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Holy Ghost Church Exterior

Holy Ghost History

HG History

The church of  the Holy Ghost was founded on the south side of Chippewa Falls in 1886.

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When Our Lady of the Pines (now Notre Dame Parish) had become too small to accommodate the growing numbers due to the increase of Catholic settlers on the south side of the Chippewa River, the south side of town made an ideal place for a new church. Fr. Goldsmith and his assistant, Fr. Strum, visited the lumber camps for donations. Purchasing a three-acre plot in the spring of 1886 on the corner of Main and Greenville streets, they broke ground for the original combined church and school. Volunteering their time and raising the necessary funds, the largely French-Canadian families worked together to build the church. Bishop Flasch blessed the cornerstone on June 29, 1886. On October 1, Fr. Strum became the first pastor and celebrated the first Mass in the new church on October 4. He and his parishioners continued collecting donations of materials and funds, and in 1887, built a new rectory and in 1888, a convent. The parish was incorporated on April 25, 1887.

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When they outgrew the original church building and with Bishop McGavick’s permission, the parishioners broke ground anew in March 1927, and the bishop blessed the cornerstone on May 15. The completed church was blessed on September 27, 1927. The parish’s continued growth necessitated a new school in 1949, a new convent in 1955, and a replacement rectory in 1958, after a fire destroyed the first around Christmas 1954.

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The Holy Ghost Fathers cared for the parish from 1900 until 1960, when they returned it to the care of the diocesan priests. To date, over 39 priests have served the parish.

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In 2008, the parish renovated the interior of the church with new flooring and paint. In 2016, parishioners successfully replaced roofs of the school, rectory, garage, and church. In other words, the same parish-based efforts that marked its founding characterize it today.

HG Ministries

Ministries, Apostolates and Councils

If you are interested in taking part in any of these parish ministries or apostolates, please contact the parish administration office. Our community is blessed with many volunteers and volunteer leaders. If you would like to connect, the parish administration office welcomes your call for names and contact information.

Liturgical Ministries

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EMHC

Gift Bearer

Musicians

Readers

Sacristans

Altar Servers

Ushers

Junior Sacristans

Parish Leadership

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Pastoral Council

Finance Council

MACS Education

  Commission

  Representative

Building and Grounds

  Committee

Ministry of Prayer

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Prayer Chain

Parish Intercessors

Parish Social Life

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PCCW

Knights of Columbus

Funeral Luncheons

Parish Picnic

Holy Ghost Fair Stand

Parish Maintenance

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Indoor

Monthly Church Cleaners

Seasonal Decorators

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Outdoor

Gardens

Yard Maintenance

Financial

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Money Counters

Finance Council

Social Justice

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Social Justice Committee

Homebound Ministry

Stitched with Love

Photo Gallery

HG Photo Gallery
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