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Pope picks new bishop for Davenport diocese
by: Jonathan Turner
Posted: Jun 25, 2024 / 10:57 AM CDT
Updated: Jun 25, 2024 / 05:58 PM CDT
A Catholic priest in Ohio was announced today by Pope Francis as new Bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport.
Bishop-Elect Dennis G. Walsh is from the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, and will become the 10 th Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport. The diocese dates from 1881 and includes over 83,000 Catholics and 74 parishes throughout southeast Iowa.
His ordination and installation is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 at a time and location to be determined.
In October 2023, the Diocesan College of Consultors elected the Very Rev. Kenneth Kuntz as Diocesan Administrator following the installation of Archbishop Thomas Zinkula as the metropolitan for the Province of Dubuque. Zinkula had served the Diocese of Davenport as Bishop since 2017. Kuntz will continue as diocesan administrator until Bishop-Elect Walsh is installed and takes possession of the Diocese, according to a Tuesday news release.
“For the past eight months we have prayed a Diocesan Prayer awaiting a new bishop,” Kuntz said in the release. “Today I can announce that our prayers have been answered. It is with joy and great pleasure that I introduce to you, Bishop-Elect Dennis Walsh.”
Bishop-Elect Walsh is the son of Daniel (deceased) and Marilyn Walsh in Lima, Ohio.
He attended the Redemptorist college seminary at St. Alphonsus College, Suffield, Conn., earning a BA in philosophy. He did his graduate work in Theology at Washington Theological Union, Washington, DC, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 1992.
Walsh professed temporary vows as a Redemptorist in 1986 and final vows in 1991.
Bishop-Elect Walsh was ordained as a Redemptorist Priest in 1992 in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. After ordination, he was sent to St. Anthony Parish, Guayama, Puerto Rico for six months to learn Spanish. When he returned, he was assigned to St. Michael Parish in Baltimore as a Parochial Vicar.
In 1994, he was transferred to Immaculate Conception, South Bronx, New York City as a Parochial Vicar. In 1998, he returned to Ohio for assignment as Parochial Vicar for St. Mary Parish in Sandusky. In 2000, he was incardinated into the Diocese of Toledo in America to become a diocesan priest.
In 2002, he was assigned as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Defiance until 2007, when he was assigned as pastor of St. Patrick of Heatherdowns in Toledo.
From 2015 to today, Walsh serves as Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Delphos, Ohio; St. John the Baptist Parish, Landeck, Ohio; and since 2016, St. Patrick Parish, Spencerville, Ohio and Head of School for St. John the Evangelist Elementary and High School.
As part of Tuesday’s release, Zinkula said it is “with great joy that we received today the good news of the appointment of a new shepherd for the Diocese of Davenport.”
“Based on my experience as the ninth bishop of Davenport, I assured Bishop-elect Walsh that he will find the clergy and laity of the Diocese to be welcoming and faith-filled,” he said. “And as the metropolitan archbishop of the Province of Dubuque [State of Iowa], it is a pleasure to welcome Father Dennis to the Hawkeye State as he departs from his no doubt beloved Buckeye State!
“May our prayers for Bishop-elect Walsh assist him in the transition to his new ministry, which we pray will be meaningful and fruitful,” Zinkula added.
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Pope Francis promotes Ohio's Rev. Dennis G. Walsh as Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport
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The Vatican had its eye on Ohio's men of the cloth.
Pope Francis promoted Rev. Dennis G. Walsh, a priest and pastor of the Diocese of Toledo , to become the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa.
Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of the Diocese of Toledo made the announcement in a news release Tuesday morning.
The promotion marks the first time a priest from the Diocese of Toledo has been named to another diocese.
"I am thrilled that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has honored the presbyterate of our diocese by choosing one of our finest pastors and such a splendid priest, now Bishop-Elect Dennis Walsh, to serve as a Successor of the Apostles," Thomas said in the release.
Bishop-Elect Walsh has served many Ohio parishes
Bishop-Elect Walsh has served as pastor of Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Delphos since 2015, Saint John the Baptist Parish in Landeck since 2015 and Saint Patrick Parish in Spencerville since 2016.
His prior pastoral assignments included pastor of Saint Patrick of Heatherdowns Parish (2007-2015), pastor of Saint John Parish in Defiance (2002-2007) and associate pastor of Saint Mary Parish in Sandusky (1998-2002).
He was born and raised in Saint Gerard Parish in Lima. He was ordained into the priesthood May 9, 1992, for the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), Baltimore Province, and incardinated into the Diocese of Toledo on July 19, 2000.
Within the Diocese of Toledo, Walsh has held several leadership positions on many diocesan boards, committees, and consultative bodies.
'A spiritually grounded and trusted advisor'
Walsh's ordination and installation as the 10th Bishop of Davenport will be Friday, Sept. 27.
