Mitchell Catholic Parishes invites families, couples, and individuals of all ages to participate in the 2025 Sacred Heart of Jesus Consecration and Celebration.
The Retreat Day will be Saturday, June 21 from 9 AM - 3:30 PM at the Holy Spirit Gathering Space. The day will begin with Mass at 9 AM. Then, PES Sisters, Priests & Brothers will lead the faithful in preparing for the consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by their talks, activities and prayers. If your family has already made the Consecration, please attend this Retreat Day as a Renewal of your family to the Heart of Jesus. Please register by June 6, 2025 for the Retreat Day. The cost of the retreat will be by freewill offering.
Additional Celebration Details:
- Thursday, June 26 - 6-7 PM: Vigil of the Solemnity Holy Hour in Holy Spirit Catholic Church
- Friday, June 27 - 6 PM: Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mass in Holy Family Catholic Church followed by an ice cream social in the basement.
May 4, 2025
Third Sunday of Easter
To the Parishioners of Sacred Heart Pastorate,
Effective July 1, 2025, the following assignment changes will take place affecting our pastorate:
Fr. Cesar Valencia, PES, will be appointed Pastor of St. Michael Parish, Sioux Falls, and St. George Parish, Hartford, (Our Lady of Victory Pastorate) and become priest in solidum of Holy Family and Holy Spirit Parishes, Mitchell.
Fr. Yamato Icochea, PES, will be appointed priest in solidum of Holy Family and Holy Spirit Parishes of Mitchell, and obtain the office of Pastor over our parishes.
Fr. Juan Carlos Villavicencio, PES, will be appointed Parochial Vicar of Holy Family and Holy Spirit Parishes, Mitchell, while remaining chaplain and director of the PES Formation House in Mitchell.
These appointments come at the request of the Most Reverend Donald E. DeGrood, Bishop of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and with the approval of the Provincial of Pro Ecclesia Sancta.
In summary, Fr. Yamato will become Pastor of Holy Family and Holy Spirit parishes, with my guidance and direction for the first year, while I relocate to the Sioux Falls area to formally serve as Pastor for Our Lady of Victory Pastorate. In addition to these appointments, Brothers Johannes Valakivi and Juan Diego Montoya will relocate to the Sioux Falls area with me. Fr. Mario Castagnola, PES, who is currently in Minnestoa, will join us as well.
While it may be a difficult transition, this is an exciting time for Pro Ecclesia Sancta and for the Diocese of Sioux Falls. This change will allow Pro Ecclesia Sancta to grow and more broadly share its ministry within the diocese and United States. These assignments also allow Pro Ecclesia Sancta to remain embedded within the Mitchell Catholic Parishes with a smooth transition of leadership. We are expecting four additional brothers to join our Formation House here in Mitchell in Fall 2025.
Please pray for our priests and brothers, our pastorate, and all those affected by this transition as we strive to seek and do God’s will.
Sincerely,
Fr. Cesar Valencia, PES
Registration is now open for the 2025 Men & Women's Broom Tree Silent Retreats!
The Men's Retreat will be August 22-24, 2025, and the Women's Retreat will be September 26-28, 2025.
The retreats begin on Friday evening with dinner and concludes Sunday after lunch. The retreat will include special presentations, time for prayer and reflection, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, an opportunity for one-on-one spiritual direction as well as the opportunity for confession. The retreat is led by the Pro Ecclesia Sancta priests, sisters, and brothers.
The cost of the retreat is $300 per person, which includes all meals and lodging. Guests provide their own transportation to and from the Broom Tree retreat center, but participants are encouraged to carpool. Please contact the Discipleship and Evangelization office for financial assistance.
The retreats are held at the beautiful Broom Tree Retreat Center near Irene, SD. The retreat center includes hotel-style rooms, on-site meals, conference rooms, fitness room, as well as many beautiful indoor and outdoor locations for prayer and meditation.
Take advantage of this unique and intimate opportunity for the parishioners of our pastorate!
