Officials

June Officials The Most Reverend Donald E. DeGrood has decreed the following changes to clear assignments effective May 30, 2024: Deacon Philip Carlson to Deacon of St Thomas Aquinas, Madison, St Agatha, Howard, and St. William of Vercelli, Ramona Deacon David Halter to Deacon of Risen Savior Parish, Brandon and St. Rose of Lima, Garretson Deacon Edward Mitzel to Deacon of Sacred Heart, Aberdeen, St. Mary, Aberdeen, St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, Aberdeen, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Groton, St. Joseph, Turton, Sacred Heart, Westport Deacon Bradley Wiemann to Deacon of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Elkton/Aurora, Pius XII Newman Center, Brookings, St. Thomas More, Brookings, St. John the Evangelist, Arlington, St. Francis de Sales, Estelline/Castlewood, St. Paul, White   and effective August 1, 2024 has appointed: Very Reverend Gregory Tschakert…

Priest Assignment Changes The Most Reverend Donald E. DeGrood has decreed the following priest assignment changes effective July 2, 2024:   Those who will be continuing ministry as senior priests: Reverend Edward Anderson, from chaplain, Avera, Prince of Peace, to senior status. Reverend Richard Baumberger from parochial vicar of Holy Rosary Parish, Kranzburg; St. Michael Parish, Clark; Blessed Sacrament Parish, Florence; St. Henry Parish, Henry; St. Mary Parish, Bryant; Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Watertown; and Immaculate Conception Parish, Watertown, to senior status. Reverend Joseph Forcelle from parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Parish, Yankton; St. Benedict Parish, Yankton; St. Wenceslaus Parish, Tabor; St. Leo Parish, Tyndall; St. John the Baptist Parish, Lesterville; St. George Parish, Scotland; St. Boniface Parish, Idylwilde; and St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Springfield, to senior status.…

Donald By the Grace of God and the Apostolic See Bishop of Sioux Falls Decree of Relegation Saint Peter Church of Deuel County   On October 20, 2021, I issued a decree establishing, through modification, a merger of St. Peter Parish of Deuel County, Gary, SD, with St. Mary Parish of Deuel County, Clear Lake, SD. On December 13, 2023, after consulting with parish leadership, former parishioners, and the parish finance council, the Reverend Brian Eckrich, pastor of St. Mary Parish of Deuel County, discerned that the continued use of the Church of St. Peter in Deuel County, Gary, SD was no longer feasible.  Consequently, he wrote to me and the chancellor of the Diocese of Sioux Falls recommending that St. Peter Church be relegated to profane but not sordid…

Effective, September 1, 2023 the Most Reverend Donald E. DeGrood has: granted the full pagella of priestly faculties to Reverend Edward Zemlik, SCJ at the request of the religious superior of the United States Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, and in accord with the attestation of his good standing with his religious community. Father Zemlik will be substituting for Reverend Hendrik Christianus who will be on sabbatical until September 2024. Father Zemlik has been assigned by the Provincial of the United States Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, to the pastoral team serving the parishes of St. Joseph, Ft. Thompson, St. Catherine, Big Bend and Immaculate Conception, Stephan effective September 1, 2023. Respectfully submitted, Thad Pals Chancellor View Printable Official Statement

The Most Reverend Donald E. DeGrood has decreed the following appointments effective May 26, 2023: Father Doug Binsfeld, in addition to his current assignment as Parochial Vicar of St. John deBritto, Britton; Sacred Heart, Eden; St. Joseph, Grenville; St. John the Baptist, Rosholt; St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Sisseton; St. Peter, Sisseton; Immaculate Conception, Waubay and Christ the King, Webster, to Chaplain for Abbey of the Hills Inn & Retreat Center and Father Andrew Dickinson, in addition to his current assignment of Pastor of St. Magdalen, Lennox; St. Christina, Parker, St. Katharine Drexel, Sioux Falls, and St. Nicholas, Tea, to Canonical Administrator for the Bishop O’Gorman Catholic School System. Father Thi Pham, SCJ was incardinated ad experimentum into the Diocese of Sioux Falls. In addition to their current Pastoral assignments, the following…