Bishop Scott E. Bullock was ordained the 10th Bishop of Rapid City, S.D. on September 23, 2024, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was the principal consecrator, with 15 other bishops in attendance. Apostolic Delegate Cardinal Christophe Pierre of Washington, D.C., was present and read the letter of appointment from Pope Francis.
Bishop Bullock was a priest in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, for 33 years.
The Cathedral was filled for the second time in one week after having just mourned the loss of former diocesan administrator Fr. Dan Juelfs. “We had 1050 people in attendance,” said Cathedral Rector Fr. Brian Christensen. The crowd filled with people from across the diocese, and members of his former parishes erupted in cheers as Bishop Bullock took his crozier and sat in the cathedra for the first time.
In his homily, Archbishop Hebda said, “You’ve already distinguished yourself as a collaborative pastor for your closeness to your parishioners and particularly to your brother priests. May the Lord continue to draw that gift forth from you for the good of this local church.
At the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Bullock said, “I’m really grateful to be here. My desire is to love you the way the blessed mother Mary loved Jesus. When she was able to, with great confidence, say, ‘Let it be done to me according to your word’ and then was overpowered by the Holy Spirit for that task.’”
For his Episcopal Motto, Bishop Bullock chose “Surgite Eamus” which translates “Rise, let us be on our way,” from Mt 26:46. According to Bishop Bullock the words from Jesus spur us to a life of fullness found through the Paschal Mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
The Diocese of Rapid City is in the western half of South Dakota. It covers 43,000 square miles and has a Catholic population of 20,940. The see has been vacant since Bishop Peter Muhich’s death on February 17.