Registration is now open for the two great summer camps for our parishes! Youth and adult volunteers are also needed for both camps. For more information, contact the Faith Formation office at
Holy Kids Camp
June 9-11, 2025
Grades K-5 (2025-2026 school year)
Camp video
CAMP DETAILS
Join us for Holy Kids Summer Camp led by the Pro Ecclesia Sancta Sisters at Holy Spirit & St. John Paul II Campus on June 9-11, 2025 for students in grades K-5. Cost is $15 per child with a $45 maximum per family. No one will be turned away due to financial need. Please contact the Discipleship & Evangelization office for assistance at 605-996-3842 or
Dates: June 9-11, 2025
Time: 9 AM - 12 PM
Location: St. John Paul II School & Holy Spirit Campus
Drop-off/Pick-up: Please use Entrance F of St. John Paul II School (east side in main church parking lot). There will be check-in inside the doors.
Items to Bring: Water bottle & shoes appropriate for games/running
Groups: Students will be split into groups in grades K-2 and 3-5 during the morning.
Family Night: Everyone is invited to join us for "Family Night" on Thursday, June 12 at 6 PM at Holy Spirit for a potluck supper and family Eucharistic Adoration.
Little Catholics Lake Mitchell Bible Camp
July 28-30, 2025
Grades K-8 (2025-2026 school year)
CAMP INFORMATION
July 28-30, 2025 - 8:00 - 12:30 P.M. - Camp Arroya, Lake Mitchell, SD
Grades K-8 (2025-26 school year)
Catholic youth are invited for an outdoor bible camp involving fishing, nature hikes, crafts & worship! Registration is $15 per child or $45 per family. Camp Leader is Sarah Timmer and will be run by volunteers of Holy Family & Holy Spirit Churches.
Register Online
Online payment link
[Mitchell, SD] St. John Paul II Elementary School welcomes Mrs. Sarah Timmer as the next principal of the Catholic elementary school beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
Timmer is currently the Curriculum Director for the Mitchell School District and has been in education since 2008. Timmer previously taught as an elementary teacher including third grade at Gertie Belle Rogers in Mitchell and first grade and kindergarten in Lincoln, Nebraska. Timmer holds a Master’s of Education in Administration from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and earned her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a Reading Minor from the University of Sioux Falls.
“Sarah brings to our school a great amount of experience in education. She is also a firm believer in the value of Catholic education not only for our Catholic Community but for any parent that is looking for an integral formation and education for their children,” says Fr. Cesar Valencia, Pastor of Mitchell Catholic Parishes and the school. “She is all about doing what is best for children. But, above all, Sarah is a disciple of Christ on a mission of sharing the good news of the Gospel through her leadership role.”
Timmer is also the founder and camp director of Little Catholics Lake Mitchell Bible Camp, a summer camp that began in 2022 and is held each summer at Camp Arroya on Lake Mitchell. The camp has grown to over one hundred students from the Mitchell Catholic Parishes from kindergarten to eighth grade. The camp includes outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking, crafts, science, experiments, songs and prayer.
"I am committed to nurturing both the mind and heart and will strive to help students develop habits that deepen their relationship with Christ."
“I am honored to join St. John Paul II School and look forward to getting to know each child personally, sharing the warmth and love of Christ with each of them,” says Timmer. “My goal is to uphold the mission of our school, which will allow each unique child to be a responsible citizen in our ever-changing world. I am committed to nurturing both the mind and heart and will strive to help students develop habits that deepen their relationship with Christ. I am eager to collaborate with teachers, engage the school community, and uphold high academic standards rooted in faith, ensuring a strong foundation for each of our children's growth and happiness!”
Timmer will succeed Principal Robin Cahoy, who has announced her retirement at the end of this school year after over forty years of dedication to the school. Cahoy joined the school, then named Holy Spirit School, in 1983 as a kindergarten teacher and was hired as Principal in 2012.
St. John Paul II School strives to create a community that promotes Catholic values, academic excellence, and stewardship which will allow each child to achieve their highest potential and become a lifelong disciple of christ.The school offers classes from preschool through sixth grade, as well as preschool-aged childcare, after–school care, and a new Summer Academy beginning this year. The school is also in year one of a three year transition to Catholic classical curriculum. More information about the school can be found at https://johnpaul2.org/.