View source for Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo

{{short description|Latin Catholic jurisdiction in North Dakota, United States}}
{{Infobox diocese
| jurisdiction      = Diocese<!-- Type of jurisdiction: i.e. Diocese or Archdiocese -->
| name              = Fargo
| latin             = Dioecesis Fargensis
| local             = <!-- Name in the native language -->
| image             = Cathedral of St. Mary - Fargo, North Dakota 02.jpg
| image_size        = 200px
| image_alt         = 
| caption           = [[Cathedral of St. Mary (Fargo, North Dakota)|Cathedral of St. Mary]]
| border            = Catholic
| coat              = Coat of arms of the Diocese of Fargo.svg
| coat_size         = 150px
| coat_alt          = 
| coat_caption      = Coat of arms
<!---- Locations ---->
| country           = {{flag|United States}}
| territory         = 30 counties in eastern [[North Dakota]]
| episcopal conference = [[United States Conference of Catholic Bishops]]
| ecclesiastical region = [[List of Catholic dioceses (structured view)#RegionVIII|Region VIII]]
| province          = [[List of Catholic dioceses in the United States#Ecclesiastical Province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis|Saint Paul and Minneapolis]]
| deaneries         = 8
| headquarters      = 5201 Bishops Blvd # A, Fargo, North Dakota 58104
| coordinates       = {{coord|46|52|38|N|96|47|22|W|source:plwiki|display=title,inline}}
<!---- Statistics ---->
| area_sqmi         = 35,786<!-- Area in square miles, automatically converted -->
| area_footnotes    = 
| population        = 421,135{{efn|name="ap2022"|''[[Annuario Pontificio]]'' (2022) via ''[[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]]''<ref name="catholic-hierarchy.dfarg"/>}}
| population_as_of  = 2021
| catholics         = 69,658{{efn|name="ap2022"}}<!-- Number of Catholics in the diocese -->
| catholics_percent = {{percentage|69,658|421,135|1|%=}}
| parishes          = 129<!-- Number of parishes in the diocese -->
| churches          = <!-- Number of churches in the diocese -->
| congregations     = <!-- Number of congregations in the diocese -->
| schools           = 14<!-- Number of church supported schools in the diocese -->
| members           = <!-- Number of members in the diocese -->
<!---- Information ---->
| denomination      = [[Catholic Church]]
| sui_iuris_church  = [[Latin Church]]
| rite              = [[Roman Rite]]
| established       = November 10, 1889 ({{age|1889|11|10}} years ago)
| dissolved         = 
| cathedral         = [[Cathedral of St. Mary (Fargo, North Dakota)|Cathedral of St. Mary]]
| cocathedral       = 
| patron            = [[Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fargodiocese.net/coatofarms|title = Coat of Arms of Bishop John Folda}}</ref>
| priests           = 100, plus 7 religious priests<!-- Number of priests in the diocese -->
<!---- Current leadership ---->
| pope              = {{Incumbent pope}} <!-- DO NOT CHANGE. This will update the Popes Automatically as they change -->
| bishop            = [[John Thomas Folda]]
| metro_archbishop  = [[Bernard Hebda]]
| coadjutor         = 
| auxiliary_bishops = 
| apostolic_admin   = 
| vicar_general     = Joseph Goering
| episcopal_vicar   =
| judicial_vicar    =
| dean              = 
| archdeacons       = <!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of first collation); use | archdeacon = for one-->
| emeritus_bishops  = <!-- List most senior first (usually reckoned by date of consecration) -->
<!---- Map ---->
| map               = Diocese of Fargo.jpg
| map_size          = 
| map_alt           = 
| map_caption       = 
<!---- Website ---->
| website           = {{URL|https://fargodiocese.org/}}
| footnotes         = 
| module = {{Infobox mapframe}}
}}

The '''Diocese of Fargo''' ({{langx|la|Dioecesis Fargensis}}) is a [[Latin Church]] ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the [[Catholic Church]] in eastern [[North Dakota]] in the United States. It is a [[suffragan|suffragan diocese]] in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan [[Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis]].

The mother church is the [[Cathedral of St. Mary (Fargo, North Dakota)|Cathedral of St. Mary]] in Fargo. As of 2023, the bishop of Fargo is [[John Folda]].

