Our Lady of Good Counsel - Elkton

The first Mass for OLGC was offered May 11, 1879 by Fr. Koeberl at the Thomas Fogarty home. 

Father J.P. Keenan was appointed the first pastor in 1881, in response to a signed petition asking that a priest be sent to them.  Fr. Keenan built the first church, a small frame structure. Not only was it the first Catholic church in Elkton, but it was the first Catholic church west of Avoca, MN in this area of the territory. He lived in the sacristy until 1883 when Fr. Gerald M. Stack was appointed his successor.  He also lived in the sacristy.

Father Thomas Cahill who came to Elkton the fall of 1885 directed the building of the first rectory. 

Father Edward Coleman, Father T.M. Quinlan, Father Peter Joseph Jeram served the Elkton through the years of 1887-1891.

Father James McNally was assigned to the Elkton parish in 1891.  Soon after his arrival, he invited nuns to teach in the first parochial school.  He also began supervising the building of a larger church which was completed and dedicated by Bishop Marty in 1894.  This building was used until 1960.  Father Jacob Smith McKendrick assisted Fr. McNally in 1894 and 1895.  

From 1897-1915 Father George Sheehan shepherded the parish.  When he arrived, he found a parish with 700 souls and several active societies.  About 80 children attended Sunday School.  The parochial school had burned down some time before, so his first priority became the building of a convent-school adjoining the church.  He was responsible for the new parsonage being built in 1906.  In 1908 he was honored with the rank of Right Reverend Monsignor.  While Msgr. Sheehan was on a four-month trip to Europe, Fr. Adam J. Coyle, was in charge of the parish.  

Rev. William T. Shean came to Elkton on October 18, 1915 to aid the ailing Msgr Sheehan and stayed for 44 years.  Prior to coming to Elkton he had supervised the building of St. Thomas More Church in Brookings.  He was also instrumental in the erection of St. William's Church in Aurora in 1909 at a cost of $8000 for the building and furnishings;  this building is still being used today.  

One of Fr. Shean's first projects after arriving in Elkton was the building of St. Mary's School which was completed in 1918.  Father devoted much of his time to the school and to teaching, while his assistants conducted the parish work.  The church was extensively remodeled in 1941.  Only the frame and the flooring were retained, all else was replaced.  The bell tower was razed and rebuilt at the entrance to the sacristy.  A lighted cross was put on the tower. All the windows were replaced with colored cathedral glass (fifteen windows at a cost of $75 each), new Stations of the Cross and a new tabernacle were installed.  An oil-burning system replaced the old coal furnace.

The first assistant pastor was Father P.J. Cafferky from 1916 until 1920. Next was Father Felix Leo Durkin, who served at Elkton from 1919-1940.  Assistants following were: Father William Issenhuth, Father W.T. Kearney, Father John Mulvaney, Father Raymond G. Mowrey, Father Frank L. Sieh, Father T.W. Connolly, Father Thomas Mechtenberg.

The 100th anniversary of the Papal declaration of the Immaculate Conception was known as the Marian Year (1954). Coincidentally, this was the year of Our Lady of Good Counsel's Diamond Jubilee and of Fr. William T. Shean's Golden Jubilee of his priesthood. This was also the year that building funds were begun for the new church. Three donations totaling $1,700.00 were the kickoff.   Late summer of 1958 found the parish at the beginning of a fund drive to collect the money to build the church.  Estimated cost of the project $200,00 with the possibility that it might be higher.  The campaign was to extend from September 1958 to September 1960, covering three crops and three tax deductions.  Each could choose whether to donate in a lump sum, annually, or monthly.  Each was asked to give not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice!

In May of 1959 the prospective enrollment for St. Mary's School was 126, too many children for three Sisters to handle adequately.  Their application for a fourth Sister was rejected because of the extreme shortage of Sisters; therefore, it was decided to engage a lay teacher for the following year.  

Father Shean was in failing health and in 1955 it became necessary for him to withdraw more and more from active life.  He always retained a keen interest in the parish and continued to make and promote plans for a new church and rectory.  His death came on April 7, 1959.

