Catholics from Our Lady of Lourdes and St. John Vianney parishes in Bettendorf celebrate Mass at the new St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in Bettendorf. The new school opened in August 2025.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
The faithful of the Diocese of Davenport experienced joy, pride and sorrow in 2025 amid long-awaited celebrations and unexpected farewells.
Diocesan priest becomes Bishop of Baker, Oregon
On July 10, Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Thomas Hennen, diocesan vicar general and rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, as the next bishop of the Diocese of Baker in Oregon.
The Ottumwa native, 47, said he thought he was “too young” upon receiving the call from Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. “He told me to trust in the Lord.”
Bishop Hennen was ordained and installed at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Bend, Oregon, on Sept. 29, becoming the youngest bishop leading a diocese in the United States. “Many are undoubtedly wondering ‘what kind of bishop will I be?’” said Bishop Hennen while speaking to the assembly, which included family and friends from Iowa. “I don’t know yet. I’ve never done this before. But I suspect I will be a bishop as I was a priest. I hope to be wise, gentle, courageous and loving.”
Ottumwa parishes merge
On July 1, St. Mary of the Visitation and St. Patrick parishes in Ottumwa merged to become St. Joseph Parish by decree of Bishop Dennis Walsh. Before making that decision, he met with the parishes’ leaders and consulted with the diocesan Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors. In the decree, he said parishioners recognized the benefits of merging, “including strengthened spiritual formation, better utilization of financial and human resources, and an enhanced ability to serve our parishioners and the wider community.” The parishes celebrated the merger with a Eucharistic procession from St. Patrick Catholic Church to St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church, both of which remain open.
Building for the future
Bishop Walsh traveled to Coralville in August to dedicate St. Thomas More Parish’s new, $12.4 million worship space. The addition to the original 2009 structure accommodates twice as many people, lessening the need for overflow areas. The renovated and expanded lower level features a new kitchen, large social hall, music ministry practice room, conference room, 10 refurbished classrooms and a workroom for religious education preparation. Contractors converted the original church into a gathering space and parish offices.
The new St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in Bettendorf, the fruition of a longtime collaboration between Our Lady of Lourdes and St. John Vianney parishes, opened at the start of the 2025-26 school year. The school hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 18. “Today is a historic day — not only for Bettendorf, but for the entire Diocese of Davenport — as we open the first new Catholic school in our region in more than 50 years,” said Principal Katie Selden. Bishop Walsh said he was grateful to those who made St. Joan of Arc Catholic School a reality — teachers, pastors, families, benefactors and all who support the work of Catholic education. “You are investing in something eternal.”
Messenger editor retires
Catholic Messenger Editor Barb Arland-Fye retired in September after 23 years of service. A selection committee chose Dan Russo, a journalist and former Catholic newspaper editor from Dubuque, Iowa, as her successor. Arland-Fye, who earned awards at the Iowa Newspaper Association Convention in February and the Catholic Media Association’s annual conference in June, continues to write for The Catholic Messenger as her schedule allows.
Bishop reflects on first year shepherding the Davenport Diocese
Bishop Walsh celebrated his first anniversary as bishop of Davenport in September. He reflected on his first year in a Q&A with The Catholic Messenger, noting the “joyful” dedication of St. Thomas More Church in Coralville as a highlight. “It was my first dedication of a church and consecration of the altar as bishop,” he said. He also identified challenges, including the non-centralized location of diocesan headquarters (he estimates driving about 15,000 miles in his first year) and the growing priest shortage in the Diocese of Davenport. He is encouraged by the “general sense of affection that people have for the Church” and the warm welcome he has received as bishop.
Survey
Bishop Walsh and the diocesan Synergy Committee, composed of chancery office leaders, created an anonymous, 10-minute online survey in an effort to learn what lay Catholics understand about their baptismal identity and how it guides them in living out their faith. About 3,684 lay respondents completed the survey in English or Spanish between July 30 and Sept. 30. The Diocese of Davenport released the survey results in November, identifying three areas of focus for church leaders: finding ways to use people’s gifts fully, creating an “evangelical frame of mind” and improving lay formation. “The overall results suggest a significant opportunity for growth in the empowerment and formation of the lay faithful,” the bishop said. “That’s vital, given the current and future trajectory of ordained ministry within our diocese.”
Bishop Dennis Walsh begins to vest for confirmation Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church-Riverside Sept. 14.
NCYC
An estimated 16,000 youths and adults gathered for the National Catholic Youth Conference Nov. 20-22 to celebrate their shared faith. About 370 youths and 130 adults traveled to Lucas Oil Stadium and Convention Center in Indianapolis — including first-time attendee Bishop Walsh — as part of the Diocese of Davenport’s official contingent.
Pope Leo XIV participated in a virtual encounter with attendees, answering questions on a variety of topics. Logan Vittetoe of St. Thomas More Parish in Coralville served on a national youth panel that met on Zoom in October to develop a list of questions, which were sent to the pope in advance.
Pilgrims of Hope
The late Pope Francis proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee Year of Hope. He asked the faithful to “fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.” Several diocesan parishes served as pilgrimage sites, and Catholics in Iowa City planned a Eucharistic pilgrimage to commemorate the Jubilee Year. Bishop Walsh closed out the Jubilee Year of Hope with prayer and thanksgiving Dec. 28 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport.
Multicultural ministry
For the first time in more than 20 years, Hispanics from throughout the Diocese of Davenport gathered to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe together. Bishop Walsh presided at the Dec. 12 Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Rudolph Juarez, pastor of St. Anthony Parish in Davenport and vicar for Hispanics, said, “Although several of the parishes with Hispanic parishioners are doing local parish celebrations, we decided it might be nice to celebrate at the cathedral in order to have more space and to invite people from our local parishes to come celebrate with us as well.”
Additionally, more than 1,000 Hispanic Catholics gathered in the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa July 12 for the Fifth Hispanic Catholic Conference, sponsored by the Diocese of Davenport’s Office of Multicultural Ministry. The conference took inspiration from the National Eucharistic Revival and the Jubilee Year of Hope and featured speakers, worship music, Mass and children’s activities.
Ordinations, first vows and retirements
Seminarian Alfonso Pizano was ordained to the diaconate in August. God willing, he will be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Davenport in 2026. The same month, Davenport native Jonathan Herrington professed first vows with the Jesuits. Jennifer Hager professed first vows with the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in November. Fathers Stephen Page, William Roush, Bernard Weir and Marty Goetz entered retirement in 2025.
In memory
These clergy and women religious with ties to the Davenport Diocese died in 2025: Deacon Mike Sheil; Father Edmond Dunn; Sister Jeanette Kopel, CHM; Sister Joan Schuster, CHM; Sister Bonita Lentz, RSM; Patricia Heidenry, CHM; Father Thomas Reilman, Msgr. Robert Spiegel, Father James Betzen; Father Guillermo Trevino; and Father Marty Goetz.
