calendar will be posted soon.

  • Winter Clothing/Coat Drive

    Parishioners can support this cause beginning in October through March. The donation bin is located in the coat room on the left of the main parish doors.

our parishes' history together

In May of 2010, at the suggestion of then St. Gabriel pastor Fr. Chuck Hanel and the chairperson of the Human Concerns Commission, Bill Neureuther, contacted the Archdiocese to inquire about partnering with another local parish which would be closer than the sister parish at that time, which was Our Lady of Nazareth Parish in Manacapura, Brazil. Bill initiated a conversation with Eva Diaz from the Archdiocese in order to meet the pastor at the Congregation of the Great Spirit, Fr. Ed Cook. In the Fall of 2010, Bill met with representatives from the Congregation of the Great Spirit to exchange histories and explore opportunities for collaboration.


On Sunday, February 20, 2011, Fr. Ed Cook concelebrated the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses at St. Gabriel. He brought with him an icon of Jesus as an Apache warrior and an incense pipe, as gifts from the Congregation of the Great Spirit. (The icon is currently in the Annunciation Room, sitting atop the storage cabinets). The following Sunday, February 27, Fr. Chuck Hanel concelebrated the 10 a.m. Mass at the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. There is no record of a gift given from St. Gabriel at that time. However, in 2014, marking the 25th anniversary of the Congregation of the Great Spirit, Fr. Tim Bickel, on behalf of St. Gabriel parish, presented their parish with a blessed print of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.


Through the years of collaboration, St. Gabriel Parish has supported the food pantry and social outreach efforts of the Congregation of the Great Spirit with proceeds from our Rice Bowls, Giving Tree,  St. Gabriel Yarn Ministry, and food drives. Every weekend, we continue to pray for the intentions of the Congregation of the Great Spirit, as they do for us.


The Congregation of the Great Spirit is always open to visitors to their 10 a.m. Sunday Mass, which includes cultural adaptations integrated from Native American spirituality. However, if you plan to attend as a family or small group, call ahead to make sure they can accommodate you, since their worship space is small. They are located at 1000 W. Lapham Blvd. in Milwaukee. The parish office number is (414) 672-6989.