About St. William · Midland, South Dakota
St. William is a small Catholic mission parish in the rural community of Midland, in Haakon County, South Dakota, served as part of a tri-parish grouping from nearby Philip. Tucked into the prairie west of the Missouri River, the mission gathers roughly 35 Catholic families for weekend Mass celebrated by a priest who travels in from Sacred Heart Parish in Philip. St. William belongs to the Diocese of Rapid City and is listed among the 85 parishes and missions of that diocese serving western South Dakota.
- Patron
- St. William
- Rector
- Fr. Janusz Korban (effective July 1, 2026)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rapid City
Why belong here
St. William offers a close-knit rural Catholic community for the families of Midland and surrounding Haakon County ranchland. Weekend Mass alternates between a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning each month, with confessions heard before Mass, so worshippers can plan around the agricultural calendar. The parish Altar Society meets on the first Wednesday of every even-numbered month and is the backbone of the mission's hospitality, upkeep, and fund-raising life.
Mass times at St. William
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before every Mass
About St. William Catholic Mission
St. William is a Catholic mission in the small ranching community of Midland, South Dakota, in Haakon County. Although small in size — about 35 families — the mission has been a steady Catholic presence on the prairie for decades and is part of the Diocese of Rapid City's network of parishes and missions across western South Dakota. Because it is a mission rather than a standalone parish, it is shepherded by a priest who travels in from the larger cluster parish at Philip.
- Mission status within the Diocese of Rapid City
- Roughly 35 registered families
- Clustered for pastoral care with Sacred Heart (Philip) and St. Mary (Milesville)
History & Pastoral Line
St. William has long been served as a mission attached to Sacred Heart in Philip. Public diocesan records trace the recent pastoral succession of the Philip–Midland–Milesville cluster from Father Kevin Achbach (through 2016), to Father Gary Oreshoski (2016–2022), to Father Grant Gerlach (2022–2026). Looking ahead, Bishop Scott Bullock's 2026 clergy assignments name Father Janusz Korban as the incoming pastor of St. William while he remains pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Fort Pierre.
- Fr. Kevin Achbach — cluster pastor through 2016
- Fr. Gary Oreshoski — cluster pastor 2016–2022; retired 2022 after 34 years of priesthood
- Fr. Grant Gerlach — cluster pastor 2022–2026; resides in Philip
- Fr. Janusz Korban — incoming pastor effective July 1, 2026
Parish Life & Ministries
The parish's best-documented lay organization is the Parish Altar Society, which meets at 7:00 PM on the first Wednesday of every even-numbered month. The Altar Society traditionally takes responsibility for the care of the church, hospitality at funerals and weddings, fund-raising, and keeping the mission connected across the small Midland community.
- Parish Altar Society — meets 7:00 PM, first Wednesday of each even-numbered month
Visit & Contact
St. William sits on West Elm Street in Midland, the seat of Haakon County. Travelers coming for Mass should note that the schedule alternates months between Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and that the parish phone line is shared with the Philip-area cluster. The parish is listed on the Diocese of Rapid City's parish finder.
- Address: 307 West Elm Street, Midland, SD 57552
- Phone: (605) 859-2664
- Diocesan listing: rapidcitydiocese.org/location/midland-st-william/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Kevin AchbachThrough 2016
Served the Philip–Midland–Milesville cluster for six years before being reassigned to Winner and Colome in 2016.
- Fr. Gary Oreshoski2016–2022
Former U.S. Air Force B-52 pilot; ordained 1988 for the Diocese of Rapid City. Retired effective 2022 after 34 years of ministry.
- Fr. Grant Gerlach2022–2026
Resided in Philip; pastor of Sacred Heart Philip, St. William Midland, and St. Mary Milesville.