Sarah Vigen sits at the organ at All Saints Catholic Church in Keokuk.
By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
Parishes in the Diocese of Davenport continue to do projects in their parishes with money paid back for the Upon This Rock Capital Campaign. As part of the campaign, parishes would receive 20% back for every dollar raised up to the parish goal. From there, parishes then receive 80% back going over their goals.
Jennifer Praet, director of stewardship for the Diocese of Davenport, said the three campaign priorities of “Upon This Rock” were priests’ retirement and health care funding, seminarian education and formation, and strengthening parishes.
Parishes have used money for a variety of construction or renovation projects, as well as other goals important to individual parishes, Praet noted.
“We are very blessed to have reached our goal of $28 million in pledges,” said Tom Tallman, chief financial officer (CFO) of the Diocese of Davenport. “Payments are coming in and checks are being sent to parishes when requested,” he noted.
The campaign funds “should set up the diocese for years to come with our priorities,” Tallman added.
Money from the campaign “has bolstered the funds for the Priest Aid and we’ve added to the seminarian funds. We are looking good going forward,” he said.
Parish projects
John Logsdon, lay director at All Saints Parish in Keokuk, said the parish went forward with two projects thanks for campaign funds.
“We paid about $80,000 for a new organ for the church. We repaired the brick work on the church at a cost of about $350,000,” Logsdon said.
One goal not met was to increase the endowment for the school. He said campaign money went directly to pay for the organ. Money is still being paid by parishioners, he noted. Campaign funds will not cover the full amount, but helped, Logsdon said.
St. Thomas More Parish in Coralville used funds for its new worship space addition for the 1,800-household community. The former church was converted into a gathering space and parish offices. Bishop Dennis Walsh dedicated the new church on Aug. 24, 2025.
Some other parish highlights were:
- Holy Family Parish in Riverside is using its funds to enhance youth ministry and religious education programs.
- St. Mary Parish in Williamsburg is putting its funds toward a $2.7 million, 3,600-square-foot addition to the front of the church.
- St. Mary Parish in Solon installed a new sound system to replace the original one from 1998. In the capital campaign statement, it noted repairs were made after a lightning strike, but a complete replacement was needed.
Father Charles Fladung, St. Mary’s pastor, noted that with advancements in church sound systems, it allows for hearing-impaired to have digital signals go directly to hearing aids.
The parish planned to put funds toward upkeep at St. Mary Cemetery on the east side of town, but the city of Solon is doing some grading in the area, which has delayed the start of the project. A new cemetery sign is in the five-year plan.
- Funds were used to renovate the Diocese of Davenport’s first church, which is still in existence at St. Anthony Parish in Davenport. The church was turned into a school building, and then adapted for multi uses for the parish and McAnthony Window. It was renovated, blessed and rededicated by Bishop Walsh last fall.
- Updated Wi-Fi and repairs and replacement of HVAC components at St. Patrick Parish in Iowa City.
- New doors along the Tenth Street entrance to Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. They were replaced thanks to parish payments.
Praet noted some project may never have gotten off the ground without partial or full funding from Upon this Rock. “It helped many with critical maintenance or costly projects.”
Tallman noted, “We are in the payment collection phase as pledges are still being paid by Catholics in the diocese.” There were three waves and various options for payments. “We thank the parishioners for their support,” said the CFO.
