About Ss. Philip and James · Grand Mound, Iowa
Ss. Philip and James is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the farming community of Grand Mound in Clinton County, Iowa. It is one of the oldest Catholic congregations in the area, with roots tracing back to the very first Mass celebrated in Grand Mound in 1852. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Davenport (Clinton Deanery) and today shares pastoral and administrative life with nearby St. Joseph Parish in DeWitt — the two communities even share a single parish bulletin. Visitors are welcomed to the historic church at 606 Fulton Street, where a tight-knit group of rural Catholic families continues to celebrate the Eucharist together.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- Saints Philip and James (the Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael D. Snyder (Parochial Administrator, effective July 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport (Clinton Deanery)
Why belong here
Ss. Philip and James is the small, historic Catholic parish at the heart of Grand Mound — a community where Mass has been celebrated since 1852 and where generations of farm families have worshipped together. The parish shares its bulletin and pastoral leadership with St. Joseph in DeWitt, giving parishioners both the intimacy of a country parish and the resources of a clustered Catholic community. Active groups like the Altar and Rosary Society reflect the parish's long tradition of lay involvement and devotion.
Mass times at Ss. Philip and James
Weekly Mass schedule
About Ss. Philip and James Parish
Ss. Philip and James is the Catholic parish of Grand Mound, a small farming town in Clinton County in eastern Iowa, roughly between DeWitt and the Quad Cities. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Davenport and, for pastoral and administrative purposes, is clustered with St. Joseph Parish in DeWitt — the two communities share a pastor and a weekly parish bulletin. The parish's mailing address is P.O. Box 7, Grand Mound, IA 52751, and its church stands at 606 Fulton Street in Grand Mound.
- Diocese of Davenport (Clinton Deanery)
- Clustered with St. Joseph Parish, DeWitt
- Shares a single parish bulletin with St. Joseph, DeWitt
History
Catholic life in the Grand Mound area began in 1852, when the first Mass was celebrated at the home of James and Margaret Lynch, Irish Catholic immigrants who had settled in Olive Township just west of town. The parish of Ss. Philip and James was formally established in the following years; the Diocese of Davenport records the parish as 'Founded 1857' and the present church building as 'Built 1969'. The parish was incorporated under Iowa state law as 'SS. Philip and James Church of Grand Mound, Iowa' on April 29, 1912, and remains an active domestic non-profit corporation more than a century later.
- First Mass in Grand Mound: 1852 (at the home of James and Margaret Lynch)
- Parish founded: 1857 (per Diocese of Davenport records)
- First church building: 1876 (per academic history of the Lynch family)
- State incorporation: April 29, 1912
- Current church building constructed: 1969
Patron Saints
The parish takes its name from Saints Philip and James — the two apostles commemorated together in the Roman liturgical calendar. Their joint feast day is May 3, traditionally observed as the parish's patronal feast.
- Patron: Saints Philip and James
- Feast Day: May 3
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
Ss. Philip and James has been served as part of a clustered assignment with St. Joseph Parish, DeWitt. Bishop Dennis Walsh of the Diocese of Davenport published new priestly appointments effective July 1, 2025, in which Rev. Michael D. Snyder was named Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph (DeWitt) and Ss. Philip and James (Grand Mound), succeeding Rev. Stephen C. Page, who was relieved of the assignment and retired.
- Rev. Michael D. Snyder — Parochial Administrator (from July 1, 2025); previously parochial vicar of Our Lady of Victory Parish, Davenport
- Rev. Stephen C. Page — Pastor (relieved of assignment July 1, 2025; retired)
Mass and Liturgical Schedule
Published Mass times vary slightly between aggregator listings, reflecting both updates and the clustering with St. Joseph, DeWitt. Catholic church directories list Sunday morning and one or more weekday Masses at the Fulton Street church. Because the parish shares its schedule and bulletin with St. Joseph, DeWitt, the parish encourages worshippers to call (563) 847-2271 for current Mass, confession and Holy Day schedules.
- Sunday Mass — 8:15 AM (per Catholic Church Directory)
- Sunday Mass — 8:00 AM (per Discover Mass)
- Monday — 5:30 PM
- Wednesday — 5:30 PM
- Thursday — 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM (varies by source)
- Parish phone for current schedule: (563) 847-2271
Parish Life and Ministries
Ss. Philip and James has long been a small, family-oriented country parish. Lay devotion societies are part of its long-standing parish life, and the parish maintains an active connection to Calvary Cemetery in Grand Mound. Funerals, visitations, and other parish services continue to be held at the Fulton Street church, as documented in local funeral notices.
- Altar and Rosary Society — traditional women's lay society
- Calvary Cemetery, Grand Mound — parish burial ground (Liturgy of Christian Burial celebrated there)
- Clustered parish programming with St. Joseph, DeWitt
Visiting and Contact
The church is located in the small town of Grand Mound, Iowa, on Fulton Street. Because schedules can change — especially around Holy Days and weather events — parishioners and visitors are advised to call the parish office to confirm Mass times. The parish shares a website and bulletin with St. Joseph, DeWitt, where most current information is published.
- Address: 606 Fulton St., P.O. Box 7, Grand Mound, IA 52751
- Phone: (563) 847-2271
- Diocese of Davenport office: 780 West Central Park Avenue, Davenport, IA 52804
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Stephen C. PageUntil July 1, 2025
Pastor of the linked St. Joseph (DeWitt) / Ss. Philip and James (Grand Mound) parishes; retired effective July 1, 2025.
- Rev. Michael D. SnyderFrom July 1, 2025
Appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Joseph, DeWitt and SS. Philip and James, Grand Mound by Bishop Dennis Walsh.