Our Lady of Perpetual Help

About the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is the mother church and seat (third cathedral) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rapid City. Completed in 1963 from plans by local architect Adrian L. Forrette, the Mid-century Modern building sits atop a hill overlooking Rapid City and the Black Hills and seats 1,000 worshippers in a barrel-vaulted nave. In addition to its central liturgical role, the Cathedral hosts the diocesan Vocations Office, the Newman Center chaplaincy, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration (since April 2014), and large-scale parish-hall and formation facilities expanded in 2024.

History

Built to replace the overflowing Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception downtown, the Cathedral was initiated by Bishop William T. McCarty, C.Ss.R., designed by Adrian L. Forrette of Ewing and Forrette, and constructed by the Brezina Construction Company on hilltop land donated by Katherine Wapole. Groundbreaking was in 1960, the cornerstone was laid in 1962, and Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi dedicated the completed church on May 7, 1963. Later milestones include the 1983 pipe-organ installation, the 2012 computerized carillon, the 2014 launch of perpetual Adoration, the 2024 completion of the south-side parish hall, and the December 29, 2024 opening of the Jubilee Year of Hope by Bishop Scott E. Bullock.

• 1902 — Diocese founded as Diocese of Lead; St. Patrick's, Lead becomes first cathedral
• 1930 — See transferred to Rapid City; St. Mary's becomes Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
• 1960 — Groundbreaking on hilltop land donated by Katherine Wapole
• 1962 — Cornerstone laid; building substantially completed
• May 7, 1963 — Dedicated by Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, Apostolic Delegate
• 1983 — Large pipe organ installed in choir loft (seating reduced from 200 to 100)
• 2012 — Bell-tower carillon replaced with computerized system
• April 2014 — Diocesan perpetual Eucharistic Adoration launched in Our Lady's Chapel
• 2019 — Groundbreaking for 12,000 sq ft parish hall addition on the south side
• 2024 — South-side parish hall/classroom/meeting space/kitchen addition completed
• December 29, 2024 — Bishop Bullock opens Jubilee Year 2025 'Pilgrims of Hope' at 10:30 AM Mass
• June 6–8, 2025 — First 'Pilgrimage of Hope,' a 60-mile walk from Spearfish to the Cathedral
• January 6, 2026 — Scheduled Jubilee closing on the Solemnity of Epiphany

Architecture

The Cathedral is a Mid-century Modern rectangle capped by a curved roof, built in reinforced concrete and faced in Mankato stone with Indiana-limestone trim. An 18-foot cross tops the 107-foot bell tower on the north; an 18-foot baptistery and a 55-by-35-foot chapel sit on the south. The front facade's faceted glass-and-stone tracery is shaded by an undulating cantilevered canopy above the three portals and Cold Spring granite steps. Inside, the 235-foot nave is lined with eighteen tall stained-glass windows and crowned by a barrel-vaulted ceiling from which four rows of pendant lights hang; Italian marbles, the walnut cathedra, and the great Our Lady of Perpetual Help icon above the marble altar are the focal points.

• Architect: Adrian L. Forrette, Ewing and Forrette (Rapid City)
• General contractor: Brezina Construction Company
• Style: Mid-century Modern (rectangular volume, curved roof)
• Exterior materials: Mankato stone, Indiana limestone, Cold Spring granite steps
• Interior: barrel-vaulted ceiling, 235-foot nave, 1,000 seats, eighteen stained-glass windows
• Bell tower: 107 feet, capped with 18-foot cross
• Choir loft pipe organ installed 1983; computerized carillon added 2012
• South-side parish-hall addition (12,000 sq ft) opened 2024

Mercy Night and Encounter

These signature prayer events pair Eucharistic adoration with confession, sacred and Taizé music, and prayer teams. Mercy Night is a three-hour evening (open to people of all Christian denominations); Encounter is a one-hour 'mini Mercy Night' held on the third Saturday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. Both are scheduled on the parish events calendar and require no advance registration.

• Mercy Night — extended adoration, confession, prayer teams, music (multi-denominational)
• Encounter — third Saturday of the month, 7:00–8:00 PM
• Musicians from the Cathedral Sacred Music program lead traditional hymns and Taizé
• All welcome — no fee, no registration

Sacred Music and Liturgy

The Sacred Music program supports sung liturgy at every Mass through cantors, choirs, instrumentalists, and the Cathedral pipe organ (installed 1983). The Liturgy Office coordinates liturgical ministers — lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, sacristans, and ushers — through an online scheduling system.

• Cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists serve weekend and holy-day liturgies
• Pipe organ in choir loft (1983) supports congregational singing
• Liturgical minister schedules published on the parish website
• St. Monica's Holy Hour held in support of those who have wandered from the faith

Faith Formation and OCIA

The Cathedral runs a year-round, multi-track formation program: Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), elementary faith formation, and a comprehensive youth and young-adult ministry that includes Confirmation preparation. OCIA classes serve both catechumens and Catholics seeking adult faith enrichment and run year-round with inquiry, catechumenate, and enrichment steps.

• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — directed by Aubree Galle; year-round sessions
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) — Holly Baughman, director
• Elementary Faith Formation
• At-Home Family Formation option
• Youth and Young Adult Ministry — Lyman Mahaffy, director
• Confirmation Preparation (two-year track)

Sacraments

The Cathedral parish prepares and celebrates all seven sacraments. Reconciliation is heard weekly (see the schedule above); Anointing of the Sick is available for home and hospital visits; adult initiation is through OCIA; Matrimony and Funeral rites are coordinated through the parish office; Holy Orders inquiries go to the Vocations Office located at the Cathedral.

• Baptism — preparation through the parish office
• Confirmation — two-year preparation, evaluated by the Formation Team
• Eucharist — daily and Sunday Mass; Communion to the homebound
• Penance / Reconciliation — see schedule; also during Mercy Night
• Anointing of the Sick — call (605) 342-0507
• Matrimony — preparation coordinated through the parish
• Holy Orders / Vocations — Fr. Mark McCormick, Director of Vocations, (605) 343-3541
• Funeral rites — parish office
• OCIA — for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full communion

Clergy and Staff

The Cathedral is staffed by a pastor, two associate pastors, a vocations director/Newman Center chaplain, three permanent deacons, and a full administrative, formation, liturgy, and maintenance team.

• Very Rev. Brian P. Christensen — Pastor
• Rev. Matt Fallgren — Associate Pastor
• Rev. Joshua Lee — Associate Pastor
• Rev. Mark McCormick — Rapid City Newman Center Chaplain / Director of Vocations
• Deacon Raul Daniel
• Deacon Jim Scherr
• Deacon Rich Olsen
• Beth Strain — Parish Administrator
• Lisa Kinyon — Parish Bookkeeper
• Nicole McDonell — Communication Director
• Dennis Wagner — Administrative Assistant
• Katie LeClair — Saint Joseph Hall Director
• Susan Safford — Director of Evangelization and Discipleship
• Holly Baughman — CGS Director
• Lyman Mahaffy — Youth and Young Adult Ministry Director
• Aubree Galle — Liturgy and OCIA Director
• Paul Yantes — Interim Maintenance Director
• Heidi Hoffman — Rectory Housekeeper

2025 Jubilee Year — Pilgrims of Hope

Bishop Scott E. Bullock opened the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope at the 10:30 AM Mass on December 29, 2024 and decreed that the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is the diocesan pilgrimage site for obtaining a Jubilee Year Plenary Indulgence (December 29, 2024 – December 28, 2025). To obtain the indulgence, the faithful must make a pilgrimage to the Cathedral, receive sacramental absolution through confession, receive Holy Communion, pray for the Holy Father's intentions, engage in Eucharistic adoration and meditation, and conclude with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith, and prayers to Mary. The Jubilee closes on the Solemnity of Epiphany, January 6, 2026.

• Indulgenced acts: pilgrimage + confession + Communion + prayers for the Pope's intentions + adoration + Our Father + Profession of Faith + prayers to Mary
• Indulgence may be applied to oneself or to a deceased loved one
• Diocesan walking pilgrimage Spearfish → Cathedral, June 6–8, 2025
• Closing of the Holy Door: Epiphany, January 6, 2026

Becoming a Member and Getting Involved

The Cathedral invites new members to register through the parish office. Active ways to get involved include signing up for a weekly Holy Hour in perpetual Adoration, joining the Sacred Music program, volunteering as a liturgical minister, joining OCIA, helping with faith formation or youth ministry, or praying with the prayer teams at Mercy Night and Encounter. Help-line 'I Need Assistance!' directs the faithful to parish and diocesan aid.

• Become a Member — parish registration
• Adoration — weekly Holy Hour sign-up
• Liturgical ministers — lector, EMHC, altar server, sacristan, usher
• Sacred Music — choir, cantor, instrumentalist
• OCIA — become Catholic or deepen Catholic faith
• Youth & Young Adult Ministry
• Prayer team for Mercy Night / Encounter