Bishop Arthur N. Tafoya, is originally from the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Bishop Tafoya was installed on September 10, 1980. Confronting the Bishop were the challenges of a declining population of registered Catholics, and a nationwide shortage of priests and vocations to religious life. To combat these and other obstacles, a nd to exact feedback and participation from individual parishes, Bishop Tafoya initiated a goal setting process called Our Journey Together, 1985-1990, which resulted in the formulation of specific goals at the diocesan and parish level. This was followed by a second diocesan pastoral plan called, Sharing Our Gifts, 1993-1998. There is a third diocesan pastoral plan which was promulgated on October 20, 2001, Called to Serve.

Other accomplishments in Bishop Tafoya's episcopate include the establishment of the Catholic Diocese Foundation, Inc. Established in 1995, the Foundation functions as a resource to ensure the support of a variety of Catholic agencies and ministries. In 1996, the Deaconate program was created. This program provides formal training and support for individuals interested in serving their communities as deacons. In August 2000, after several years of preparation, eleven men were ordained as deacons; they were the first class in the program. The next class is expected to begin in the fall of 2001. Bishop Tafoya has also advocated formal Lay Ministry Formation to train leadership among laity. Also, recently the Diocese has experienced the revitalization of Catholic education: The Shrine of St. Therese, in Pueblo, opened its doors to students after thirty years, joining communities in Durango, Grand Junction, Trinidad, and John Neumman Schools in Pueblo, in offering parochial education.