"As a bishop, his fidelity to Christ and His Church, his pastoral and practical wisdom, his administrative and leadership aptitude, his love for the people of God, and his warm and jovial personality will serve him well as he shepherds the local Church of Davenport," Thomas stated in the news release. "I have had the pleasure of working closely with Father Walsh for almost 10 years, and have found him to be a spiritually grounded and trusted advisor who lives out his vocation in joyful obedience. I kindly ask all the people in our diocese — priests, deacons, consecrated religious and lay faithful − to join me in enthusiastically and prayerfully congratulating Bishop-Elect Dennis Walsh."
More information can be found online at davenportdiocese.org .
419-564-3508
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Pope Francis made Ohio's Rev. Walsh the Bishop of Diocese of Davenport
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| • | - Accused of abusing many boys and of sharing his victims with Revs. Janssen, Geerts, and Murphy. Ordained in 1948 after training at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis (as were they), Bass was Director of Vocations for the Davenport diocese and a member of the Personnel Board for 15 years, and was also dean of the Grinnell deanery for a year. Bass was active for 44 years at 9 parishes (7 as pastor) and was a chaplain at Ottumwa Heights College. In June 2004, Bishop Franklin asked the Pope to laicize Bass. | |
| • | - Credibly accused in May 2003 of abusing a boy in Johnson County in 1998. Deyo was principal of Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City when the allegation was made (he had been at the school for 3 years) and is now on leave. He was ordained in 1976 and worked in 6 parishes (2 as pastor) and 2 other schools: Assumption High School in Davenport for 7 years and Regina High School in Iowa City for 9 years. He was also director of Regina Religious Education for 2 years. | |
| • | - A lawsuit filed in January 2003 accuses Diamond, ordained in 1930, of abusing a boy between age 8 and 11 at St. Peter's in Keokuk, now part of All Saints parish. Diamond was pastor of St. Peter's for 15 years, his second stint at the parish. He also worked at 6 other parishes (5 as pastor), and early in his career (after 2 years at St. Peter's and at St. Mary's at Montrose), he was a hospital chaplain and a chaplain in the army during World War II. Diamond died in 1989. | |
| • | - Accused of abusing many boys with Bass, Janssen, and Murphy, who were classmates at Kenrick Seminary and like Geerts were ordained in 1948. His rectory at St. Boniface in Farmington, where he was pastor for 9 years, was allegedly a frequent venue for group sex and the viewing of pornography, of which Geerts maintained a large collection. Before Farmington he worked for 14 years at St. Patrick's in Clinton. Geerts was also pastor at churches in String Prairie, Dodgeville, and Kingston, and also assisted briefly at St. Bridget's in Las Vegas NV, where he was arrested in 1992. Geerts died in 2004. | |
| • | - Accused of abusing many boys with Bass, Geerts, and Murphy, and of pimping his victims to Bass, Wiebler, and Murphy. Janssen allegedly used sacrilege and petty crime to groom his victims, and sometimes took them out of state to abuse them. Janssen's "stable of boys" ranged in ages from 5 to 18, and he kept in touch with some into their adulthood. The diocese was warned about Janssen in 1948 before his first assignment, and he confessed to Bishop Hayes in 1958. Yet he worked as a priest for 42 years in 14 parishes (1 in the Joliet IL diocese), and was pastor at 4 of them for a total of 23 years. He was on the Priests' Personnel Board for 13 years, served a term on the Priests' Senate, and was diocesan chaplain of the Boy Scouts for 10 years. He was laicized in 2004. | |
| • | (Benedictine priest) - Accused of abusing a 16-year-old boy who came to him for help in 1963 at St. John's parish in Burlington. Kieffer is one of three Benedictine priests from St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison KS who have been accused of abuse at St. John's. Kieffer was ordained in 1932 and worked at St. John's 1962-1969. He was also pastor for 21 years at 6 Kansas parishes, and taught at a high school in Atchison KS for 8 years, where he was also the chaplain. Kieffer died in 1990. | |
| • | - Pleaded guilty to systematic sexual abuse (1985-89) of two brothers at St. Mary's parish in Lone Tree, where Leu was pastor. The boys were altar boys and minors. Leu was sentenced to 2 years in prison, and since his release is allowed to say private Mass and is living "a life of prayer and penance," according to the diocese. Ordained in 1971, Leu worked at 4 other parishes, including Sacred Heart in Newton when accused priest Francis Bass was pastor. | |
| • | - When Martinez was pastor of Sacred Heart in Melcher, he was accused of propositioning a 15-year-old boy for sex in a motel room in 1986. Ordained in 1982, Martinez began his career at the Davenport cathedral. His next assignment was as pastor at Sacred Heart in Lost Nation, but he was pulled after less than two years, and a senior diocesan official was sent to replace him. After the Melcher complaint went to the police, Martinez was sent to a chaplaincy, warehoused as a "deacon" in the Rochester NY diocese, and then listed as on leave and on duty outside the diocese. In June 2004, Bishop Franklin asked the Pope to laicize Martinez. | |
| • | - The Davenport documents contain multiple references to a "Fr. Murphy" from Tennessee, who allegedly participated in orgies with Davenport priests and boys at the St. Boniface rectory in Farmington and other locations. He is also alleged to have abused two boys at a rectory in Memphis TN in 1963, and to have traveled to Florida with Janssen and some of Janssen's victims. The only Memphis priest whose career matches these allegations appears to be James W. Murphy, trained at Kenrick Seminary with Janssen and Bass and ordained in the 1948, as they were. | |
