About St. Agnes · Vermillion, South Dakota
St. Agnes Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Vermillion, South Dakota, serving the Clay County seat and the surrounding university community (home of the University of South Dakota). A parish of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, St. Agnes is part of the Holy Angels Pastorate and offers daily and weekend Mass, confession, Eucharistic Adoration, a parish school (preschool through 5th grade), and faith formation for youth and adults. Worship is celebrated in the parish's present church building on Walker Street, dedicated in 1982.
- Established
- 1884
- Patron
- St. Agnes of Rome
- Rector
- Fr. Terry Anderson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux Falls
Why belong here
St. Agnes is a long-standing Catholic parish in Vermillion that combines daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and a robust sacramental schedule with a parish elementary school and year-round faith formation for K–12 youth. As part of the Holy Angels Pastorate, it serves USD students, local families, and rural Clay County Catholics, with ministries spanning discipleship, evangelization, music, and a school-affiliated before-and-after care program (Red & Gold). It is a welcoming community that 'strives to grow in our spirituality, to share our human resources, and to walk together on our pilgrim journey to God's Heavenly Kingdom.'
Mass times at St. Agnes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 p.m.
- Sunday 8:30–9:15 a.m.
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (ending with Benediction at 7:00 p.m.)
Parish History
Catholic worship in the Vermillion area goes back to Jesuit missionary journeys of the 1840s. The first Catholic church in Vermillion itself was built in 1884–1885 under Father D.V. Collins and dedicated to St. Agnes. A tornado in 1889 nearly destroyed it; the structure was rebuilt in 1890. By the turn of the century the parish was again outgrowing its home, and in 1906–1907 a larger Gothic Revival church designed by Bavarian-trained architect Anton Dohmen was built. That 1907 church served the parish until 1974 and is now part of the National Register of Historic Places. In the 1960s and beyond the parish invested heavily in Catholic education: St. Agnes School was built in 1961 under Father Hugh Wolf, kindergarten was added in 1982, and a school addition was completed under Fr. John Fischer in 2015. The current Walker Street church was dedicated in 1982 through the efforts of Monsignor Mahowald after eight years of Mass being celebrated in the school gym. Father Rod Farke added the Church Hall in 2006.
- 1884 — Father D.V. Collins initiates first Catholic church in Vermillion, named St. Agnes
- 1889 — Tornado damages the church; rebuilt in 1890
- 1906 — Cornerstone laid for new Gothic Revival church designed by Anton Dohmen
- 1907 — New church opened September 21
- 1961 — St. Agnes Catholic School built under Father Hugh Wolf
- 1974 — 1907 church sold; Mass held in school gymnasium
- 1982 — Present church on Walker Street dedicated under Monsignor Mahowald; kindergarten added to school
- 1993 — Diocese closes St. Mary's, Garryowen; parishioners join St. Agnes
- 2006 — Father Rod Farke adds the Church Hall
- 2015 — Fr. John Fischer completes a school addition
Architecture of the Historic Church
The 1907 St. Agnes Church, no longer owned by the parish, was designed by Anton J. Dohmen, a Milwaukee-based architect who specialized in inexpensive church buildings and recycled plans from one commission to the next. The structure is a well-preserved example of a 'second generation' eastern South Dakota church, featuring structural tile, pressed metal decorative cornices, cast concrete bandcourses, simple interior plasterwork, and mass-produced stained-glass windows. With the loss of St. Theresa's in Beresford (razed 1991), it is the only remaining example of Dohmen's small-church plan in the state.
- Architect: Anton J. Dohmen, Milwaukee
- Builder: August Goetz
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Period of Significance: 1906
- Documented in the National Register of Historic Places
Mass & Sacraments
The parish offers daily Mass Monday through Friday, with a Wednesday Mass celebrated at the local nursing home. Weekend Masses include the Saturday Vigil at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings before Mass, with additional times available by appointment. Eucharistic Adoration is held every Friday morning through evening, concluding with Benediction.