== History ==
The Dakotas area went through several Catholic jurisdictions before the creation of the Diocese of Fargo:

* [[Diocese of Saint Louis]] (1826 to 1837)
* [[Diocese of Dubuque]] (1837 to 1850)
* [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis|Diocese of Saint Paul]] (1850 to 1879)
* Vicariate Apostolic of Dakota (1879 to 1889)<ref name="catholic-hierarchy.dfarg">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Diocese of Fargo |encyclopedia=[[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]] |publisher=David M. Cheney |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dfarg.html |access-date=April 5, 2024 |date=March 29, 2024}}</ref>

=== 1889 to 1900 ===
The Diocese of Jamestown was erected on November 10, 1889, by [[Pope Leo XIII]], taking the new state of North Dakota from the Vicariate Apostolic of Dakota. The pope named Reverend [[John Shanley (bishop)|John Shanley]] of Saint Paul as bishop of Jamestown.<ref name="catholic-hierarchy.dfarg" /> The new diocese covered the entire state of North Dakota. [[St. James Basilica (Jamestown, North Dakota)|St. James Church]] was designated the diocesan cathedral.

That same year, Shanley wrote a letter to the ''Fargo Argus'' defending Native-Americans living on the [[Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation]]. He denounced actions taken by local Indian agents that hurt the [[Ojibwe|Chippewa]]/Ojibwe people and highlighted positive aspects of their culture.<ref>[http://fargohistory.com/the-making-of-bishop-shanley/ Becklund, Scott. "The Making of Bishop Shanley", Fargo History Project, North Dakota State University]</ref>

Once in Fargo, Shanley purchased property for a new cathedral and started its construction. The basement was completed when a fire destroyed most of downtown Fargo in 1893. Shanley then donated most of the cathedral funds to reconstruct Fargo, delaying the cathedral completion until 1899.<ref name="Stelten">{{cite web |author=Stelten, Leo |title=History of the Diocese |url=http://www.fargodiocese.org/thediocese |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518102354/http://www.fargodiocese.org/thediocese |archive-date=2015-05-18 |access-date=2015-06-08 |publisher=Diocese of Fargo}}</ref> Shanley hosted the convention of Catholic Laymen in 1896.<ref name="brennan">{{cite news |last=Brennan |first=Mary |title=Bishop John Shanley |work=Collections of the State Historical Society of North Dakota}}</ref>

On April 6, 1897, the Vatican renamed the Diocese of Jamestown as the Diocese of Fargo.<ref name="Stelten" /> At this time, the diocese contained 60 [[Church (building)|churches]], 33 priests, 14 schools and one hospital.

=== 1900 to 1970 ===
By the time Shanley died in July 1909, the diocese had 106 priests, 225 churches, six academies, 34 schools and four hospitals.<ref name="lounsberry">{{cite news |last=Lounsberry |first=Clement Augusts |title=Founding of the Catholic Church in North Dakota |work=Early History of North Dakota}}</ref>[[Pope Pius X]] named Reverend [[James O'Reilly (bishop)|James O'Reilly]] of Saint Paul as the second bishop of Fargo in December 1909.<ref name="catholic">{{cite book |title=[[Catholic Encyclopedia]] |publisher=The Encyclopedia Press, Inc. |year=1922 |editor1-last=Pace |editor1-first=Edward A. |editor1-link=Edward A. Pace |volume=XVII |location=New York}}</ref> At the same time, [[Pope Pius X]] moved all of western North Dakota from the Diocese of Fargo to the new [[Diocese of Bismarck]].<ref name="catholic-hierarchy.dfarg" /><ref name="giga">{{cite web |author= |date= |title=Diocese of Fargo |url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/farg0.htm |accessdate=2013-06-04 |publisher=GCatholic}}</ref>

