About Sacred Heart · Bedford, Iowa
Sacred Heart is a small Catholic parish in Bedford, a rural community in southwest Iowa's Taylor County. It belongs to the Diocese of Des Moines and is part of Parish Family #1 in the Red Oak Deanery, clustered with St. Clare in Clarinda and St. Joseph in Villisca and served from Clarinda by a single pastor. Weekend Mass is celebrated Saturday evening at the parish church on Main Street, and the parish is supported by a small staff that handles bulletins, finances, and faith formation across the family of parishes.
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Acquah
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers a small, close-knit Catholic community in rural Taylor County with a convenient Saturday evening Mass and the practical support of being clustered with sister parishes in Clarinda and Villisca under one pastor, Fr. Michael Acquah. Parishioners have access to the sacraments, a weekly bulletin, faith-formation catechesis, and the wider social and outreach life of the Red Oak Deanery — a good fit for families and individuals in southwest Iowa looking for a faithful, personal parish home.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Saturday of the month: after Mass
- By appointment
Parish Identity and Mission
Sacred Heart Parish is the Catholic community of Bedford, Iowa, and is one of three parishes clustered in the Diocese of Des Moines as Parish Family #1 of the Red Oak Deanery. Its mission, as described on parish listings, is to nurture a diverse and welcoming local community, follow wherever God is leading, and make disciples of Jesus Christ in Bedford and the surrounding region.
- Parish name: Church of the Sacred Heart
- Location: 707 Main St., Bedford, Iowa 50833
- Diocese: Des Moines
- Deanery: Red Oak Deanery (Adams, Fremont, Montgomery, Page, Taylor counties)
Clustered Parishes (Parish Family #1)
Because southwest Iowa's Catholic population is spread across small rural towns, Sacred Heart is administered together with neighboring parishes under a single pastor. This 'Parish Family #1' shares clergy, office staff, faith-formation programs, and Sacramental scheduling.
- Sacred Heart (Bedford) — served from Clarinda
- St. Clare (Clarinda) — parish office and mailing address
- St. Joseph (Villisca) — also served from Clarinda
- Dean / Very Rev. Lazarus Kirigia oversees the Red Oak Deanery
Pastoral Leadership and Staff
Per the Diocese of Des Moines 2025-26 parish directory, Sacred Heart is currently served by Rev. Michael Acquah as pastor, with pastoral and administrative support shared across the parish family. The parish bulletin editor and bookkeeper/office manager is Jackie Schmitt.
- Pastor: Rev. Michael Acquah — [email protected], (712) 542-2030
- Bulletin Editor: Jackie Schmitt
- Mailing Address: 300 E. Lincoln Blvd., Clarinda, IA 51632
- Phone (shared with St. Clare, Clarinda): (712) 542-2030
Mass and Sacramental Schedule
Sacred Heart's regular weekly liturgy is Saturday evening Mass at 5:45 p.m. Holy Day Masses are scheduled as announced. The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered on the first Saturday of the month immediately after Mass, and by appointment. Devotional and weekday services for the parish family (such as Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and weekday Masses) are listed at St. Clare in Clarinda and St. Joseph in Villisca.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:45 p.m.
- Holy Day Mass: as scheduled
- Reconciliation: First Saturday after Mass, or by appointment
- Weekday Masses and Adoration: see St. Clare, Clarinda
Faith Formation and Catechesis
Religious education for Sacred Heart's families is organized at the parish-family level across the Bedford–Clarinda–Villisca cluster. A Catechetical Leader coordinates sacramental preparation and ongoing formation, ensuring that children and adults in the rural southwest Iowa area have access to Catholic instruction.
- Catechetical Leader for the parish family (contact via parish office)
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation
- RCIA and adult faith formation available through the parish office
Parish Communications and Bulletin
The parish communicates with parishioners through a printed bulletin edited by Jackie Schmitt and shared with St. Clare (Clarinda) and St. Joseph (Villisca). The bulletin carries weekly Mass intentions, announcements, faith-formation schedules, and diocesan notices for the parish family.
- Bulletin Editor: Jackie Schmitt
- Parish phone: (712) 542-2030
- Email: [email protected]
Diocesan Identity
Sacred Heart is one of more than 80 parishes of the Diocese of Des Moines in central and southwest Iowa. The diocese lists the parish on its Parishes & Mass Times page and includes it in the Red Oak Deanery's Parish Family #1. The parish is recognized on the diocese's list of churches as 'now merged with St. Clare and St. Joseph Parishes,' reflecting the practical clustering of clergy and staff.
- Diocese: Des Moines
- Bishop: Most Rev. William Joensen, Ph.D. (Diocese of Des Moines)
- Deanery: Red Oak
- Listed on diocesan Parishes & Mass Times page
Visiting and Getting Involved
Visitors and returning Catholics are warmly welcomed to Saturday evening Mass at Sacred Heart. To become involved, parishioners are encouraged to contact the parish office in Clarinda — the bulletin editor, catechetical leader, and pastor welcome new liturgical ministers, faith-formation volunteers, and outreach helpers across the parish family.
- Contact: (712) 542-2030 or [email protected]
- Mailing: 300 E. Lincoln Blvd., Clarinda, IA 51632
- Get involved: liturgical ministry, faith formation, parish family events
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Acquahcurrent (as of 2025-26 diocesan directory)
Pastor of Parish Family #1, serving Sacred Heart (Bedford), St. Clare (Clarinda), and St. Joseph (Villisca) from the Clarinda office.
- Rev. Dominic Yamoahlisted as pastor prior to 2016 directory update
Named pastor on third-party parish listings last updated March 29, 2016; predates the current pastor.