About St. Anthony · Davenport, Iowa
St. Anthony Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in downtown Davenport, Iowa, founded in 1837 and recognized as the second oldest Catholic church in Iowa and the oldest still in existence. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Davenport and serves a growing, diverse community at 417 N. Main Street, near the Mississippi River. After merging with St. Mary's Catholic Church in 2020, St. Anthony's now includes a vibrant Hispanic community with weekly Spanish Mass, faith formation, and Hispanic ministry, while continuing its longstanding mission to the poor through the McAnthony Window food pantry and hot-meal program. Daily and Sunday Masses are offered in English and Spanish, and the parish complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Established
- 1837
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Very Rev. Father Rudolph (Rudy) Juarez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
St. Anthony's is a historic, diverse, and welcoming downtown parish with a deep tradition of feeding the poor through its McAnthony Window — which served more than 35,000 hot meals in 2025 — and walking with newcomers through the merged Hispanic and Anglo communities. Daily and Sunday Masses are offered in English and Spanish, faith formation spans children's religious education, LifeTeen high school and EDGE middle school youth nights, adult groups like Fishers of Men and the Martha and Mary Women's Group, and support ministries such as Wings of Hope immigration help, Parish Health Ministry, and the Kairos jail ministry.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 11:15 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
- Special Reconciliation services during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- First Friday after the 6:30 p.m. Spanish Mass (approx. 7:00 p.m.)
About Our Parish
St. Anthony Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in downtown Davenport, Iowa, near the Mississippi River, in the Diocese of Davenport. The parish community worships in a historic 1837 church, follows St. Anthony of Padua as patron (patron saint of the poor), and is a growing, diverse, and welcoming community. In 2020 it merged with St. Mary's Catholic Church, and today it offers both English and Spanish Masses, formation groups throughout the week, and a robust outreach to the poor through the McAnthony Window.
- Downtown Davenport location near the Mississippi River
- Roman Catholic, Diocese of Davenport
- Merged with St. Mary's Catholic Church in 2020
- Spanish Mass and Hispanic formation groups offered weekly
- Patron: St. Anthony of Padua, patron saint of the poor
Parish History
Founded in 1837 on land donated by Antoine LeClaire to Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, OP, the parish is the oldest church congregation in Davenport and the second oldest Catholic parish in Iowa. Its first pastor, Fr. John Pelamourges, rang the bell for town meetings, and the original 25-by-40-foot brick building doubled as a courtroom and town hall. The current stone church was begun in 1850, expanded with wings in 1885, and further developed in the 1940s with terrazzo floors and confessionals. St. Anthony School was taught by the BVM Sisters from 1844 until it closed in 1968; the building is now used for religious education and the parish library.
- Antoine LeClaire donated Church Square to Fr. Mazzuchelli in 1837
- Sisters of Charity of the BVM taught at St. Anthony's from 1844
- New stone church completed 1853; wings added 1885
- St. Anthony School closed 1968; building now houses religious education
- Stained glass installed in the 1850s, 1880s, and 1940s
- 1987 Sesquicentennial copper sculpture outside the church
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984
Architecture & Historic Campus
The historic church features a main altar on six simulated-marble columns with a bas-relief of the Last Supper, a central statue of the Sacred Heart flanked by St. Augustine and St. John the Evangelist, and an Ecce Homo figure in the surmounting arch. Ceiling paintings depict the raising of Lazarus, the Assumption of Mary, and Jesus healing the sick, with four transept symbols of the Gospel writers. Apse stained-glass windows honor St. Patrick, St. Anthony, the Assumption of Mary, and St. Aloysius.
- Main altar with Last Supper bas-relief
- Ceiling paintings and transept gospel symbols
- Stained glass apse windows of St. Patrick, St. Anthony, Assumption of Mary, St. Aloysius
- 1987 Sesquicentennial copper sculpture at main entrance
- Boston Ivy retaining wall with replica Wrigley Field sign
Parish Campus
Beyond the church itself, the campus includes the Parish Center (community events, coffee and doughnuts after Mass, the McAnthony Window kitchen), the Parish Office (east side of the Parish Center, open 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Mon–Thu and 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Fri), the Pantry (clothing distribution, bus tokens, and food pantry), the Mazzucchelli Building (the original 1838 church, now a warming center and classrooms for personal finance and job coaching), and the Grace Center across the street (prayer and study groups, religious education).
