About St. John Paul II Parish · Harrisburg, South Dakota
St. John Paul II Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Sioux Falls that serves the growing southern edge of Sioux Falls and the Harrisburg, South Dakota area. Because it does not yet have its own church building, the parish operates as part of the Divine Mercy Pastorate alongside Christ the King and the Church of St. Mary, sharing clergy and staff. Weekend Masses are currently celebrated at Shalom Lutheran Church (Saturday evening) and at the Harrisburg South Middle School / Harrisburg High School (Sunday morning). The parish is named for Pope Saint John Paul II and is working toward constructing its own permanent church near the intersection of 271st Street and Louise Avenue, a plan that Bishop Donald DeGrood has approved after a multi-year feasibility study.
- Established
- 2014
- Patron
- Saint John Paul II (Pope)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul Rutten
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls
Why belong here
St. John Paul II is a young, growing parish designed specifically for Catholic families in south Sioux Falls and Harrisburg — a community that is actively working with Bishop DeGrood to build its own permanent church home. As part of the Divine Mercy Pastorate, parishioners benefit from a wider range of Mass times, Faith Formation for ages 3 through 12th grade (including the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for ages 3–6), a robust youth ministry and youth group for middle and high schoolers, adult formation through OCIA and women's study groups, and shared pastoral staff across three parishes. It is a place where, in the pastor's words, 'Christ is alive and at work in our daily lives' — a parish built by and for the families moving into one of South Dakota's fastest-growing corners.
Mass times at St. John Paul II Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM (before the 4:30 PM Mass at Shalom Lutheran)
Adoration times
- Thursday following Mass until 3:00 PM (at Christ the King, pastorate-wide)
History of St. John Paul II Parish
St. John Paul II Parish was announced in April 2014 as the newest Catholic parish in the Diocese of Sioux Falls, created specifically to serve the southern rim of Sioux Falls and the rapidly growing Harrisburg area. It was the first new parish in the diocese since St. Katharine Drexel in 2004, and was unveiled at the same time the diocese announced 23 rural parish mergers elsewhere in eastern South Dakota. The intent of diocesan planners was not to move Catholics off existing parish rolls but 'to prepare for continued growth' in the booming south-corridor of the city.
- Announced April 2014 as part of the Diocese of Sioux Falls' reorganization
- First new parish in the diocese since St. Katharine Drexel (est. 2004)
- Created to serve south Sioux Falls and Harrisburg
- More than a decade in existence but never yet had its own church building
The Divine Mercy Pastorate
St. John Paul II does not stand alone — it belongs to the Divine Mercy Pastorate alongside two Sioux Falls parishes, Christ the King and the Church of St. Mary. The three share one pastor and parochial vicars, one Faith Formation program, one staff roster, and one Mass and confession schedule. The pastorate model was designed by Bishop DeGrood as part of the diocese's 'Set Ablaze' pastoral planning process, and gives St. John Paul II the ability to lean on Christ the King and St. Mary for offices, Faith Formation, and other parish operations until its own church is built.
- Pastorate 20 in the Diocese of Sioux Falls' Set Ablaze plan
- Companion parishes: Christ the King (Sioux Falls) and St. Mary (Sioux Falls)
- Shared clergy and staff across all three parishes
Building a Permanent Church
After more than a decade of operating without its own building, St. John Paul II has received diocesan approval to construct a permanent church. Bishop DeGrood approved the project following an 18-month feasibility study conducted with the consulting firm Maximizing Excellence. The new church will be built on roughly 15 acres near the intersection of 271st Street and Louise Avenue, south of Landscape Garden — a location chosen because it best serves the majority of St. John Paul II parishioners and the broader south Sioux Falls / Harrisburg community. The building committee will interview architects for an updated design and then launch a public capital campaign. Funding for the land purchase is already in hand through previous fundraising, and parish operations at St. Mary and Christ the King are protected.
- Approved by Bishop Donald DeGrood after a multi-year feasibility study
- Site: ~15 acres near 271st Street & Louise Avenue
- Not building the full campus (including elementary school) tested in the initial feasibility study
- Steps: PRAY → building committee → architects → 'silent phase' with donors → public capital campaign → groundbreaking
- Design allows for a future elementary school if demand grows
Clergy and Staff
The Divine Mercy Pastorate — including St. John Paul II — is served by a team of three priests and a dedicated lay staff. Father Paul Rutten is pastor, with Father Mark Lichter and Father Jacob Doty serving as parochial vicars. The staff includes directors and coordinators for Discipleship & Evangelization, Catechesis, Youth Discipleship, Youth Ministry, Family Discipleship, Pastoral Outreach, and Music (Paul Moneke serves as Director of Music specifically for St. John Paul II).
- Rev. Paul Rutten — Pastor
- Rev. Mark Lichter — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Jacob Doty — Parochial Vicar
- Nancy Werner — Director of Discipleship & Evangelization
- Justine Olawsky — Director of Catechesis
- Hannah Flaten — Coordinator of Youth Discipleship
- Lora Pelzer — Coordinator of Pastoral Outreach
- Rachel Mueller — Coordinator of Family Discipleship
- Bryn Devlin — Coordinator of Youth Ministry
- Paul Moneke — Director of Music (JP2)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation for the entire Divine Mercy Pastorate — including St. John Paul II families — runs K–12th grade on Wednesday evenings from September through May. A Home Family Faith Formation track is also available for K–5th grades (one required Family Formation gathering per month). Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation is registered separately.
- K–12 Religious Education on Wednesday evenings
- Home Family Faith Formation for K–5th grades
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for ages 3–6 (Wednesdays, 3:45 PM at Christ the King)
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
Youth Ministry & Youth Group
Pastorate-wide youth ministry gathers middle and high schoolers on Wednesday evenings for teaching, small group discussion, activities, and prayer. In addition to the classroom-style RE program, a separate Youth Group for 6th–8th graders meets on the 1st and 4th Wednesdays of each month to foster friendship through games, short faith reflections, group discussion, and prayer. High schoolers are encouraged to help serve.
- Youth Ministry: 2nd & 3rd Wednesdays, 6:30–7:30 PM at St. Mary
- Youth Group (6th–8th): 1st & 4th Wednesdays
- Contact: Hannah Flaten (Youth Discipleship) and Bryn Devlin (Youth Ministry)
Adult Formation
Adults at St. John Paul II have several formation opportunities that run across the pastorate. The OCIA process (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) begins with an annual Open House at Christ the King in the fall and then meets on Thursday evenings. 'Ladies, Let's Talk' is a women's faith-discussion group meeting in St. Mary Parish Hall, and 'The Wisdom of the Saints' is a six-week study offered twice a year, alternating parishes and time slots.
- OCIA Open House (7 PM at Christ the King, annually)
- OCIA classes (Thursdays, 7 PM at Christ the King, October–spring)
- Ladies, Let's Talk (Tuesday evenings at St. Mary Parish Hall)
- The Wisdom of the Saints — 6-week study (e.g., St. Teresa of Avila's The Interior Castle, Fall 2025)
Ministries & Small Groups
Beyond formation, St. John Paul II parishioners can join a range of small groups and service ministries that operate under the Divine Mercy Pastorate umbrella. The St. John Paul II Women's Book Group is the most directly parish-specific ministry, gathering regularly to read and discuss books that deepen faith and friendship. Additional ministries are listed on the pastorate's Ministries page.
- St. John Paul II Women's Book Group (contact: Brittany Albus)
- Multiple other ministries available pastorate-wide (see divinemercysf.org/ministries)
Sacraments
Parish staff help parishioners prepare for all seven Catholic sacraments, including marriage and funerals (a dedicated Coordinator of Weddings and Funerals is on staff). Parents preparing children for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation register through the Faith Formation office. Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full reception into the Catholic Church enter through the OCIA process.
- Baptism (infant & adult via OCIA)
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage (Coordinator of Weddings & Funerals on staff)
- Funerals (Coordinator of Weddings & Funerals on staff)
- Anointing of the Sick (contact the parish office)
Contact, Location & Visit
Parishioners and visitors reach the parish through the Divine Mercy Pastorate office in Sioux Falls. The pastorate phone line, general welcome email, and website all serve St. John Paul II as well as Christ the King and St. Mary. Weekend worship happens at partner sites until the permanent church is constructed.
- Parish office: 6900 S Lyncrest Place, Sioux Falls, SD 57108
- Phone: 605-988-3750
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.divinemercysf.org/jp2
- Weekend Mass venues: Shalom Lutheran Church (Sat) and Harrisburg South Middle School (Sun)
- Future church: ~15 acres near 271st St & Louise Ave, south Sioux Falls