About SS Joseph and Cabrini · East Pleasant Plain, Iowa
Ss. Joseph and Cabrini Parish is a small rural Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa, formed on July 1, 2009 from the merger of Saint Joseph Parish in East Pleasant Plain and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish in Richland. The parish is served across two historic worship sites — St. Joseph Church at 1174 Reed Avenue in East Pleasant Plain and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (Mother Cabrini) Church at 304 W. Main Street in Richland — with the parish office located in the basement of St. Joseph Church. The community describes itself as 'a welcoming faith community, rich in our rural heritage,' called by baptismal commitment to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ.
- Established
- 2009 (merger); predecessor parishes older, with Mother Cabrini parish formed 1946
- Patron
- St. Joseph and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
- Rector
- Father Bob Striegel (Canonical Pastor and Sacramental Minister at the time of the 2009 merger); Father Damian Ilokaba currently listed as Sacramental Minister on the parish website
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport, Iowa
Why belong here
Ss. Joseph and Cabrini is a small, welcoming rural Catholic community that has kept both of its historic church buildings — St. Joseph in East Pleasant Plain and Mother Cabrini in Richland — open and active after the 2009 merger. Members gather for weekly Sunday Mass at St. Joseph, share Lenten Stations of the Cross rotating between the two churches, support a parish food pantry, and gather for devotions such as Altar & Rosary meetings. It is a place where parishioners can know one another, support sacramental preparation, and serve their neighbors across the countryside of Jefferson County.
Mass times at SS Joseph and Cabrini
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays 8:00–8:20 AM (before Mass at St. Joseph Church), or by appointment
About the Parish
Saints Joseph and Cabrini Parish is the newest parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport, formed on July 1, 2009 by uniting two long-established rural congregations in Jefferson County, Iowa. The parish describes itself as 'a welcoming faith community, rich in our rural heritage,' called by baptismal commitment to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ. Two worship sites continue to operate: St. Joseph Church in East Pleasant Plain and Mother Cabrini Church in Richland, with the parish office in the basement of St. Joseph Church.
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 37, Brighton, IA 52540
- Diocese: Davenport, Iowa
- Merged July 1, 2009
Mission Statement
The parish's published mission statement reads: 'We, as Children of God and members of Saints Joseph and Cabrini Catholic Parish, are a welcoming faith community, rich in our rural heritage. Called by our baptismal commitment to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ, we are dedicated to nurture our Catholic faith and embrace all those in our world.'
Parish History
The history of Ss. Joseph and Cabrini is really two stories that became one. In Richland, Catholic life first took root through Masses celebrated in parishioners' homes. In 1946, the parish of St. Frances Xavier (Mother) Cabrini was formally created, with Father Paul Budreau assigned as Associate Pastor at St. Joseph to care for the new mission. He was followed by Ray Ruppenkamp and James (Jim) Janssen. A new church was built in Richland in 1950 and blessed by Bishop Ralph Hayes.
- 1946 — Mother Cabrini parish formed in Richland
- 1950 — new Richland church blessed by Bishop Ralph Hayes
- Associates: Fr. Paul Budreau, then Ray Ruppenkamp, then Jim Janssen
The Merger of 2009
Faced with the realities of rural Catholic life in the 21st century, a Joint Parish Pastoral Council and Viability Committee from St. Joseph and Mother Cabrini worked to keep both churches open. Shirley Van Dee was hired as Parish Life Administrator on January 1, 2008 to coordinate the merger; Father Bob Striegel was appointed Canonical Pastor and Sacramental Minister by Bishop Martin Amos, who had replaced the retiring Bishop William Franklin; and Sister Janet Kreber continued to provide spiritual leadership while in residence during the school year. On July 1, 2009, the two parishes officially became Ss. Joseph and Cabrini Parish.
- January 1, 2008 — Shirley Van Dee begins as Parish Life Administrator
- Father Bob Striegel appointed Canonical Pastor
- Bishop Martin Amos oversaw the union
- July 1, 2009 — parishes officially merged
Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently served by Father Damian Ilokaba as Sacramental Minister, with the parish office coordinated through St. Joseph Church in East Pleasant Plain. The leadership team that brought the parishes together in 2008–2009 included Father Bob Striegel (Canonical Pastor), Shirley Van Dee (Parish Life Administrator), and Sister Janet Kreber (spiritual leadership during the school year).
- Father Damian Ilokaba — Sacramental Minister
- Father Bob Striegel — Canonical Pastor and Sacramental Minister at the 2009 merger
- Shirley Van Dee — Parish Life Administrator
- Sister Janet Kreber — spiritual leadership, in residence during school year
Worship Sites
The merged parish intentionally keeps both original church buildings in use so that Catholics across the rural area can continue to worship close to home.
- St. Joseph Church — 1174 Reed Avenue, East Pleasant Plain, Iowa
- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (Mother Cabrini) Church — 304 W. Main Street, Richland, Iowa
- Parish Office — basement of St. Joseph Church, East Pleasant Plain
Sacraments
The parish makes the seven sacraments and related pastoral care available to its members. Reconciliation is offered in a regular weekly window before Sunday Mass and by appointment; the Parish Life Administrator (Shirley Van Dee) is the contact for baptismal and marriage preparation, anointing of the sick, visits for illness and hospitalization, and funerals.
- Reconciliation — Sundays 8:00–8:20 AM, or by appointment
- Baptismal preparation
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Visits for illness and hospitalization
- Death and funeral ministry
Devotions and Parish Life
Beyond Sunday Mass, the parish gathers for a small but rich pattern of devotions and parish-life events. During Lent, Stations of the Cross are prayed on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM, alternating between Mother Cabrini (Richland) and St. Joseph (East Pleasant Plain). The Altar & Rosary Society meets regularly, Morning Prayer Services are scheduled, and parishioners share coffee and rolls after Sunday Mass on the first Sunday of the month.
- Stations of the Cross — Wednesdays at 6:30 PM during Lent, alternating between the two churches
- Altar & Rosary Society meetings
- Morning Prayer Service
- Coffee and Rolls after Sunday Mass (first Sunday)
- Anointing of the Sick during Mass on designated Sundays
Parish Outreach
The parish supports a parish food pantry, with Food Pantry Sunday observed on the first Sunday of each month. This ministry, along with visits for illness and hospitalization, is a concrete expression of the parish's mission to 'embrace all those in our world.'
- Parish Food Pantry — Food Pantry Sunday (first Sunday of the month)
- Pastoral visits for the sick and homebound
Contact and Location
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by mail at P.O. Box 37, Brighton, Iowa 52540, by phone at (319) 694-3672, or by email at [email protected]. The office is located in the basement of St. Joseph Church at 1174 Reed Avenue, East Pleasant Plain, Iowa.
- Mailing: P.O. Box 37, Brighton, IA 52540
- Phone: 319-694-3672
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office: basement of St. Joseph Church, 1174 Reed Avenue, East Pleasant Plain
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Paul Budreau1946 (Associate Pastor at St. Joseph for new Mother Cabrini parish)
Helped take care of the newly formed Mother Cabrini parish in Richland.
- Ray Ruppenkamp
Followed Father Budreau as Associate Pastor.
- James (Jim) Janssen
Followed Ruppenkamp as Associate Pastor.
- Father Bob Striegelappointed by Bishop Martin Amos prior to 2009 merger
Appointed Canonical Pastor and Sacramental Minister when the two parishes joined in 2009.