About Diocese of Bismarck
The Diocese of Bismarck (Latin: Dioecesis Bismarckiensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church covering 24 counties in western North Dakota — about 34,773 square miles — with the City of Bismarck as its seat. It is a suffragan diocese of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and is currently led by Bishop David D. Kagan, the seventh bishop of Bismarck, installed in 2011. Its mother church is the Art Deco–styled Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck, and across the diocese 98 parishes serve approximately 61,862 Catholics out of a total regional population of roughly 280,836. Faith formation, Catholic education, Catholic Charities outreach, family ministry, respect-life work, and the ongoing cause for canonization of Servant of God Michelle Duppong are central to its pastoral mission.
- Bishop
- David D. Kagan
- Established
- 1909
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, 520 Raymond Street, Bismarck, North Dakota
- Territory
- Adams, Billings, Bowman, Burke, Burleigh, Divide, Dunn, Emmons, Golden Valley, Grant, Hettinger, McKenzie, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Oliver, Renville, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Ward, and Williams counties in western North Dakota
- Parishes
- 98
- Province
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis (Ecclesiastical Province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis)
History of the Diocese of Bismarck
The Catholic presence in what is now western North Dakota began with Jesuit missionary Pierre-Jean De Smet's 1840 visit to the Mandan nation along the Missouri River and Father Georges-Antoine Belcourt's 1847 assignment to Pembina by the Archdiocese of Quebec. Ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the Dakotas migrated through the Diocese of Saint Louis, the Diocese of Dubuque, the Diocese of Saint Paul, the Vicariate Apostolic of Dakota, and finally the Diocese of Jamestown (later Fargo) before Pope Pius X erected the Diocese of Bismarck on December 31, 1909.
The first Catholic church in western North Dakota was the Church of the Immaculate Conception, dedicated in Bismarck in 1875. The first Catholic parish in Dickinson, St. Patrick's, was founded in 1885 for Irish railroad workers, and St. Leo the Great in Minot (dedicated 1908) was the first Catholic church in that city. The new diocese's territory comprised 24 counties carved from the Diocese of Fargo; the only post-foundation territorial change on record was the 2018 transfer of Saint John in Lansford from Fargo into Bismarck.
- 1818 — First Catholic contact in the region (Archbishop Plessis sends a priest to Fort Pembina).
- 1840 — Pierre-Jean De Smet ministers to the Mandan.
- 1847 — Father Georges-Antoine Belcourt assigned to Pembina.
- 1875 — Church of the Immaculate Conception dedicated in Bismarck.
- 1885 — St. Patrick's parish founded in Dickinson.
- 1908 — St. Leo the Great dedicated in Minot.
- 1909 — Diocese of Bismarck erected by Pope Pius X.
- 1910 — Bishop Vincent de Paul Wehrle, O.S.B. installed as first bishop.
- 1941 — Dakota Catholic Action diocesan newspaper founded.
- 1945 — Cathedral of the Holy Spirit dedicated (August 30).
- 2018 — Saint John in Lansford transferred from Fargo into Bismarck.
Bishops in Succession
Seven bishops have led the Diocese of Bismarck since 1910. The first, Vincent de Paul Wehrle, O.S.B., was a Benedictine abbot who grew the diocese from 25,000 to 55,000 Catholics and laid the groundwork for the cathedral. Bishop Vincent J. Ryan built the cathedral at last and founded Dakota Catholic Action. Bishop Lambert A. Hoch sparked a vocations boom before his transfer to Sioux Falls, and Bishop Hilary B. Hacker led the diocese through the Second Vatican Council — the longest tenure to date at 26 years. Bishop John F. Kinney came from Saint Paul and Minneapolis in 1982 and was later translated to Saint Cloud in 1995. Bishop Paul A. Zipfel, from Saint Louis, served from 1997 to 2011, when Pope Benedict XVI appointed David D. Kagan, then of the Diocese of Rockford, as the seventh bishop of Bismarck.
