About St. Joseph · Mud Butte, South Dakota
St. Joseph is a small Catholic mission church serving the rural community of Mud Butte, South Dakota, in the heart of northern Meade County. As a mission of the Diocese of Rapid City, St. Joseph is clustered with the parishes of St. Joseph in Faith, St. Anthony in Red Owl, and (historically) Our Lady of Victory in Plainview, all of which are pastored together and attended from the rectory in Faith. The mission provides weekend Mass on a rotating seasonal schedule that shifts between Saturday evening and Sunday morning throughout the year. The church building is located along Old Highway 212 in the tiny ranching community of Mud Butte.
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy Castor (effective July 1, 2026)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rapid City
Why belong here
St. Joseph in Mud Butte is a faithful rural Catholic community where families across the wide-open northern Meade County prairie gather for the Eucharist. As a clustered mission pastored together with Faith and Red Owl, the parish offers the faithful a small, neighborly Catholic home in ranch country, where weekend Mass brings together longtime ranching families and newcomers alike. Visiting travelers along Old Highway 212 and Highway 79 are warmly welcomed to join this enduring prairie Catholic community.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
About St. Joseph Mission, Mud Butte
St. Joseph Catholic Mission serves the small ranching community of Mud Butte in northern Meade County, South Dakota. As a mission of the Diocese of Rapid City, it does not stand alone — it is part of a clustered group of parishes centered in Faith, with weekend Mass celebrated according to a rotating seasonal schedule. The mission church is located along Old Highway 212 in the unincorporated community of Mud Butte (ZIP 57758). The mission has no on-site phone and is administered through the Faith rectory.
Parish Cluster & Pastoral Care
St. Joseph Mud Butte is clustered with St. Joseph in Faith, St. Anthony in Red Owl, and (until its closure) Our Lady of Victory in Plainview. Together these form one pastoral unit under a single pastor who resides in Faith and travels out to celebrate Mass at each mission.
- St. Joseph Parish, Faith — primary parish with rectory at PO Box 307, Faith, SD 57626-0307; phone (605) 967-2201
- St. Anthony, Red Owl — sister mission church
- Our Lady of Victory, Plainview — formerly part of the cluster (closed)
Clergy & Staff
St. Joseph Mud Butte is served by the pastor and staff of the Faith parish cluster, with support staff shared across the group.
- Rev. Timothy Castor — Pastor (effective July 1, 2026)
- Rev. Janusz Korban — Pastor (2018–2026); also served as Chaplain for the Sioux Spiritual Center and Vicar for Hispanic Ministry
- Rev. Riccardo Pennati — Administrator (2017–2018, returning from retirement)
- Deacon Larry Brown — Permanent Deacon, Religious Formation
- Terri Patterson — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Cathy Smith — Safe Environment ([email protected])
History of the Mission
As a small rural mission, St. Joseph in Mud Butte has been served for decades as part of a pastoral cluster based out of Faith. Documented priest assignments from the Diocese of Rapid City show that Fr. Riccardo Pennati was Administrator of the cluster including Mud Butte in 2017–2018, followed by Fr. Janusz Korban in 2018. In the diocese's 2026 clergy assignments, Fr. Timothy Castor was named pastor of the cluster effective July 1, 2026.
- 2017: Fr. Riccardo Pennati returns from retirement as Administrator of the cluster (Faith, Plainview, Red Owl, Mud Butte)
- 2018: Fr. Janusz Korban assigned as Pastor of the cluster
- 2024: St. Joseph Mud Butte featured in the diocesan 'Creche' Nativity scene album
- 2026: Fr. Timothy Castor appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Faith, St. Joseph Mud Butte, and St. Anthony Red Owl
Diocese & Deanery
St. Joseph Mud Butte belongs to the Diocese of Rapid City, the Latin Catholic diocese covering western South Dakota. The mission is grouped in Deanery 5 of the diocese, alongside St. Joseph Faith, St. Anthony Red Owl, Buffalo's St. Anthony, Ralph's St. Isidore, Bison's Blessed Sacrament, and others.
- Diocese of Rapid City
- Bishop: Most Rev. Scott Bullock (as of recent assignments)
- Deanery 5 grouping
- Chancery Office: 225 Main Street, Suite 100, Rapid City, SD 57701
Visiting & Contact
Travelers and parishioners can reach the mission through the Faith parish office. Mass times follow the seasonal rotation above; visitors should call ahead, especially in winter when weather can affect rural travel in Meade County.
- Address: Old Highway 212, Mud Butte, SD 57758
- Cluster rectory (Faith): PO Box 307, Faith, SD 57626-0307
- Faith Rectory Phone: (605) 967-2201
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocesan website: http://www.rapidcitydiocese.org/location/mud-butte-st-joseph/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Riccardo Pennati2017–2018
Returned from retirement to serve as Administrator of the cluster including Mud Butte for one year.
- Rev. Janusz Korban2018–2026
Assigned as Pastor in 2018; also served as Chaplain for the Sioux Spiritual Center and Vicar for Hispanic Ministry; reassigned to St. William in Midland and St. John the Evangelist in Fort Pierre in 2026.
- Rev. Timothy CastorEffective July 1, 2026
Appointed Pastor of St. Joseph Faith, St. Joseph Mud Butte, and St. Anthony Red Owl in the 2026 clergy assignments.