| • | - Sentenced in 2004 on a plea bargain to 1 year in prison for receiving visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In December 2002, diocesan employees had found images on Poster’s laptop depicting boys or adolescent males engaging in sex acts and turned the computer over to police. Poster was then Davenport's director of liturgy, lead member of the liturgical commission, and associate publisher of the diocesan newspaper, the . He also worked at 6 parishes (1 in the Dubuque diocese and 3 as pastor), and was a part-time faculty member at St. Ambrose University in Davenport for the summer and fall of 1996. In June 2004, Bishop Franklin asked the Pope to laicize Poster. | |
| • | (Benedictine priest) - Accused in 2002 of sexual abuse of boys at St. John's parish in Burlington IA (where he worked for 15 years, 10 of them as pastor) and at Sts. Peter and Paul in Seneca KS. In addition to those parishes, Redmond worked at 7 parishes in Kansas (2 of them twice), and in the 1960s he also worked briefly as a chaplain at Bishop Lillis High School in Kansas City (in the Kansas City-St. Joseph diocese) and as a staff member at the Catholic Student Center at Kansas University in Lawrence KS. Redmond was ordained in 1957. | |
| • | - Sued by an abuse victim in 2003, vicar general Shafer asked that the complaint be kept confidential, and then went public himself to deny the abuse. But then on 3/19/04, it was revealed in court that Shafer had admitted the abuse in a 4/5/02 email to the victim (DMR 3/20/04). As vicar general, Shafer's responsibilities had included investigating abuse cases, and even before he was appointed to that post, he had been given responsibility for monitoring the behavior of an accused priest. Shafer began his career (unusually) as pastor of a small parish, and after a year at the American School in Louvain and a year at another Davenport parish, he worked for 23 years at St. Ambrose University, his alma mater. Shafer began as a faculty member, then became Vice President of Student Services, and then Vice President for University Ministry. In 2000 Bishop Franklin chose Shafer to be vicar general. | |
| • | (Stigmatine priest) - Accused of sexual abuse at St. Francis parish in Mystic IA, where he was pastor (1956-61). Ordained in 1942, Telegdy lived and worked for 42 years at 14 parishes in 10 states (9 of them as pastor), and 7 of the parishes had schools. Late in his career he was chaplain of a Stockton youth training center in the California prison system for 6 years. Telegdy was finally called back to the Stigmatine's St. Charles Seminary in Carthagena OH in 1984. He died about 10 years later, perhaps in 1995. | |
| • | - In a May 2002 meeting with Bishop Franklin and Chancellor Loftus, Wiebler reportedly admitted abusing at least 12 boys, but the diocese waited nearly two years before beginning the process to laicize him. Ordained in 1955, Wiebler worked in 7 parishes (4 as pastor), and also taught at St. Ambrose Academy (1 year) and Assumption High School (6 years). Wiebler was accused priest Geerts's successor at St. Boniface in Farmington. In 1985, Wiebler was pulled from St. Mary of the Visitation in Ottumwa, where he was pastor, and sent away to northwestern Mississippi, where he was an editor for Sacred Heart League publications. In a 2004 deposition, former Vicar General Morrissey confirmed that Bishop O'Keefe "knew about what happened down in Ottumwa with Father Wiebler." In 1995, Wiebler moved to St. Petersburg FL, where he worked as a cruise ship chaplain. In 2002 Bishop Franklin ordered Wiebler to the St. John Vianney Renewal Center in St. Louis, run by the Servants of the Paraclete. Wiebler left the center in spring 2003 and now lives near an elementary school in University City MO. Wiebler retired in 2001. | |
Pope Francis Appoints Father Scott Bullock as Bishop of Rapid City
WASHINGTON - Pope Francis has appointed Reverend Scott E. Bullock, as Bishop of Rapid City. Bishop-elect Bullock is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and currently serves as pastor of Saint Edward Parish in Waterloo, Iowa. The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on June 25, 2024, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Bullock was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:
Father Bullock was born on October 26, 1963, in Royal Oak, Michigan. He graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor’s degree in engineering (1981) and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan (1985). He attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota where he studied pre-theology, and attended the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where he earned a degree in sacred theology (1987-1991). He received a licentiate in canon law from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. (1997), and a master’s degree in english from Southern New Hampshire University (2015). He was ordained to the priesthood on June 22, 1991, for the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
Bishop-elect Bullock’s assignments after ordination include: associate pastor at Saint Matthew parish in Cedar Rapids (1991-1994); associate pastor at Saint Edward parish in Waterloo (1994-1996); faculty member at Columbus High School in Waterloo (1994-1996); judge for the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Dubuque (1997-present); associate director of seminarians (1997-1998); sacramental priest for Saint Catherine parish (1997-2002); sacramental priest for Saint Donatus parish (1997-2002); director of seminarians (1998-2012); director of the recently ordained program (2001-2010); associate pastor of Saint Joseph parish in Bellevue (2002-2010); associate pastor of Saint Catherine parish in St. Catherine (2002-2010); associate pastor of Saint Donatus parish (2002-2010); rector of Saint Pius X Seminary in Dubuque (2003-2014); judicial vicar for the Archdiocese of Dubuque (2010-2020); pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Dubuque (2011-2014); pastoral coordinator of Cedar Valley Catholic Schools in Waterloo (2014-present). Since 2014, Bishop-elect Bullock has served as pastor of Saint Edward parish in Dubuque.