Father Louis J. Miller was assigned the Elkton parish on June 16, 1959.  A top priority was to assume and consummate Father Shean's plans for a new church.  While Fr. Miller was in Chicago for a rural Life conference, he fell in love with the stone that is now in the church.  Jim Derks was engaged as the architect to work with this new building concept.  Parish volunteers gathered to unload four carloads of stone to be used in the church.  Volunteers also helped dismantle the old church and saved an abundance of usable timber for a substantial savings in the new house.  The last Sunday Mass held in the old church was on October 2, 1960 and during the several months of construction, Mass was held in the school. 

The cornerstone of the new church was laid on October 27, 1960 and Bishop Hoch blessed the foundation and called down God's blessings on those laboring on the project.  The new church plans were changed to be a double-wall for better insulation from temperature extremes.  Materials selected for the project were native stone, exposed cedar deck roofing and laminated beams for the church. A slate stone floor is used throughout the church area.  The bell tower is an expression of the church's basic design and construction.  It consists of four laminated wood beams, capped by a terne plate roof.  The rectory is attached to the church near the sacristy to combat weather and permit convenient access to the church.  Economical wood joists and plastered ceilings were used in the attached rectory. The living area features a clerestoried ceiling area at the fireplace and a bedroom level that includes a balcony study opening onto the living area.  The church floor area is 6750 square feet, the rectory floor area is 3880 square feet.  Cost per square foot was $13.75 for construction only. Total cost including furnishings and fees was $178,000.  

July 26, 1961 Bishop Hoch officiated at the dedication ceremonies for the new church.  

A simple grotto was built in the southwest corner of the property.  Erected with the same stone as the church, it held the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which had been in the old church.  Later a statue of the Blessed Virgin replaced the Sacred Heart statue which had become badly weathered and cracked.  That was later replaced with another statue of our Lord, with hands extended. 

With completion of the new church behind him, Msgr. Miller made the building of a new school and parish hall adjacent to the church his prime concern.  This project again became a parish effort as members did all manner of volunteer help.  On October 25, 1966, Msgr Miller observed his Silver Jubilee of Ordination.  Most Rev. Lambert Hoch presided at the Mass marking the event and also officiated at the blessing of the the new parish school. Msgr Miller died at 56 in a one-car accident near Fort Pierre, SD on April 19, 1968, as he was returning home from a Farm Home Administration meeting in Rapid City. 

Father Leonard Fox became the next pastor in June, 1968.  The sisters left Elkton in June 1969 and it was decided to sell the convent rather than rent it.  It was purchased by Mr & Mrs John Lytle for $5,000.  

Approximately 275 people gathered at St. Mary's Hall on September 23, 1973 to enjoy a smorgasbord dinner served by the ladies of the parish.  The occasion was the burning of the $106,000 mortgage note, Bishop Hoch was on hand to take part in the ceremonies.  

Father Terence Stanton, OSB arrived in September, 1974 to take over duties as pastor.  A winter storm hit the area on November 9, 1977; strong winds blew down the bell tower, the beams were damaged along with the wires in the bell ringing device.  The canopy below the cross was destroyed; however, the 1895 bell from the old church was not damaged.  

1979 was the year of the Centennial of Our Lady of Good Counsel.  Each month had a special celebration beginning with a Holy Hour, potluck parish supper, and card playing.  The theme for the centennial year was "Family strength and the need for parents who by word and example will hand on the faith to their children."  The official commemoration of OLGC centennial was help October 7, 1979.  The day opened with a rosary procession at St. Mary's Cemetery, led by Bishop Dudley and Fr. Terrence.  The Mass was followed by a parish celebration in St. Mary's Hall.  

Father Thomas McPhillips was pastor in 1981-1990.

Father James Buckley was pastor in 1991.

Father Joseph Forcelle was pastor 1991-1993.

Sister Marlene Konrady was appointed administrator of the parish 1994-1998.  Father William Neuroth and various priests served as sacramental ministers during this time, many of whom were retired priests of the diocese.  

Sister Benedicta Long came to the parish in 1995 and stayed until she was called back to the monastery in 2019.

Sister Marilyn Heck was in residence 2004-2007.

In 1998, Our Lady of Good Counsel joined with the Sts. Simon & Jude in Flandreau and St. Peter in Colman to form a tri-parish linkage under Father David Roehrich. 

Father Richard Fox was pastor 2001-2008.  

Father John Helmueller was pastor 2008-2014. 

Father Douglas Binsfeld was pastor 2014-2020.