About St. Katharine Drexel Parish · Sioux Falls, South Dakota
St. Katharine Drexel Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in southern Sioux Falls, South Dakota, founded on July 1, 2004, and now serving over 935 (and growing toward 1,000+) families. As part of the St. Francis Pastorate within the Diocese of Sioux Falls, the parish shares its campus with St. Katharine Drexel Elementary School and is currently undertaking the IGNITE capital campaign to build a new ~12,000-square-foot Parish Hall. Its mission is to gather as a community of faith, share the Word of God with all neighbors, emphasize the sanctity of the Eucharist, and reach out to those less fortunate — following the example of its patroness, St. Katharine Drexel, with the parish's consistent message: 'Come home to Christ.'
- Established
- 2004
- Patron
- St. Katharine Drexel
- Rector
- Rev. Andrew Dickinson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux Falls
Why belong here
St. Katharine Drexel is a relatively young, family-friendly parish of over 935 households that puts Eucharistic devotion, lifelong Catholic formation, and service to those in need at the center of parish life. It offers a full weekly Mass schedule, frequent confession, monthly First Friday adoration, a K-6 Catholic elementary school on campus, Wednesday-evening faith formation for students, a growing list of adult ministries (Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of America, liturgical ministries), and concrete service opportunities at The Banquet, St. Francis House, Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, and an on-site food pantry. The parish's patroness inspires a particular charism of education and outreach to the poor and marginalized, making it a natural fit for Catholics in Sioux Falls looking for an active, mission-focused community.
Mass times at St. Katharine Drexel Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:15 PM
- Thursday: 7:00 AM and 12:30–1:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:45 PM
- By appointment (call 605-275-6870)
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM (see bulletin)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Katharine Drexel Parish was founded on July 1, 2004, in southern Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as a young, growing Catholic community of approximately 935 families (and growing toward 1,000+). The parish's mission is to gather as a community of faith, share the Word of God with all neighbors, emphasize the sanctity of the Eucharist in daily life, and encourage good stewardship and lifelong Catholic Christian education. The parish's consistent message, posted on its homepage, is 'Come home to Christ.' As part of the St. Francis Pastorate within the Diocese of Sioux Falls, the parish shares worship, clergy, and ministry resources with neighboring parishes.
- Founded: July 1, 2004
- Families served: ~935 (growing to 1,000+)
- Pastorate: St. Francis Pastorate
- Diocese: Sioux Falls
History & Building Campaign
Two years after founding, the parishioners of St. Katharine Drexel launched a building campaign called 'Foundation for the Future.' In 2008, Bishop Paul J. Swain dedicated the completed church alongside roughly 530 founding families. St. Katharine Drexel Elementary School followed, opening in 2010 as a 12,180-square-foot special-purpose facility built by Eagle Construction. Twenty-plus years after founding, the parish is now addressing the next stage of growth through the IGNITE capital campaign, launched in spring 2025 to fund a new Parish Hall.
- 2006: 'Foundation for the Future' building campaign launched
- 2008: Church dedicated by Bishop Paul J. Swain
- 2010: St. Katharine Drexel Elementary School opens
- 2025: IGNITE capital campaign launched
The Story of St. Katharine Drexel (Patroness)
The parish is named for St. Katharine Drexel (1858–1955), the Philadelphia heiress who gave up her fortune to found the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891, a religious congregation serving Black and Indigenous Americans. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988 and canonized on October 1, 2000 — the second American-born saint and the first U.S.-born citizen to be canonized. She is the patron saint of racial justice and philanthropists; her feast day is March 3, the anniversary of her death. The parish explicitly embraces her charism, stating that it 'strives to follow the example of our patroness by reaching out to those less fortunate in our community.'