The Diocese of Rapid City is comprised of 43,000 square miles in the state of South Dakota and has a total population of 230,087 of which 23,668, are Catholic.
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Pope Francis Appoints Father Dennis Walsh as Bishop of Davenport
Interview with Bishop-Elect Dennis Walsh
“I promise to be a shepherd who listens and leads with humility.” These were among the first words that Bishop-Elect Dennis Walsh said in the press conference after the announcement of his appointment as Bishop of Davenport, Iowa. He continued, “I consider myself fortunate to have been entrusted with the pastoral care of the people of this diocese. I’m deeply humbled by the confidence and the great responsibility that the Holy Father has placed upon me.” It is a historic moment for the Diocese of Toledo — the first priest to be directly appointed as bishop of another Diocese.
Bishop-Elect Walsh will become the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport which was established in 1881 and contains over 83,000 Catholics and 74 parishes throughout the southeast quarter of Iowa. His ordination and installation is scheduled for Friday, September 27. He will continue his pastoral ministry to St. John the Evangelist in Delphos, St. John the Baptist in Landeck, and St. Patrick in Spencerville until a new pastor is assigned.
Watch the press conference held in Davenport on Tuesday here
Bishop Daniel E. Thomas said, “I am thrilled that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has honored the presbyterate of our diocese by choosing one of our finest pastors and such a splendid priest, now Bishop-Elect Dennis Walsh, to serve as a Successor of the Apostles. As a bishop, his fidelity to Christ and His Church, his pastoral and practical wisdom, his administrative and leadership aptitude, his love for the people of God, and his warm and jovial personality will serve him well as he shepherds the local Church of Davenport. I have had the pleasure of working closely with Father Walsh for almost ten years, and have found him to be a spiritually grounded and trusted advisor who lives out his vocation in joyful obedience. I kindly ask all the people in our diocese - priests, deacons, consecrated religious and lay faithful – to join me in enthusiastically and prayerfully congratulating Bishop-Elect Dennis Walsh!”
The announcements of the appointment on social media were flooded with comments from parishioners past and present, heartily agreeing with Bishop Thomas’ sentiments. They praised Bishop-Elect Walsh’s kindness, gentleness, wisdom, and humility.
The appointment came as quite a surprise for Bishop-Elect Walsh. “It was the shock of lifetime,” he said of the call he received from the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States two weeks ago. During the interval between learning of the appointment and the news being made public, Bishop-Elect Walsh received permission to tell his mother, who still lives in Lima, where Bishop-Elect Walsh was raised.
During his childhood, Bishop-Elect Walsh attended St. Gerard Parish, which was and is still led by Redemptorist priests. He knew from a young age that he wanted to become a priest. Bishop-Elect Walsh was ordained as a Redemptorist in 1992. He served in Baltimore and the Bronx before returning to the Diocese of Toledo. He was incardinated in the Diocese of Toledo in 2000, and has served in Sandusky, Defiance, and Toledo prior to his current assignments. “Being a priest has been the greatest joy of my life. I have cherished every moment. I thank God for the gift and the privilege of this vocation. As I embrace this new ministry to which I have been called, I anticipate experiencing that same profound joy [as a bishop],” Bishop-Elect Walsh remarked.
While he is looking forward with excitement and anticipation, it will be bittersweet to leave the Buckeye State for the Hawkeye State this autumn. “There’s a bit of grieving,” he said. He leaves his family, who are a short drive away currently. He also leaves the many people and brother priests he has known for the past two decades. “To my brother priests, thank you for receiving me warmly into your presbyterate,” he said. “I have been inspired by the people in each assignment, by their extraordinary love for the Church.” Bishop-Elect Walsh continued, “I’ll greatly miss them all.”
Posted June 28, 2024 at 8:48 am
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Retired priests serving as senior parish priests help with mass, ministry but also find ‘spiritual home’ in retirement.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (OSV News) — Father Robert McAleer retired from active ministry in 2014 and since then has been a substitute celebrant at St. Anthony Parish in Davenport. When Bishop Thomas R. Zinkula suggested the possibility of serving the parish in an official capacity, as senior priest, Father McAleer jumped at the opportunity.