O'Reilly died in 1934 after 25 years as bishop.<ref name="hierarchy2">{{cite news |title=Bishop James O'Reilly |work=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/boreillyj.html}}</ref> The next bishop of Fargo was [[Aloisius Joseph Muench|Aloisius Muench]] of Saint Paul, appointed by [[Pope Pius XI]] in 1935.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aloisius Joseph Cardinal Muench [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bmuencha.html |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref> After [[World War II]], Muench spent much of his time on Vatican assignments in [[West Germany]] while still serving as bishop of Fargo. While Muench was in Europe, Pope Pius XII appointed Bishop [[Leo Ferdinand Dworschak|Leo Dworschak]] of the Diocese of Rapid City to serve as apostolic administrator in Fargo. In 1947, Pius XII named Dworschak as auxiliary bishop in Fargo. Muench resigned in 1959 as bishop of Fargo after being elevated to the rank of cardinal; [[Pope John XXIII]] in 1960 named Dworschak as Muench's replacement.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Colman James |first=Colman James |title=American Nuncio: Cardinal Aloisius Muench |publisher=Saint John's University Press |year=1969 |location=Collegeville, Minnesota |pages=xi}}</ref>

=== 1970 to present ===
After Dworschak retired in 1970, [[Pope Paul VI]] appointed Reverend [[Justin Albert Driscoll|Justin Driscoll]], president of [[Loras College]] in [[Dubuque, Iowa]], as the next bishop of Fargo.<ref name="hierarchy3">{{cite news |title=Bishop Justin Albert Driscoll |work=Catholic-Hierarchy.org |url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bdrisj.html}}{{Self-published source|date=July 2015}}</ref> Driscoll died in 1984.

To replace Driscoll, [[Pope John Paul II]] named Auxiliary Bishop [[James Stephen Sullivan|James Sullivan]] of the [[Diocese of Lansing]] as bishop of Fargo. During his tenure, Sullivan established the Fargo Catholic Schools Network and the Opening Doors, Opening Hearts evangelization program.<ref name="obituary">{{cite news |date=June 2006 |title=Bishop James S. Sullivan dies June 12 |work=New Earth |url=http://www.fargodiocese.org/News/obituaries.htm#Bishop_James_S._Sullivan_dies_June_12 |url-status=dead |access-date=2009-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308140203/http://www.fargodiocese.org/news/obituaries.htm#Bishop_James_S._Sullivan_dies_June_12 |archive-date=2009-03-08}}</ref> He improved the financial condition of the diocese and funded the Priest Pension Plan through the Shepherd's Care Campaign.<ref name="obituary" /> In 2001, John Paul II named Monsignor [[Samuel J. Aquila]] of Denver as [[Coadjutor Bishop|coadjutor bishop]] of the diocese to assist Sullivan. When Sullivan resigned in 2002, Aquila automatically succeeded him as bishop of Fargo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archbishop Samuel Joseph Aquila [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/baquila.html |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}}</ref>

After Aquila was named archbishop of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver|Archdiocese of Denver]] in 2012, [[Pope Francis]] in 2013 named Monsignor [[John Folda]] of the [[Diocese of Lincoln]] to succeed him in Fargo. Folda, as of 2023, is the current bishop of Fargo.

=== Sex abuse ===
[[File:Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila 2014 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Archbishop Aquila (2014)]]
The diocese in 1998 removed Reverend Fernando Sayasaya from ministry at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Fargo after three teenage boys accused him of sexual abuse. Sayasaya went home to the [[Philippines]] in December 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Stephen J. |date=February 19, 2002 |title=Police Looking for Former Fargo Priest Sayasaya Accused of Sexual Abuse |url=https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news13/2002_02_19_Lee_PoliceLooking_Fernando_Sayasaya_3.htm |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Grand Forks Herald}}</ref> In December 2002, he was charged with gross sexual imposition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 25, 2003 |title=Authorities Still Working to Bring Former Priest from Philippines |url=https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news13/2003_06_25_AP_AuthoritiesStill_Fernando_Sayasaya_4.htm |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Associated Press}}</ref> The Vatican [[Loss of clerical state|laicized]] Sayasaya in 2005. The Philippines ordered him [[Extradition|extradited]] to the United States in 2010, but they were unable to apprehend him for seven years. In May 2018, after being transported to North Dakota, Sayasaya pleaded guilty to two counts of felony gross sexual imposition and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 17, 2018 |title=Priest Extradited from Philippines Pleads Guilty to 2 Counts |url=https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2018/05_06/2018_05_17_CacheValleyDaily_PriestExtradited.htm |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Cache Valley Daily}}</ref>

