St. Joseph Cathedral (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

The history of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and the state of South Dakota are truly intertwined. The story, of course, really begins when Catholic missionary priests journeyed into what would become the Dakota Territory. The first of these was Father Pierre Jean De Smet, who began ministering in the region in 1838.   From those beginnings, the Catholic faith spread among the Native Americans and early settlers of the Plains. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, a small log structure built in Bruyer’s Settlement four miles east of Vermillion, is generally recognized as the first Catholic Church established in what would become the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Faith is what built The Cathedral. Those pioneers who had a vision for what could be, sacrificed much to construct a worthy home for the cathedra—the bishop’s chair. The Cathedral Restoration is intended to ensure that The Cathedral not only receives the care necessary to preserve this gift entrusted to future generations, but also the attention it deserves in order to bring out the full beauty of this unique and magnificent treasure.