“Since I was already celebrating Mass often at St. Anthony’s, I believed that an assignment as a senior priest would give me the ‘spiritual home,’ I have missed since retiring,” Father McAleer told The Catholic Messenger , Davenport’s diocesan newspaper. “Such an assignment offers to the people a relationship far beyond just showing up as a visitor for Mass.”
Father McAleer is one of three retired priests who will begin serving parishes as senior priests in the Diocese of Davenport this year. Father Tony Herold will serve St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf and Father Richard Okumu will serve St. Thomas More Parish in Coralville and St. Patrick Parish in Iowa City beginning July 1.
“Acknowledging senior priests recognizes the desire of some priests to continue ministry for parishes after retirement in a new way,” said Deacon David Montgomery, diocesan chancellor and chief of staff. “It benefits the priest by responding to the call to serve others and benefits the parish he serves by sharing the good work that only a priest can provide.”
The Davenport Diocese, like most U.S. dioceses, is experiencing “a growing shortage of priests, which makes it difficult to provide suitable pastoral care to the people of the diocese,” Bishop Zinkula said.
“We are doing a number of things to address the situation, such as actively promoting vocations, restructuring parishes, seeking the assistance of international priests and appointing parish life coordinators on occasion,” he said. “Meanwhile, we are blessed with a resource that is not being fully utilized: many wise, experienced, older priests.”
Father McAleer has the opportunity to converse with clergy across the country through his involvement with the Association of United States Catholic Priests. He hears about Catholics who have limited access to the Eucharist due to priest shortages and his heart aches for them. “I have come to know how important it is in the life of our people that they have the opportunity for Eucharist.”
Serving as a senior priest “is something we, as retired priests, can do to help,” he said.
Senior priests function similarly to parochial vicars but with much more flexibility. “The senior priest and the pastor discuss and agree on how much time the senior priest will devote to parish ministry each week and what services he will provide to the parish,” Bishop Zinkula said. This arrangement is beneficial to the pastor of a parish or group of parishes who, due to a shrinking presbyterate, “has more and more on his plate.” A senior priest can help “take the edge off” and provide “competent priestly ministry.”
Retired priests willing to serve regularly help parishes by celebrating Mass, providing sacraments and completing other tasks. Some prefer to serve one parish and “get to know members of and belong to one particular community,” Bishop Zinkula said.
A senior priest assignment offers retired priests such an opportunity but also can be an option for priests who are nearing retirement but feel excessively burdened by administrative duties, perhaps due to physical limitations associated with aging. A priest normally initiates the request for assignment as a senior priest, Deacon Montgomery said.
Father McAleer, who began his new assignment May 1, appreciates the flexibility of senior priest status. He and St. Anthony’s pastor, Father Rudolph Juarez, agreed on a schedule that allows Father McAleer time to continue with other ministries close to his heart. These include Unbound prayer ministry and celebrating Mass with religious sisters in Davenport and Clinton and Rock Island in the neighboring Diocese of Peoria , Illinois. “What is most important for me is that I can continue to minister and offer to the Church the gifts that I still have.”
Father Herold, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Newton and a former vicar general, recalls Bishop Zinkula brainstorming the idea of senior priest a few years ago. It “was always something that appealed to me,” said Father Herold, who will serve as senior priest at St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf beginning July 1, after his retirement.
The parish’s pastor, Father Rich Adam, said he is excited and looking forward to welcoming Father Herold to the parish. “This is a huge parish and although I feel things are going well, having another helping hand on board and ready to help will be most beneficial.” Father Adam anticipates Father Herold celebrating Mass and assisting with home and hospital visits, anointing and other pastoral ministry “for those who call and just need to talk to a priest.” The Bettendorf parish already has a dedicated volunteer base. A senior priest “will enhance these ministries and be much appreciated!”
“I love celebrating Mass, preaching and ministering to the people of God,” Father Herold told The Catholic Messenger. The part-time, flexible assignment “will afford me the opportunity to be relieved of the busy work of administration (while) devoting myself to the ministry of Word and Sacrament. I am looking forward to getting to know the parishioners at St. John Vianney Parish and working closely with Father Adam.”
Lindsay Steele is a reporter at The Catholic Messenger, newspaper of the Diocese of Davenport.
OSV News is a national and international wire service reporting on Catholic issues and issues that affect Catholics.
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New assignments for priests, deacons
Bishop Thomas Zinkula has announced 22 clergy assignment changes effective July 1. This includes three retirements, one priest assigned to advanced studies and three deacon assignments.
