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A new age with growing problems has compelled the Catholic diocese across the nation to look at different approaches to serving — and retaining — its parishes and their congregations.

Overnight, the Rev. Tom Anderson went from pastoring two Catholic churches to eight.

There are currently about 86,000 Catholics east of the Missouri River in South Dakota, with over 70 priests serving them. But those numbers are on a slight decline over the course of the last ten years.

“If the church is not relevant in their lives, they won’t participate in church or be part of a church. They’re very selective in how they engage.”

Falling attendance and membership at many South Dakota churches has prompted them to look for creative ways to keep people engaged.