- Born: November 26, 1858, Philadelphia, PA
- Died: March 3, 1955 (feast day)
- Founded: Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, 1891
- Canonized: October 1, 2000 by Pope John Paul II
- Patronage: racial justice, philanthropists
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Katharine Drexel is staffed by a pastor, three parochial vicars, two deacons, and a dedicated lay staff handling faith formation, liturgy and music, finance, and parish administration. The parish office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
- Pastor: Fr. Andrew Dickinson (ext. 202)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Nicholas 'Nick' Haiar (ext. 211)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Tyler Mattson (ext. 212)
- Pastoral Assistant: Deacon Pat Derrington
- Director of Faith Formation: Shannan Dose (ext. 204)
- Director of Liturgy & Music / Volunteer Coordinator: Jennifer Hartmann (ext. 203)
- Director of Finance: Anne Williams (ext. 201)
- Administrative Assistant: Tonia Honner (ext. 200)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Wednesday-evening faith formation classes form the backbone of the parish's religious-education program for students during the school year. Registration is open each year, and the parish encourages families to support their children's Catholic faith through these classes as well as the sacraments celebrated in parish life. The Director of Faith Formation, Shannan Dose, coordinates the program; Youth Ministry is led by Curt Lauret.
- Wednesday-evening formation classes (K–12)
- Youth Ministry (Coordinator: Curt Lauret)
- Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation — via parish office)
St. Katharine Drexel Elementary School
Opened in 2010 as a 12,180-square-foot special-purpose facility built by Eagle Construction, St. Katharine Drexel Elementary School is part of the Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools system and serves grades K–6 on the parish campus. The school's mission is to form a community of faith and learning by promoting a Catholic way of life through gospel values and academic excellence. The school is led by Principal Stacy Charron (phone 605-275-6994).
- Opened: 2010
- Square footage: 12,180 sq ft
- System: Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools
- Principal: Stacy Charron
IGNITE Capital Campaign
To address growing space needs on campus, St. Katharine Drexel launched the IGNITE capital campaign in spring 2025. The campaign funds a new ~12,000-square-foot Parish Hall — 50% larger than the existing school gym and kitchen — seating 350–400 people, with a large kitchen, ample storage, restrooms, and partitionable rooms for flexible use. Estimated cost is $3,680,000, with construction beginning in spring 2026 southwest of the church along Katie Avenue and completion targeted for before 2027. As of spring 2025 the parish carries $1,860,000 in remaining debt from the original builds, on track to be paid off by 2035. The plan does not include a new rectory; the current rectory is debt-free and saleable.
- Campaign cost estimate: $3,680,000
- Hall size: ~12,000 sq ft, seats 350–400
- Construction start: Spring 2026
- Target completion: before 2027
- Existing parish debt (Spring 2025): $1,860,000
Parish Ministries & Service Opportunities
St. Katharine Drexel offers a wide range of adult, youth, and family ministries. In addition to liturgical ministries scheduled through the parish, the parish sponsors the Knights of Columbus (led by Grand Knight Ray Campbell), the Catholic Daughters of America (contact: Laree Giovannettone), and several hands-on service ministries that partner with local agencies. The parish also runs an on-site food pantry at 1800 S. Katie Avenue, Suite 1, serving Sioux Falls residents in need.
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight: Ray Campbell
- Catholic Daughters of America — Laree Giovannettone
- Liturgical Ministries (scheduling/sign-up online)
- Youth Ministry — Curt Lauret
- The Banquet — Monthly Service Opportunity
- St. Francis House — Monthly Service Opportunity
- Bishop Dudley Hospitality House — Monthly Service
- On-site Food Pantry (1800 S. Katie Ave., Suite 1)
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
Parish priests and staff support parishioners in all sacramental needs. Baptisms, weddings, the Anointing of the Sick (celebrated monthly on the final Tuesday), First Communion, Confirmation, and homebound ministry are all coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism
- Wedding
- Anointing of the Sick (final Tuesday Mass)
- Homebound visits
- First Communion & Confirmation preparation (through Faith Formation)
Visit, Contact & Location
The parish office is located at 1800 S. Katie Avenue, Suite 1, Sioux Falls, SD 57106, on the south side of Sioux Falls. Office hours run Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. The parish can be reached at (605) 275-6870 or by email at [email protected].
- Address: 1800 S. Katie Avenue, Suite 1, Sioux Falls, SD 57106
- Phone: (605) 275-6870
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Directions: 2 blocks west of Tea-Ellis Rd on 26th St; I-29 Exit 78