About the Diocese of Sioux Falls
The Diocese of Sioux Falls is a Latin Church diocese of the Roman Catholic Church that has served eastern South Dakota since 1889. It was erected by Pope Leo XIII on November 12, 1889 — the day South Dakota was admitted to the Union — out of the former Vicariate Apostolic of Dakota. Today it numbers more than 120,000 baptized members across about 150 parishes organized into pastorates, served by roughly 144 priests, 35 permanent deacons, and a large community of religious sisters. Its administrative offices (the 'Pastoral Center') sit at 523 N. Duluth Ave. in Sioux Falls, directly north of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph. The diocese is a suffragan see of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
- Erected November 12, 1889 by Pope Leo XIII
- Suffragan of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
- Covers eastern South Dakota — roughly 35,000 square miles
- More than 120,000 baptized Catholics, ~150 parishes, 144 priests, 35 permanent deacons
- Mailing address: 523 N. Duluth Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104; phone (605) 334-9861
History
Catholic life in the Dakotas began in 1842 with Rev. Augustin Ravoux's mission up the Missouri River, and by 1879 Rome had erected the Vicariate Apostolic of Dakota under Benedictine Abbot Martin Marty. With statehood in 1889, the vicariate became the Diocese of Sioux Falls with Marty as first bishop. Successive bishops — O'Gorman, Mahoney, Brady, Hoch, Dudley, Carlson, Swain, and DeGrood — shaped everything from church construction to the reception of Vatican II. The defining early act was the 1902 division of the state along the Missouri River, which limited the diocese to its present eastern half. The defining modern act is Bishop DeGrood's 'Set Ablaze' pastoral planning initiative, launched after his 2020 installation to reorganize parishes into pastorates and create a sustainable structure for the next decade.
- 1879: Vicariate Apostolic of Dakota erected; Martin Marty named vicar
- 1889: Diocese of Sioux Falls erected; Marty first bishop
- 1902: Diocese of Lead carved out (now Rapid City); diocese takes present shape
- 1919: St. Joseph Cathedral dedicated
- 1963: Bishop Hoch baptizes the Fischer quintuplets in Aberdeen
- 1962–1965: Bishop Hoch attends all four sessions of Vatican II
- 2009–2011: Major Stroik restoration of St. Joseph Cathedral
- 2020: Bishop Donald E. DeGrood installed; Set Ablaze planning begins
Cathedral of Saint Joseph
St. Joseph Cathedral, the mother church of the diocese, sits on a bluff overlooking downtown Sioux Falls at 521 N. Duluth Ave. Bishop Thomas O'Gorman, deeply influenced by attending the 1915 dedication of the Cathedral of Saint Paul (also a Masqueray commission), engaged French architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray in 1914 to design a French Renaissance masterpiece. Construction began in 1915 using the site of the old St. Michael's Church — itself the first cathedral — which was moved to make way. After Masqueray died in May 1917 his assistant Edwin Lundie of St. Paul completed the project. The first Mass was celebrated in the unfinished cathedral on December 8, 1918, and formal dedication followed on May 7, 1919. The final cost of $390,000 was well above the original $275,000 bid, largely because of World War I material shortages.
- Architect: Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, completed by Edwin Lundie after Masqueray's 1917 death
- First Mass: December 8, 1918; dedication: May 7, 1919
- Style: Renaissance Revival (blend of Romanesque and French Renaissance)
- Final cost $390,000; built of limestone
- Listed as a contributing property in the Cathedral Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places (June 5, 1974)
- 2009–2011 interior 'creative restoration' under Bishop Swain and architect Duncan G. Stroik; won a 2013 Palladio Award
- Features a 1935 Kilgen pipe organ in the choir loft
Diocesan Coat of Arms
The seal of the Diocese of Sioux Falls carries three symbols: flowing water, representing the Big Sioux River on which the cathedral city stands; the cross, representing the Catholic Church on its banks; and a serpent wound around the cross-staff, representing the Gospel overcoming evil. Together the device reads: 'This is the Church in the land of the Sioux by the waters of the Big Sioux River.'
