Update: Read coverage in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and on Fox 6.
The former St. Adalbert’s property has been sold to a mosque for use as an Islamic house of worship and school.
The purchase by Masjid Al-Huda Milwaukee — also known as Guidance Inc. — closed last week.
They plan to use the facility for both worship services — five per day, between the hours of sunrise and sunset — and religious education for primarily middle and grade school-aged children, after the normal school day, and other events.
The mosque hopes to take occupancy by late January.
You can learn more about the mosque, which also has a location in Greenfield, here and on their Facebook page.
I want to officially welcome Al-Huda to South Milwaukee. We are a welcoming and increasingly diverse community, and the fact that Al-Huda sought out St. Adalbert’s is a reflection of that.
I personally look forward to getting to know the members of Al-Huda more, and to see them become a part of this community, as they have pledged to do. They want to open their doors to introduce themselves to South Milwaukee and educate residents about who they are — and, perhaps just as importantly, who they aren’t.
In meeting with them recently, I encouraged them to do just that.
(One way they’re showing community commitment already: They have told me they will continue to allow Lionsfest on their property.)
I also ask South Milwaukeeans to take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about our newest neighbors and their beliefs.
I fully realize there is an increased anti-Muslim sentiment, given recent world events. I pray not to see that here. We are fighting extremists, radicalized terrorists who preach jihad. That is not Masjid Al-Huda Milwaukee.
I turn to their statement about the most recent terror attacks …
Masjid Al-Huda, along with Muslims throughout Milwaukee, are heartbroken over the recent string of violent attacks that have been perpetrated over this past week. The stabbings that took place in London, the suicide bombings in Chad, and the shooting in San Bernardino has left people all over the world shaking their heads and asking the same question: “Why?”
Such acts are cowardly and carry no purpose other than promoting a militant agenda that finds no basis in any religion or humane ideology. We at Masjid Al-Huda encourage all members of the greater Milwaukee community to take this opportunity to fight such ideologies through acts of kindness directed towards everyone, despite our differences.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
One additional note: I know some have wondered why I have not written about this on my blog until now, and why the city did not formally announce this. The short answer: It’s not our place to do so. This is a real estate transaction that does not require city approval and, because of it, no public meetings, etc. Instead, it’s up to the buyer and seller to announce their plans. We must abide by their wishes. In this case, Divine Mercy and Masjid Al-Huda are announcing the sale to the media today and gave me permission to share the news on my blog.
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