In a 2010 article, the ''[[Grand Forks Herald]]'' discussed a sexual abuse case it had originally reported in March 1994. A [[Grand Forks, North Dakota|Grand Forks]] man had accused Reverend John Smythe, on assignment from [[Ireland]] in the Diocese of Fargo, of sexually assaulting him in 1981 in [[Langdon, North Dakota|Langdon]] when the man was 12 years old. When contacted in 1994 by the ''Herald'', the [[vicar general]] for the diocese said they had sent Smythe away for treatment. However, by later 1994, Smythe was in prison in [[Northern Ireland]] for sexually assaulting children there. At that point, other alleged victims of Smythe in Langdon had come forward to the diocese.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-03-24 |title=Priest in Irish church abuse scandal had ties to North Dakota parishes |url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/newsmd/priest-in-irish-church-abuse-scandal-had-ties-to-north-dakota-parishes |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Grand Forks Herald |language=en}}</ref>

In January 2020, the diocese published a list of 31 diocesan clergy with credible accusations of sexual abuse of children, dating back to 1950.<ref>{{Cite web |title=North Dakota dioceses name 53 Catholic officials accused of sexually abusing children |url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/lifestyle/faith/4847921-North-Dakota-dioceses-name-53-Catholic-officials-accused-of-sexually-abusing-children |website=Grand Forks Herald}}</ref> The list included Reverend Richard Sinner, brother of former North Dakota Governor [[George A. Sinner]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kolpack |first=Dave |date=January 2, 2020 |title=North Dakota Dioceses Release List of Accused Clergy Members |url=https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2020/01_02/2020_01_02_Kolpack_NorthDakota.htm |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Associated Press}}</ref>

In July 2021, the diocese announced that the [[Diocese of Lansing]] had confirmed several credible sexual abuse allegations against Bishop Sullivan. While assigned as a priest at the Church of the Resurrection Parish in [[Lansing, Michigan]], in the 1960s, Sullivan allegedly touched two young boys inappropriately and used sexual language with them.<ref>{{cite web |last1=MIller |first1=Matthew |date=2 July 2021 |title=Lansing Diocese: Accusations that ex-bishop sexually abused two boys are 'credible' |url=https://www.fox47news.com/neighborhoods/downtown-old-town-reo-town/lansing-diocese-accusations-of-sexual-abuse-against-former-bishop-credible |access-date=2 July 2021 |website=Fox 47 News}}</ref> After the announcement, the John Paul II Catholic Schools network in Fargo renamed Sullivan Middle School as Sacred Heart Middle School.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-02 |title=Sex abuse claims against ex-Fargo bishop credible, Sullivan Middle School renamed |url=https://www.kvrr.com/2021/07/02/sexual-misconduct-allegations-against-ex-fargo-bishop-credible-sullivan-middle-school-renamed/ |access-date=2022-04-24 |website=KVRR Local News |language=en-US}}</ref>

In December 2022, a woman reported to the diocese that she had been sexually victimized by Reverend Neil Pfeifer, pastor of three churches in the [[Jamestown, North Dakota|Jamestown]] area, between January and March 2021 during counseling sessions. Frustrated with the pace of the diocesan investigation, the woman filed charges against Pfeifer with the police in January 2023. Later that month, the diocese removed Pfeiffer from ministry. He was arrested February 2023, and charged with sexual exploitation by therapist. Pfeifer denied the charges. He was later accused of a similar offense in [[Logan County, North Dakota|Logan County]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Valley News Live- |date=2023-02-03 |title=UPDATE: Details on Jamestown priest arrested on sexual exploitation charges |url=https://www.valleynewslive.com/2023/02/03/area-priest-arrested-sexual-exploitation-charges-diocese-fargo-says/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=www.valleynewslive.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-04 |title=Priest allegations reported to Diocese of Fargo before turning to law enforcement, attorney says |url=https://www.jamestownsun.com/news/priest-allegations-reported-to-diocese-of-fargo-before-turning-to-law-enforcement-attorney-says |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Jamestown Sun |language=en}}</ref>

