About St. Lawrence · Milbank, South Dakota
St. Lawrence is a Roman Catholic parish in Milbank, South Dakota, founded in 1881 by a small group of pioneer settlers and now part of the Diocese of Sioux Falls. The parish is the largest in the four-church Holy Family Pastorate (along with St. Mary in Clear Lake, St. Charles in Big Stone City, and Annunciation in Revillo) and serves roughly 509 registered families in the rural northeastern corner of South Dakota. Weekend Mass is offered in English and Spanish, and the parish also runs a parish elementary school (Preschool–Grade 6) that has been in continuous operation since 1901. Active faith-formation, youth, young-adult, OCIA, choir, lector, and outreach ministries make it a true hub of Catholic life for the community.
- Established
- 1881
- Patron
- St. Lawrence, deacon and martyr (died c. 258 AD)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas (Tom) Hartman
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux Falls
Why belong here
St. Lawrence is the largest parish in the four-church Holy Family Pastorate and offers something for nearly every age and stage: a long-running parish school (Preschool–Grade 6), Religious Education for Grades 1–12, OCIA for adults exploring the faith, an 8th–12th grade youth group that travels to Steubenville conferences in summer, a Thursday-evening young-adult group, men's and women's discussion groups, and a roster of liturgy ministries (lector, Eucharistic minister, choir, usher, sacristan, gifts). Weekend Mass is offered in both English and Spanish, confession is heard three days a week, and the parish brings Communion to the sick and celebrates monthly Mass at three local nursing homes — all signs of a community that takes the call to lifelong missionary discipleship seriously.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 7:15–7:45 am
- Friday: 12:00–12:45 pm
- Saturday: 4:00–4:45 pm
Adoration times
- Friday: 9:30 am – 1:00 pm
Parish Identity & Holy Family Pastorate
St. Lawrence Catholic Parish in Milbank, South Dakota, is the lead parish of the Holy Family Pastorate, a collaborative grouping of four rural parishes served jointly by Fr. Tom Hartman (Pastor) and Fr. John Helmueller (Associate Pastor). The other parishes in the pastorate are St. Mary in Clear Lake, St. Charles in Big Stone City, and Annunciation in Revillo. The pastorate describes its mission as building 'a culture of lifelong Catholic missionary discipleship through God's love,' with the celebration of the sacraments at the center of parish life.
- Parish: St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Milbank, SD
- Pastorate: Holy Family Pastorate (4 parishes)
- Pastor: Fr. Tom Hartman
- Associate Pastor: Fr. John Helmueller
- Diocese: Diocese of Sioux Falls
History of St. Lawrence Parish
Saint Lawrence Catholic congregation was organized in 1881 by pioneer settlers, with the first church, school, and rectory completed by 1883. The original rectory still stands today as a private residence on the southeast corner of Bell Avenue and Lloyd Street. The parish school opened in 1885 with Benedictine Sisters staffing it for about 60–65 pupils, but closed in 1893 after poor crops forced the parish to release the Sisters; the building then reverted to use as a rectory. In 1901 Presentation Sisters from Aberdeen reopened the school for 12 families. A new school opened after Christmas 1911, the parish house followed in 1912, and the cornerstone of the present church was laid in 1913 with the church completed in fall 1914.
- 1881 — Congregation organized by pioneer settlers
- 1883 — First church, school, and rectory completed
- 1885 — Parish school opens with Benedictine Sisters
- 1893 — School closes after poor crops
- 1901 — School reopens with Presentation Sisters from Aberdeen
- 1911 — New school building opens after Christmas
- 1913 — Cornerstone of present church laid
- 1914 — Church completed in the fall
St. Lawrence School
St. Lawrence School has been in continuous operation since 1901 and has been located in the present building — completed in 1999 and physically connecting the church and school — since that year. The school serves about 130 students from preschool through sixth grade with a low student-to-teacher ratio (average class size around 13). The school's stated mission is to educate students in the Catholic tradition to be productive, responsible, and authentic witnesses of Jesus Christ. In 2007 the school began working with the Catholic Foundation for Eastern South Dakota to create a school foundation to ensure continued funding of Catholic education.
