About St. Thomas More · Brookings, South Dakota
St. Thomas More Catholic Parish serves the Brookings, South Dakota community as the founding church of the All Saints Pastorate, a family of six Catholic parishes in east-central South Dakota. Located at 1700 8th Street South, the parish offers daily and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, a Catholic elementary school (Pre-K through 5th grade), faith formation, and a full roster of ministries. It belongs to the Diocese of Sioux Falls and ministers to South Dakota State University students through the affiliated Pius XII Newman Center.
- Established
- 1885
- Patron
- St. Thomas More
- Rector
- Fr. Thomas Fitzpatrick
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux Falls
Why belong here
St. Thomas More is a thriving Catholic community in Brookings that offers the full rhythm of parish life: multiple weekend and daily Masses, a weekly Spanish Mass, regular confession, a Pre-K through 5th-grade Catholic school, faith formation for every age, a dedicated music and liturgy program, evangelization and outreach, plus pastoral care for SDSU students through the Pius XII Newman Center. Its shared All Saints Pastorate staffing means generous priestly availability — and the parish has a track record of growing ministries to match a growing congregation, a Brookings tradition going back to 1885.
Mass times at St. Thomas More
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 4:45 pm – 5:10 pm
- Wednesday: 4:45 pm – 5:10 pm
- Saturday: 3:45 pm – 4:30 pm
- Also by appointment
Parish Identity and All Saints Pastorate
St. Thomas More is the anchor parish of the All Saints Pastorate, a family of six Catholic parishes in east-central South Dakota that also includes St. Paul (White), St. John the Evangelist (Arlington), and others, plus the Pius XII Newman Center serving South Dakota State University. The pastorate shares pastors, vicars, and administrative staff, which means St. Thomas More's parishioners are served not just by their own pastor but by a team of priests and a pastoral associate. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Sioux Falls.
- St. Thomas More – Brookings (this parish)
- St. Paul – White
- St. John the Evangelist – Arlington
- Pius XII Newman Center – Brookings (SDSU)
- Diocese of Sioux Falls
Our Story: 1885 to Today
Catholic life in Brookings stretches back to 1885 (GCatholic). The first dedicated St. Thomas Catholic Church was built in 1906 at the corner of Medary Avenue and what is now 4th Street, a dark-red-pressed-brick structure with a square bell tower, formally dedicated November 1, 1906 by Bishop Thomas O'Gorman. As the parish grew, Fr. Francis X. Dooley started a building fund in 1941; in 1952-53 a larger sanctuary was built next to the 1906 church on a plan borrowed from St. Anne's in Wabasso, MN, with Bishop William O. Brady laying the cornerstone August 31, 1952 and the first Mass celebrated Easter Sunday 1953. Twelve stained-glass windows followed in 1957. After Fr. Dooley's 44-year tenure, Fr. John J. McEneaney led nearly a decade of growth and a 1964 rectory/catechetical-center build. By the late 1980s the parish had again outgrown its home, and in 1999 St. Thomas More moved to its current 8th Street South campus; the 1953 sanctuary was sold in November 2002 and reopened in April 2003 as 'Old Sanctuary,' an event venue still standing at 4th and Medary.
- 1885: Parish origins (GCatholic)
- 1906: First St. Thomas church dedicated by Bishop O'Gorman
- 1952-53: Second sanctuary built; cornerstone by Bishop W. O. Brady; first Mass Easter 1953
- 1957: Twelve stained-glass windows installed ($5,000)
- 1959: Fr. Dooley retires after 44+ years; Fr. McEneaney succeeds him
- 1964: New rectory and catechetical center completed
- 1999: Parish relocates to 1700 8th St. S.
- 2002-03: Former sanctuary reopened as Old Sanctuary event venue
Clergy and Staff
St. Thomas More is currently served by a parish team that includes the pastor, two parochial vicars (one of whom also directs the Newman Center), a deacon serving as pastoral associate, and a full lay staff for liturgy, faith formation, evangelization, business, administration, and maintenance.
- Fr. Thomas Fitzpatrick – Pastor
- Fr. David Stevens – Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Patrick Grode – Parochial Vicar / Newman Center Priest Director
- Dn. Brad Wiemann – Pastoral Associate (Deacon)
- Evan Baumberger – Director of Evangelization & Discipleship
- Sheridan Nickolas – Religious Education Coordinator
- Sara Olson – Music Liturgist
- Lisa Elsinger – Business Manager
- Becky Nelsen – Administrative Assistant
- Eric Brintnall – Maintenance
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation for parish children and families is coordinated by Religious Education Coordinator Sheridan Nickolas, with programming that runs alongside the parish's Catholic elementary school. Director of Evangelization & Discipleship Evan Baumberger works across the All Saints Pastorate to support parish-wide adult faith growth, RCIA-equivalent inquiries, and discipleship pathways. Families seeking baptism, first Communion, or confirmation preparation should contact the parish office.
- Religious Education Coordinator: Sheridan Nickolas (605-692-8309)
- Director of Evangelization & Discipleship: Evan Baumberger (605-692-4361)
- Family sacramental preparation through the parish office
St. Thomas More Catholic School (Pre-K through 5th Grade)
St. Thomas More Catholic School is the parish's elementary school and one of the only private, faith-based elementary options in the Brookings area. Currently enrolling Pre-K through 5th grade for the 2025–2026 school year, the school integrates faith into daily learning, offers small class sizes, on-site after-school care, and a well-rounded curriculum (Spanish, PE, Art, Music, Orchestra, and more). It is accredited through the Diocese of Sioux Falls.
- Principal: Marissa Kessler
- School Secretary: Liz Skordahl
- Phone: (605) 692-6796
- Address: 1700 8th St S, Brookings, SD 57006
- Grades offered: Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st–5th
- After-school care on site
Music and Liturgy
The Music and Liturgy office, led by Music Liturgist Sara Olson, plans music for weekend and daily Masses at St. Thomas More and supports liturgical ministries across the All Saints Pastorate.
- Sara Olson – Music Liturgist (605-692-4361, [email protected])
Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Agnes #618
The parish hosts Court St. Agnes #618 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, a service and scholarship organization for Catholic women. The court offers scholarships to parish members connected to St. Thomas More.
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas® Scholarship – Court St. Agnes #618, St. Thomas More Parish
Pius XII Newman Center (South Dakota State University)
Fr. Patrick Grode serves as both Parochial Vicar of St. Thomas More and Priest Director of the Pius XII Newman Center, the Catholic campus ministry at South Dakota State University. The Newman Center offers a Sunday evening Mass during the academic year and is part of the All Saints Pastorate family.
- Fr. Patrick Grode – Priest Director
- Newman Center phone: 605-692-9461
- Sunday 6:30 pm Mass during the academic year
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Thomas More by phone at (605) 692-4361 or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 am–5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am–3:00 pm. The current official web presence is the All Saints Pastorate site at allsaintspastorate.org/STM, which has replaced the older stmbrookings.weebly.com page. Anyone interested in joining a ministry, enrolling a child in the school, scheduling a sacrament, or inquiring about RCIA is encouraged to contact the parish office.
- Phone: (605) 692-4361
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: https://www.allsaintspastorate.org/STM
- Office: Mon–Thu 8 am–5 pm; Fri 8 am–3 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis X. Dooleythrough 1959
Recognized need for a larger church in 1941 and started the building fund; oversaw construction of the 1952-53 sanctuary; served the parish for more than 44 years before retiring in 1959.
- Fr. John J. McEneaneyfrom 1959
Boston-born successor to Fr. Dooley; his nine years ushered in enormous parish growth, including a new rectory and catechetical center completed in summer 1964.