The document provides information from a parish profile for Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help to inform long-term planning in the Diocese of Rapid City. It outlines declining population and membership trends, current priest workload and duties, parish programs and finances, and discusses guidelines for an open discussion on meeting the needs of the faithful with fewer anticipated clergy. The agenda covers historical context, current parish status and challenges, vocations, and an open discussion on priorities for the next 5-10 years and beyond.

2. CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
2021 PARISH PROFILE
Rapid City - Very Rev. Brian P. Christiansen

3. ST. ISIDORE PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality
influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal
life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the
communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever.
Amen

4. PURPOSE
• Develop informed predictions about the demographic
trends and meet the challenges in our diocese.
• Ask parishes to discern their real needs in light of the
needs of the entire diocese.
• Provide a framework through which to meet the needs of
the faithful with the anticipated number of clergy
available.

5. AGENDA
uBackground
~ Historical Perspective
~ Population Trends
vStatus of Parish
~ Population Trends
~ Mass Attendance
~ Vitality, Involvement, & Financial Health
wWorkload & Vocations
xDiscussion

6. OUR DIOCESE
DEANERIES

7. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Year/Category 1979 1990 2021
Change
(2021-1979)
Change
(2021-1990)
Active Diocesan
Priests
35 40 25 -10 (↓29%) -15 (↓38%)
Retired Priests 6 4 10 4 6
Religious Order
Priests
45 41 12 -33 (↓73%) -29 (↓71%)
Registered Catholics 40,138 35,191 21,588 -18,550 (↓46%) -13,603 (↓39%)
Parishes 107 114 75 -32 (↓30%) -39 (↓36%)

8. CURRENT PRIESTS AND SEMINARIANS
• 23 Active Priests
(not including 3
visiting priests)
• 9 Seminarians
• 10 Retired Priests,
3 that are active
Estimated Number of Diocesan Priests
Available for Assignment
23 23
22 22
23
22
0
9
18
27
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027

9. DIOCESAN POPULATION TREND
Sources: South Dakota Department of Education, US Census Bureau, South Dakota Demographic & Housing Report
51,934 48,606 46,903 45,326
175,277
194,969
209,374
225,353
227,211
243,575
256,277
270,679
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
2000 2010 2020 2030
15 Counties
with Declining
Population
7 Counties
with Increasing
Population
Total
5.6%
-3.4%
7.6%

10. PEW RESEARCH CENTER DATA
12.4% of Western South Dakotans are Catholic (varies by county)
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Mass
Attendance
Never,
14%
Occasionally, 51%
Monthly,
9%
Weekly, 26%

11. AGENDA
uBackground
~ Historical Perspective
~ Population Trends
vStatus of Parish
~ Population Trends
~ Mass Attendance
~ Vitality, Involvement, & Financial Health
wWorkload & Vocations
xDiscussion

12. PARISH POPULATION TRENDS
Sources: South Dakota Department of Education, US Census Bureau, South Dakota Demographic & Housing Report
59,607
67,956
74,703
82,518
6,629 8,260
9,114 10,056
2,513 7,800
11,746
17,688
68,749
84,016
95,563
110,262
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
2000 2010 2020 2030
Rapid City Rapid Valley Box Elder Total
15.4%
10.5%
10.3%
50.6%

13. PARISH MEMBERS
AND MASS ATTENDANCE
* - 75% of capacity based on 18 inches per person
3389 3482 3418 3323 3209
3359
1500 1550 1550
1297
660
1110
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Capacity* - 4
Masses
Capacity* - 3
Masses
Capacity* - 2
Masses
Capacity* - Single
Mass
Registered Members
Mass Attendance

14. BAPTISMS & DEATHS
45
31 32
27
34
37
24
19
16
25
0
10
20
30
40
50
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Baptisms Deaths
0
10
20
30
40
50
0 10 20 30 40 50
Baptisms vs Deaths
Line of Equal

15. FAITH FORMATION
98
49
42
186
19
394
79
68
22
136
6
311
73
31
26
122
16
268
89
32
39
118
24
302
74
50
25
60
42
251
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
Elementary Middle School High School Adults RCIA Total
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021

16. SACRAMENTS ADMINISTERED
45
49
50
21
31
40
45
7
32
37
42
10
27
29
12
10
34
32
19
12
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Baptism 1st Communion Confirmation Marriage
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021

17. LAY ORGANIZATIONS
Lay Organization Count
Knights of Columbus 254
Catholic Daughters of America 12
Altar Society 0
Federation of North American Explorers 31
Scouting (BSA or Cub) 12

18. COMMUNAL PRAYERS & SPIRITUAL
PROGRAMS
Liturgy of the Hours
(Advent/Lent Sunday Vespers)
✔ Exposition and Adoration ✔
Stations of the Cross ✔ Parish Mission
Rosary and other Marian
Devotions
✔ Devotion to a Saint
Days of Recollection Religious Procession ✔
Retreats ✔ Rogation Blessing
Divine Mercy ✔ Communal Penance Service
and Mercy Nights
✔

19. SPECIAL MINISTRIES
FOR THE POOR
Ministry Parish Involvement
St. Vincent De Paul Society ✔
Coats for Kids (KOC) ✔
Food Pantry ✔
Travel Assistance ✔
Housing Assistance ✔

