The parish of Saints Simon & Jude was founded in 1878 in Flandreau, Dakota Territory, with Father Koeberl as the first pastor.  Church services were held once a month in Morse’s Hall in 1879.  In later years Mass was offered in a private home and in a public hall.  In 1880 Bishop Marty assigned Father Brogan of Sioux Falls to the territory of Moody, Brookings, and Lake Counties.  Father Mattingly and Father Lerche also served the parish in 1881.

The first church, a wood frame structure built in 1882, was credited to the work of Missionary Father Thomas A. Flynn.  He was the first priest ordained by Bishop Marty and his mission extended from Flandreau to the Missouri River.  He said Mass in halls, homes and school houses until churches were built.  The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered in this new church beginning in June of 1882.  

Priests that served Sts Simon & Jude in Flandreau from 1885-1915:  Father M. Quinlan,  Father Thomas M. VanDevier, Father F.X. Guay, Father Thomas M. VanDevier, Father Joseph Barron, Father Peter Geraim, Father Anthony O'Hora, Father James C. Ahern, Father Thomas Quick, Father William H. Jhlonoran, Msgr Michael Dermody, Father Michael Martyn, and Father Emil Bonneterre.

On March 23, 1915 Rev. George E. Kelly came as pastor and was responsible for building the present church building which was built in 1916 at a cost of $40,000.  The contract for the construction was awarded by the parish in April 1916 to Carl Cropp of St. Cloud, Minn. for a bid of $24,844. The cornerstone for the building was laid on Sunday, August 6, 1916. The church was dedicated by Bishop O'Gorman on September 27, 1917, with a large group of young people being confirmed at the dedication.  The interior finish was elaborated in 1936 with a complete redecoration.     

In 1940 the parish celebrated the liquidation of debt on the church property and ceremoniously burned the mortgage.  They also celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of the parish and twenty-five years of the pastorate of the present priest, Rev. Father G.E. Kelly.  Bishop Brady offered Mass, with neighboring priests sitting in choir.  Fr. Kelly retired from active priesthood and was granted the title of Pastor Emeritus.  

Effective July 1, 1954, Father Felix McCabe was appointed pastor.  Shortly after he arrived the church was completely redecorated.  In 1956 a new rectory was built at a cost of $63,626.  An open house was held in 1957 upon its completion. 

In the summer of 1966 construction began on a building for religious education.  It was finished in April of 1967 at a cost of $98,500.  Previously, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) classes had been held in the church, in the old house behind the church, and in the old Corcoran house (the current site of the education unit).  In 1954 classes were organized for Saturday mornings and the Presentation Sisters from Dell Rapids came to Flandreau to teach.  In 1971, with the decline in the number of available nuns, volunteer lay teachers of the parish took over the teaching.  

In 1971, Msgr. McCabe celebrated, with the parish, diocesan clergy, and relatives, his 50th anniversary of ordination.  So many priests and people responded to the invitation that it was necessary to hold the celebration in the local high school.  It was a grand and glorious celebration.  

In 1976, Father Gerald Thury was appointed temporary administrator as Msgr. McCabe recuperated from a grave illness.  Msgr. McCabe decided to resign his duties as pastor.  

In 1977, because of the shortage of priests, Rev. Msgr. Jerome Duraczynski was recalled back to the Diocese of Sioux Falls by Bishop Hoch and appointed pastor of Sts. S&J.  Msgr. Duraczynski had been serving as chaplain at the Veterans Administration Hospital and Center in Pittsburgh, PA since 1972.  He celebrated his 40th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood on May 30, 1982  and retired as pastor in 1987.  

Father Al Krzyzopolski became pastor in November 1987.  He oversaw the addition of an elevator, making the church facilities handicap accessible. 

Father William Neuroth was pastor 1992-1994.  He was also sacramental minister to Our Lady of Good Counsel in Elkton.

Father David Roehrich was pastor 1994-2001.  He helped move the steps to the church basement from under the choir loft stairway into an open area, thus making them more accessible and wider.  The pews were refinished under Fr Roerich and he also personally remodeled and updated the rectory. Sts Simon & Jude and St Peter's (Colman) were linked in 1994 under Fr Roehrich.  In 1998, Our Lady of Good Counsel (Elkton) was added to the linkage of Sts Simon & Jude and St Peter's (Colman), thus forming the current tri-parish linkage. 

Father Richard Fox was pastor 2001-2008.  

Father John Helmueller was pastor 2008-2014.  The interior of the church was elaborately painted, with stenciling on the ceiling during his tenure.

Father Douglas Binsfeld was pastor 2014-2020.  He oversaw the construction and installation of a new commercial elevator for the parish, which replaced the old, outdated elevator.  

Father Melvin Kuhn - current pastor.