==Bishops==
[[File:Bishop James O'Reilly, 1913.jpg|thumb|Bishop O'Reilly (1913)]]

=== Bishop of Jamestown ===
[[John Shanley (bishop)|John Shanley]] (1889–1909)

===Bishops of Fargo===
# [[John Shanley (bishop)|John Shanley]] (1889–1909)
# [[James O'Reilly (bishop)|James O'Reilly]] (1909–1934)
# [[Aloisius Joseph Muench]] (1935–1959), appointed [[Apostolic Nuncio]] and [[Titular Archbishop]] (elevated to [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] in 1959)
# [[Leo Ferdinand Dworschak]] (1960–1970)
# [[Justin Albert Driscoll]] (1970–1984)
# [[James Stephen Sullivan]] (1985–2002)
# [[Samuel J. Aquila|Samuel Joseph Aquila]] (2002–2012), appointed [[Archdiocese of Denver|Archbishop of Denver]]
# [[John Folda|John Thomas Folda]] (2013–present)

===Other diocesan priests who became bishops===
* [[Raymond W. Lessard]], appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah|Bishop of Savannah]] in 1973
* [[William Theodore Mulloy]], appointed Bishop of Covington in 1944
* [[Vincent James Ryan]], appointed Bishop of Bismarck in 1940

== Departments ==
The Diocese of Fargo operates the following departments:

* Finance
* Human Resources
* Liturgy
* Marriage & Family Life
* Marriage Tribunal
* Properties Management
* Redeemed Conference
* Respect Life/Pro Life
* Stewardship & Development
* Technology
* Youth & Young Adult<!-- please keep entries in alphabetical order -->

== Deaneries and parishes ==
A partial list of parishes of the Diocese of Fargo follows.
* [[St. Joseph's Chapel (Minto, North Dakota)|St. Joseph's Chapel]], Minto

===Deanery 1: South-East===
'''Dean:''' Dale Lagodinski
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* Holy Trinity Church, Fingal
* Our Lady of the Scapular Church, Sheldon
* St. Aloysius Church, Lisbon
* St. Anthony's Church, Fairmount
* St. Anthony's Church, Mooreton
* St. Arnold's Church, Milnor
* St. Boniface Church, Lidgerwood
* St. Charles Church, Oakes
* St. John the Baptist Church, Wyndmere
{{col-2}}
* St. John's Church, Wahpeton
* St. Martin's Church, Geneseo
* St. Mary's Church, Forman
* St. Patrick's Church, Enderlin
* St. Philip's Church, Hankinson
* St. Vincent's Church, Gwinner
* Sts. Peter and Paul's Church, Cayuga
* Sts. Peter and Paul's Church, Mantador
{{col-end}}

===Deanery 2: Fargo===
'''Dean:''' Paul Duchschere
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* [[Cathedral of St. Mary (Fargo, North Dakota)|Cathedral of St. Mary]], Fargo
* [[St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (Fargo)|St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church]], Fargo
* [[Holy Spirit Catholic Church]], Fargo
* [[Nativity Catholic Church]], Fargo
* [[Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church (Fargo)|Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church]], Fargo
* [[St. Paul's Newman Center]], Fargo
{{col-2}}
* Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, West Fargo
* [[Holy Cross Catholic Church]], West Fargo
* St. Benedict Catholic Church, Horace
* St. Leo's Catholic Church, Casselton
* [[Saint Maurice Catholic Church]], Kindred
* [[St. Thomas Catholic Church]], Buffalo
{{col-end}}

=== Deanery 3: Grand Forks===
'''Dean:''' N/A
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* Holy Family Church, Grand Forks
* Our Lady of Peace Church, Mayville
* Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Reynolds
* St. Agnes Church, Hunter
* St. Jude's Church, Thompson
* St. Mary's Church, Grand Forks
{{col-2}}
* [[St. Michael's Church (Grand Forks, North Dakota)|St. Michael's Church]], Grand Forks
* St. Rose Catholic Church, Hillsboro
* St. Stephen's Church, Larimore
* St. Thomas Newman Center, Grand Forks
* St. Timothy's Church, Manvel
* St. William's Church, Argusville
{{col-end}}

