About St. John de Britto Parish · Britton, South Dakota
St. John de Britto Parish is a Roman Catholic parish serving the small farming and ranching community of Britton in Marshall County, northeastern South Dakota. Founded in 1891, the parish belongs to the Diocese of Sioux Falls and is named for St. John de Britto, the 17th-century Portuguese Jesuit missionary to India who was martyred and canonized in 1947. It is one of eight parishes that make up the Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate, a family of Catholic parishes spanning the rural northeast of the state. Known for its dependable schedule of daily Masses alongside a Saturday Vigil, the parish is a quiet but steady spiritual anchor for the region.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- St. John de Britto (Portuguese Jesuit missionary to India, martyred 1693, canonized 1947)
- Rector
- Rev. Ken Lulf (Pastor of the Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate, which includes St. John de Britto)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux Falls
Why belong here
St. John de Britto is one of the few Catholic parishes in northeastern South Dakota that offers daily Mass several days a week, making it a genuine daily-Mass community for Catholics in Marshall County and beyond. As part of the eight-parish Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate, it shares priests, faith formation, and sacramental ministry with sister parishes across the region, so worshippers can plug into a wider Catholic network while belonging to a small-town parish family. It is a quiet, rural community where parishioners know one another and where the farming and ranching rhythm of the prairie sets the pace of parish life.
Mass times at St. John de Britto Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 4:50 PM (before the 5:00 PM Vigil Mass)
St. John de Britto Parish — Catholic Faith in Britton, South Dakota
St. John de Britto Parish is the Catholic parish of Britton, South Dakota, and the surrounding Marshall County farm and ranch country. Established in 1891 and part of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, it is one of eight parishes that together form the Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate. The parish sits at 812 8th Street, one block south of Highway 10, directly across from the Marshall County Courthouse.
History
Founded in 1891, St. John de Britto grew up with the town of Britton, which was platted in 1884 by Colonel Isaac Britton and H.R. Turner. Its patron saint is Blessed (now Saint) John de Britto, the 17th-century Portuguese Jesuit missionary to India, martyred in 1693 and canonized in 1947 — an apt patron for a frontier mission parish on the northern Great Plains.
- Parish established: 1891
- Town of Britton platted: 1884
- Patron: St. John de Britto SJ, canonized 1947
Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate
St. John de Britto is grouped with seven other Catholic parishes across northeastern South Dakota into the Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate. The pastorate model allows small rural parishes to share priests and sacramental ministry across a wide region. Together, the eight parishes cover Day and Marshall counties.
- St. John de Britto — Britton
- Sacred Heart — Eden
- St. Joseph — Grenville
- St. John the Baptist — Rosholt
- St. Kateri Tekakwitha — Sisseton
- St. Peter — Sisseton
- Immaculate Conception — Waubay
- Christ the King — Webster
Clergy & Staff
Since July 5, 2023, the parish has been served as part of the Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate by its pastor, Fr. Ken Lulf, and parochial vicar Fr. Doug Binsfeld. Fr. Albert Cizewski, who served St. John de Britto as pastor for many years, requested and was granted senior priest status effective July 5, 2023.
- Rev. Ken Lulf — Pastor, Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate
- Rev. Doug Binsfeld — Parochial Vicar, Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate; also Chaplain for Abbey of the Hills Inn & Retreat Center
- Rev. Albert Cizewski — former pastor, now senior priest
Visit & Contact
The parish church is located in the heart of Britton, easy to find for anyone traveling through Marshall County.
- Address: 812 8th St., Britton, SD 57430
- Phone: (605) 448-5379
- Fax: (605) 448-5388
- Mailing: PO Box 108, Britton, SD 57430
- Location: One block south of Highway 10, across from the Marshall County Courthouse
Fr. Albert Cizewski — 50 Years of Priesthood
Fr. Albert Cizewski, longtime pastor of St. John de Britto, was profiled in the Diocese of Sioux Falls' Bishop's Bulletin for marking fifty years of priesthood spanning three countries: Poland, Canada, and the United States. He drew particular strength from time spent in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. After his years at Britton he requested, and received, senior priest status effective July 5, 2023.
- Ordained 50+ years ago
- Became a Canadian citizen while serving parishes in Canada (1984–1990)
- Came to the Diocese of Sioux Falls after meeting Bishop Dudley while visiting a Polish priest in Gettysburg, SD
- Transitioned to senior priest status, July 5, 2023
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Albert CizewskiThrough July 2023
Long-time pastor of St. John de Britto; requested and was granted senior priest status effective July 5, 2023. Previously ministered in Canada and Poland before coming to the Diocese of Sioux Falls.
- Rev. Ken LulfFrom July 5, 2023
Appointed Pastor of the full Our Lady of the Snows Pastorate (Britton, Eden, Grenville, Rosholt, Sisseton x2, Waubay, Webster) effective July 5, 2023; previously pastor of Sacred Heart, Eden and St. Joseph, Grenville.