- Father Rich Adam, 62, will be the new pastor at St. John Vianney Parish-Bettendorf. Ordained for the Diocese of Sioux City in 1988, he served at Corpus Christi Parish and St. Edmond High School in Fort Dodge, Blessed Sacra-ment Parish in Sioux City, St. Joseph Parish in Duncombe and Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs. In the Diocese of Davenport he has served at Holy Trinity Parish in Richmond, St. Mary Parish in Riverside and St. Joseph Parish in Wellman. He is currently pastor and rector at Sacred Heart Cathedral-Davenport. —
- Father Gary Beckman, 62, will remain pastor at St. Wenceslaus Parish in Iowa City, but also serve as pastor at St. Bernadette Parish in West Branch. Ordained in 1995, he has served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bettendorf, Holy Family Parish in Davenport, Assumption & St. Patrick Parish in Charlotte, Ss. Mary & Joseph Parish in Sugar Creek, St. Joseph Parish in DeWitt, St. John Parish in Houghton and St. James Parish in St. Paul. —
- Father Corey Close, 37, will begin advanced studies in canon law. He is currently pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Brooklyn and St. Bridget Parish in Victor. —
- Deacon Mark Comer, while remaining a deacon at St. Joseph Parish in DeWitt, also assigned as deacon of Ss. Philip and James Parish in Grand Mound. —
- Father Bruce DeRammelaere, 58, remains as pastor at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Davenport and will also serve as dean of the Davenport Deanery. —
- Father Hai Dinh, 58, will become pastor of St. Mary Parish in Lone Tree, St. Joseph Parish in Hills and St. Mary Parish in Nichols. He was ordained in 2008 and has served at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Davenport, Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, Ss. John & Paul Parish in Burlington and currently serves at Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish in Muscatine and St. Joseph Parish in Columbus Junction. —
- Father Ross Epping, 31, will become chaplain of St. Ambrose University in Davenport and remain director of vocations for the Diocese of Davenport. Ordained in 2016, he has served at St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf, Assumption High School in Davenport, Immaculate Conception Parish in Colfax and currently serves as pastor at St. Mary Parish in Grinnell. —
- Father Scott Foley, 36, will become pastor of St. Mary Parish in Grinnell. Ordained in 2019, he has served at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Davenport and is currently serving at Our Lady of Victory Parish and Assumption High School in Davenport. —
- Deacon Dan Freeman will serve as parish life coordinator and deacon at St. Mary Parish in Wilton. He currently serves as a deacon at St. Andrew Parish in Blue Grass. —
- Father Bud Grant, 62, will become sacramental minister at St. Mary Parish in Wilton and remain on faculty at St. Ambrose University in Davenport and continue serving as sacramental minister at St. Andrew Parish in Blue Grass. He was ordained in 1984 and has served in the Diocese of Des Moines at St. Mary Parish in Portsmouth, St. Boniface Parish in Westphalia and St. Albert High School in Council Bluffs. —
- Father Jacob Greiner, 39, will be relieved as sacramental minister at St. Andrew parish in Blue Grass. He remains in his current roles as pastor at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Davenport and director of seminarians for the Diocese of Davenport. —
- Father Thom Hennen, 42, will become pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport and priest moderator at St. Andrew parish in Blue Grass and St. Mary Parish in Wilton. He remains vicar general and a consultor for the diocese. Ordained in 2004, he has served at Prince of Peace Parish in Clinton, St. Mary Parish and Newman Catholic Student Center in Iowa City, and director of vocations and associate director of vocations for the diocese. He also served at Assumption High School, St. Ambrose University and St. Anthony Parish in Davenport. He is currently chaplain at St. Ambrose. —
- Deacon Chris Kabat, while remaining a deacon at St. Wenceslaus Parish in Iowa City, also assigned as deacon at St. Bernadette Parish in West Branch. —
- Father Scott Lemaster, 64, will become pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Brooklyn and St. Bridget Parish in Victor. He was ordained in 1985 and has served at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Davenport, Sacred Heart Parish in Kinross, Holy Trinity Parish in Richmond, St. Joseph Parish in Wellman, St. Patrick Parish in Melrose, St. Patrick Parish in Georgetown and St. Peter Parish in Lovilia. He currently serves as pastor at Assumption & St. Patrick Parish in Charlotte, Ss. Mary & Joseph Parish in Sugar Creek, Immaculate Conception Parish in Petersville and St. Patrick Parish in Delmar. —
- Father Francis Odoom, 44, will remain pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Lost Nation and become pastor at Assumption & St. Patrick Parish in Charlotte, Immaculate Conception Parish in Petersville, Ss. Mary & Joseph Parish in Sugar Creek and St. Patrick Parish in Delmar. He was ordained in 2005. He currently serves as pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in Lost Nation, Ss. Philip & James Parish in Grand Mound and Sacred Heart Parish in Oxford Junction. He also is doing studies at St. Ambrose University in Davenport. —
