About Our Lady of Lourdes · Bettendorf, Iowa
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Davenport located in Bettendorf, Iowa, with its church at 1453 Mississippi Boulevard and parish offices at 1506 Brown Street. The parish was founded in 1902 by eleven families in what was then Gilbertville, and its mission is 'To make the living Christ visible by sharing our faith with all.' As of mid-2025 it has been sharing a pastor with neighboring St. John Vianney Parish under the joint sponsorship of the Diocese of Davenport, and effective July 1, 2026 the two parishes merged into the new St. Joan of Arc Catholic Parish of Bettendorf, with Lourdes continuing as one of two active worship campuses. Lourdes offers a full sacramental life including daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, a K-8 Catholic school (now part of St. Joan of Arc Catholic School), and ministries for youth, adults, and the homebound.
- Established
- 1902
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Rev. Richard (Rich) Adam
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes is a long-standing Bettendorf parish that takes seriously its mission 'to make the living Christ visible by sharing our faith with all.' Parishioners can worship through daily and weekend Masses, extended Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays with Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday afternoons; grow through K-8 Catholic schooling (now St. Joan of Arc Catholic School), youth ministry for middle and high schoolers, the Chosen Confirmation program, and adult faith formation; and serve through liturgical ministries (Lector, Extraordinary Minister, Altar Server, choir, Contemporary Ensemble), hospitality, and a parish nurse health ministry — all within a community of more than 3,000 Catholic families in the Quad Cities that is now uniting across two campuses as the new St. Joan of Arc Catholic Parish of Bettendorf.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00–3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Monday: 8:25–8:55 AM (in the main church before Mass)
- Friday: 8:25 AM–3:15 PM (in the Adoration Chapel, with Rosary at 9:30 AM and 1:00 PM, and Divine Mercy Chaplet at 2:15 PM and 3:00 PM)
Our History
Founded in 1902 by eleven families in the riverside settlement of Gilbertville, Our Lady of Lourdes has been a Catholic presence in Bettendorf for more than a century. From its first Mass in the Siebengartner home through the 1903 frame church on Brown Street, the 1963 church-and-rectory complex under Father H.J. Toher, and the 1997–1998 Gathering Space and Eucharistic Chapel addition, the parish has built its identity around lay effort and steady growth. The history page traces more than 120 years of pastors, building projects, school milestones, and stewardship — including the parish's signature moment in 1908 when parishioners sawed the wooden church in half and moved it across Brown Street.
- 1902: eleven families in Gilbertville petition Bishop for Sunday Mass
- 1903: first Mass in frame church on 15th & Brown, December 8 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
- 1908: church sawed in half and moved across Brown Street under Father Coleman
- 1919: school opens in Siebengartner home with 67 students taught by the Sisters of Humility
- 1952–1953: Lourdes Memorial School built; four classrooms added in 1955
- 1963: current church, rectory, offices dedicated by Bishop Ralph L. Hayes (May 30)
- 1981: church mortgage retired under Father Stratman
- 1984: parish center dedicated
- 1991: school renamed Lourdes Catholic School
- 1992: Endowment Fund established
- 1997–1999: Gathering Space, Eucharistic Chapel, classrooms, fine arts area added and dedicated by Bishop William Franklin
- 2004: Father Timothy Sheedy arrives; Pastoral Council restructured
- 2009: altar railings installed for safety
- 2014: Father Jason Crossen becomes pastor
- 2025: Father Rich Adam becomes pastor in addition to St. John Vianney
- July 1, 2026: merged with St. John Vianney into St. Joan of Arc Catholic Parish of Bettendorf
Liturgy & Music Ministries
Liturgical ministry is described by the parish as one of the four pillars of Stewardship, alongside Hospitality, Prayer, and Faith Formation. Volunteers serve as Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (including visits to the homebound), Altar Server (grades 5–12), Hospitality/Ushers, and in Music Ministry — with both a Parish Choir that sings at the Sunday 8:00 AM Mass (rehearsing Wednesday evenings at 6:00 PM) and a Contemporary Ensemble.
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God at Mass
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — serve at Mass and bring Communion to the homebound
- Altar Servers — 5th–12th grade, assist priest and deacon at Mass
- Hospitality Team / Ushers — welcome, seating, collection
- Parish Choir — Sunday 8:00 AM Mass, Wednesday 6:00 PM rehearsal
- Contemporary Ensemble
Faith Formation & Evangelization
The parish's discipleship framework walks people through Encounter, Grow, and Serve — encountering Jesus, growing in knowledge and love of the Lord through study, prayer, the sacraments, and evangelization, and serving through ministry inside the parish and mission in the broader community. Faith Formation is offered for children and adults, including RCIA-style 'Become Catholic' for those entering the Church or completing their sacraments, and parish-wide study and prayer groups.
- Become Catholic (RCIA) — inquiry for unbaptized, baptized Christians, and Catholics completing sacraments
- Faith Formation & Religious Education for children and adults
- Discipleship pathway: Encounter → Grow (Prayer, Study, Sacraments, Evangelization) → Serve
- Bible study and small groups
Youth Ministry
Lourdes Youth Ministry is the parish's intentional outreach to middle school, high school, and their families. Its vision is to 'make the living Christ visible by meeting youth where they are, walking with them on their journey, connecting their lives to the Gospel, and inviting them into the adventure of discipleship,' and it operates on the parish's three-part mission of Encounter, Grow, Serve. The Chosen Confirmation program is a two-year preparation typically completed between freshman and sophomore year of high school.
