During the Council of White Clay, on September 17, 1876 Oglala Lakota Chief Red Cloud demanded that the "Blackrobes" be allowed to assist his people. When construction began in 1896, Holy Rosary Mission Church was the fruit of Red Cloud's hope. With its main beams planed from nearby trees and its red bricks fired from local clay, Holy Rosary Church was the result of Lakota, Franciscan and Jesuit labors. The church held its first Mass on Christmas Day, 1898.

Unfortunately, the historic church - the first country brick church west of the Missouri River - burned to the ground on Good Friday, April 5, 1996. All that was salvaged was its flame-scarred baptismal font.Dedicated By Bishop Blaise Cupich on October 7, 1998, the new Holy Rosary Church began service to the Red Cloud School and Holy Rosary Mission. Its traditional Lakota stained glass windows are the result of collaboration between Red Cloud High School art students under the direction of Lakota Elder Francis He Crow and Fr. Dave Smith, SJ. Four Lakota Artists designed and executed its Stations of the Cross.