The College of Consultors of the Diocese of Rapid City met February 19 and have elected Fr. Daniel Juelfs to lead the diocese following the death of Bishop Peter Muhich, February 17. He assumed the office immediately.   

Fr. Juelfs was born November 25, 1946, in Aberdeen and was raised on a farm/ranch at Ralph, Harding County. He graduated in 1965 from St. Mary’s High School, New England, North Dakota.  He attended two years of Junior College at St. John Vianney Seminary, Elkhorn, NE and then six years at St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, MN.  

He was ordained to the priesthood on June 8, 1973, at St. Isidore Catholic Church at Ralph, S.D. by Bishop Harold J. Dimmerling. In his half-century of ministry, he served in 26 parishes in Perkins, Corson, Butte, Ziebach, Meade, and Pennington Counties before retiring from full-time parish ministry in 2021. 

 Fr. Juelfs studied Canon Law at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, from 1996 –1998 where he earned his JCL, a degree in Canon Law. In 1998 he was appointed the single clerical judge for the Diocese of Rapid City. 

Over the years he has served in various diocesan ministries including judicial vicar, vicar general and vicar for clergy.  He has served on the College of Consultors and Presbyteral Council.