About Our Lady of Victory · Davenport, Iowa
Our Lady of Victory is a Roman Catholic parish in northwest Davenport, Iowa, part of the Diocese of Davenport. Founded on September 13, 1962, the parish grew alongside its parish school, John F. Kennedy (JFK) Catholic School, and is known for its striking hexagonal church built in 1968–69 and remodeled in 1999. The community worships under a set of magnificent faceted dalle-glass stained-glass windows designed by Chicago artist John E. Bera, and today serves parishioners through daily and weekend Masses, a robust K-8 religious education program, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), youth ministry, and a parish health advocate ministry.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- Our Lady of Victory (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Patrick Hilgendorf
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
Our Lady of Victory is a multi-generational Catholic community in northwest Davenport that pairs vibrant liturgical life with a parish school and an unusually strong formation program. Families find K-8 faith formation on Wednesday evenings and youth ministry for high schoolers; adults explore becoming Catholic through the OCIA process, with weekly Sunday-morning sessions in the Gathering Space Meeting Room after the 9 AM Mass. The parish also staffs a distinctive Parish Nurse / Health Advocate ministry (Jan King, Bonnie Beyhl, and Julie Kilburg), reflecting a commitment to caring for the whole person — body, mind, and spirit.
Mass times at Our Lady of Victory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday: after the 8:00 AM Mass
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 4:10 PM
- Other times by appointment
Parish Identity & Mission
Our Lady of Victory describes itself as 'a community that lives and shares the preaching, teaching and healing of Christ.' Its vision is 'to become the most vibrant and welcoming faith community in the Diocese' of Davenport. The parish pursues this vision through preaching, discipleship (teaching), and healing-with-Grace — expressed through its pulpit, its school, its faith-formation programs, and its parish nurse / health advocate ministry.
- Mission: A community that lives and shares the preaching, teaching and healing of Christ.
- Vision: To become the most vibrant and welcoming faith community in the Diocese.
- Diocese: Diocese of Davenport (current bishop: Bishop Dennis Gerard Walsh).
- Weekend Mass livestreamed and recorded at olvjfk.com.
History of Our Lady of Victory
Founded in 1962 by Bishop Ralph L. Hayes to serve northwest Davenport, the parish grew from 750 to roughly 1,000 families within a decade, built a parish school (JFK) in 1964, and constructed its striking hexagonal church in 1968–69. Major renovation milestones followed: a $210,000 interior remodel completed in February 1999, a Jubilee Year 2000 project, and the December 2011 dedication of a major gathering-space addition by Bishop Martin Amos. The 2012 parish anniversary coincided with record JFK enrollment.
- 1961: Land closing on ten acres of the Andrew F. Miller farm, Division Street
- September 13, 1962: Parish established; Rev. Kenneth O. Martin, first pastor
- 1964: JFK Catholic School opens (165 students, grades 2–5)
- December 1968: Groundbreaking for the hexagonal church
- 1998–99: $210,000 interior remodel; rededicated weekend of Feb 13–14, 1999
- December 18, 2011: Gathering space dedicated by Bishop Martin Amos
- 2012: 50th anniversary; JFK achieves record PS-8 enrollment
Architecture: The Hexagonal Church
The hexagonal church was designed around the New Liturgy of the Church under building-committee chair Joe Kastner. Its six large faceted stained-glass windows are dalle-glass works by Chicago artist John E. Bera. The altar window depicts the Risen Christ; the entrance window shows Mary, patron of the parish; and four large side windows illustrate the Good Shepherd, the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Sower. A 1998–99 remodel introduced ceramic tile floors, a carpeted altar, and solid oak pews; a 2011 addition added the gathering space, a new baptismal font, and an elevator.
- Style: contemporary hexagonal
- Artist: John E. Bera, Chicago (dalle glass)
- Altar window: Risen Christ
- Entrance window: Mary, patron of the parish family
- Side windows: Good Shepherd, Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son, Sower
- 1998–99 remodel: $210,000; ceramic tile, oak pews, carpeted altar
- 2011 addition: gathering space, baptismal font, meeting rooms, kitchenette, elevator
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Patrick Hilgendorf (Pastor) and Fr. Manu John (Parochial Vicar), with two deacons — Deacon Marc Mosse and Deacon John Wagner (who also serves as Health Advocate). A large lay staff supports parish operations, faith formation, communications, religious education, youth ministry, and health advocacy.
- Fr. Patrick Hilgendorf — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Manu John — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Deacon Marc Mosse — Deacon
- Deacon John Wagner — Deacon / Health Advocate
- Christina Dahl-Bright — Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Ann Lotspeich — Parish Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Lisa Willows — Director of Communications / Safe Environment ([email protected])
- Mark Mirr — Maintenance / Custodian
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at OLV is described as 'an innovative approach to lifelong learning,' pairing family formation with adult formation and youth ministry. K-8 Religious Education classes meet Wednesday evenings at JFK School starting at 6 PM, September through May. Adult Faith Formation is coordinated by Jennifer Wemhoff.
