About Holy Cross · Timber Lake, South Dakota
Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic parish in Timber Lake, South Dakota, part of the Diocese of Rapid City. It is joined with two neighboring mission parishes — St. Mary's in Isabel and Queen of the Holy Rosary in Trail City — to form a tri-parish community served by one pastor. The parish was started in 1910 by a small group of Catholic faithful meeting in homes before a permanent church was constructed, and it has been a continuous presence in the community ever since. Today it offers weekend Mass, faith formation for children and youth (including the EDGE and Life Teen programs), and an active network of liturgical, social, and service ministries.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- Holy Cross (the Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
- Rector
- Father Brian Lane
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rapid City
Why belong here
Holy Cross, together with its sister parishes St. Mary's in Isabel and Holy Rosary in Trail City, is one of the few places in this part of northwestern South Dakota where the Catholic faithful on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation can gather regularly for Mass, the sacraments, and faith formation. The parish runs a robust youth program (EDGE for middle schoolers and Life Teen for high schoolers), trains and schedules lay liturgical ministers across all three churches, and supports an active Holy Cross Altar Society, Knights of Columbus council, Parish Pastoral Council, and Social Justice and Hospitality committees. For Catholics living in or passing through Timber Lake, it is a welcoming rural community rooted in more than a century of faith, prayer, and service.
Mass times at Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- The Sacrament of Penance is available — refer to the parish bulletin/calendar for the current schedule (the parish directs those interested to contact the rectory office for times)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is supported through the parish's Eucharistic Minister ministry; specific times are listed in the monthly bulletin/calendar
Parish History
Holy Cross Catholic Church in Timber Lake traces its beginnings to 1910, when a small group of Catholic faithful first met for worship in the home of Judge John Mock. The following year the community built its first church — St. Joseph's — and on August 18, 1911, Father Henry Kipp celebrated the first Mass there. Mary Mock, daughter of Judge John Mock, was the first person married in the new building. The parish grew steadily and in 1919 was chosen to receive five Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary from Dubuque, who opened St. Joseph School the same year.
- Parish began in 1910 in the home of Judge John Mock, then above a local bakery.
- First permanent church, St. Joseph's, dedicated August 18, 1911 by Father Henry Kipp.
- First marriage in the new church: Mary Mock, daughter of Judge John Mock.
- Five Presentation Sisters arrived from Dubuque in 1919 to staff St. Joseph School.
Sisters of the Presentation & Catholic Schools
From 1919 until 1981 the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary served the Timber Lake community. They opened St. Joseph School in 1919 with around 100 students in grades 1–8, eventually expanding to a boarding program and full high school by 1921. After the high school closed in 1936, Sister Mary Callista Ryan was hired by the public school district to continue teaching high school classes in the St. Joseph building for several years. The original school was destroyed by fire on January 19, 1950; a new Holy Cross School opened in 1952 and a separate convent was dedicated September 15, 1963. The school ultimately closed in 1979 because of low enrollment, and the sisters withdrew from the parish in 1981.
- St. Joseph School opened 1919 with ~100 students in grades 1–8.
- Boarding students accepted beginning 1920; full high school by 1921.
- Original school destroyed by fire January 19, 1950.
- Replacement Holy Cross School opened 1952.
- New convent dedicated September 15, 1963.
- Holy Cross School of Religion operated 1979–1981 for Timber Lake and its mission parishes.
- Sisters withdrew from Timber Lake in 1981.
Tri-Parish Community
Today Holy Cross shares one pastor with two mission parishes: St. Mary's in Isabel and Queen of the Holy Rosary in Trail City. The pastor and Parish Pastoral Council serve the spiritual and pastoral needs of all three communities together, with weekend Masses rotating among the three churches by month and parish committees spanning the whole tri-parish area.
- Holy Cross (Timber Lake) — Sunday 10:00 am; Saturday 5:00 pm.
