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St. Francis Mission

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St. Francis Mission is a ministry of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) among the 20,000 Lakota (Sioux) people on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in south-central South Dakota. It is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1886. The purpose of the Mission is to re-evangelize Catholic Lakota people and bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have not heard it. They respect the traditions of the Lakota people as they collaborate with them to meet the spiritual, educational, social, and physical needs of the community. Their ministry is supported by gifts from those who share our mission. A team of Jesuits works in collaboration with a Lakota deacon, several commissioned Lakota lay ministers, and numerous Lakota lay people who make the work of the Church possible.

St. Francis Mission is the largest not-for-profit organization on the Rosebud Reservation that is neither government-controlled nor government-funded. Currently, it supports work in four parishes: Icimani Ya Waste Recovery Center, the White River Recovery Center, the CYO Religious Education Center in Rosebud, the Buechel Memorial Lakota Museum, and the Sapa Un Jesuit Academy.

For more information about St. Frances Mission, please contact our Community Outreach Committee at volunteer@sacredheart.org to learn about opportunities for involvement through Sacred Heart.

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Summer 2025 Mission Trip

In June, a group of Sacred Heart parishioners traveled on a Mission Trip to visit our Sister School and Parish, St. Francis Mission, on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota.  They joyfully volunteered at a Vacation Bible School, worked on a service project at the school, and spent meaningful time connecting with community members to learn more about life on the reservation.  They also brought along much-needed school supplies and dental hygiene products for the students of Sapa Un School, spreading kindness and support.

We are so grateful for your continued support of our Sister School and Parish—thank you for helping us make a difference together!

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