The new Executive Director of Catholic Social Services in Rapid City, Dr. Grant Sasse, began work here on August 1. Sasse’s father grew up on his family ranch near the Sandhills in Nebraska. Grant spent many summers there. He also has relatives who ranch on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Sasse was previously the Dean of Curriculum, Accreditation and the School of Professional Studies and Applied Sciences at Chadron State College, Chadron, Nebraska. He holds a 2014 doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Wyoming, Laramie; a 2011 master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from CSC; and a 2009 bachelor’s degree in psychology with a business adminis

Grant Sasse (Photo by Daniel Binkard/Chadron State College)

tration minor from CSC. He is licensed in mental health counseling and addiction therapy.

From 2005 to 2007 he attended St. John Vianney Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2005 he helped clean up debris from hurricane Katrina. “As seminarians we did a yearly mission trip,” he said. The seminarians did demolition in Louisiana and Mississippi. While there, he learned about the socio-economic statuses in New Orleans and Biloxi. “There is a lot of poverty. It was really hard for folks who struggle economically to be hit with a hurricane,” said Sasse. After discerning out of the seminary, he joined a Catholic organization on a six-week mission trip to build a women’s shelter in Guatemala. He said that comprised mostly physical labor wherever he was assigned to work on a given construction day.

In April 2022, Bishop Peter Muhich appointed him to the Diocese of Rapid City Marriage Tribunal where he worked as a consultant with CSS as a court-appointed psychological expert. This summer, his wife, Abigail began training to serve on the Marriage Tribunal as well.

“We felt God was calling our family to come here and be part of the diocese and work here,” said Sasse. “There is a great Catholic community here and that was very attractive to us.”

Administration at CSS will be his priority. “In addition to being the Executive Director, I will be the director of the counseling program here. When I get settled, my intention will be to see clients. Even if it is a small caseload, it is important to keep my feet grounded and help out,” he said.

He is an enrolled member of the Lakota Sioux Tribe on Pine Ridge; however, he was not raised on the reservation. “I did go to brandings on the reservation, but other than that I haven’t been immersed too deeply into the culture. I respect the culture, but I have a lot to learn,” he said. He plans to grow through work with the coalition that created the Lakota Circles of Hope curriculum offered by CSS to grade school students. It is designed to help Lakota children embrace their traditional tribal values and avoid risky behavior. It is now being offered in all schools to help with Lakota culture awareness.

Catholic Social services has hired a new Director of Communications and Development who will start in September. Sasse also has grant writing experience, and he hopes together they can tag team exploring different funding sources following a needs assessment.

As reaching out for help has become less stigmatized, the need for professional counselors is growing. At CSS, two interns will begin this month.