=== Deanery 4: North-East===
'''Dean:'''N/A
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* Assumption Church, Pembina
* Sacred Heart Church, Minto
* Sacred Heart Church, Oakwood
* St. Alphonsus Church, Langdon
* St. Boniface Church, Walhalla
* St. Brigid's Church, Cavalier
* St. Edward's Church, Drayton
* St. Edward's Church, Nekoma
* St. John Nepomucene Church, Pisek
{{col-2}}
* St. John's Church, Grafton
* St. Joseph's Church, Lankin
* St. Luke's Church, Veseleyville
* St. Mary's Church, Park River
* St. Michael's Church, Wales
* St. Patrick's Church, Crystal
* [[St. Stanislaus Church Historic District|St. Stanislaus Church]], Warsaw
* Sts. Nereus and Archilleus Church, Neche
* Sts. Peter and Paul's Church, Bechyne
{{col-end}}

=== Deanery 5: Devils Lake===
'''Dean:''' Chad Wilhelm
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* Assumption Church, Starkweather
* Christ the King Church, Tokio
* Sacred Heart Church, Cando
* Seven Dolors Mission, Fort Totten
* St. Jerome's Church, Crow Hill
* St. John's Church, New Rockford
* St. Joseph's Church, Devils Lake
* St. Joseph's Church, Tolna
{{col-2}}
* St. Lawrence O'Toole's Catholic Church, Michigan
* St. Mary's Catholic Church, Munich
* St. Mary's Catholic Church, Lakota
* St. Michael's Mission, Devils Lake
* St. Vincent de Paul's Catholic Church, Leeds
* Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church, McHenry
{{col-end}}

=== Deanery 6: North-West ===
'''Dean:''' Frank Miller
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* Holy Family Church, McClusky
* Holy Rosary Church, Bisbee
* Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Rock Lake
* Notre Dame Church, Willow City
* Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Balta
* Sacred Heart Church, Rolette
* St. Andrew's Church, Westhope
* St. Ann's Church, Belcourt
* St. Anthony's Church, Alcide
* St. Anthony's Church, Selz
* St. Augustine's Church, Fessenden
* St. Benedict's Church, Belcourt
* St. Boniface Church, Esmond
{{col-2}}
* St. Cecilia's Church, Harvey
* St. Cecilia's Church, Towner
* St. Francis Xavier's Church, Anamoose
* St. Joachim's Church, Rolla
* St. John's Church, St. John
* St. Margaret Mary's Church, Drake
* St. Mark's Church, Bottineau
* St. Mary's Church, Knox
* St. Michael's Church, Dunseith
* St. Therese Church, Rugby
* St. William's Church, Maddock
* Sts. Peter and Pauls Church, Karlsruhe
{{col-end}}

=== Deanery 7: Jamestown-Valley City===
'''Dean:''' Dennis Skonseng
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Carrington
* Sacred Heart Church, Aneta
* Sacred Heart Church, Sanborn
* St. Agatha's Church, Hope
* St. Bernard's Church, Oriska
* St. Boniface Church, Wimbledon
* St. Catherine's Church, Valley City
* St Elizabeth's Church, Sykeston
{{col-2}}
* St. George's Church, Cooperstown
* [[St. James Basilica (Jamestown, North Dakota)|St. James Basilica]], Jamestown
* St. John's Church, Kensal
* St. Lawrence Church, Jessie
* St. Margaret Mary's Church, Buchanan
* St. Mary's Church, Dazey
* St. Mathias Church, Windsor
* St. Olaf's Church, Finley
{{col-end}}

=== Deanery 8: South-West===
'''Dean:''' Wenceslaus Katanga
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* Assumption Church, Dickey
* Holy Rosary Church, LaMoure
* Holy Spirit Church, Nortonville
* St. Andrew's Church, Zeeland
* St. David's Church, Ashley
* St. Francis Church, Steele
* St. Helena's Church, Ellendale
{{col-2}}
* St. Mary's Church, Medina
* St. Patrick's Church, Fullerton
* St. Paul's Church, Tappen
* St Philip's Church, Napoleon
* St. Raphael's Church, Venora
* Transfiguration Church, Edgeley
{{col-end}}

