Ministries

Divine Mercy Pastorate offers formation ministries in service, community, adult discipleship, and more!

If you see a ministry, see below, that you'd like to be involved with, contact Lora Pelzer.

lpelzer@divinemercysf.org

605-743-8055

Lifelong Disciple Making

Women's Altar Society
- Women's groups that focus on social, service, and fundraising at St. Mary
Knights of Columbus
- Men's group serving the parish and community at Christ the King and St. Mary
Society of St. Vincent dePaul
- Ministry serving the poor at Christ the King and St. Mary
Culture of Life & Respect Life Committees
- Pro-life ministries meeting, respectively, at St. Mary and Christ the King
Homebound, Nursing Homes, & Hospice Outreach
- Providing Communion and pastoral care to those who are unable to attend Mass
Vocations Awareness & Serra
- Groups at Christ the King and St. Mary, respectively, that support and promote vocations to priesthood and religious life
Food & Supplies Drives
- Charity drives at St. Mary, Christ the King, and St. John Paul II
The Banquet
- Community meal service opportunity
Funeral Ministry Team
- Provides bars and workers for funerals at Christ the King
Sunday Coffee and Rolls
- Set-up, serve, and clean-up after Sunday Masses at Christ the King
Bake Sales
- Christ the King and St. Mary hold annual bake sales to raise funds for parish endeavors
Creation Care
- Environmental stewardship ministry, open to parishioners from Christ the King, St. John Paul II, and St. Mary
Legion of Mary
- Encourages devotion to our Lord through His Blessed Mother and praying of the Rosary.
- Open to parishioners from Christ the King, St. John Paul II, and St. Mary
St. Patrick Newman Meals
- Provide meals for the Newman Club's Sunday evening community gatherings
Seven Sisters Apostolate
- Pray a Holy Hour one day a week for our priests
Church Decoration
- Decorate the church for Christmas, Holy Week, and Easter for Christ the King, St. John Paul II, and St. Mary
Prayer Chain
- Receive notifications to pray for parishioners
- Offered for all three parishes
Cleaning Votive Candles at St. Mary

Ignite the Night
- Pastorate-wide community building family event
- July 28, 2026
Ladies, Let's Talk
- Semiannual gathering for the women of Divine Mercy Pastorate
- Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 7 PM at St. Mary
Catholic Women's Professional League
- Through fellowship, Catholic women develop and support each other as business professionals
Mothers with Young Children Retreat
- Annual springtime pastorate-wide retreat for mothers with children aged 0-12
Guess Who is Coming to Dinner
- Parishioners meet in homes for a meal as a community building event
- Offered at Christ the King and St. Mary
Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Christ the King ministry that shares the Sunday readings to children at age-appropriate levels
Monday and Thursday Rosary Group
- Monday and Thursday morning prayer group at Christ the King (during school year only)
55+ Raring to Go
- St. John Paul II fellowship and service group for those 55+
Mahjong
- Social group gathering to play mahjong at St. Mary
Men's Coffee
- Social gathering after Wednesday Mass at St. Mary
Pastorate Mission
- Fall: November 16-19, 2025 with the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal
- Spring: February 28 - March 3, 2026 with Fr. Greg Tschakert

Adult Formation Series
- Fall and Spring, 4-6 weeks long
That Man is You
- Men's program incorporates discussions about the challenges men face
- Groups at Christ the King and St. Mary
Well-Read Mom
- National book group open to all parishioners
St. Patrick Newman Club
- College ministry with a student lounge at Christ the King, serving Augustana, USF, Southeast Tech, and college students in Sioux Falls
Men's Bible Study Group
- Meeting at St. Mary
Women's Scripture Study
- Offered at St. Mary
Women's Book Group
- Meeting after Mass at Harrisburg South Middle School for St. John Paul II
Adult Bible Study
- at St. Mary
Pastorate Book Studies
- Advent and Lent
Fall Pastorate Mission 2025
- November 16-18, 2025
Spring Pastorate Mission 2026
- February 28-March 3, 2026

Family Formation Nights
- Once a month Pastorate-wide Family Formation nights at Christ the King
Family Community Nights
- Pastorate-wide family community-building: fun and service activities
- 5th Wednesday of the month at Christ the King
- September-April
Family Christmas Caroling
- Pastorate-wide family get-together at Christ the King for dinner, caroling in the neighborhood, and cocoa and cookies
Lumen Christi Family Events
- Dessert and Trivia Kick-off Night
  - First evening of Lumen Christi
- All-Family Potluck
  - 3rd or 4th evening of Lumen Christi

Religious Education
- 6th-12th Grade
  - Middle and High School classes held on Wednesday evenings at St. Mary
  - September-April
Lumen Christi Summer Discipleship Program
- 7th-12th Grade
  - at Christ the King at 7 PM
  - June or July
Youth Formation Nights
- Pastorate-wide large group youth nights on Wednesday evenings
- 6:30-8 PM at Christ the King
- September-April