- K-8 Religious Education: Wednesdays, 6 PM, JFK School, Sept–May
- Adult Faith Formation Coordinator: Jennifer Wemhoff ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education (K-8): Jammie Jamieson ([email protected])
- Faith Formation Committee meets 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30–8:00 PM
- Faith Formation & Youth Ministry Office: (563) 391-8384
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the parish's formal process for adults exploring the Catholic faith. A team of volunteer parishioners, in union with the pastoral staff, walks candidates through Inquiry, Catechumenate, Enlightenment, the Easter Vigil, and Mystagogy.
- Contact: Fr. Patrick Hilgendorf — (563) 391-4245, [email protected]
- OCIA begins after Labor Day; informational gatherings Aug 23/24 and Aug 30/31
- Inquiry: six weekly Sunday-morning sessions after the 9 AM Mass
- Catechumenate: dismissal after the homily at the 9 AM Sunday Mass
- Enlightenment: Lenten preparation
- Sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil; Mystagogy through Pentecost
- Sessions meet in the Gathering Space Meeting Room on Sundays at 9:00 AM
Youth Ministry (High School)
The high school youth ministry is built around the theme 'Empowering Hearts, Igniting Faith: Journeying Together.' Activities include Wednesday-night gatherings, Mass After Dark, retreats, and mission trips.
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry: Abbey Heinrichs ([email protected])
- Wednesday-night meetings
- Mass After Dark
- Retreats
- Mission trips
Parish Nurse / Health Advocate Ministry
Our Lady of Victory maintains an unusual lay Parish Nurse / Health Advocate ministry. Three health advocates — Jan King, Bonnie Beyhl, and Julie Kilburg — answer questions, present health information, facilitate access to services, listen to concerns, and pray with parishioners. Deacon John Wagner also serves as a Health Advocate.
- Jan King, Bonnie Beyhl, Julie Kilburg — Health Advocates
- Deacon John Wagner — Deacon / Health Advocate
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (563) 391-4245
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Church and asks that arrangements be made through the parish office. Pre-Baptismal welcoming and information is held on the 3rd Monday of each month; couples should contact the office well in advance of their desired wedding date; and shut-ins can arrange Holy Communion visits.
- Baptism: Pre-Baptismal class on the 3rd Monday of the month
- Marriage: contact the parish office in advance
- Holy Communion to Shut-Ins: arranged through the parish office
- Sick Calls / Emergencies: (563) 293-1177
JFK Catholic School
John F. Kennedy Catholic School is the parish's PS-8 school, sharing the campus at 4105 North Division Street and the olvjfk.com website. It opened in 1964 with the Sisters of Humility of Mary, expanded to include 7th and 8th grades in the early 1980s, and has grown into the largest PS-8 Catholic school in the Diocese of Davenport (518 students in 2015–16). The 2011 capital campaign 'Growing Our Faith…Shaping Generations' added a new school entryway, offices, restrooms, four classrooms, an expanded Early Childhood Learning Center, and a full-day preschool / child-care option.
- Opened fall 1964 with 165 students in grades 2–5
- First Kindergarten class added in 1976
- 7th and 8th grades added in 1981–82 and 1982–83
- Guardian Angel Preschool added in 1985
- All-day Kindergarten added in 2000
- 2011 expansion: entryway, offices, restrooms, four classrooms, expanded early-childhood wing
- 2015–16: record 518 PS-8 students — largest PS-8 Catholic school in the Diocese
- 2017–18: mechanical systems replaced; stained-glass window frames restored; campus security enhanced
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors are welcome at the parish office on the first floor of the east end of the rectory (7:30 AM – 4:00 PM Monday through Friday) and at the Faith Formation Office on the upper level at the north end of the school. Mass is livestreamed and recorded at olvjfk.com for those who cannot attend in person.
- Address: 4105 North Division St., Davenport, IA 52806
- Parish Office phone: (563) 391-4245; Fax: (563) 445-1003
- Faith Formation Office: (563) 391-8384
- Emergency line: (563) 293-1177
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.olvjfk.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Kenneth O. Martin1962–
Founding pastor; shepherded the new parish, oversaw construction of JFK School (1964) and groundbreaking for the hexagonal church (1968).
- Msgr. James Parizek2002–2015/16
Fourth pastor; oversaw major enrollment growth at JFK Catholic School, which became the largest PS-8 Catholic school in the Diocese of Davenport (518 students) in his final year.
- Fr. Jake Greiner2016–
Fifth pastor; led major projects from 2017–18 including replacement of mechanical systems in church and school, restoration of the stained-glass window frames, and enhanced campus security.
- Fr. Patrick Hilgendorf
Current pastor.