About Diocese of Cheyenne
The Diocese of Cheyenne (Latin: Dioecesis Cheyennensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church that covers the entire state of Wyoming and the Wyoming portion of Yellowstone National Park. Erected on August 2, 1887 by Pope Leo XIII from territory taken from the Diocese of Omaha, it is a suffragan of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Denver and its mother church is St. Mary's Cathedral in Cheyenne. The ninth and current ordinary is Bishop Steven R. Biegler, installed June 5, 2017. Despite being geographically one of the largest Catholic jurisdictions in the United States at 262,333 km² (101,326 sq mi), the diocese serves a relatively small Catholic population of around 49,000–54,000 faithful across roughly 32–37 parishes and missions.
- Bishop
- Steven R. Biegler
- Established
- 1887
- Cathedral
- St. Mary's Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Mary), 2107 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, Wyoming — Gothic Revival, Wyoming grey sandstone, designed by Fisher and Lowery of Omaha, built 1906–1909 by Moses Patrick Keefe, dedicated January 31, 1909, listed on the National Register of Historic Places November 20, 1974.
- Territory
- The entire State of Wyoming, plus the Wyoming portion of Yellowstone National Park (which spills into Montana and Idaho). Covers 262,333 km² (101,326 sq mi).
- Parishes
- 32–37 parishes and missions (36 reported in the 2023 diocesan directory; 32 in 2021; 37 in 2016/2019).
- Province
- Archdiocese of Denver (Ecclesiastical Province of Denver; metropolitan changed from Dubuque on November 15, 1941)
About the Diocese of Cheyenne
The Diocese of Cheyenne serves the Catholic faithful across the entire state of Wyoming and the Wyoming portion of Yellowstone National Park. From its chancery in Cheyenne, the diocese ministers through approximately 32–37 parishes and missions spread over 101,326 square miles — one of the largest geographic Catholic jurisdictions in the United States. The diocese's mission statement reads: 'We the Catholic Community in the state of Wyoming, proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, celebrate the sacraments of salvation, and invite people into a personal relationship with Christ, through prayer, worship, and service of God and neighbor.' It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Denver and falls within USCCB Region XIII (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming).
- Established August 2, 1887 by Pope Leo XIII
- Mother church: St. Mary's Cathedral, Cheyenne
- Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Denver
- Bishop: Steven R. Biegler (since 2017)
- Catholic population ~48,553 (2023) — about 8.4% of Wyoming
History of the Diocese
Catholic life in Wyoming long predates the diocese. Pierre-Jean De Smet celebrated the first Mass in 1840; Jesuit mission work on the Wind River Reservation began in 1884; the diocese was carved from Omaha in 1887. The first four decades were marked by frontier hardship: the diocese at one point had only five priests, was attached to Dubuque, and was without a bishop for three years. Bishop James Keane's tenure (1902–1911) ushered in an era of institutional growth, capped by construction and 1909 dedication of St. Mary's Cathedral.
- 1840 — First Mass in Wyoming by Fr. Pierre-Jean De Smet, SJ
- 1867 — William Kelly, first resident priest of Cheyenne
- 1884 — Jesuits establish St. Stephens Mission, Wind River Reservation
- 1887 — Diocese erected by Pope Leo XIII; Maurice Burke first bishop
- 1893 — Burke transferred; diocese attached to Archdiocese of Dubuque
- 1896 — Thomas Lenihan appointed second bishop
- 1902 — James Keane appointed third bishop
- 1909 — St. Mary's Cathedral dedicated January 31
- 1912 — Patrick McGovern appointed fourth bishop (serves 39 years)
- 1941 — Diocese reassigned to the (new) Archdiocese of Denver
- 1952 — Wyoming Catholic Register launched
- 1978 — Joseph Hart becomes sixth bishop
- 2001 — David Ricken succeeds as seventh bishop
- 2009 — Paul D. Etienne named eighth bishop
- 2017 — Steven R. Biegler ordained and installed ninth bishop, June 5
Office of the Bishop
Bishop Steven R. Biegler was ordained and installed as the ninth bishop of Cheyenne on June 5, 2017 at the Cheyenne Civic Center. Born March 22, 1959 in Mobridge, South Dakota, he grew up on a farm-ranch near Timber Lake, South Dakota, one of thirteen children. He was ordained a priest July 9, 1993 by Bishop Charles J. Chaput for the Diocese of Rapid City, where he most recently served as Vicar General and pastor of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. His episcopal motto is 'Shepherd in compassion' (Pastore in compassione) and he is a member of the Jesus Caritas fraternity of priests. Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila was principal consecrator, with Bishop Robert D. Gruss and Archbishop Paul D. Etienne as co-consecrators.