== Education ==
[[File:Shanley High School Fargo ND.jpg|thumb|320x320px|[[Shanley High School]], Fargo]]
As of 2023, the Diocese of Fargo has one high school and 13 primary and middle schools.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic Schools |url=https://fargodiocese.net/catholicschools |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Diocese of Fargo |language=en}}</ref>

=== Schools ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ List of Catholic schools in the diocese
|-
! scope="col" | School
! scope="col" | Location
! scope="col" | Established
! scope="col" | Affiliation(s)
|-
! colspan="4" |Primary and middle schools
|-
|Holy Family-St. Mary's Catholic School
|[[Grand Forks, North Dakota|Grand Forks]]
|2005
|
|-
|Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School
|[[Fargo, North Dakota|Fargo]]
|1953
|
|-
|Nativity Elementary School
|Fargo
|1961
|[[Sisters of the Presentation of Mary]] (former)
|-
|St. Alphonsus School
|[[Langdon, North Dakota|Langdon]]
|1941
|
|-
|St. Ann's Native American Catholic Elementary School
|[[Belcourt, North Dakota|Belcourt]]
|1999
|[[Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity]]
|-
|St. Catherine Elementary School
|[[Valley City, North Dakota|Valley City]]
|
|
|-
|[[St. James Basilica (Jamestown, North Dakota)|St. John's Academy]]
|[[Jamestown, North Dakota|Jamestown]]
|
|
|-
|St. Joseph Catholic School
|[[Devils Lake, North Dakota|Devils Lake]]
|1957
|[[Sisters of Mercy]] (former)
|-
|St. Michael's Catholic School
|Devils Lake
|1916
|[[Sisters of St. Joseph]] (former)
|-
|St. Therese the Little Flower Catholic Elementary School
|[[Rugby, North Dakota|Rugby]]
|1943
|
|-
|Sacred Heart Middle School
|Fargo
|
|
|-
! colspan="4" |Secondary schools
|-
|[[Shanley High School]]
|Fargo
|1882
|[[De La Salle Christian Brothers]] (former)
[[Presentation Sisters]] (former)
|}

=== Former schools ===
The Diocese of Fargo operated [[Cardinal Muench Seminary]], established in 1962, for the formation of men to the priesthood. The seminary closed in May 2011 due to increased costs and a lack of funding.

The following schools are closed:
* St. Alphonsus High School
* St. Mary's Elementary School

==Coat of arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image             = Coat of arms of the Diocese of Fargo.svg
|bannerimage       =
|badgeimage        =
|notes             = Arms was designed and adopted when the diocese was erected
|year_adopted      = 1897
|crest             =
|torse             =
|helm              =
|escutcheon        =  The background of the arms is a blue field. It contains a gold cross with a blue horseshoe.  The background also displays a golden sheaf of wheat.
|supporters        =
|compartment       =
|motto             = 
|orders            =
|other_elements    =
|banner            =
|badge             =
|symbolism         = Blue and gold are the traditional colors of Mary, mother of Jesus.  The horseshoe evokes [[William Fargo]], founder of the [[pony express]]. The wheat sheaf honors the major crop of North Dakota, used to make the eucharist.
|previous_versions =
}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Catholicism}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Catholic Church by country]]
* [[Catholic Church in the United States]]
* [[List of Catholic dioceses in the United States#Ecclesiastical province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis|Ecclesiastical Province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis]]
* [[List of Catholic archdioceses]] (by country and continent)
* [[List of Catholic dioceses (alphabetical)]] (including archdioceses)
* [[List of Catholic dioceses (structured view)]] (including archdioceses)
* [[List of Catholic dioceses in the United States]]
{{div col end}}
<!-- please keep entries in alphabetical order -->

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo}}
* [http://www.fargodiocese.org/ Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo Official Site]

{{Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo}}
{{Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis}}{{Authority control}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roman Catholic Diocese Of Fargo}}
[[Category:Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo| ]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis|Fargo]]
[[Category:Catholic Church in North Dakota|Diocese of Fargo]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1889]]
[[Category:1889 establishments in Dakota Territory]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States|Fargo]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 19th century|Fargo]]