Christ the King

About Christ the King Parish

Christ the King Parish has served Catholic families on Sioux Falls' west side since 1949. Today it is one of three congregations of the Divine Mercy Pastorate, sharing clergy, staff, and ministries with St. John Paul II Parish in Harrisburg and the Church of St. Mary in downtown Sioux Falls. The pastorate model, established in 2023 under the Diocese of Sioux Falls' 'Set Ablaze' plan, keeps each parish's identity intact while pooling resources for worship, faith formation, and outreach.

History

Established in 1949, Christ the King grew alongside the post-war expansion of Sioux Falls' west side. Generations of families have passed through Christ the King Elementary, which has been a part of Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools for more than 50 years. The most significant recent chapter came in 2023, when Bishop Donald DeGrood's pastoral planning grouped Christ the King with St. Mary and the newer St. John Paul II parish to form the Divine Mercy Pastorate — pooling resources and staff while preserving the distinct worshipping community at 1501 W. 26th Street.

Divine Mercy Pastorate

The Divine Mercy Pastorate is a single pastoral team serving three parishes across the Sioux Falls area: Christ the King (Sioux Falls), St. John Paul II (Harrisburg), and the Church of St. Mary (Sioux Falls). Pastorate offices, faith formation, and communications staff are based at the Christ the King campus. The pastorate is part of the Diocese of Sioux Falls' 'Set Ablaze' pastoral plan, which Bishop Donald DeGrood launched to strengthen parish life and respond to the diocese's growth.

• Pastorate formed in 2023
• Three parishes share one pastor (Fr. Paul Rutten) and staff team
• Central offices located on the Christ the King campus

Clergy

Christ the King is served by the pastorate's pastoral team, including the pastor, two parochial vicars, and deacons.

• Rev. Paul Rutten — Pastor
• Rev. Mark Lichter — Parochial Vicar
• Rev. Jacob Doty — Parochial Vicar
• Deacon Glenn Ridder
• Deacon Peter Cote

Mass & Sacrament Schedule

Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening at 4:00 PM and twice on Sunday at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Weekday Masses run Tuesday through Friday with seasonal variations, and Thursday mornings are followed by an extended block of Eucharistic Adoration. Confessions are heard twice on Wednesdays and twice on Saturdays.

• Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM
• Sunday: 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM
• Tuesday: 5:15 PM
• Wednesday: 7:00 AM (school year)
• Thursday: 7:00 AM (school year) / 8:30 AM (summer)
• Friday: 7:00 AM
• Adoration: Thursday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Confession: Wednesday 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM; Saturday 2:30 PM and 5:00 PM

Christ the King Elementary School

Christ the King Elementary is one of six elementary schools in the Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools system and has educated Sioux Falls children for over 50 years. Located on the parish campus at 1801 S. Lake Avenue, the school combines faith formation with rigorous academics; teachers emphasize differentiated instruction, small-group learning, and 21st-century technology integration. In 2024, Christ the King was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, recognizing its commitment to whole-child Catholic education. Mrs. Julie Kolbeck served as principal at the time of the award.

• Part of Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools
• Address: 1801 S. Lake Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57105
• Phone: (605) 338-5100
• 2024 National Blue Ribbon School
• Principal: Mrs. Julie Kolbeck
• Founded as a parish school more than 50 years ago

Faith Formation & Discipleship

Faith formation at Christ the King is part of the wider Divine Mercy Pastorate catechetical team, which prepares children and adults for the sacraments and walks with families throughout the year.

• Nancy Werner — Director of Discipleship & Evangelization
• Justine Olawsky — Director of Catechesis
• Rachel Mueller — Coordinator of Family Discipleship
• Hannah Flaten — Coordinator of Youth Discipleship
• Bryn Devlin — Coordinator of Youth Ministry

Worship & Liturgy

The Worship team coordinates Sunday and weekday liturgies, ministers of hospitality, music, and the seasons of the liturgical year. Music at Christ the King is led by Music Director Rebecca Dobbs.

• Barbara Workman — Coordinator of Liturgy
• Rebecca Dobbs — Music Director (Christ the King)
• Diana Kappen — Coordinator of Weddings and Funerals
• Lora Pelzer — Coordinator of Pastoral Outreach

Parish Ministries & Outreach

Christ the King offers a wide range of service and prayer ministries through the Divine Mercy Pastorate, from corporal works of mercy to vocations support and women's fellowship.

• Society of St. Vincent de Paul — home visits, diaper ministry, thrift-store support
• Culture of Life Committee
• Creation Care Ministry
• Bereavement Ministry
• Funeral Ministry (meal service after funeral Masses)
• Nurse Ministry
• The Banquet
• Serra Ministry (prayer and financial support for seminarians and religious vocations)
• Women's groups (fellowship, service projects, and spiritual gatherings)

Communications & Operations

Day-to-day operations of the parish and pastorate are supported by a communications team, finance staff, and facilities crew, many of whom are based at the Christ the King campus.

• James Carrell — Director of Communications
• Maggie Lynch — Communications Assistant
• Jan Lenz — Accountant
• Martin Lopez — Accountant
• Harlie Hacecky — Executive Assistant
• David Siemonsma — Facilities Manager
• Zachary Long — Facilities Assistant/Technician
• Adam Lange — Custodian

Sacraments

Parishioners and visitors are invited to celebrate the seven sacraments with the Christ the King community. Weddings and funerals are coordinated through the parish office; preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and Baptism is offered through the faith formation team; and Reconciliation is offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

• Baptism preparation
• First Holy Communion
• Confirmation preparation
• Marriage (contact: Diana Kappen, Coordinator of Weddings and Funerals — (605) 332-1493)
• Anointing of the Sick
• Funeral Ministry
• Reconciliation (Wed. & Sat.)

Visiting & Contact

Christ the King welcomes visitors at 1501 W. 26th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105. Office hours run 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday–Thursday and 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Friday. The parish phone line is (605) 332-5477 and the main email is [email protected]. Because Christ the King is part of the Divine Mercy Pastorate, registering in the parish and most sacramental requests are handled through the shared pastorate office.

• Address: 1501 W. 26th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57105
• Phone: (605) 332-5477
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.divinemercysf.org/ and https://www.ctkparish-sf.org/
• Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–3:00 PM