- Education: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota; Pontifical Gregorian University
- Episcopal consecration: June 5, 2017, Cheyenne Civic Center
- Motto: Shepherd in compassion (Pastore in compassione)
- Member: Jesus Caritas fraternity of priests
Cathedral of St. Mary
St. Mary's Cathedral is a Gothic Revival cathedral in the heart of Cheyenne, built entirely of Wyoming grey sandstone quarried at Iron Mountain. Designed by architects Fisher and Lowery of Omaha and built by Wyoming contractor Moses Patrick Keefe, the 135-foot-long, 70-foot-transept cathedral was begun in 1906; its cornerstone was laid July 7, 1907 before some 5,000 people; and it was dedicated January 31, 1909 by Cheyenne's first bishop, Maurice Burke, then Bishop of St. Joseph, Missouri — a poignant return for the man who had once tried to have the diocese dissolved. The building was debt-free on completion at a cost of $125,000. Its European-imported stained-glass windows are memorial gifts, with the large Madonna window in the choir loft donated by the Knights of Columbus. A Visser-Rowland tracker pipe organ (Opus 92, dedicated March 1992) was added later. The cathedral was placed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
- Address: 2107 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001
- Architects: Fisher and Lowery (Omaha)
- Builder: Moses Patrick Keefe
- Material: Wyoming grey sandstone from Iron Mountain
- Style: Gothic Revival
- NRHP listed: November 20, 1974
- Live Mass stream available via the diocese website
Mass & Confession Times (Cathedral of St. Mary, sample)
The Cathedral of St. Mary in Cheyenne publishes its Mass and confession schedule on the diocesan Parish Finder. Weekend Masses are offered in English; weekday Masses are also in English. Confessions are heard before weekend Masses and during a Saturday evening window.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM (English), 6:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 5:00 PM (all English)
- Monday–Friday: 6:45 AM and 5:15 PM (English)
- Confessions Mon–Fri: 4:30–5:00 PM
- Confessions Saturday: 2:00–4:00 PM and 7:15–8:00 PM
Parishes and Parish Finder
The diocese maintains a Parish Finder on its website (dcwy.org/parishfinder) listing every parish and mission in the state. Wyoming parishes include Holy Family (Afton), St. Joseph (Albin, English/Spanish), St. Philip (Basin), St. John the Baptist (Buffalo), St. Peter (Carpenter), Our Lady of Fatima and St. Anthony (Casper), Holy Trinity and St. Joseph (Cheyenne), Mary Queen of Heaven (Chugwater), St. Joseph (Ethete, on the Wind River Reservation), St. Helen (Big Horn/Hardin area), Our Lady of the Mountains (Jackson, English/Spanish), St. Patrick, and others. GCatholic lists 77–78 churches overall.
- Use dcwy.org/parishfinder to locate the nearest parish by city
- Includes Spanish-language parishes (Albin, Jackson)
- Multiple churches in Cheyenne, Casper, and Jackson
Catholic Charities of Wyoming
Catholic Charities of Wyoming (CCW) is the diocese's principal social-ministry arm. Its mission is 'to foster community action by calling upon all disciples and people of good will to join in compassionately serving and advocating for persons in need.' Programs are organized around four priorities framed through Catholic social teaching: Immigration Services, Senior Care & Elderly Ministries, Affordable Housing & Advocacy, and Native American Solidarity & Collaboration Efforts. CCW offers Know Your Rights trainings in English and Spanish, legal clinics, 'Who is my Neighbor?' and 'Am I the Innkeeper?' parish-discernment programs, Care for Caregiver Workshops, parish grants for emergency assistance and housing, and an annual Faith and Advocacy Conference.
- Executive Director: Genevieve Mougey
- Program Manager: Leah Albro
- Four priorities: Immigration, Senior Care, Affordable Housing, Native American Solidarity
- Immigration programs: Know Your Rights, Legal Clinics, Who is My Neighbor?, Am I the Innkeeper?
- Annual Faith and Advocacy Conference
Native American & Wind River Ministry
The diocese's relationship with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho on the Wind River Indian Reservation dates to 1884, when the Jesuits established St. Stephens Mission — three years before the diocese itself. Catholic Charities of Wyoming continues this solidarity through its Native American Solidarity & Collaboration Efforts priority, fostering listening, prayer, and concrete accompaniment with the reservation communities.