- Father Stephen Page, 66, will remain pastor at St. Joseph Parish in DeWitt and become pastor at Ss. Philip and James Parish in Grand Mound. He was ordained in 1987 and has served at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Davenport, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bettendorf, St. Bridget Parish in Victor, St. Patrick Parish in Marengo, St. Mary Parish in Fairfield and St. Thomas More Parish in Coralville. —
- Father Joseph Sia, 46, remains consultor for the Diocese of Davenport, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Iowa City and director of the recently ordained program for the diocese. He is relieved of his assignment as pastor at St. Bernadette Parish in West Branch and St. Joseph Parish in West Liberty. —
- Father Michael Spiekermeier, 77, will retire. He was ordained in 1969 and has served at St. Patrick Parish and The Alverno in Clinton, Holy Family Parish and School in Davenport, Sacred Heart Parish and Mater Dei High School in Clinton, All Saints Parish in Keokuk and St. Paul the Apostle and St. Mary Parish in Davenport. He currently serves at St Joseph Parish in Hills, St. Mary Parish in Lone Tree and St. Mary Parish in Nichols. —
- Father David Steinle, 70, will retire. Ordained in 1979 he has served at Holy Family Parish and Assumption High School in Davenport, Assumption Parish in Charlotte, St. Patrick Parish in Villa Nova, Mater Dei High School in Clinton, Assumption/St. Patrick Parish in Charlotte, St. Alphonsus Parish in Davenport, St. Andrew Parish in Blue Grass, St. Peter Parish in Buffalo, Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish in Muscatine Ss. Mary & Patrick Parish in West Burlington, St. Mary Parish in Dodgeville and St. Bernadette Parish in West Branch. He currently serves at St. Mary Parish in Wilton. —
- Father Guillermo Trevino, 35, will become pastor of St. Joseph Parish in West Liberty and St. Joseph Parish in Columbus Junction while remaining chaplain at Regina Catholic Education Center in Iowa City. He was ordained in 2015 and has served at St. Peter Parish in Buffalo, St. Alphonsus Parish in Davenport and St. Mary Parish in Davenport. He currently serves at Regina, St. Joseph in West Liberty and St. Bernadette Parish in West Branch. —
- Father James Vrba, 69, will retire. He was ordained in 1977 and has served at Holy Family Parish and Assumption High School in Davenport, St. Mary Parish in Clinton, St. Mary Parish in Pella, St. Anthony Parish in Knoxville, Sacred Heart Parish in Melcher, Ss. Philip and James Parish in Grand Mound, St. Patrick Parish in Iowa City, Prince of Peace Parish in Clinton, St. Mary Parish in Wilton, Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish in Muscatine and St. Mary Parish in Solon. He currently serves as pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Bettendorf. —
- Father Chris Weber, 44, is relieved as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Columbus Junction. He continues to serve as pastor of Ss. Mary & Mathias Parish in Muscatine.
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The Catholic Messenger. Bishop Thomas Zinkula has announced assignment changes that affect 18 priests, two deacons and one parish life coordinator. Changes are effective July 1 unless otherwise stated. • Father Nicholas Akindele, 50, will become pastor of Holy Family and St. Alphonsus parishes in Davenport.
Sixteen priests and four deacons will see assignment changes beginning July 1 when four priests are retiring and one religious order priest is moving out of the Diocese of Davenport, Bishop Thomas Zinkula announced. Retirements. Fr. Herold. Father Anthony Herold, 69, will retire.
The Catholic Messenger. Diocesan Administrator Father Ken Kuntz announced new assignments effective July 1 involving 17 priests and 2 deacons in the Diocese of Davenport. Because pastor assignments require the approval of the bishop and the diocese currently is without a bishop, priests assigned to lead parishes will serve as parochial ...
Father Walsh's ministry also includes serving as a member of the Catholic Foundation Board (2008-2011, 2017-2019); member of the Diocese of Toledo's Priests' Retirement Fund Board (2010-2022); member of the diocesan Presbyteral Council (2015-2022); dean of the Saint Junipero Serra Deanery (2015-2021); trustee of the Diocese of Toledo ...
Parish Details / Wave Assignment. to learn about the parish specific goals, click the parish name below. PILOT WAVE (Spring 2022) Parish. City. Deanery. Priest (s) St. Mary. Centerville.
Bishop-Elect Walsh will be the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport. The diocese was established in 1881 and has more than 83,000 members in its 74 parishes throughout the southeast portion of ...
A Catholic priest in Ohio was announced today by Pope Francis as new Bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport. Bishop-Elect Dennis G. Walsh is from the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, and will b…
Quad-City Times. May 6, 2006. New assignments, title changes and retirements will affect 15 priests and one deacon in the Diocese of Davenport, as of June 30. Most changes in assignments occur at ...
To speak with a trained advocate or the Iowa Department of Human Services Child Abuse Hotline: 800-362-2178. If it involves clergy or church personnel also notify: Alicia Owens, Victim Assistance Coordinator: 563-349-5002 [email protected] or PO Box 232, Bettendorf, IA 52722-0004. To report sexual abuse and related misconduct by bishops, please ...