- St. Mary's (Isabel) — rotating Saturday 7:00 pm and Sunday 8:00 am.
- Queen of the Holy Rosary (Trail City) — rotating Saturday 7:00 pm and Sunday 8:00 am.
- Single pastor, Father Brian Lane, serves all three parishes.
Pastor & Staff
Holy Cross is currently served by Father Brian Lane, who was installed as pastor of the tri-parish community on July 29, 2018 by Bishop Robert D. Gruss. Parish staff include Cara Biegler (secretary) and Becky Maciejewski (bookkeeper). The rectory office can be reached at 605-865-3653 or by email at [email protected].
- Pastor: Father Brian Lane (installed July 29, 2018).
- Secretary: Cara Biegler.
- Bookkeeper: Becky Maciejewski.
- Contact: 605-865-3653 / [email protected].
Sacraments
Holy Cross celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Preparation is offered for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, and the parish assists couples preparing for marriage and families arranging baptisms. The sick and homebound can be visited for Anointing of the Sick by contacting the rectory.
- Baptism — preparation by parish; contact rectory.
- Eucharist / First Communion — preparation through Faith Formation.
- Confirmation — preparation for teens.
- Penance / Reconciliation (Confession) — see monthly schedule.
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the rectory.
- Marriage — couples meet with the pastor to begin preparation.
- Holy Orders — Vocations Committee supports discernment.
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
The parish runs a cradle-to-grave Faith Formation program, including the Blessed First Reconciliation Program and ongoing faith development for children and teens. Middle-school youth (grades 6–8) participate in EDGE, a six-semester curriculum covering the Creed, the Church, Sacraments, Prayer, Christian Morality, and Catholic Social Justice. High-school youth participate in Life Teen, which integrates prayer, worship, catechetical instruction, small-group discussion, activities, social events, and service.
- EDGE (grades 6–8): Creed, Church, Sacraments, Prayer, Christian Morality, Catholic Social Justice.
- Life Teen (high school): prayer, catechesis, small groups, socials, service.
- Blessed First Reconciliation Program.
- Newman Connection support for Catholic teens in high school.
Parish Ministries & Committees
A wide range of parish committees and lay ministries put the parish's pastoral vision into action. Liturgical ministries support every Mass, while parish councils oversee faith formation, social justice outreach, hospitality, discipleship, building and grounds, and finances. Lay societies such as the Holy Cross Altar Society, St. Mary's Guild, and the local Knights of Columbus council provide prayer, service, and fellowship.
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Greeters, Lectors, Liturgical Linen Service, Sacristans, Ushers, Music Ministry, Environment & Decorating.
- Committees: Faith Formation, Liturgy, Building & Grounds, Social Justice, Hospitality, Discipleship, Vocations (Spiritual Motherhood).
- Councils: Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council.
- Societies: Holy Cross Altar Society, St. Mary's Guild, Knights of Columbus.
Architecture & Stained-Glass Windows
The Holy Cross Church at 511 E Street is a small Catholic church in northwestern South Dakota notable for its seven stained-glass windows, each woven through with a recurring 'tree of life' motif. The themes of the windows are baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, the tree of life itself, creation, the twelve tribes and twelve apostles, and the New Jerusalem — together forming a visual summary of salvation history that is a point of local pride.
- Church address: 511 E Street, Timber Lake, SD.
- Seven stained-glass windows with a 'tree of life' motif.
- Window themes: baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, tree of life, creation, twelve tribes and twelve apostles, New Jerusalem.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Henry Kippcirca 1911 onward
Celebrated the first Mass in the original St. Joseph's church in Timber Lake in August 1911; welcomed the Presentation Sisters to the parish in 1919.
- Father Brian Laneinstalled July 29, 2018
Installed as pastor of the tri-parish community of St. Mary's (Isabel), Holy Rosary (Trail City), and Holy Cross (Timber Lake) by Bishop Robert D. Gruss on July 29, 2018; continues to serve as pastor.