[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 67 (Thursday, April 16, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S1818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE CENTENNIAL OF MESSMER HIGH SCHOOL

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize Messmer High 
School in Milwaukee, WI, on their 100th anniversary. I am pleased to 
honor this organization and to commemorate this historic milestone.
  Founded by Archbishop Sebastian Messmer in 1926 in the city of 
Milwaukee, Messmer High School was built on a vision of uniting 
Milwaukee's Catholic parishes and providing a high-quality education 
rooted in faith for the city's immigrant families. For the past 100 
years, Messmer has been a cornerstone of education and opportunity in 
Milwaukee.
  In the 1920s, Milwaukee was a diverse industrial city defined by 
established immigrant communities. There were large German, Polish, 
Italian, Mexican, and Eastern European immigrant populations throughout 
the city, many of which were working-class and low-income. Throughout 
its early years, led by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and the 
Capuchin Friars, Messmer quickly became a thriving center of academic 
excellence, spiritual formation, and community spirit.
  Over the past century, Messmer has earned a reputation for its 
welcoming, family-like culture and a commitment to preparing students 
for both college and the trades. After the Great Depression and World 
War II, the school evolved with the changing landscape of Milwaukee to 
embrace new generations of students from diverse backgrounds. Messmer 
has become one of Milwaukee's most integrated Catholic high schools 
through its model of inclusion and faith in action.
  In the 1980s, the archdiocese announced plans to close the school. 
However, a group of determined parents and alumni refused to let 
Messmer's mission die. This grassroots effort is deemed the ``Messmer 
Miracle'' and helped reopen the school while instilling a lasting sense 
of pride in the institution. Countless people and families have been 
shaped by Messmer over the past 100 years through the education it 
provides and the strong sense of community it fosters.
  As we honor this significant milestone for Messmer High School, I am 
grateful for their continued education of Milwaukee's youth, and I look 
forward to its continued success in the years to come.

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