- St. Stephens Mission (Wind River) founded by Jesuits in 1884
- St. Joseph parish in Ethete, WY
Education & Schools
As of recent diocesan reporting, the Diocese of Cheyenne supports six elementary schools and one middle school across Wyoming. Bishop David Ricken's tenure saw the founding of John Paul II Catholic School in Gillette, a new building for St. Mary's Catholic School in Cheyenne, and — most notably — the co-founding of Wyoming Catholic College in Lander along with the Wyoming School of Catholic Thought.
- Six elementary schools and one middle school (diocesan)
- St. Mary's Catholic School, Cheyenne
- John Paul II Catholic School, Gillette (founded under Bishop Ricken)
- Wyoming Catholic College, Lander (co-founded under Bishop Ricken)
- Wyoming School of Catholic Thought (at Wyoming Catholic College)
Offices & Pastoral Services
The chancery coordinates a full slate of diocesan offices supporting parishes, clergy, and laity across Wyoming. The Vision 2030 Pastoral Plan is the diocese's current strategic roadmap. The annual Living and Giving in Christ Appeal funds diocesan ministries. The Office of Vocations promotes priestly and religious vocations; the Office of Pastoral Formation provides clergy and lay formation; the Office of the Tribunal handles marriage and canonical matters; the Office of Catholic Social Teaching and Communications shapes public advocacy and media; Catholic Social Teaching and Legislative Liaison engages the Wyoming State Legislature on issues of concern.
- Office of the Bishop
- Office of the Chancellor
- Office of Catholic Social Teaching and Communications
- Office of Finance
- Office of Human Resources
- Office of Pastoral Formation
- Office of the Tribunal
- Office of Vocations
- Vision 2030 Pastoral Plan
- Living and Giving in Christ Annual Appeal
- Wyoming Catholic Register (diocesan newspaper)
- Catholic Social Teaching and Legislative Liaison
Bishop's Pastoral Initiatives
Bishop Biegler has issued a major pastoral letter, 'Be a Merciful Neighbor,' on migration to the immigrant and refugee communities, clergy, and people of God in the Diocese of Cheyenne, promulgated at Our Lady of the Mountains parish in Jackson. He maintains an active bishop's blog and publishes regular media releases and statements. The diocese is also participating in the Jubilee Year of Saint Francis (January 10, 2026 – January 10, 2027) declared by Pope Leo XIV to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, with a plenary indulgence granted by the Apostolic Penitentiary.
- Pastoral Letter on Migration: 'Be a Merciful Neighbor'
- Bishop's Blog (dcwy.org)
- Media Releases and Bishop's Statements
- Jubilee Year of Saint Francis 2026–2027 participation
Diocesan Statistics Over Time
From the Catholic-Hierarchy.org directory, the diocese has tracked roughly: 19,000 Catholics in 1918; 48,263 in 1950 (16.7% of population); 49,308 in 1966; 57,000 in 1980; 63,973 in 1990; 49,800 in 2000; 49,459 in 2006; 56,100 in 2013; and 48,553 in 2023. The Catholic share of Wyoming's population has steadily declined as the state's overall population grew, even as the absolute number of Catholics roughly doubled across the 20th century.
- 1918: 19,000 Catholics, 24 priests, 47 parishes
- 1950: 48,263 Catholics (16.7%), 53 priests, 47 parishes
- 1990: 63,973 Catholics (13.5%), 56 priests, 69 parishes
- 2023: 48,553 Catholics (8.4%), 51 priests, 36 parishes
Getting Involved
Catholics across Wyoming can engage with diocesan life through parish involvement, the Living and Giving in Christ Annual Appeal, Catholic Charities of Wyoming programs and grants, parish discernment programs such as 'Who is My Neighbor?' and 'Am I the Innkeeper?', the Faith and Advocacy Conference, Care for Caregiver Workshops, RCIA and sacramental preparation at their local parish, and vocations discernment through the Office of Vocations.
- Living and Giving in Christ Annual Appeal (donate online)
- Catholic Charities of Wyoming volunteer and parish-grant programs
- Parish discernment programs (Who is My Neighbor? / Am I the Innkeeper?)
- Faith and Advocacy Conference
- Care for Caregiver Workshops
- Vocations discernment (Office of Vocations)
