The first Catholic families of the Fort Stevenson area relied on the priests who came up the Missouri River on the steamboats.  Priests came to the Elbowoods Indian Mission and stopped at the farms along the way to say Mass and visit the families.
     In 1905, Father Bonaventure Hansen, O.S.B., organized a parish in the new town of Garrison.  With the help of many volunteers, the first church was built, a 60-foot by 32-foot frame structure dedicated to St. Nicholas.  In 1906, a large two-story parish house was built with the help of the diocese.  This parish house was used as a central place by the many monks and priests who established missions in the area.
     In 1915, the parish discussed a need for a parochial school.  Classes had been held in a small two-room building staffed by the Benedictine sisters from Elbowoods.  Thus, the second church and school combination was built.  It was a stone and cement structure with the church in the semi-basement and four classrooms on the top floor.  Grades one throught eight, and later four years of hish school, were held in these rooms.  The high school was discontinued in 1942, and the grade school closed in 1992.
     The present church was built in 1955.  It is an A-frame structure, seating 300 people.  It has a full basement with kitchen and dining room.  An elevator to the basement was installed.  St. Ann's Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Youth Group and CCD hold meetings and activities in the meeting rooms.  A fall supper of roast beef and pork is held annually.
     The 100th anniversary of St. Nicholas parish was celebrated in 2005.  Many priests have served the parish over the years.  Several with the longest tenure were Father Herman J. Mandry (1928-40), Msgr. Adolph Brandner (1940-69), and Father Bill Rushford (1983-95).  The current pastor is Father Basil Atwell, OSB.

If you would like to know more about our church please feel free to contact us.