About Sacred Heart · Yankton, South Dakota
Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Yankton, South Dakota, founded in 1871 — making it one of the oldest parishes in the state and closely tied to Bishop Martin Marty, who established his episcopal see in Yankton during the Dakota Territory era. The parish is part of the Diocese of Sioux Falls and worships at 509 Capitol Street in Yankton, where it serves a vibrant faith community with three Sunday Masses (including a monthly Spanish Mass), weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and an associated K-8 Catholic school (Sacred Heart School) educating roughly 300 students. The parish shares ministry with neighboring St. Benedict Parish, with both communities working closely together on faith formation and facilities.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas Anderson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux Falls
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in South Dakota, with roots that reach back to Bishop Martin Marty's original see in Yankton and a community that has supported Catholic education continuously since 1881. Today the parish offers eight Masses a week (including a monthly Spanish Mass), weekly Eucharistic Adoration with Vespers, and a full schedule of Reconciliation times on Thursdays. Families who belong are tied into Sacred Heart School (PK-8, about 300 students) and a web of parish life — Friends of Sacred Heart (FOSH) parent organization, religious education, and close partnership with neighboring St. Benedict Parish — making it an especially strong fit for families and anyone seeking a historic, multi-generational Catholic community along the Missouri River.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
- Thursday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Thursday 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday 12:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Vespers at 8:00 PM)
About Sacred Heart Parish
Sacred Heart Parish (509 Capitol Street, Yankton, SD) is a Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Sioux Falls serving Yankton and the surrounding Missouri River region. The parish offers Mass seven days a week — including a Saturday vigil, three Sunday Masses (one in Spanish on the 4th Sunday), and weekday Masses Tuesday through Friday — alongside weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, and Rosary devotions. The parish works in close partnership with neighboring St. Benedict Parish on faith formation, Catholic schooling, and shared facilities.
History of the Parish
Sacred Heart was established in 1871 in Yankton, then the territorial capital of Dakota. Its founding predates Bishop Martin Marty's arrival in 1876, and Marty — the Swiss-born Benedictine who became the first Catholic bishop of South Dakota in 1889 — chose Yankton as his episcopal see, making Sacred Heart effectively his home parish. The parish's first century of life is documented in Robert F. Karolevitz's 'Pioneer Church in a Pioneer City: The Story of Sacred Heart Parish, Yankton, South Dakota, 1871–1971' (North Plains Press, 1971).
- 1871 — Parish founded in Yankton, Dakota Territory
- 1881 — Sisters of Mercy of the Sacred Heart Convent open Yankton's first parochial school at Cedar and Fifth Streets (called St. Martin's)
- 1884 — First Sacred Heart School built west of the present church
- 1922 — Larger two-story brick school completed at 5th and Capitol
- Late 20th century — Parish split; St. Benedict Parish created out of Sacred Heart territory
- 1997 — St. Benedict's new church built (Sacred Heart parishioners supported the project)
- 2002 — New PK-4 classrooms added on to the St. Benedict church building
- 2011 — New 5th-8th grade school building completed at Sacred Heart; 1922 brick school mostly razed
Sacred Heart School
Sacred Heart School is a PK-8 Catholic elementary school rooted in the parish's 1881 educational mission. Originally begun by the Sisters of Mercy of the Sacred Heart Convent, today the school serves about 300 students from roughly 200 families and has more than 25 staff members. Students follow a Christ-centered curriculum with small class sizes, state accreditation, and exploratory classes in Spanish, Intro to Engineering, Art, Computers, P.E., and Music. Shared values — Compassion, Respect, Honesty, Stewardship, and a Christ-like Lifestyle — frame the school's culture.
- 1881 — Sisters of Mercy open Yankton's first parochial school in connection with Sacred Heart
- 1884 — First schoolhouse built west of the present church
- 1922 — Two-story brick school completed at 5th and Capitol
- 2002 — New PK-4 classrooms added on to St. Benedict Church building
- 2011 — New 5th-8th grade building completed at the Sacred Heart Parish site; 1922 brick school largely razed (gymnasium preserved)
Friends of Sacred Heart (FOSH)
Friends of Sacred Heart School (FOSH) is the parish's home-and-school organization. Its mission is to develop faith and community between parents, teachers, and students, sponsoring social and educational events throughout the year to promote cooperation and Christian love. All parents of Sacred Heart School students are automatic members; adult members of both Sacred Heart and St. Benedict parishes are invited to participate.
- Provides financial and moral support to Sacred Heart School and its staff
- Helps fund continued Catholic education for parish children
- Hosts special events and fundraisers during the school year
- Officers include President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer
Clergy & Staff
Sacred Heart is currently served by four priests — a pastor and three parochial vicars — making it one of the better-staffed parishes in the diocese. Together with parish and school staff, they minister to a large faith community on the Missouri River.
- Rev. Thomas Anderson — Pastor
- Rev. Robert Lacey — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Thi Pham — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Nicholas Haiar — Parochial Vicar
Visit & Contact
Sacred Heart Parish is located in downtown Yankton at 509 Capitol Street, just blocks from the Missouri River and the historic Meridian Bridge. The parish office can be reached by phone at (605) 665-3655 or by email at [email protected]; the parish also operates under the Yankton Catholic Pastorate umbrella linked at stmartintours.org.
- Address: 509 Capitol Street, Yankton, SD 57078
- Phone: (605) 665-3655
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: linked from the Diocese of Sioux Falls parish page (stmartintours.org / yanktoncatholic.org)