History

History of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
Killdeer, ND

 
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church came into being in 1916 as a “station”, a place where Mass was said without an actual church building.   Father Thiesen of Manning and Father Dignam, pastor of Dickinson attended and served the area.
 
On July 12, 1917 the parish purchased the largest of the old school buildings from the school board and St. Joseph’s parish was more formally organized with Father Florian Krank as the first pastor.   In 1918 a Catholic rectory was constructed west of the church, both situated north of the present church building.  There were 22 parishioners in 1919.  When a historical record was established February 15, 1941; the church had grown to 394.  St. Joseph’s parish has a current roster of more than 160 families.
 
Father Krank served until 1920.   In September of 1920, priests of the Congregation of the Precious Blood, C.PP.S from Carthagena, Ohio began serving St. Joseph’s.  In order of service were Fathers Stephen Weigand, Herman Goldschmidt, Frederick Schaeper, Ferdinand Goettemoeller, Albin Bauer, Robert Stukenborg, Edward Charek, Vincent Mallifske, Austin Herman and Werner Hemmelgarn.  Father Mallifske returned and was pastor for another ten years until 1984.  Father Gerald Ruelle, OSB, served from 1984-July 2007.  Father James Shea served from July 2007-June 2009.  Father Darnis Selvanayakam served from July 2009-May 2018. Our present pastor, Fr. Joseph Evinger began his pastorate with St. Joseph’s parish in July 2018. 
 
The small school building used for 34 years gradually became inadequate to serve the growing parish and the present church was constructed during the pastorate of Fr. Ferdinand Goettemoelller.  First services were held in the new church on May 21, 1951. The present attached rectory was built in 1972 during the pastorate of Father Austin Herman.
 
This sketchy history is an attempt to reflect on chronological events since the early part of the 20^th century.   The history of the parish life is much more than that.  It is above all else a celebration of almost a century of faith in this Catholic community of St. Joseph’s.  While we look to the future with hope, we look at the past with gratitude.  As a rural parish in western North Dakota, the people of St. Joseph’s experience together the sadness of the death of those we love, the challenges of ranching and farming in our time, the occasional departure of family and friends for other places, and many other trials and difficulties.  But through it all, we remain a people of great joy and hope because our lives are rooted in Jesus Christ. We are convinced of His genuine love and concern for each of us.  We encounter Him through the power of the sacraments, at Holy Mass, in God’s Word, and in our lives of prayer and Christian witness.