Holy Spirit History
With a decree by Bishop Paul Dudley, Holy Spirit Parish became a reality on July 1, 1988. Father James Andraschko was appointed founding pastor. The new faith community, which included 380 families, composed of former parishioners of Church of St. Mary and St. Lambert of Sioux Falls, and St. Nicholas of Tea.
For three years, the community celebrated Mass at Harvey Dunn School, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and the Parish house. In March 1991, the first Mass was offered in the new church and the parish offices were moved from the rectory in the new structure. A formal dedication was held at the Church on March 19, 1991.
Growth has been constant since the beginning of Holy Spirit. Nearly 1400 families are registered in the parish and as the expanding southeastern part of Sioux Falls and the adjacent rural areas continue to grow so will the parish. To keep pace with the needs of a very diverse and growing congregation, a Christian Life Center building project is being planned for the near future.
To support the spiritual and temporal needs of our
faith community, a full range of Religious Education is available for
pre-school, grade school, high school, and adult. Additionally, we
financially support the Sioux Falls Catholic School System of which Holy
Spirit Grade School, and O’Gorman Middle and High Schools are a part.
On November 3, 1996, Father Andraschko was named a monsignor by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II and on May 24, 1999 Monsignor Andraschko celebrated his 40th anniversary of ordination.
On June 29, 2005, Monsignor Andraschko retired after 46 years as a priest serving the Sioux Falls Diocese. He will be fondly remembered for his masterful 17 years of leadership here at Holy Spirit Parish. During his tenure, we realized three major objectives he had set for the parish; vocations to the priesthood (we now have 3 seminarians), a grade school facility (we have 20 classrooms completed in Sept. 2005), and Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the new Chapel constructed in 2003.
Fr. James P. Morgan became pastor of Holy Spirit Parish on June 30, 2005. Fr. Morgan first served at Holy Spirit as a newly ordained priest from 2001-2003 and the parish is very pleased to welcome him back as our head pastor.
Newly ordained Priests who have served as Associates of Holy Spirit include Father David Stevens (1998-2001), Fr. J.P. Morgan (2001-2003), Fr. Justin Wachs (2004-2005) and Fr. Dana Christensen (2005-Present).
The parish name, Holy Spirit, aptly describes the people’s dream to be God’s instruments by sharing their personal gifts of time talent and treasure.