- Preschool through Grade 6
- Approx. 130 students
- Present building completed in 1999
- Tuition noted historically as among the lowest in the area
- 2007 — partnership with Catholic Foundation for Eastern South Dakota
Clergy & Staff
St. Lawrence is pastored by Fr. Tom Hartman, who also serves as Overseer of Hispanic Ministry for the pastorate and resides at St. Lawrence. Fr. John Helmueller serves as Associate Pastor and resides at St. Mary's in Clear Lake. The parish office staff includes a secretary (Janine Fonder), business manager (Marlena Dhaemers), director of religious education (Hattie Muellenbach), and buildings & grounds lead (Ken Vanorny).
- Fr. Tom Hartman — Pastor (605-432-5353, [email protected])
- Fr. John Helmueller — Associate Pastor (605-874-2080)
- Ben Ulin — Summer Seminarian
- Janine Fonder — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Marlena Dhaemers — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Hattie Muellenbach — Director of Religious Education ([email protected])
- Ken Vanorny — Buildings & Grounds
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Religious Education program meets on Wednesday afternoons/evenings and covers students Grades 1 through 12 — including Grades 1–6, Grades 7–8, Confirmation preparation in Grades 9–10, and 'The Search Continues' for Grades 11–12 — with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for Pre-K and K in development. The Director of Religious Education for St. Lawrence is Hattie Muellenbach.
- Grades 1–6
- Grades 7–8
- Confirmation (Grades 9–10)
- "The Search Continues" (Grades 11–12)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Pre-K & K, coming soon)
Youth, Young Adult & Adult Formation
St. Lawrence and the Holy Family Pastorate offer layered faith programming for teens, young adults, and adults. The youth group for Grades 8–12 meets Wednesday evenings in the St. Lawrence gym and travels each summer to a Steubenville conference; a pastorate young-adult group meets Thursday evenings; and Adult Formation includes a Thursday-evening faith-study group plus men's and women's discussion groups.
- Youth Group (Grades 8–12) — Wednesdays, 8:15 pm, gym
- Steubenville summer conferences
- Young Adult Group — Thursdays, 7:00 pm, church basement
- Adult Faith Study — Thursdays, 7:30 pm
- Men's and women's discussion groups
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults interested in joining the Catholic Church — or Catholics who simply want to learn more about their faith — are invited to OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). Sessions meet in the St. Lawrence rectory on Thursdays from 6:30–8:00 pm and are led by Fr. Tom Hartman.
- OCIA — Thursdays, 6:30–8:00 pm, St. Lawrence rectory
- Contact: Fr. Tom Hartman — [email protected]
Liturgy Ministries
Parishioners are invited to serve the parish's liturgy in a variety of roles. Interested volunteers can contact Janine in the parish office (605-432-9122) for current openings and the monthly ministry schedule.
- Sacristan
- Lector
- Eucharistic Minister
- Bringing up the Gifts
- Music / Choir
- Ushers
Outreach & Service
St. Lawrence parish lives its call to missionary discipleship through service to the homebound and elderly and through parish committees. Communion is brought to the sick and homebound, and the parish celebrates monthly Mass at three area nursing homes on rotating Tuesdays: St. Williams (1st Tuesday), Peaceful Pines (2nd Tuesday), and Park Place (4th Tuesday). Gospel in Action Committees at St. Lawrence and other parish committees offer additional ways to serve.
- Communion to the Sick and Homebound
- Nursing-home Masses (monthly, Tuesdays)
- Gospel in Action Committees
- Finance and other parish committees
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
St. Lawrence welcomes visitors and newcomers. The pastorate asks anyone interested in joining the OCIA process, enrolling children in Religious Education, joining a ministry, or simply learning more to contact the parish office or one of the priests directly. Weekend Mass is offered in both English and Spanish, making the parish a gathering point for a wider slice of the surrounding rural community.
- Parish office: 605-432-9122 — [email protected]
- Fr. Tom Hartman: 605-432-5353 — [email protected]
- Address: 113 S. 6th Street, Milbank, SD 57252
- Website: http://www.stlawrencemilbank.org/
- Pastorate site: https://www.holyfamilypastorate.org/st-lawrence