The Vatican had its eye on Ohio's men of the cloth. Pope Francis promoted Rev. Dennis G. Walsh, a priest and pastor of the Diocese of Toledo, to become the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa.. Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of the Diocese of Toledo made the announcement in a news release Tuesday morning.
The Diocese of Davenport's Upon This Rock Capital Campaign, which will kick off in spring 2022, will focus on three key areas Priests' retirement and health care funding In gratitude for priests' life of service, the Priests' Aid Society helps with the retirement and health care costs of the priests of the Diocese of Davenport.
In June 2021, Nick began his Pastoral Year assignment at Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish. In August 2022, he returned to Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, PA, completing his third year of theological studies. Nick was ordained to the diaconate on June 3, 2023, and assigned to Triumph of the Holy Cross Parish.
Reconfiguration aims to serve parishes, priests better. The Diocese of Davenport will go from six to five deaneries on July 1. On July 1, five deaneries, more familiarly known as geographical regions, will encompass the 74 parishes of the Diocese of Davenport across 22 counties in southeast Iowa. The change from six deaneries to five takes ...
Pastor Assignments: Fr. John Gonzales, current Administrator of St. John Neumann Parish in Yuma to Pastor of St. John Neumann Parish. Fr. Francisco Maldonado to Our Lady of the Mountains Parish, Sierra Vista. Fr. Mike Martinez to Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Green Valley.
Kieffer is one of three Benedictine priests from St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison KS who have been accused of abuse at St. John's. Kieffer was ordained in 1932 and worked at St. John's 1962-1969. He was also pastor for 21 years at 6 Kansas parishes, and taught at a high school in Atchison KS for 8 years, where he was also the chaplain.
WASHINGTON - Pope Francis has appointed Reverend Scott E. Bullock, as Bishop of Rapid City. Bishop-elect Bullock is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and currently serves as pastor of Saint Edward Parish in Waterloo, Iowa. ... Bishop-elect Bullock's assignments after ordination include: associate pastor at Saint Matthew parish in Cedar ...
The Diocese of Davenport included 11,438 square miles, with 83,000 Catholics and 74 parishes in an area with a total population of 787,159. Walsh becomes the 10th bishop for that diocese. He will ...
563-888-4233. akindeledavenportdiocese.org. Father Paul Appel. Judicial Vicar & Vice Chancellor. 563-888-4233. appeldavenportdiocese.org. Father Jeff Belger. (Newman Center) Vocation Associate Director. 319-337-3106.
Bishop-Elect Walsh will become the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport which was established in 1881 and contains over 83,000 Catholics and 74 parishes throughout the southeast quarter of Iowa. ... incardinated in the Diocese of Toledo in 2000, and has served in Sandusky, Defiance, and Toledo prior to his current assignments. "Being a ...
"It benefits the priest by responding to the call to serve others and benefits the parish he serves by sharing the good work that only a priest can provide." The Davenport Diocese, like most U.S. dioceses, is experiencing "a growing shortage of priests, which makes it difficult to provide suitable pastoral care to the people of the ...
Bishop Thomas Zinkula has announced 22 clergy assignment changes effective July 1. This includes three retirements, one priest assigned to advanced studies and three deacon assignments. Father Rich Adam, 62, will be the new pastor at St. John Vianney Parish-Bettendorf. Ordained for the Diocese of Sioux City in 1988, he served at Corpus Christi ...
32 priests receive new assignments and appointments. June 10, 2022, WORCESTER, MA -- Bishop McManus has announced the following 32 assignments and appointments for priests in the Diocese of Worcester which will go into effect on July 1 unless otherwise noted.Twelve priests are being named pastors. Some of them have been administrators and are ...
596K subscribers in the vexillology community. A subreddit for those who enjoy learning about flags, their place in society past and present, and…
It is also wise for them to have hobbies and special interests to turn to for relaxation, just as they make time for daily prayer. Diocesan priests also make an annual retreat each year to help renew their relationship with and commitment to the Lord. 2023-2024 Seminarian Roster for the Diocese of Davenport.
A residential and industrial region in the south-east of Mocsow. It was founded on the spot of two villages: Chagino (what is now the Moscow Oil Refinery) and Ryazantsevo (demolished in 1979). in 1960 the town was incorporated into the City of Moscow as a district. Population - 45,000 people (2002). The district is one of the most polluted residential areas in Moscow, due to the Moscow Oil ...
Cities near Elektrostal. Places of interest. Pavlovskiy Posad Noginsk. Travel guide resource for your visit to Elektrostal. Discover the best of Elektrostal so you can plan your trip right.
For the Diocese of Davenport 2023-2024. ... is available to assist individual priests and deacons hone their homiletic skills as well as help pastors develop homily preparation/feedback groups in their parishes. ... 2021-2022; 2022-2023; 2023-2024; Chancery Address: 780 West Central Park Ave., Davenport, Iowa 52804-1901 ...
Heliport information about UUDO - Orlovo, MOS, RU. Information on this site may not be accurate or current and is not valid for flight planning or navigation.