Pope Francis Names South Dakota Priest as New Bishop of Cheyenne

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has named Father Steven Biegler asbishop of Cheyenne, Wyoming. FatherBiegler is a priest of the Diocese of Rapid City and currently serves as VicarGeneral and pastor of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.          

The appointment was publicized in Washington, March 16,by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

Steven Biegler was born March 22, 1959 and is a native ofTimber Lake, South Dakota. He attendedthe School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City before earning a bachelor of artsdegree from Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota. He also holds a bachelors of sacred theologydegree (S.T.B.) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and a licentiate of sacred theology (S.T. L., Scripture) fromthe Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome.

He was ordained a priest on July 9, 1993.    

Assignments after ordination include: parochial vicar,Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City, 1993-1994; administratorof Immaculate Conception Parish, Bonesteel,; St. Anthony Parish, Fairfax, andSt. Xavier Parish, Ponca Creek, SD, 1994-1996; co-pastor of St. Bernard Parish,McLaughlin, with missions at St. Bonaventure Parish, McIntosh, St. Bede Parish,Wakpala, St. Aloysius Parish, Bullhead, Assumption Parish, Kenel, and (fromJuly 2002), St. Michael Parish, Watauga, 1996-2003; director of PastoralFormation and Pastoral Works, Pontifical North American College in Rome,2003-2006; chaplain of the Rapid City Catholic School System and the SouthDakota School of Mines and Technology Newman Club, 2007-2010; diocesan administrator, Diocese of RapidCity, 2010-2011; pastor of Our Lady of the Black Hills Parish, Piedmont,2011-2015, vicar general, Diocese of Rapid City 2001-present; pastor ofCathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Rapid City, July 2016-present.     

Steven Biegler has also served on the Diocese of RapidCity Spiritual Life Committee, 2007-2010 and most recently on the College ofConsultors, 2009-present, as well as various other committees.    

The Diocese of Cheyenne comprises 97,548 square miles inthe state of Wyoming.  It has a totalpopulation of 584,153 people, of which 55,336, or approximately 9.5 percent,are Catholic.  

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Keywords: PopeFrancis, bishop appointment, Rev. Steven Biegler, Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio,Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming.  

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