South Dakota priest installed as bishop of Cheyenne Diocese

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - A former South Dakota priest is the new bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne in Wyoming.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports (bit.ly/2qYuyZa) the Most Rev. Steven R. Biegler was installed and ordained during a Mass on Monday to serve about 54,000 members of the statewide diocese.

Biegler thanked his mother for being “a good role model of prayer and faith.” He told the congregants he was honored to be their shepherd and asked them to pray for him.

Pope Francis appointed Biegler to head the diocese on March 16. He succeeds Bishop Paul D. Etienne, who was named archbishop for the Archdiocese of Anchorage in Alaska.

Biegler was most recently the vicar general of the Diocese of Rapid City in South Dakota and pastor of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City.

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Information from: Wyoming Tribune Eagle, https://www.wyomingnews.com