Jean Limoges of Elk Point allegedly stole $126,000 from Elk Point and Jefferson Catholic churches

By Gary Dickson, Editor garydicksonsiouxlandobserver.com

The former parish office administrator of both the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Elk Point and St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Jefferson, S.D. has been indicted for inappropriate receipt of parish funds. That was the news announced to parish members in a letter dated Nov. 17 from the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls.

The letter referred to former parish employee Jean Limoges of rural Elk Point. It stated that “last summer, diocesan financial officials noticed significant irregularities in St. Peter’s financial records. This prompted a more extensive review which revealed excess payroll deposits regularly made over a significant period of time.”

The letter explained that the review and examination uncovered $126,000 in questionable disbursements over six years. These were mostly from the St. Peter parish, and a smaller amount from the St. Joseph parish in Elk Point.

“Based on these findings and with the assistance of legal counsel,” the letter continued, “the matter was referred to Jefferson law enforcement, which in turn referred the matter to the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation.”

As for why it chose to involve law enforcement rather than handle the matter within the church, the diocese wrote, “The decision to report the matter to law enforcement was rooted in a moral responsibility to assure justice, a pastoral responsibility to ensure fiscal stewardship and practice transparency in the administration of financial matters, and the reality that funds of the parish are the result of sacrificial giving by the parishioners.”

Limoges was indicted on Nov. 8 following a law enforcement and grand jury investigation. She will appear in Union County Magistrate’s Court in Elk Point on Dec. 14 at 10 a.m.

A public meeting will be held in St. Peter’s Church on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. to assist parishioners in processing the news of the former parish administrator’s indictment. Diocesan officials will be present at the forum.

According to the letter, a claim for losses has been submitted to the diocese’s insurer.