- Middle School Ministry
- High School Ministry
- Chosen Confirmation Program (two years)
- ICYC — Iowa Catholic Youth Conference participation
- Digital Faith Base Camp — videos, articles, and digital content for teens and families
Lourdes Catholic School
Catholic education has been part of Our Lady of Lourdes since February 11, 1919, when the Siebengartner home (site of the parish's first Mass) became the first Lourdes School with 67 students taught by the Sisters of Humility. The current school building was completed in May 1953 as Lourdes Memorial School, expanded in 1955 to keep up with growth, renamed Lourdes Catholic School in 1991, and has since become part of the consolidated St. Joan of Arc Catholic School serving the Bettendorf Catholic community. The parish Board of Education advises the pastor on matters relating to the school and to parish Religious Education, Youth Ministry, and Adult Formation.
- 1919: school opens in Siebengartner home (67 students, Sisters of Humility)
- 1952–1953: Lourdes Memorial School built
- 1955: four additional classrooms added
- 1991: renamed Lourdes Catholic School
- Today: consolidated as St. Joan of Arc Catholic School (Diocese of Davenport)
- Board of Education advises pastor on school, Religious Education, Youth Ministry, and Adult Formation
Parish Outreach & Service
Service is the practical outflow of discipleship at Lourdes. The parish operates Meal Basket collections for neighbors in need, sustains a Parish Nurse / Health Ministry under Carole Dolehanty, and encourages parishioners to practice the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy through ministry within the parish and mission in the broader community. The Stewardship framework names Hospitality, Prayer, Faith Formation, and Service as the four pillars that organize parish life and giving.
- Meal Basket outreach (sign-up–driven donations for parishioners/community in need)
- Parish Nurse / Health Ministry
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring Communion to the homebound
- Stewardship pillars: Hospitality, Prayer, Faith Formation, Service
Visiting & Contact
The church is located at 1453 Mississippi Boulevard in Bettendorf, Iowa, with the parish office and mailing address at 1506 Brown Street, near Interstate 74 in the historic Gilbertville neighborhood. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–4:30 PM and Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM, and can be reached at (563) 359-0345 or [email protected].
- Church: 1453 Mississippi Blvd, Bettendorf, IA 52722
- Parish Office (mailing): 1506 Brown St, Bettendorf, IA 52722
- Phone: (563) 359-0345 | Fax: (563) 344-6017
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–4:30 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Web: lourdescatholic.org/church/
- Facebook: facebook.com/ololbett
Merger into St. Joan of Arc Catholic Parish of Bettendorf
After more than a decade of conversation — formal parish council minutes documenting such discussions go back as far as 2016 — Bishop Dennis Walsh of the Diocese of Davenport issued a decree on May 1, 2026 merging St. John Vianney Parish and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish into the new St. Joan of Arc Catholic Parish of Bettendorf effective July 1, 2026. Father Rich Adam, who had already been serving as pastor of both parishes since August 2025, was appointed pastor of the merged parish for a six-year term. The two historic worship sites continue as active campuses of the new parish, with one parish council, one finance council, one budget, and one staff functioning as a unified team. The long-term vision articulated in the strategic plan is a unified Catholic campus for Bettendorf.
- Bishop Dennis Walsh's merger decree: May 1, 2026
- Effective date of the new St. Joan of Arc Catholic Parish of Bettendorf: July 1, 2026
- Father Rich Adam appointed pastor of the merged parish (six-year term)
- Fr. Tony Herold serves as senior priest
- Both Lourdes and St. John Vianney campuses continue as active worship and formation sites
- Joint Strategic Planning Committee guided the process (executive summary, full plan, and parish survey data all posted on the parish website)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas P. Colemancirca 1908
Directed the trade of property and the physical move/expansion of the original 1903 frame church across Brown Street.
- Father H.J. Toher1961–onward
Initiated construction of the current church, rectory, and offices at a cost of $473,000; new facility dedicated May 30, 1963 by Bishop Ralph L. Hayes.
- Father Thomas Stratman1980–onward
Retired the church mortgage on September 13, 1981; led construction of the parish center (dedicated November 1984); school renamed Lourdes Catholic School in 1991; established the parish Endowment Fund in April 1992.
- Father Thomas Spiegel1992–onward
Expanded church offices, school office, and Parish Activity Center; resurfaced the parking lot; led the 'Raise the Roof' fund drive that raised over $70,000 for a new church roof.
- Father Timothy Sheedy2004–onward
Celebrated his 30th anniversary as a priest in 2006; restructured the Pastoral Council and Faith Formation Board around goal-setting and strategic planning.
- Father Jason Crossen2014–onward
Led the parish during the years of growing cooperation with St. John Vianney and the campaign for the new St. Joan of Arc Catholic School.
- Father Richard (Rich) Adam2025–
Became pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in addition to St. John Vianney Parish in 2025; appointed pastor of the merged St. Joan of Arc Catholic Parish of Bettendorf by Bishop Dennis Walsh in 2026.