Our Lady of Lourdes Mission began with one of the most sacred beginnings. It was said that a local farmer was out in his fields working one day. He stopped to wipe his brow and noticed someone sitting on the side of the hill towards the west, a woman in a dress with a bright light around her. He blinked a bit thinking that he was just seeing things that were caused by the sweat in his eyes, yet she was still there. He put his tools down and went to her to see if she was lost. As he got closer to her, he noticed that she was a very beautiful, peaceful woman. He asked her if he could help her, if she was lost, what bright her here? The woman simply said that she was sent by the Holy Mother who had a message to give: that a school was to be built here for the children. The man asked how this could be as he was just a simple, poor man. He did not have enough money to build a school, and who would run it and take care of it? She told him that this was God’s wish and that help would be given. He felt her sincerity, her peace, and knew that she could not be from around this area. He told her that he would donate this land to a group who could build a school and allow this to be so.
Later, the Notre Dame Order sent six sisters in habits to begin this Mission in the 1930s. They built the school as the need arose. It started out as a boarding school with only a few girls. The Grotto was built as their sacred prayer spot until a church came later. The Mission had their own garden, their own orchard, their own cellars built into the ground to store their food. They raised chickens, had milk cows and were very self-sufficient. As the school became more popular and the community saw more success with it, the community asked the sisters to open it up to both boys and girls. And so, it became a day school. Many of the dorm buildings then became classrooms. A church was built. More was built to adjust to the needs of the growth of the enrollment of the Mission. From 1931-1941, the OLL Mission had grades 1st through 8th and was very successful.
As the Mission grew, it became a financial burden to the Notre Dame Order. The Mission was such a success and there was such a great need in the community and on the reservation that Notre Dame asked for help from the Jesuits who already had Holy Rosary Mission outside of Pine Ridge. The Jesuits bought the school from the Notre Dame Order around 1944-46.
Fr. Fencl was the pastor and administrator for OLL for 25 years, from 1946-1971. When he passed away, he was buried right here on our grounds in our Christ the King Cemetery. The school and the church began to grow and improvements were made.
Now, we have teacher housing, a two-story school building, a church, parish hall, and over 100 students enrolled K-8. We incorporate the Lakota language, culture, and history into our students’ learning. We are known in Lakota as Winyan Wakan Owayawa, or the School of the Sacred Woman. OLL has made a lasting impression on its students, staff, and visitors. Many feel at home here and continue to speak of OLL with great reverence and passion.