- Flowing water = the Sioux River and cathedral city
- Cross = the Catholic Church
- Serpent on the staff = the Gospel counteracting evil
Bishops of Sioux Falls
The diocese has had nine bishops since 1889. Bishop Donald E. DeGrood, named on December 12, 2019 by Pope Francis and consecrated on February 13, 2020, is the current ordinary. He previously served the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Notable predecessors include Bishop Martin Marty, the founder; Bishop Thomas O'Gorman, builder of the cathedral and Catholic institutions; Bishop William O. Brady, who went on to lead Saint Paul; Bishop Lambert A. Hoch, the Vatican II bishop who baptized the Fischer quintuplets; and Bishop Robert J. Carlson, who later became Archbishop of St. Louis.
- Nine bishops since 1889
- Current: Bishop Donald E. DeGrood (2020–present)
- Robert J. Carlson later served as Archbishop of St. Louis
- Paul J. Swain led the cathedral restoration 2009–2011
Parishes and Pastorates (Set Ablaze)
The roughly 150 parishes of the diocese are organized into 'pastorates' — clusters of one or more parishes sharing a single pastor and associate priests. The reorganization is the centerpiece of Bishop DeGrood's 'Set Ablaze: Unleash the Fire of the Holy Spirit' pastoral planning initiative and is built around four pillars of parish life: worship, discipleship and evangelization, community, and service. The pastorate model is intended to be stable for at least ten years and to meet the structural challenge that 29 currently active priests will become retirement-eligible within a decade. Mass schedules for each parish are published on the diocesan website.
- Diocesan mission: Lifelong Catholic Missionary Discipleship Through God's Love
- Four parish pillars: worship, discipleship/evangelization, community, service
- Pastorate model combines parishes under one pastor with associate priests
- Sunday Mass times for every parish are listed on sfcatholic.org/parishes
Catholic Schools
The Office of Catholic Schools supports 21 Catholic elementary and secondary schools across the diocese, sponsored on behalf of 24 parishes in 13 communities. The largest system is Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools in Sioux Falls, which includes Holy Spirit, St. Katharine Drexel, St. Mary, St. Michael, and St. Lambert elementary schools plus the Bishop O'Gorman Catholic High School. Other schools are operated in Aberdeen, Brookings, Huron, Mitchell, Pierre, Rapid City (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton), Spearfish, Vermillion, Watertown, Winner, and Yankton. The vision of the office is to provide 'authentically Catholic education as an evangelizing mission of the Church,' forming the whole child — mind, heart, and soul.
- 21 Catholic schools across 13 communities
- Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools — multi-campus system in Sioux Falls
- St. Joseph Academy (PK-8) in Sioux Falls
- College-level: Mount Marty University (Yankton, Benedictine Sisters) and Presentation College (Aberdeen, Presentation Sisters)
Office of Discipleship and Evangelization
The Office of Discipleship and Evangelization supports lay missionary discipleship throughout the diocese. Programs include sacramental preparation support for Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, and marriage; religious education and family-life resources; Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training; a School of Missionary Discipleship for adult lay formation; Lumen Christi for children and youth; Confirmation and other retreats; respect-life activities; marriage enrichment; Natural Family Planning promotion; and ongoing training for parish leadership and catechetical leaders.
- School of Missionary Discipleship — adult lay formation
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training
- Lumen Christi — children and youth program
- Natural Family Planning promotion and training
Vocations and Clergy Support
The Vocations Office recruits and forms seminarians and supports discernment for the priesthood and permanent diaconate. The diocese operates a Propaedeutic House for human and spiritual formation prior to seminary, and seminarians are educated in out-of-state seminaries. Priests receive ongoing continuing education, sabbaticals, and retirement support. Clergy support also includes the Safe Environment Office and personnel services administered through the Pastoral Center.
- Vocations Director: Deacon Rob Rysavy (605-988-3712)
- Propaedeutic House for seminary formation
- Seminarian education supported through out-of-state seminaries
Marriage Tribunal and Annulments
The diocesan Marriage Tribunal Office, led by Judicial Vicar Rev. Kristopher Cowles, processes petitions for declarations of marital nullity and offers guidance for those seeking clarity regarding marriage situations within the Church. Pastoral support for couples preparing for marriage and seeking enrichment after marriage is available through the diocesan offices.
- Judicial Vicar: Rev. Kristopher Cowles
- Chancellor: Very Rev. Andrew Young
- Pastoral support for marriage preparation and enrichment
Outreach, Charitable, and Healing Ministries
The 'Need Help?' section of the diocesan website gathers trusted ministries and support resources for those in crisis. Ministries include the St. Vincent de Paul Society (food, diapers, rent, transportation, utilities), the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House (safety, wellness, and dignity for people experiencing homelessness), St. Joseph Catholic Housing (more than 1,000 units of affordable housing across the diocese), prison ministry, Walking With Moms in Need (compassionate support for pregnant and parenting mothers), the Mother Teresa Fund for pregnant women, the St. Raphael Fund for military families, post-abortion healing ministries, and The Lourdes Center (grief groups, family and individual counseling, loss support, and healing programs brought into parishes across the diocese).
