Before North Dakota became a state in 1889, immigrants from Europe and Russia settled small rural communities on the rolling hills of the prairie. These hard-working men and women brought with them a deep faith which necessitated building a place to worship their God. Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church at Fallon was established in 1908. St. Lawrence parish was a mission of Sts. Peter & Paul until 1912. As the number of paristhioners at at both parishes grew, Bishop Vincent de Paul Wehrle, OSB, established St. Lawrence as a parish in 1912. Thirteen original families were the foundation of the new faith community. Fr. Joseph Neibler baptized the first child, Florence Woll, in the new church on March 18, 1913.
The original church building cost $4,000.00 and could accommodate about fifty families. Fr. John Selder became the first resident pastor in 1922.
Fr. Joseph Pottgens became pastor in 1941. Starting in 1948, under his guidence, the parish began the building of a Catholic School for passing on their faith. On February 14, 1949 a fire destroyed the original church. Plans changes and a chapel was added to the school project for the faithful to worship. The fall of 1950 brought the opening of the parochial school and the chapel for worship.
In 1954, on the grounds of St. Lawrence, a grotto dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God, was built. Composed of of rose and clear quartz, mica from the Black Hills, and petrified wood for the North Dakota Badlands it is located on the west side of the property. The steps leading up to the grotto are the original church steps and mark the location of the original church building.
In 1959, under the supervision of Fr. Hugo Backes, the present church was built. It was dedicated in November of 1959. The A-frame buildling can accommodate 150 families and was one of the first handicap-accessible churches of its time.
The Catholic School was closed in 1967 and for several years the building was used by the public school. The building is now the Parish Center; housing the parish offices, classrooms, meeting rooms, and the Flasher Area Food Pantry.
God has blessed St. Lawrence with two faithful vocations. Sr. Jean Loius Schafer, OSF and Fr. Dennis R. Schafer were baptised here and were students at St. Lawrence Catholic School.
The ninety-eight families of St. Lawrence continue to be blessed with strong faith, love for God, and gratitude for all His blessings.
Priests Who Have Served St. Lawrence Please pray for all our priests.
+Fr. Joseph Neibler from 1912 to 1922
+Fr. John Selder from 1922 to 1941
+Fr. Joseph Pottgens from 1941 to 195x +Fr. Hugo Backes from 195x +Fr. Edwin Wehner from 1985 to 1990
Fr. Gene Lindemann (priest in residence) from 1987 to 1990
+Fr. Jeff Heidt from 1990- 1991
Fr. Francis dos Remedios, OBS, briefly in 1991
+Fr. Ed Korte from 1991 to 1993
Fr. Ken Phillips from 1993 until 1998
Fr. K.K. Nediakala, a missionary priest from India, from 1998 to 2001
Fr. Gary Benz from 2001 to 2006
Fr. Todd Kreitinger from 2006 to 2008
Fr. Daniel Berg from 2008 to 2012
Fr. Dennis Schafer from June 2012 to 2021
Fr. Biju Antony, IMS, a missionary priest from India, 2021 to present