By the Grace of God and the Favor of the Apostolic See
Bishop of Davenport
DECREES
Regarding Sacred Heart Church
of Lost Nation, Iowa
Lost Nation Church of Lost Nation, Iowa was one of 25 parishes established between the founding of the Davenport Diocese in 1881 and the creation of the Des Moines Diocese in 1911. Father Patrick McNamara celebrated the first Mass in Lost Nation on December 8, 1895. It was not until 1913 that the rectory was built. In July 1929, Bishop Henry Rohlman instructed Fr. John Cash to take over the parish of Hughes Settlement as a mission of Lost Nation. In 1965 a new church with an attached parish hall was built and dedicated by Bishop Ralph Hayes during the pastorate of Fr. Paul Budreau.
Sacred Heart Parish heard the Word of God proclaimed, participated in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and received the sacraments of the Church in their parish.
Now a new direction must be taken in the faith journey of Sacred Heart Parish. It seems opportune to suppress Sacred Heart Parish and to form a new parish. Having reached this point in time, it is the recommendation of members of the Parish Pastoral Council to merge Sacred Heart Parish in Lost Nation with St. James Parish in Toronto. In addition, on July 16, 2015, I sought the advice of the Presbyteral Council in accord with canon 515 §2 of the Code of Canon Law. As a result of this consultation, I, the undersigned Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, do hereby decree that Sacred Heart Church of Lost Nation, Iowa is herewith suppressed and its status as a juridic person in canon law is hereby terminated. This closing shall be effective August 15, 2015.
All parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish are now to become members of the newly established territorial parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church of Lost Nation, Iowa.
All registers containing records of baptism, confirmation, marriage and burials hitherto preserved by Sacred Heart Parish are to conveyed to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish where they are to be faithfully preserved according to canon 535 §§1-5. The financial assets of Sacred Heart Parish, whether movable or immovable, and all liabilities are herewith assumed by the newly erected parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in accord with the law of the Church.
Promulgation of this Decree is to be made in a public fashion as determined by the pastor and lay directors of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish. It shall also be published in The Catholic Messenger, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Davenport.
Given at Davenport, Iowa, on this 15th day of August 2015.
Regarding St. James Church
of Toronto, Iowa
St. James Church of Toronto, Iowa recorded its first baptism on December 8, 1870 and its first marriage on September 10, 1871. There is no recorded date of the first funeral; however, the grave markers in the St. James’s Cemetery attest to the fact of these early dates of burials.
The first church was erected in the cemetery location, and in 1883 the cornerstone of the present church was laid. The rectory was directly across the street. The present rectory was built in the 1920s.
The first pastor of the church was Fr. Martin Rice who served until the early spring of 1873 when Fr. Maher was appointed pastor. He was followed by Fr. Murphy, C.P. who served till December 1879 when Fr. Brogan acted as pastor for one year.
Then began the glorious career of the venerable Fr. Patrick McNamara who began his pastorate in October 1880 and concluded in September 1918. It was during Fr. McNamara’s time the present church was built. His successor, Fr. John Courtney, built the rectory.
The mission parish of the church was St. Patrick Church at Big Rock built about 1900.
St. James Parish heard the Word of God proclaimed, participated in the Eucharistic Sacrifice and received the sacraments of the Church in their parish.
Now a new direction must be taken in the faith journey of St. James Parish. It seems opportune to suppress St. James Parish and to form a new parish. Having reached this point in time, it is the recommendation of members of the Parish Pastoral Council to merge St. James Parish in Toronto with Sacred Heart Parish in Lost Nation. In addition, on July 16, 2015, I sought the advice of the Presbyteral Council in accord with canon 515 §2 of the Code of Canon Law. As a result of this consultation, I, the undersigned Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, do hereby decree that the St. James Church of Toronto, Iowa is herewith suppressed and its status as a juridic person in canon law is hereby terminated. This closing shall be effective August 15, 2015.
All parishioners of St. James Parish are now to become members of the newly established territorial parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church of Lost Nation, Iowa.
All registers containing records of baptism, confirmation, marriage and burials hitherto preserved by St. James Parish are to conveyed to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish where they are to be faithfully preserved according to canon 535 §§1-5. The financial assets of St. James Parish, whether movable or immovable, and all liabilities are herewith assumed by the newly erected parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in accord with the law of the Church.
Promulgation of this Decree is to be made in a public fashion as determined by the pastor and lay directors of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish. It shall also be published in The Catholic Messenger, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Davenport.
Given at Davenport, Iowa, on this 15th day of August 2015.
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church
of Lost Nation, Iowa
Among the principal duties of the diocesan bishop is the establishment of stable communities of faith to provide spiritual care for the People of God. In order to provide more effectively for the spiritual welfare and salvation of souls, it has been deemed necessary to establish a single parish uniting the parishes of Sacred Heart in Lost Nation and St. James in Toronto.
Having provided for the closing of Sacred Heart and St. James and having sought the advice of the Presbyteral Council on July 16, 2015 and having the support of the Dean and the neighboring pastors, I do hereby decree the establishment of the new territorial parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church of Lost Nation, Iowa.
Boundaries of the parish are:
Northern Boundary:
Northern boundary of Clinton County
Southern Boundary:
Southern boundary of Clinton Country
Western Boundary:
Western boundary of Clinton County
Eastern Boundary:
From the northern boundary of Clinton County south along 200th Avenue to 190th Street; west along 190th Street to 170th Avenue; south along 170th Avenue to State Highway 30; east along State Highway 30 to 175th Avenue; south along 175th Avenue to 255th Street; east along 255th Street to 178th Avenue; south along 178th Avenue to the southern border of Clinton County.
The newly established Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish will consist of the buildings and other facilities owned by the closed parishes of Sacred Heart and St. James. All members of the former parishes are entitled to be parishioners of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish. The voluntary offerings of the faithful and all other grants that have been made and will be made to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish shall constitute its revenue. The appointment of the pastor of the parish and all future pastors shall be governed by the norms of the Code of Canon Law.
Promulgation of this Decree is to be made in a public fashion as determined by the pastor and lay directors of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish. It shall also be published in The Catholic Messenger, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Davenport.
Given at Davenport, Iowa, on this 15th day of August, 2015.
Martin Amos
Bishop of Davenport
Deacon David Montgomery
Chancellor
