The Saint Paul Seminary extends a warm welcome to Bishop Scott Bullock, who was ordained bishop of the Diocese of Rapid City on Monday. The prelate appointed earlier this year by Pope Francis completed his pre-theology studies here in Minnesota.
Before he served in over a dozen leadership roles within the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Bullock studied pre-theology at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota — the undergraduate alma mater of several eventual Saint Paul Seminary alumni.
The Diocese of Rapid City is one of 19 dioceses or religious orders currently sending men to St. Paul for priestly formation.
“It is with great joy that we welcome Bishop-Elect Bullock into our Saint Paul Seminary community,” Saint Paul Seminary Rector Fr. Joseph Taphorn said. “His experience both a pastor in the Archdiocese of Dubuque and as a spiritual father to young men discerning the priesthood speaks for itself. We look forward to partnering with him as we continue the ministry of forming new priests for the Diocese of Rapid City.”
Bullock replaces Bishop Peter Muhich, who passed away in February.
Born in 1963 in Royal Oak, Michigan, Bullock earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the General Motors Institute before discerning the priesthood. He completed seminary formation in Rome and also holds a licentiate in canon law and a Master’s degree in English.
Bullock was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque on June 22, 1991.
He then served as pastor, associate pastor, sacramental priest or high school faculty member at several different parishes and schools — most recently as pastor at St. Edward Catholic Church in Waterloo, Iowa. He also worked as the Archdiocese of Dubuque’s director of seminarians (1998-2012), director of the recently ordained program (2001-2010) and judicial vicar (2010-2020).
Additionally, Bullock led St. Pius X Seminary in Dubuque as rector from 2003-14.
The Diocese of Rapid City is comprised of 43,000 square miles in the state of South Dakota and has a total population of 230,087 of which 23,668 are Catholic.