About St. John the Evangelist · Arlington, South Dakota
St. John the Evangelist is a small Catholic parish in Arlington, South Dakota, founded in 1893 and now part of the All Saints Pastorate, a family of six Catholic parishes in east central South Dakota. The parish is served by Fr. Thomas Fitzpatrick, Pastor, together with Fr. David Stevens (Parochial Vicar), Fr. Patrick Grode (Parochial Vicar / Priest Director of the Newman Center), and Deacon Bradley Wiemann. Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday evening at 5:00 pm and daily Mass on Thursdays at 9:00 am, with confessions heard thirty minutes before the Saturday Mass and by appointment.
- Established
- 1893
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas Fitzpatrick
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux Falls
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist is a small-town parish where the local Catholic community of Arlington and the surrounding farms can still attend a regular Saturday evening Mass, a Thursday morning weekday Mass, and weekly confession right in town — something increasingly rare in rural South Dakota. Through the All Saints Pastorate, parishioners benefit from a wider Catholic community that includes a Catholic school (St. Thomas More in Brookings), a university Newman Center, a shared youth summer program called Agnus Dei, and young-adult events like Theology on Tap. Religious education for grades 1–12 is offered on Wednesday evenings in Arlington, so children of every age can be formed in the faith close to home.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 4:20–4:50 PM (30 minutes before the 5:00 PM Saturday Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursdays, 3:00–8:00 PM
About St. John the Evangelist, Arlington
St. John the Evangelist is a Catholic parish serving the small community of Arlington in Kingsbury County, South Dakota. Founded in 1893, it belongs to the Diocese of Sioux Falls and today operates as part of the All Saints Pastorate — a collaborative grouping of six Catholic parishes across east-central South Dakota. The parish church is located on Main Street in Arlington, while the central pastorate offices are based at St. Thomas More Parish in nearby Brookings. Worship, faith formation, and sacramental preparation are offered locally so that the rural Catholic families of Arlington and the surrounding townships can continue to live their faith close to home.
- Founded: 1893
- Diocese: Sioux Falls
- Member of: All Saints Pastorate (6 parishes)
- Church address: 301 Main St S, Arlington, SD 57212
- Mailing address: PO Box 225, Arlington, SD 57212
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
The All Saints Pastorate is led by Fr. Thomas Fitzpatrick as Pastor. He is assisted by two Parochial Vicars, Fr. David Stevens and Fr. Patrick Grode, the latter of whom also serves as Priest Director of the Pius XII Newman Center at South Dakota State University. Deacon Bradley Wiemann supports the pastorate's sacramental and pastoral ministry. Fr. Fitzpatrick's office is at St. Thomas More Parish in Brookings, which serves as the administrative center for the pastorate's six parishes.
- Fr. Thomas Fitzpatrick — Pastor (All Saints Pastorate)
- Fr. David Stevens — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Patrick Grode — Parochial Vicar / Priest Director, Pius XII Newman Center
- Deacon Bradley Wiemann
- Pastoral office: St. Thomas More Parish, 1700 8th St. S., Brookings, SD 57006
- Office phone: 605-692-4361
Faith Formation and Religious Education
All Saints Pastorate offers a coordinated religious education program at each of its parish locations for students in grades 1–12, using the Spirit of Truth curriculum for grades 1–6. Catechists are parish volunteers under the guidance of the pastorate priests, the pastorate Director of Evangelization and Discipleship, and each parish's own Director of Religious Education. All adult volunteers must complete a background check and the Diocese of Sioux Falls Safe Environment training.
- St. John the Evangelist RE classes: Wednesdays, 6:30 PM (all grades)
- Director of Religious Education (Arlington): Kelli VanOverbeke
- Director of Evangelization & Discipleship (pastorate): Evan Baumberger — [email protected]
- Homeschool option: Spirit of Truth curriculum and resources available through the pastorate
- Safe Environment: background check + Diocese of Sioux Falls annual training required for volunteers
Sacraments — Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage
The sacraments of Christian initiation are central to parish life at St. John's. Children normally receive First Reconciliation and First Eucharist through the parish Religious Education program, and Confirmation preparation begins in the spring of 10th grade, with the Confirmation Mass celebrated in the fall of 11th grade, typically in September or October, at a pastorate-wide liturgy. Adults who have not yet been Confirmed prepare through OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), which begins in September and culminates with Confirmation at the Easter Vigil.
- Baptism — infant and adult (adult through OCIA)
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — through parish RE program
- Confirmation — preparation in 10th grade; sacrament received in 11th grade
- OCIA (RCIA) for adults — classes begin in September, Confirmation at Easter Vigil
- Marriage and Anointing of the Sick — coordinated through the All Saints Pastorate office
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
Beyond the regular RE program, St. John the Evangelist parishioners can take part in the Agnus Dei youth summer program, a catechetical and faith-formation experience offered at each pastorate parish for elementary students, with middle- and high-school youth gathering together in Brookings. The pastorate's Young Adult Ministry serves Catholics ages 21–35 with monthly events, including the popular Theology on Tap evenings.
- Agnus Dei — elementary track hosted in Arlington; combined middle/high-school track in Brookings
- Young Adult Ministry — ages 21–35, monthly events
- Theology on Tap — speaker evenings with Fr. Fitzpatrick and a meal, held at rotating venues across the pastorate
All Saints Pastorate — A Family of Six Parishes
St. John the Evangelist belongs to the All Saints Pastorate of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, a collaborative grouping of six parishes that share priests, staff, and faith-formation resources across east-central South Dakota. While each parish retains its own identity and worship schedule, the pastorate model means that St. John's parishioners have access to a wider Catholic community — including a Catholic school at St. Thomas More in Brookings and a vibrant university ministry at the Pius XII Newman Center.
- St. John the Evangelist — Arlington, SD
- St. Thomas More — Brookings, SD (pastorate office; site of St. Thomas More Catholic School)
- Pius XII Newman Center — South Dakota State University, Brookings
- Our Lady of Good Counsel — Elkton, SD
- St. Francis de Sales — Estelline, SD
- St. Paul — White, SD
Contact, Address, and Office Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. John the Evangelist through the All Saints Pastorate office at St. Thomas More Parish. Mail for the parish can be sent to the Arlington PO Box, while general pastorate correspondence goes through the Brookings office.
- Physical address (church): 301 Main St S, Arlington, SD 57212
- Mailing address (parish): PO Box 225, Arlington, SD 57212
- Pastorate office phone: 605-692-4361
- Pastorate office email: [email protected]
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Office location: St. Thomas More Parish, 1700 8th St. S., Brookings, SD 57006
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday (call for current hours)