Couples Dinner and Prayer
- Quarterly Event at Christ the King and St. Mary
Engaged Encounter
- Weekend retreat offered for engaged couples
Marriage prep classes
- meets 4 evenings, quarterly
Baptism Classes
- Offered monthly for new parents
Parent Formation
- Growing Your Domestic Church
  - 4-session parent formation groups
  - meeting at various times and locations at Christ the King and St. Mary

By Location

That Man is You
Ladies, Let's Talk
Family Faith Formation Nights
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Family Community Nights
Living Stations of the Cross
- starting 2026
Monday and Thursday Rosary Group
Funeral Ministry Team
Knights of Columbus
Society of St. Vincent dePaul
Prayer Chain
Children's Liturgy of the Word
Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)

Respect Life
Hands of Compassion
Seven Sisters Apostolate
Homebound, Nursing Home, and Hospice Ministries
Seasonal Decorating
St. Patrick Newman Club
St. Patrick Newman Meal Volunteers
Voyage
- St. Patrick Newman on Wednesday nights
Immaculata House of Prayer
Propaedeutic House
Lumen Christi Evening Program
Vocations Awareness Group

Events

Weekly Donut Sundays
Winter Cookie Fair
Family Christmas Caroling
Lenten Fish Fry
Advent and Lenten Book Studies
Parish Picnic (school-parish)
Prayer and Potluck (1st Sundays)
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Welcome Sunday

That Man is You
Men's Bible Study
Women's Scripture Study
Ladies, Let's Talk
Women's Altar Societies
K-6th Faith Formation Classes
6th-12th Religious Education classes
Catholic Women's Professional League
Knights of Columbus
Seasonal Food/Supply Drives
Creation Care
Society of St. Vincent dePaul
The Banquet
Feeding SD
Adoration Sisters Donations

Adult Bible Study
Serra Vocations Ministries
Culture of Life Committee
Homebound, Nursing Home, and Hospice Ministries
Well-Read Mom
Lumen Christi Day Program
Legion of Mary
Prayer Chain
Seven Sisters Apostolate
St. Patrick Newman Meals
Seasonal Decorating
Adult Formation 4-6 week study groups
- Fall and Spring
Children's Nativity Play (starting 2025)

Events

Mothers with Young Children Retreat
- annual spring event
Winter Cookie Fair and Spring Bake Sale
Lenten Fish Fry
Advent and Lenten Book Studies
Donut Sundays (semi-monthly)
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Men's Coffee
Mahjong
Welcome Sunday

Women's Book Group
Prayer Chain
Seven Sisters Apostolate
55+ Retired and Raring to go
St. John Bosco Project for Backpacks and School Supplies
St. Lawrence's Stocking the Pantry for the Holidays Drive
Homebound, Nursing Home, and Hospice Ministries

Events

Lenten Fish Fry
Donut Sundays
- monthly during the school year
Advent and Lenten Book Studies
Welcome Sunday

Something for Everyone

Altar Societies
- St. Mary
Monday and Thursday morning Rosary Group
- Christ the King
Catholic Women's Professional League
Well-Read Mom
- St. Mary
Women's Scripture Study
- St. Mary
Women's Book Group
- St. John Paul II
Mothers with Young Children Retreat
Ladies, Let's Talk
- September 30 at St. Mary
- April 28 at St. Mary

Children and Families

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Christ the King
Faith Formation Classes
- Meets at St. Mary
Family Formation Nights
- Meets at Christ the King
Family Community Nights
- Meets at Christ the King
Lumen Christi Elementary Program
- Meets at St. Mary
Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Christ the King
School Rosary Group
- Christ the King

Teens

Lumen Christi Middle and High School Program
- Meets at Christ the King
Youth Formation Night
- 1st Wednesday of the month
- Meets at Christ the King
- September-April
Youth Religious Education
- 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays of the month
- Meets at St. Mary
- September-April

College

St. Patrick Newman Club
- Meets at Christ the King

Seniors

55+ and Raring to Go
- St. John Paul II
Adult Bible Study
- St. Mary

Coming in 2025 ... and Beyond!

Pastorate Nativity Play

Christmas 2025

Fathers Formation Retreat

Winter 2026
A chance to minister to fathers in the Pastorate, with their unique call and unique challenges

Pastorate Meal and Teaching: Proposal for 2025

Proposal for monthly Pastorate community event that includes sharing a meal and learning together

Pastorate Living Stations of the Cross

Bringing this meaningful expression of prayer back to Christ the King for Lent 2026

Newman Club 5K

Community fun run to raise awareness of and funds for the Newman Club
Potentially Spring 2026