| Holy Spirit Catholic Church began with the return of Rev. Thomas
J. McPhillips, a past assistant at Holy Family Catholic Church, to
Mitchell in 1962. His purpose was to begin a second parish, Holy
Spirit. The parish was created by uniting over four hundred families
from the western part of Mitchell. The first worship was held June
29, 1963 with a Mass in a funeral parlor chapel. With
a congregation formed, they needed somewhere to meet so they moved
to the second floor of City Hall where the crowds were better
accommodated with the larger facilities. The next step was to build
a rectory that would provide space for meetings and a chapel for
daily mass. Construction was started on the new rectory.
Groundbreaking for a new school building took place
in 1963, and construction was finished before the opening of school
in the fall of 1964. The school was under the direction oft he
Presentation sisters for the first seventeen years. the school
auditorium became the parish church as well as the school cafeteria,
gymnasium, the parish social center. To accommodate the changing
needs, the auditorium was converted almost daily from one use to
another. The men became great interior decorators with their
practice moving chairs and kneelers after Mass to set up the dining
facilities.
During this time, the Altar Society ladies often
tantalized the people with the aroma of fine foods which were
prepared for dinners which helped pay for the new facility. Along
with the dinners, dances on the parking lot also helped pay for the
building costs.
In August, 1968, the Rev. McPhillips passed on his
duties to the Rev. James M. Joyce, the second pastor of the parish.
It was during this time that the parish began to seriously consider
a new church building. In December 1975 the Parish Council began
making plans to build. Groundbreaking for the new building was on
July 26, 1976. In the time of about a year the new building was
almost complete. The Mass of Dedication was offered by Bishop
Lambert Hoch on Pentecost Sunday, 1977.
The new contemporary design for the church was
worked in to the design of the main school and adjoined the to the
school at the north. With a capacity of 570 people, the new church
dominated the sight at 1401 West Cedar due to its unusual design and
architectural lines. With the guidance of God and the cooperation of
the parish, the new church was created.
On August 1, 1980, the Rev. Joyce was transferred to
Woonsocket and the Rev. David Melmer, TOR, Woonsocket, became the
new pastor at Holy Spirit Parish.
During this same time, two other disciples served
the Holy Spirit Parish. The Rev. Colman McGarril, TOR, served as
Chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital and the Rev. Earl Jennings, TOR,
served as Spiritual Life Director. Rev. David Melmer was with Holy
Spirit Parish only a short time when he passed away on November 16,
1981. Rev. Colman McGarril was appointed to fill his shoes. Rev.
McGarril served the parish until May, 1988.
Rev. Steve Barnett filled the position in July,
1988. He served our parish until July, 1995.
In 1995, Fr. Richard Fox was assigned to Holy
Spirit. During his time in Mitchell, it was determined that both
Holy Family and Holy Spirit Parishes should construct an addition to
the existing school to bring Catholic education n Mitchell to one
location. Groundbreaking was held for the new school on May 1, 2000.
The dedication Mass for the new John Paul II Elementary School was
held by Bishop Carlson in February, 2001.
Fr. Fox was transferred to Flandreau and Egan in
July, 2001.
Fr. Andrew Swietochowski transferred to our parish
in July, 2001 from Jefferson, South Dakota to take over and is our
pastor today.
|