Welcome to Highmore

Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church

Immaculate Conception Church is located on the Stephan Catholic Indian Mission founded on January 28, 1886. Bishop Martin Marty commissioned Fr. George L. Willard to locate a site for the school, and Miss Katharine Drexel (later known as Mother, foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament) financed the first small building. It was named "Immaculate Conception" at her request, in honor of her mother who favored that title of the Mother of God.

In 1887 a post office was opened and called Stephan, after Fr. Joseph A. Stephan, Director of the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions. The school opened in the fall of 1886 with five students and Frs. Brogan and Sullivan assigned as spiritual advisors. Br. Gonzaga was prefect. In January of 1887 St. Meinrad Abbey of Indiana began staffing the Mission. The first superior was Fr. Pius Boehm.

More buildings were erected and more teachers and the Benedictine Sisters came to help. Sr. Wilhelmina Kaufman, who froze to death in the blizzard of '88, and Sr. Magdalen Nagy were assigned in April of 1887. The Benedictines from Yankton came to help when the Indian Industrial was closed. Rev. Vincent Wehrk, O.S.B., accompanied the assigned boys and became superintendent. In the early days life was very primitive. Government help was needed. New buildings were built, and a number of times they burned to the ground. Mother Katharine Drexel again provided needed donations. Fr. Ambrose Mattingly was ordained in the little chapel in June 1889. He supervised the building of two new buildings. Along with Sr. Monica Neidhardt they saved many lives in the fire of 1916. In 1924, a tornado went straight through Stephan. The church was completely demolished and a new one was built in 1926.

• 1931 Fr. Pius relieved as superior. Fr. Justin Snyder took over
• 1935 Fr. Pius died and buried in front of the beautiful crucifixion group in the Stephan cemetary.
• 1938 Another tornado damaged every building. Children from as far away as Belcourt, ND come to Stephan. 17 Benedictine sisters are stationed here.
• 1943 Fr. Justin leaves because of ill health. Fr. Timothy Sexton, O.S.B. became the administrator for three years.
• 1946 Fr. Augustine Edel appointed as superior. Another fire takes its toll - clothing store, groceries and garage burn down (one building).
• 1949 Marty Hall damaged by fire.
• 1954 An extension to the church is built and a new three-story brick school.
• 1957 Infant of Prague auditorium opens for use, as well as new boys' hall.
• 1961-62 Due to teacher shortage, they begin to eliminate an elementary grade each year, starting with the first through the 6th grade.
• 1963 A new building is ready for occupancy - sisters' convent, chapel, high school girls' dorm and rec room, grade school girls' living quarters, kitchen facilities, bakery, laundry and dining rooms for all.
• May 5, 1976 Due to shortage of priests, sisters and vocations, Blue Cloud Abbey turns the mission school and facilities over to the Crow Creek Tribe. With this action the church and parish become a seperate entity.

The following priests also served at Immaculate Conception, Stephan: Fr. Louis, Fr. Tierney, Fr. Basil, Fr. Timothy, Fr. Casimir, Fr. Stan, Fr. Gerald, Fr. Michael O'Reilly, Fr. Peter Schwartz, Fr. Odo, Fr. Cletus, Fr. Michael Malone, Fr. Julius, Fr. Francis Suttmiller, Fr. Peter (again), Fr. Larry Barnett, Fr. Francis (again), sometimes affectionately known as "Uncle Hank".

July 19, 1972 our church burns to the ground again. A new one was built, and in the interim Mass was held in the boys' building. New church was dedicted December 14, 1974.

As in all churches following Vatican II, we had to adjust to many changes. We had to learn to become more self-sufficient also after the school was turned over to Crow Creek tribe. Parish Council was formed, and the laity took over more jobs in running the church.

In 1990 Blue Cloud Abbey announced they would no longer be able to furnish a priest for the Church at Stephan and were also leaving Ft. Thompson and Big Bend. There has been a Pastoral Team of Sacred Heart priests serving Lower Brule and Reliance. The bishops of South Dakota arrange for this team, with some new members, to take on the parish of Kennebec and the three east river parishes also. This team included: Fr. Yvon Sheehy, Fr. Gary Lantz, Fr. Frank Strafalance, Sr. Marion Fischer, Sr. Charles Palm, Sr. Clare Kulas and Sr. Shirley Smith. The team also includes Tom Howell, Parish Minister for Stephan.