20. FINANCIAL HEALTH
Yes Sometimes No
Operates on a balanced budget ✔
Parish has an operating budget deficit ✔
Using savings to address a deficit ✔
The parish is currently in debt ✔
What Type of Savings Plan: Contingency ✔
Households who donate $100 or more per year 538/1343 (40%)

21. FACILITY CONDITION
Good
Needs Some
Repair
Needs
Serious
Repair
Needs
Immediate
Repair
Church ✔
Rectory ✔
Hall ✔
Facilities are not ADA compliant and handicap accessible
Recent Renovations: None

22. PARISH PROPERTY APPRAISAL

23. AGENDA
uBackground
~ Historical Perspective
~ Population Trends
vStatus of Parish
~ Population Trends
~ Mass Attendance
~ Vitality, Involvement, & Financial Health
wWorkload & Vocations
xDiscussion

24. PRIEST DUTIES & ACTIVITIES
ADMINISTRATIVE
Supervision of staff, council and committee meetings, budgets, maintenance
PASTORAL
Counseling; spiritual direction for others; visiting hospitals, nursing homes, homebound
LITURGICAL PREPARATION AND CELEBRATION
Masses, penance services, reconciliation, adoration, anointing of the sick, Liturgy of the Hours
FAITH FORMATION:
Providing Faith Formation instruction, participation in youth activities
WORK RELATED TRAVEL
PERSONAL SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
Holy Hour, spiritual direction, religious reading, retreat, private prayer
DIOCESAN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBIITIES
Diocesan committees, positions, clergy convocation, Pastoral Ministry Days

25. PRIEST DUTIES & ACTIVITIES
Fr. Brian Christensen
• Administrative hours per month: 80 Hours (20 hours per week)
• Diocesan Duties
– Presbyteral Council
– Catholic Social Services
• Board of Directors
• Development Committee
– RCCSS Board of Directors
• Executive Committee
• Mission Committee
– Deacon Formation Team
• Deacon Review Board
– VSI instructor
– Newman Center Advisory Committee

26. HOW OUR DEACONS HELP
Our Parish Has 3 Active Deacons
Assist at Sunday Masses ✔ Heart to Heart Retreats ✔
Assist at daily Masses ✔ Training of Lay Ministers
Baptisms ✔ Marriage prep ✔
Funeral vigils and/or internments ✔ Couple meetings ✔
Assist with Funeral Mass ✔ Serve as p-12 catechist ✔
Deliver homilies ✔ Serve as adult catechist ✔
Eucharistic communal services ✔ RCIA ✔
Exposition and Benediction ✔ Special religious services ✔

27. PREPARERS OF THE SACRAMENTS
Who Infant
Baptism
First Penance
First Communion
Confirmation Marriage Nullity
Studies
RCIA
Pastor ✔ ✔ ✔
Deacon ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Lay Staff ✔ ✔ ✔
VSI Catechist
P-12 Catechist ✔ ✔
Lay Volunteers ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Parents ✔ ✔
Couple Ministry ✔

28. PARISHIONER TIME AND TALENT
Catechesis #
P-12 Catechists 32
Adult Catechists 6
VSI Certified Catechists 20
Commissioned Lay
Ministers
7
Liturgy #
Lectors 41
Sacristans 14
Eucharistic Ministers 36
Ushers 0
Greeters 42
Altar Servers 48
Choir Members 18
Accompanist 6
Cantors 13

29. VOCATION PROMOTION
Possible Activities Parish Participation
Totus Tuus 2021
Duc in Altum 2021
17 girls, 7 boys
24 elementary, 30 MS/HS
Vocation Committee Yes
Adopt a Seminarian Yes
Seminary Visitations Yes
Nun Run or Convent Visitation Yes
Annual Seminarian Suppers No
RSVP (Knights of Columbus) Yes

30. CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Education Level OLPH in
Catholic
Schools
Rapid City
Catholic Schools
OLPH
Catholic Homeschooled
Catholic
Homeschool
Association
Elementary
School (K-5)
60 306 12 65
Middle School
(6-8)
42 164 3 14
High School
(9-12)
51 178 8 20

31. AGENDA
uBackground
~ Historical Perspective
~ Population Trends
vStatus of Parish
~ Population Trends
~ Mass Attendance
~ Vitality, Involvement, & Financial Health
wWorkload & Vocations
xDiscussion

32. DISCUSSION GUIDELINES
• Everyone’s opinion is important, show
respect for all
• Honor the absent – many may not be able to
be here so please keep them in mind during
this discussion
• Stay on track – keep the goal in mind of
looking out 5-10 years

33. OPEN DISCUSSION
• What are our needs, in light of the needs of the entire diocese?
– We are doing some things very well, where do we need to do better?
– What is most important for 5-10 years out? 10-15-20 years out?
• How do we meet the needs of the faithful across the Diocese
– What actions can we take to help with the decreasing number of
Catholics and priests in our diocese?
• What do we want to ensure gets passed on to the next
discussion level?

34. Heavenly Father, we beg you for an increase in
religious vocations and holy marriages in the
Diocese of Rapid City. Look upon us with favor
and choose from our homes those who are needed
for your work. Send your Spirit to strengthen us
and give us open hearts and minds ready to say
‘Yes' when you call. Help our parishes and families
encourage vocations to the priesthood, diaconate,
and consecrated life. We commend our prayers to
our Patroness, Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Through Christ Our Lord.
Amen
DIOCESAN PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS