About Sacred Heart · Parkston, South Dakota
Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the small farming community of Parkston, South Dakota, in the state's southeastern Hutchinson County. Founded in 1887, the parish has served generations of mostly German-Russian Catholic immigrant families and today is one of nine parishes grouped into the Holy Apostles Pastorate within the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 9:00 AM, with daily Mass on Wednesday and Friday, and the parish maintains a faithful liturgical life of Eucharistic Adoration, frequent Confession, youth religious education, and adult formation programs like "That Man is You" and "She Shall Be Called Woman."
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas R. Clement (Holy Apostles Pastor)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux Falls
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers a faithful Catholic life in a tight-knit rural community, with Sunday and daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and Confession offered twice each week. Families can enroll children in the parish's Wednesday evening youth religious education program (grades 1–12), while adults can grow through parish-based programs like 'That Man is You' (men), 'She Shall Be Called Woman' (women), the rotating 'Cradle Catholics' class, and OCIA/RCIA for those seeking full initiation. As part of the Holy Apostles Pastorate, the parish shares its priests and staff with sister communities across south-central South Dakota, giving parishioners a strong sacramental and formation life rooted in more than 135 years of Catholic tradition on the prairie.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:00 – 8:45 AM
- Friday: 12:00 – 12:45 PM
Adoration times
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Parish History
Sacred Heart Parish was born with the town of Parkston in the 1880s. On October 28, 1886, a contract was let for the first Catholic Church, built on the corner of Fourth and Ash Streets. Rev. J. Lamesch celebrated the first Solemn High Mass on June 14, 1887, formally establishing the parish. The current church, designed by Sioux Falls architect Joseph Schwartz and built by H. Jueb Construction of Minneapolis, was completed in 1904 at a cost of $20,240; Bishop Thomas O'Garman of Sioux Falls laid its cornerstone on May 10, 1904 with all Parkston businesses closing for two hours. Father John J. Reiland — a Luxembourg-born priest ordained in Rome — took charge in 1897 and oversaw both the new church and a parochial school run by the Sisters of St. Joseph.
- First Mass celebrated June 14, 1887 by Rev. J. Lamesch
- New church designed by Joseph Schwartz of Sioux Falls and built in 1904
- Sacred Heart School erected 1914 under Father Dahlmann; closed 1971; demolished 1986
- Tornado of September 7, 1970 damaged the steeple and roof
Clergy & Staff
Sacred Heart is currently served through the Holy Apostles Pastorate. Fr. Tom Clement serves as Holy Apostles Pastor; Fr. Gary DeRouchey is the Parochial Vicar with particular responsibility for Parkston, Dimock, and Armour; Fr. Jim Friedrich also serves as Parochial Vicar; and Deacon Joseph Tegethoff assists. Pastorate staff supporting Sacred Heart include Director of Discipleship & Evangelization Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff, Business Manager Bailee Mogck, and Director of Facilities Marty Royston.
- Rev. Thomas R. Clement — Holy Apostles Pastor (Rectory: 605-337-3710; [email protected])
- Rev. Gary DeRouchey — Parochial Vicar, Parkston / Dimock / Armour
- Rev. Jim Friedrich — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Joseph Tegethoff
- Sr. Maribeth Wentzlaff — Director of Discipleship & Evangelization (605-760-5295)
- Bailee Mogck — HA Business Manager / Office Manager (Parkston)
- Diane Sandhoff — Sacred Heart parish contact
- Marty Royston — Director of Facilities ([email protected])
Holy Apostles Pastorate
Sacred Heart is one of nine parishes grouped into the Holy Apostles Pastorate of the Diocese of Sioux Falls. The pastorate brings together St. Paul the Apostle (Armour), Assumption of the BVM (Dante), SS. Peter and Paul (Dimock), St. Ann (Geddes), St. Mark (Lake Andes), St. Paul (Marty), Sacred Heart (Parkston), St. Peter the Apostle (Platte) and St. John the Baptist (Wagner). The arrangement allows smaller rural parishes to share priests, business staff, faith formation, and ministries. The pastorate's 'Set Ablaze' framework organizes its life around four pillars: Worship, Discipleship & Evangelization, Service, and Community.
- Pastorate Pastor: Fr. Tom Clement
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Jim Friedrich, Fr. Gary DeRouchey
- Deacon: Joseph Tegethoff
- Nine parishes across south-central South Dakota
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Parish faith formation is offered through the Holy Apostles Pastorate. Youth Religious Education for students in 1st through 12th grade meets Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:15 PM. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion is offered to second graders (with parental home formation supported by parish resources), and Confirmation is normally celebrated in 10th grade in the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Adults and older children seeking full initiation enter through OCIA / RCIA.
- Youth Religious Education (1st–12th grade, Wednesdays 7:00–8:15 PM)
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist preparation (2nd grade)
- Confirmation preparation (10th grade)
- OCIA / RCIA for adults and older children
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (pastorate-wide)
Adult & Family Ministries
Sacred Heart hosts two popular parish-based adult programs each week. 'That Man is You!' — an honest, science-and-saints-rooted look at the pressures men face — meets Monday mornings at 6:00 AM at Sacred Heart. 'She Shall Be Called Woman' (SHE), a Paradisus Dei program for women, meets Monday evenings at 6:00 PM at Sacred Heart. The pastorate also offers a monthly 'Cradle Catholics' class that rotates between the trio of parishes, designed for lifelong Catholics who want a deeper dive into Catholic teaching.
- That Man is You! — Mondays 6:00 AM
- She Shall Be Called Woman — Mondays 6:00 PM
- Cradle Catholics Class — monthly, rotating among pastorate parishes
- Hispanic Ministry (pastorate-wide)
- Resources for spiritual growth (Word of Life)
Sacraments
The parish offers preparation for and celebration of the seven Catholic sacraments. First Reconciliation is traditionally celebrated in 2nd grade, First Holy Communion in 2nd grade after First Reconciliation, and Confirmation in 10th grade in the Diocese of Sioux Falls; older candidates receive Confirmation through the OCIA process. The Anointing of the Sick can be requested at any time for the seriously ill or dying by calling the parish office (605-928-3676). Funerals are coordinated with the parish office and the funeral home to arrange wake, funeral, and burial.
- Baptism — through the parish office
- Reconciliation — Sundays 8:00–8:45 AM; Fridays 12:00–12:45 PM
- Eucharist (First Communion in 2nd grade; adult via OCIA)
- Confirmation (10th grade; adult via OCIA)
- Anointing of the Sick — call 605-928-3676
- Funerals — call 605-928-3676 to arrange with the funeral home
Contact, Office & Visiting
Sacred Heart's parish office is staffed on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The parish shares administrative contact information with the Holy Apostles Pastorate, including a parish email ([email protected]) and an older direct email ([email protected]). Anyone in need of a priest for Anointing of the Sick or funeral arrangements is encouraged to call the parish office. The parish is a partner of SS. Peter and Paul Parish in Dimock (146 W 1st St, Dimock, SD 57331) within the Holy Apostles Pastorate.
- Parish phone: 605-928-3676
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Alternate email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon / Wed / Fri, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Mailing address: PO Box 460, Parkston, SD 57366
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. J. Lamesch1887
Celebrated the first Solemn High Mass in Parkston on June 14, 1887, formally establishing the parish.
- Rev. John J. Reilandfrom 1897
Born May 9, 1868 in Luxembourg; ordained at the Gregorian University in Rome on October 28, 1891. Took charge of Sacred Heart in 1897 and oversaw the construction of the new church and a parochial school staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph.
- Father Dahlmannaround 1914
Oversaw the construction of Sacred Heart School in 1914 at a cost of $25,000.