Harold Joseph Dimmerling

His Excellency, The Most Reverend Harold Joseph Dimmerling
Bishop of Rapid City
Church	Roman Catholic Church
See	Diocese of Rapid City
Predecessor	William Tibertus McCarty
Successor	Charles Joseph Chaput
Orders
Ordination	May 2, 1940 by Richard Thomas Guilfoyle
Consecration	October 30, 1969 by George Speltz
Personal details
Born	(1914-09-23)September 23, 1914 Braddock, Pennsylvania, US
Died	December 13, 1987(1987-12-13) (aged 73) Rapid City, South Dakota, US
Motto	Keep the faith

Harold Joseph Dimmerling (September 23, 1914 – December 13, 1987) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Rapid City in South Dakota from 1969 until his death in 1987.

In 2018, the Diocese of Saint Cloud announced that it had credible accusations of sexual abuse against Dimmerling.

Early life

Joseph Dimmerling was born on September 23, 1914, in Braddock, Pennsylvania. He was ordained to the priesthood in Altoona, Pennsylvania, for the Diocese of Saint Cloud on May 2, 1940 by Bishop Richard Thomas Guilfoyle^[1] After his ordination, Dimmerling served in pastoral assignments in St. Cloud, Breckenridge, Brushvale, Glenwood, Villard, and Little Falls, all in Minnesota. He also served at the seminary at Collegeville, Minnesota.^[2]

Bishop of Rapid City

On September 11, 1969, Pope Paul VI appointed Dimmerling as bishop of Rapid City. He was ordained bishop by Bishop George Speltz on October 30, 1969. Dimmerling established a permanent diaconate program and a lay ministry program and ordained the first Native American deacon in the country.^[3]

Dimmerling started offices in the diocese for rural life, stewardship and social concerns. He set up a ministry for people who were separated or divorced, and for widows. He also established the West River Catholic newspaper.^[1]

Joseph Dimmerling died in Rapid City on December 13, 1987.^[1]^[3] In November 2018, the Diocese of Saint Cloud announced that it had credible accusations of sexual abuse of a minor against Dimmerling from his tenure as a priest in the diocese.^[2]^[4]

References

1 2 3 "Bishop Harold Joseph Dimmerling". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
1 2 "Deceased bishop accused of abuse while in St. Cloud". MPR News. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
1 2 "Bishop Dimmerling". Diocese of Rapid City. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
↑ Brown, Jordyn. "Diocese of St. Cloud adds another name to list of clergy likely to have abused minors". St. Cloud Times. Retrieved 2022-10-28.

External links

Holy Rosary Mission – Red Cloud Indian School Digital Image Collection at Marquette University; Keyword: Dimmerling.

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by William Tibertus McCarty	Bishop of Rapid City 1969—1987	Succeeded by Charles Joseph Chaput

v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Rapid City
Bishops	Bishops of Lead John Stariha Joseph Francis Busch Bishops of Rapid City John Jeremiah Lawler William Tibertus McCarty Harold Joseph Dimmerling Charles J. Chaput Blase J. Cupich Robert Dwayne Gruss Peter Michael Muhich Scott E. Bullock Coadjutor Leo Ferdinand Dworschak
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Historic St. Lawrence O'Toole Catholic Church, Central City St. Augustine Church, Dallas St. Martin's Catholic Church and Grotto, Oelrichs St. John's Catholic Church, Paxton Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rapid City St. Charles Borromeo Church, St. Francis
Education	High schools Red Cloud High School, Pine Ridge St. Thomas More High School, Rapid City
Priests	Steven Biegler Lawrence Welsh
Catholicism portal

v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Cloud
Bishops	Ordinaries Rupert Seidenbusch John Joseph Frederick Otto Zardetti Martin Marty James Trobec Joseph Francis Busch Peter William Bartholome George Henry Speltz Jerome Hanus John Francis Kinney Donald Joseph Kettler Patrick Neary Auxiliary James Steven Rausch
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of Saint Mary, St. Cloud Parishes Church of the Immaculate Conception, St. Anna Church of St. Joseph, Browerville Church of the Sacred Heart, Freeport Saints Peter and Paul Church, Gilman Church of St. Mary, Melrose St. Joseph's Church, Pierz Church of St. Mary Help of Christians, St. Augusta Church of St. Joseph, St. Joseph Church of St. Stephen, St. Stephen Abbey St. John's Abbey, Collegeville Chapel Assumption Chapel
Education	Higher education College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University High schools Cathedral High School, St. Cloud Saint John's Preparatory School, Collegeville
Priests	Harold Joseph Dimmerling
Catholicism portal

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Bishop of Rapid City

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