- Vincent de Paul Wehrle, O.S.B. (1910–1939)
- Vincent J. Ryan (1940–1951)
- Lambert A. Hoch (1952–1956)
- Hilary B. Hacker (1956–1982)
- John F. Kinney (1982–1995)
- Paul A. Zipfel (1997–2011)
- David D. Kagan (2011–present)
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit
The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, located at 520 Raymond Street in Bismarck, is the mother church of the diocese and believed to be the only Art Deco–style Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States. Built of monolithic concrete, the cathedral was designed by Fargo architect William F. Kurke (who also worked on the North Dakota State Capitol), with groundbreaking in September 1941 and dedication on August 30, 1945. Its tall bell tower is a Bismarck landmark visible from a distance, and since 1980 it has been a contributing property in the Bismarck Cathedral Area Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The cathedral also serves a working parish, with weekend Masses, sacramental programs, and a parish grade school (Cathedral Grade School).
- Architect: William F. Kurke of Fargo
- Style: Art Deco
- Materials: Monolithic concrete
- Groundbreaking: September 1941
- Dedication: August 30, 1945
- Bell tower: local Bismarck landmark
- Renovation: 1992–1993 added a gathering space
- NRHP: Contributing property of Bismarck Cathedral Area Historic District (added May 8, 1980)
Catholic Education
The diocesan Office of Education, working with the bishop, fosters Catholic identity and academic excellence across the diocese's school system. The delegate of the bishop for Catholic education is Fr. Justin Waltz, pastor of the Church of St. Joseph in Dickinson. The 2025–26 Catholic Schools Directory lists more than a dozen parish and regional schools across Bismarck, Mandan, Minot, Dickinson, Williston, and Fort Yates.
- Bishop Ryan Catholic School — Elementary & Secondary, Minot
- Cathedral Grade School, Bismarck
- Christ the King School, Mandan
- Light of Christ Catholic Schools, Bismarck (system office)
- Saint Anne School, Bismarck
- Saint Joseph Catholic Montessori School, Mandan
- School of the Holy Family Secondary School, Mandan
- St. Bernard Mission School, Fort Yates (Standing Rock Sioux Reservation)
- St. Joseph School, Williston
- St. Mary's Academy, Bismarck
- St. Mary's Central High School, Bismarck
- St. Mary's Grade School, Bismarck
- Trinity Catholic Schools (Elementary East, North, West; Junior High and High School), Dickinson
Cause for Canonization of Servant of God Michelle Duppong
On November 1, 2022 — All Saints' Day — Bishop David D. Kagan celebrated the Opening Mass for the Cause for Beatification and Canonization of Michelle Christine Duppong at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. A native North Dakotan, FOCUS missionary for six years, and Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Diocese of Bismarck, Michelle died of cancer on December 25, 2015 at the age of 31. The diocesan investigation into her life, virtues, and reputation of sanctity is being led by Father Thomas J. Grafsgaard as postulator. In November 2022 the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops held a canonical consultation and by voice vote affirmed the cause's advancement at the diocesan level. A Servant of God Michelle Duppong Guild promotes awareness of her life and gathers reports of favors attributed to her intercession.
- Michelle Christine Duppong — North Dakota State University graduate
- Six years as a Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) missionary
- Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Diocese of Bismarck (from 2012)
- Died December 25, 2015 at Haymarsh, ND, age 31, after a yearlong battle with cancer
- Diocesan phase of investigation opened November 1, 2022 (All Saints' Day)
- Postulator: Father Thomas J. Grafsgaard
- Title conferred: Servant of God
- Affirmed by voice vote at the USCCB fall 2022 plenary assembly
Family Ministry and Respect Life
The diocesan Office of Family Ministry and Respect Life — directed by Amanda Jensen — supports marriage preparation, enrichment, and respect-life initiatives across western North Dakota. Programs include diocesan Date Nights, marriage enrichment retreats, and natural family planning resources. The annual Town and Country Celebration, hosted at the Church of St. Vincent de Paul in Crown Butte, gathers rural Catholics for Mass celebrated by Bishop Kagan, a blessing of land, animals, equipment, and seed, and an outdoor meal. The Respect Life office coordinates the diocese's engagement with prayer, advocacy, and parish-based life issues work.
- Director: Amanda Jensen (701-204-7205)
- Diocesan Date Nights for couples (typically quarterly, with Mass and social)
- Annual Town and Country Celebration at St. Vincent de Paul, Crown Butte
- Blessing of rural life: land, animals, seed, and farm equipment
- Marriage preparation and enrichment resources
- Respect Life coordination with parishes
Faith Formation, Catechesis, and Youth Ministry
The diocesan Office of Catechesis and Youth, directed by Diane Huck, supports parish religious-education programs, sacramental preparation, and youth ministry across the diocese. The office provides religion curriculum guidelines for all grades, catechist formation, and resources for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation preparation. Light of Christ Catholic Schools, the diocesan Catholic-school system in Bismarck, partners with parishes on faith formation and sacramental preparation.
- Director of Catechesis and Youth: Diane Huck (701-204-7206)
- Religion curriculum guidelines for all grades
- Sacramental preparation: First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- Catechist formation and ongoing faith formation for school teachers
- Diocesan Safe Environment training for adults and youth
Catholic Charities and Outreach
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Bismarck delivers social services across western North Dakota, including disaster preparedness and response, food and emergency assistance, housing support, and parish-based social ministry. The diocese maintains active involvement in ecumenical and civic partnerships serving the poor, the homeless, refugees, and families in crisis. Diocesan staff also coordinate pastoral outreach to parishes serving Native American communities, including St. Peter Catholic Indian Mission and St. Bernard Mission School at Fort Yates on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.
- Catholic Charities disaster preparedness and response training
- Emergency assistance and food programs
- Housing and refugee resettlement support
- Native American ministry at St. Peter Catholic Indian Mission and St. Bernard Mission School, Fort Yates
- Rural pastoral care across 24 counties
Parishes and Parish Finder
The diocese's 98 parishes are organized into deaneries that span western North Dakota's 24 counties. The Parish Finder tool on the diocesan website allows users to locate the nearest parish and search for upcoming Mass, Confession, and adoration times by day, time, and language — including English, Spanish, Latin, and other languages reflecting the region's growing Hispanic ministry. Notable parishes include the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary in Bismarck; Christ the King and Spirit of Life in Mandan; Bishop Ryan in Minot; Trinity Catholic Schools community parishes in Dickinson; St. Joseph in Williston; Sacred Heart in Glen Ullin; St. Vincent de Paul in Crown Butte; St. Anne in Bismarck; Epiphany in Watford City; Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Stanley; and parishes serving the Standing Rock and Fort Berthold reservations including St. Peter Catholic Indian Mission, St. Joseph (White Shield), St. Anthony (Twin Buttes), and St. Thomas the Apostle.
- Cathedral of the Holy Spirit — Bismarck (mother church)
- Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary — Bismarck
- Christ the King — Mandan
- Spirit of Life — Mandan
- St. Anne — Bismarck
- Corpus Christi — Bismarck
- Assumption Abbey — Richardton (Benedictine)
- Bishop Ryan — Minot
- St. Joseph — Williston
- Queen of the Most Holy Rosary — Stanley
- Sacred Heart — Glen Ullin
- Epiphany — Watford City
- St. Vincent de Paul — Crown Butte
- Holy Trinity — Hettinger
- Our Lady of Consolation — Minot AFB
- St. Peter Catholic Indian Mission
- St. Bernard Mission — Fort Yates
- St. Anthony — Twin Buttes
- St. Joseph — White Shield
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Sacred Heart — Alexander
- Immaculate Conception — Hebron
- Sacred Heart — Mott
- St. Joseph — Max
- St. Joseph — Wilton
- Immaculate Conception — Mandan
- St. Agnes — Mandan
- St. Wenceslaus — Wilton
- St. Mary — various locations
Diocesan Staff and Chancery
The Center for Pastoral Ministry, the diocesan chancery at 520 N. Washington Street in Bismarck, houses the bishop's office, vicar general, and the diocesan offices that coordinate education, family ministry, catechesis, communications, finance, and tribunal work. Fr. Justin Waltz serves as Delegate of the Bishop for Catholic Education. Public-facing diocesan communications include Dakota Catholic Action (the diocesan newspaper founded in 1941), the bismarckdiocese.com website, and social-media channels. The diocesan Tax ID is 87-3686596.
- Chancery: Center for Pastoral Ministry, 520 N. Washington St., Bismarck, ND 58501
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 1575, Bismarck, ND 58502
- Phone: (701) 222-3035
- Email: [email protected]
- Delegate of the Bishop for Catholic Education: Fr. Justin Waltz
- Director of Family Ministry and Respect Life: Amanda Jensen
- Director of Catechesis and Youth: Diane Huck
- Diocesan newspaper: Dakota Catholic Action (founded 1941)
- Federal Tax ID: 87-3686596