- Weekend Mass: Saturday 5:00 p.m., Sunday 9:30 a.m.
- Weekday Mass: Mon/Tue/Thu 8:00 a.m., Wed 10:00 a.m. (Nursing Home), Fri 8:45 a.m.
- Confession: Sat 4:00–4:45 p.m., Sun 8:30–9:15 a.m., or by appointment
- Adoration: Fri 9:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. with Benediction
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
Faith Formation
Faith formation at St. Agnes serves youth and adults. Religious education (often called CCD or CYO) meets Wednesday evenings during the school year for students in grades K through 12. Middle and high school students meet in small peer groups with adult mentor teachers, while tenth graders gather as a class to prepare for the sacrament of Confirmation. Adult faith formation includes the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), supporting those preparing to be received into the Catholic Church at Easter.
- Religious Education for grades K–12 (Wed evenings)
- Confirmation preparation (grade 10)
- Small-group mentor model for middle and high school
- Adult faith formation / RCIA
- Director of Faith Formation: Kris Larson
St. Agnes Catholic School
Founded in 1961, St. Agnes Catholic School offers preschool through fifth grade on its campus at 909 E. Lewis Street. The school partners with parents as primary educators and integrates faith into daily life through weekly student-led Mass, Advent and Lent prayer services, Christian service projects, and sacramental preparation. The Red & Gold before- and after-school program is the only childcare option of its kind in Vermillion.
- Preschool through 5th grade
- Founded 1961 (under Father Hugh Wolf); kindergarten added 1982; school addition 2015
- Weekly school Mass prepared by students on a rotating basis
- Advent and Lent prayer services and special feast-day liturgies
- Red & Gold before- and after-school care
- Address: 909 E. Lewis, Vermillion, SD 57069 — (605) 624-4144
Staff & Clergy
St. Agnes is served by the clergy of the Holy Angels Pastorate, which includes the pastor, parochial vicars, and several deacons who assist with liturgy, faith formation, and facilities. Parish staff include a secretary, the director of faith formation (who also directs youth ministry and music), and the school principal and faculty.
- Fr. Terry Anderson — Pastor
- Fr. Kevin Doyle — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. David Roehrich — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. John Rutten — Priest Director, St. Thomas More Newman Center
- Deacon Dennis Davis
- Deacon Peter Sexton
- Deacon Joe Twidwell
- Mary Hamm — Parish Secretary
- Kris Larson — Director of Faith Formation, Youth Group Director, Music Ministry
- Mike Denz — Director of Discipleship and Evangelization
- Danielle Hanson — Business Manager
Outreach & Adult Ministries
Adult faith and outreach at the parish includes ongoing study and evangelization programs such as 'The Case for Jesus' hosted by Fr. Terry Anderson and Mike Denz. Parishioners are encouraged to share their gifts through liturgical ministry, music, faith formation, and the school community.
- Discipleship and Evangelization
- Music Ministry
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and liturgical volunteers
- Parish School support and volunteer opportunities
Location & Contact
St. Agnes Catholic Church is located at 416 Walker Street in Vermillion, South Dakota. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m.), and can be reached by phone or email for sacramental scheduling, registrations, and general inquiries.
- Address: 416 Walker Street, Vermillion, SD 57069
- Office Phone: (605) 624-4478
- Office Fax: (605) 624-4479
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (closed 12:00–1:00 p.m.)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father D.V. Collins1884
Initiated construction of the first Catholic church in Vermillion, named Saint Agnes.
- Father E.M. Hennessy1877
Built the second Fairview church dedicated to Mary (predecessor parish).
- Thomas Flood1902–c. 1950
Came to Vermillion in 1902 and led construction of the 1907 Gothic Revival church.
- Father Hugh Wolf1961
Built St. Agnes Catholic School in 1961.
- Monsignor Mahowalddedication 1982
Directed construction and dedication of the present Walker Street church.
- Father Rod Farke2006
Added the Church Hall onto the new church.
- Fr. John Fischer2015
Oversaw a school addition completed in 2015.