Our Beginnings

Remember those early days? Our journey began on July 1, 2004, when 385 families answered Bishop Carlson's commission to Catholics within the newly drawn St. Katharine Drexel Parish boundaries to form a community of faith. We didn't have a church home back then. Our friends at Good News Reformed Church generously shared their worship space with us on Saturdays, and the O'Gorman Junior High School Gym, with a little set-up each weekend, was the site of our Sunday Masses.

While we may not have had a place to call our own, we were definitely and completely a community of faith, and a vibrant one at that! During the summer of 2004, members of our parish family began giving time, talent, and treasure to a variety of ministries: liturgy, music, education, vocations, social ministries, RCIA, adoration, prayer, building committees, nursery assistance, baking/cooking, and many more. Through these ministries, together as a parish family, we began answering God's call to share His love with others and carry forth His Word and His Truth.

But ministry needs a place to happen. Thus, it wasn't long before our St. Katharine Drexel Parish family said "Yes!" to God's invitation to build our own church home, a home for our ministry. We said "Yes!" to God's invitation, and together, in 2006, we began laying the foundation for our future.

 Our Today

Look around our faith community. Ministry is happening at St. Katharine Drexel Parish! We have nearly doubled in size over the past five years. Our parish community has grown from 385 to 710 families. Our glorious church was dedicated in July 2008, thanks to the hard work and stewardship of countless individuals. St. Katharine Drexel Education Center also opened its doors in September 2008, due to the love and faithfulness of a generous donor.

Our school currently serves 105 children in pre-school through second grade, integrating faith with academics throughout the school day. 750 parishioners are sharing their time, talent, and treasure through a range of ministries, from liturgy to vocations to education, and everything in between. Our parish journey in love and discipleship for God is awesome and amazing. In the words of one excited member of our faith community: "This parish is electric!"

 Our Continuing Journey

We are blessed.With God's help and guidance, we have laid the foundation for our future. We have a place for our ministry. We have the opportunity to share God's gifts with others, to be His disciples, and to bring others to discipleship.

We are blessed. But God's work never ends or slows down; it always continues and grows. As our ministries expand and flourish, our parish needs multiply.

We are blessed. And with God's guidance, we are preparing to do the work needed to continue His work in our growing community.

In answer to God's call, we began our building campaign three years ago. As we continue God's work in Phase II of the campaign, we have five goals:
  • Construct a Parish Hall/Gym - The only area we have for large group functions is the Gathering Space. If you attended Fr. Joe's birthday celebration, you know that the Gathering Space just isn't big enough to serve the meeting and fellowship needs of our growing parish! The Parish Hall will also serve as a space for the physical education classes in our St. Katharine Drexel School.
  • Extend St. Katharine Drexel Education Center - Our school currently serves students in grades pre-school through second. We will add a grade each year over the next four years and will need additional classroom space to do so. The expanded learning area will also serve our growing Religious Education needs.
  • Establish a Youth Room- Our junior and senior high school students need a space for meetings, activities and to just hang out. A youth room will provide that space in a safe and Christian environment.
  • Complete our Stained Glass Windows - One set of our windows, the Ascension, is complete in the west transept. Phase II of the building campaign will complete the windows in the east transept with the Nativity scene. Phase II will also complete the ten lower windows on the east and west sides, each of which will depict a saint.
  • No Additional Debt Will Be Incurred - Phase II will pay the interest on our existing debt over the next three years, but it will not add to that debt. The planning committee has worked hard to insure that the Phase II construction projects will be completed and paid for within three years.
We've built together. We've ministered together. We've laughed together and cried together. Along our journey we've come together in faith to worship God and to share His love. Let's continue our journey, together, and once again say "Yes!" to God's invitation to grow in our community, our faith, and our ministries.

Commitment cards will be available in Mass the weekend of November 21/22. We are all asked to seek God's will in our lives through prayer as it relates to our participation in this campaign.

Please prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do along our journey with Him.

Parish of St. Katharine Drexelwww.stkatharinedrexelsfsd.org