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Bishop Dudley Hospitality House
- St. Joseph Catholic Housing (1,000+ units)
- Walking With Moms in Need / Mother Teresa Fund
- St. Raphael Fund (military families)
- Prison ministry outreach
- Post-abortion healing ministries
- The Lourdes Center — grief, family, and individual counseling
Hospital and Prison Chaplaincy
Diocesan chaplaincy support extends to hospitals, prisons, and other human-service facilities throughout the territory. The diocese also supports the Yankton Federal Prison Camp through Mount Marty University programs.
- Hospital chaplaincy
- Prison ministry and chaplaincy support
- Mount Marty University courses offered inside the Yankton Federal Prison Camp
Communications and Media
The Communications Office produces a wide range of materials to share the Gospel and the work of the local diocesan church. Productions include audio and video, graphics and print, The Bishop's Bulletin (mailed monthly to every Catholic household), the weekly Sunday TV Mass broadcast and stream for the homebound, the Catholic Views radio program and podcast, the weekly email newsletter 'Against the Current,' and the diocesan social media channels. The Director of Communications is Renae Kranz.
- The Bishop's Bulletin — monthly to every Catholic household
- Weekly Sunday TV Mass for the homebound
- Catholic Views — weekly radio and podcast
- 'Against the Current' — weekly email newsletter
- Director of Communications: Renae Kranz (605-988-3791)
Office of the Bishop
The Office of the Bishop supports Bishop Donald E. DeGrood in the pastoral governance of the diocese. The office coordinates parish and school visitations, confirmations, the diocesan mission, and Set Ablaze pastoral planning. The Bishop's vicar general is Very Rev. Andrew Dickinson, who also serves as vicar general for Set Ablaze.
- Bishop Donald E. DeGrood — installed Feb. 13, 2020
- Vicar General: Very Rev. Andrew Dickinson
- Chief of Operations: Very Rev. Timothy Smith, JCL
Catholic Family Sharing Appeal (CFSA)
The Catholic Family Sharing Appeal is the annual diocesan fundraising effort that supports ministries and services across the diocese, including Catholic education and five Newman Centers, evangelization and discipleship programs, sacramental preparation support, marriage and respect-life initiatives, seminary education and permanent diaconate formation, the Lourdes Center, communications, the South Dakota Catholic Conference, parish and clergy support, and outreach to military families and people experiencing homelessness.
- Supports Catholic education, Newman Centers, and ministry outreach
- Funds seminarian formation and the Propaedeutic House
- Funds the South Dakota Catholic Conference (government relations)
- CFSA office: (605) 988-3796
Cemeteries and Parish Operations
The Pastoral Center provides centralized services to parishes including technology and ParishSOFT support, benefits administration, human-resources consulting, safe-environment programs, financial administration, parish accounting, census work, and risk management. It also supports parish and finance councils, priest continuing education and sabbaticals, priest/religious retirement, and diocesan cemeteries.
- ParishSOFT and technology support
- Risk management and safe environment
- Priest continuing education, sabbaticals, and retirement
- Diocesan cemeteries
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is the Diocese of Sioux Falls? — Pastoral Center: 523 N. Duluth Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57104; phone (605) 334-9861.
- Who is the bishop? — The ninth and current bishop is Most Rev. Donald E. DeGrood, installed February 13, 2020.
- What is the cathedral? — St. Joseph Cathedral, 521 N. Duluth Ave., Sioux Falls.
- What is the patron? — Saint Joseph.
- How many parishioners does the diocese serve? — More than 120,000 baptized Catholics across roughly 150 parishes organized into pastorates.
- Is there a Catholic school near me? — Use the Find a Catholic School search on sfcatholic.org to filter by community; the Bishop O'Gorman Catholic School System serves Sioux Falls.
- Where can I find Mass times? — See the Parishes page at sfcatholic.org/parishes for the full directory.
- How do I get help or support? — The Need Help? page lists the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, St. Joseph Catholic Housing, prison ministry, Walking With Moms in Need, The Lourdes Center, post-abortion healing, and annulment support.
