Prior to it becoming the center for energy development, Beulah was just another small prairie town that had a little coal mining and a lot of farming.  The few Catholics in the community were mostly Germans from Russia.  In 1915, P.S. Chaffee donated $500.00 and a piece of land for the church.  The frame building was paid for with donations from the Catholic Extension Society.

For the first six years of the parish’s existence, Mass was offered at the parish by various mission priests.  Fr. Bonaventure Goebel, the Benedictine chaplain of S. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck, was the most frequent visiting priest.  In 1921, the Precious Blood Fathers from Ohio came to minister in the diocese.  Bishop Wehrle asked them to staff all of the parishes along old Highway 7 (now 200).  From 1921 to 1948, Beulah was served as a mission by the pastor of   St. Martin in Hazen.  After the Second World War, St. Joseph in Beulah received its first resident priest, Fr. Raymond Guillozet, C.P.P.S.  During his pastorate the parish built a rectory.

With the building of the Garrison Dam in 1952, Beulah began to feel the impact of the energy industry.  In the 1970’s huge new coal fired electric generation plants rose near town, as well as the nation’s first synthetic fuels plant.  All of this changed the character of the town and the parish tremendously.  The most dramatic growth took place from 1973 to 1983.  In 1973, there were 140 registered families.  In 1993, there were approximately 400 registered families.  A new church building was needed.  A building committee, headed by George Koppi and Edward Morman, planned and built the present structure for $650,000.  The debt was paid off in 1984 through the generosity of parishioners.

The year 1984 marked another milestone. The Precious Blood Fathers left the parish and it was reassumed by the Diocese of Bismarck.  Fr. Edwin Volk became the first diocesan priest to serve as pastor from 1984 to 1994.  He was succeeded by:

Fr. James Reardon - 1994 - 1998
Fr. Charles Zins - 1998 - 2005
Fr. Johnson Kuriappilly - 2005 - 2012

Under the leadership of Fr. Keneth Phillips (2012 - 2019), new stained glass windows were installed at the church. 

In 2019, we welcomed Fr. Thomas Grafsgaard, our present pastor.  New lighting in the church was installed in March 2020.

With humble beginnings in the area, Catholic settlers were served by Missionary Priests in the home of the John Gallagher family and later, the Keeley Opera House until the first church was built on property donated by Michael Keeley.   The first Catholic Church in Hazen was dedicated on May 2, 1915 and is the site of the St. Martin’s today.   The first priest, Fr. Goebel, traveled from Bismarck as one of the Missionary Priests and continued to serve until 1919.  All of the priest who served until 1921 lived in Bismarck and traveled to Hazen to celebrate Mass.  In 1921, the Precious Blood Fathers began serving three parishes - Hazen, Linton and Killdeer.  The first full-time priest at St. Martin was Fr. Evaristus Olberding who served form 1921 - 1927.

Fr. Charles Bauer served from 1927 - 1937.  Like many priests in the area, he spoke both English and German and gave the sermon in both languages.  The left side of the church was referred to as the German side, and the right the English side.  The homilies were delivered separately in each language.

In following years, the St. Martin priest would have Mass in Halliday when there was a 5th Sunday in the month and celebrated Mass in Zap one Saturday a month.  Until this time, the church in Beulah was a Mission Church and the priest serving in Hazen would alternate service times with Beulah, much like today.  After Beulah gained a resident priest, St. Martin celebrated two Masses every Sunday.  The church property continued to grow under the leadership of Fr. Raymond Guillozet, who with the help of his brother built the parish house next to the church.  However, growth in the area led to the need for a new church.  Work started the present church in 1962.  The old church had been moved to what is now the church parking lot and was used for Mass during construction.  The new church was completed in 1963.

After the construction of the new church, Fr. Wuest organized the first Parish Council.  The congregation has been blessed with many years of talented leadership.  During Fr. Zins’ tenure, the current Fellowship addition was completed.  Fr. Johnson Kuriapplily succeeded Fr. Zins and painted murals on each side of the tabernacle.  Fr. Kenneth Phillips had a new hand carved wooden crucifix from Italy hung in the sanctuary. 

Fr. Grafsgaard oversaw the development of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Program at St. Martin, and the construction and furnishing of the CGS atrium - serving young children and families in faith formation.  The atrium was completed in 2022.

1915 - 1919 Fr. Goebel
1921 - 1927 Fr. Evaristus Olberding
1927 - 1937 Fr. Charles Bauer
1937 - 1941 Fr. Herman Schwitzer
1941 - 1949 Fr. H. Wibbels
1949 - 1954 Fr. Raymond Guillozet
1954 - 1961 Fr. Henry Barge
1961 - 1963 Fr. Theodore Rath
1963 - 1974 Fr. Robert Wuest
1974 - 1976 Fr. Henry Hess
1976 - 1981 Fr. Victor Kreinbrink\
1981 - 1982 Fr. J Biegler
1982 - 1989 Fr. Anhony Ley
1989 - 1990 Fr. Eugene Wehner
1990 - 1998 Fr. James Reardon
1998 - 2005 Fr. Charles Zins
2005 - 2012 Fr. Johnson Kuriapplily
2012 - 2019 Fr. Kenneth Phillips
2019 - Present Fr. Thomas Grafsgaard