- Parish Center
- Parish Office
- The Pantry (clothing, bus tokens, food pantry)
- Mazzucchelli Building (original 1838 church)
- Grace Center (prayer, study groups, religious education)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Anthony's follows the Diocese of Davenport's discipleship framework: helping each person hear and respond to God's call within a faith community. Programming spans children's religious education, youth ministry, adult faith groups, young adult Bible study, and sacramental preparation. Faith Formation incorporates diversity (ethnic, age, homebound, people with disabilities, the marginalized) and uses safe-environment programs (Virtus and Circle of Grace).
- Children's Religious Education
- Family Life and Church Life programs
- Adult Faith: Fishers of Men, Martha and Mary Women's Group, Prayer Group Light & Hope, School Charismatic Formation, Bible Study, Catholic Book Study
- YA Bible Study for young adults
- Virtus and Circle of Grace safe-environment training
Youth Group
St. Anthony's Youth Group provides community experiences for teens every other week during the school year, with meals, discussions, activities, prayer experiences, retreats, Bible studies, and conferences. High school meets on Sundays in the Parish Center using LifeTeen programming; middle school (grades 6–8) meets on Sundays using EDGE. The parish attends the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis every other year with about 20 teens.
- High School LifeTeen — Sundays 5:00–7:00 p.m.
- Middle School EDGE — Sundays 2:30–4:00 p.m.
- Spring 2026 dates listed on the site (Jan 11, Jan 25, Feb 8, Feb 22, Mar 8, ICYC Mar 21–22, Apr 19, May 3, May 17)
- NCYC every other year (next: fall 2027)
- Contact: Jessica Warnke, Faith Life Coordinator
Liturgy & Music
The Liturgy ministry forms and oversees lay liturgical ministers in keeping with universal, national, and diocesan norms, including musicians and cantors, readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, greeters, ushers, sacristans, and ministers of art and environment. Kim Noftsker directs parish music, with separate English Choir and Spanish Coro (choir) rehearsals and an annual holiday concert.
- Music Director: Kim Noftsker
- English Choir — Wednesdays 6:30 p.m.
- Spanish Coro — Thursdays 6:30 p.m.
- Lay liturgical ministers: readers, EMHC, altar servers, greeters, ushers, sacristans, art & environment
- Annual Holiday Concert in Advent
Social Action & Outreach
Outreach is central to St. Anthony's identity as a parish of the patron saint of the poor. The McAnthony Window feeds in excess of 200 people in need five days a week; Wings of Hope offers immigration help; the Kairos Choice is a jail ministry at Scott County Jail; Parish Health Ministry tends to medical needs; and Pax Christi is a local chapter of the Catholic peace movement.
- McAnthony Window and Food Pantry
- Wings of Hope: Immigration Help
- Jail Ministry: The Kairos Choice
- Parish Health Ministry
- Pax Christi
McAnthony Window and Food Pantry
Started in 1985 by then-pastor Fr. Kenneth Martin as the Care and Share program and expanded in 1987 by Fr. James Conroy with the opening of the McAnthony Window, this ministry now feeds the Quad Cities five days a week. In 2025 it served 35,839 meals, distributed 259,361 pounds of food through the pantry, handed out 24,444 bus tokens, and supported 1,989 Scott County Jail inmate sessions. Thanksgiving and Christmas $20 meat gift vouchers to Hy-Vee continue a long tradition, with the food pantry providing the rest of the holiday fixings.
- Hot meals Mon–Fri 9:00–11:00 a.m.
- Food pantry (groceries and hygiene items)
- Clothing distribution (men, women, children)
- Bus tokens (max 100/day), used bike distribution
- Ministry of Presence (coffee, conversation)
- Job coaching, personal finance and building classes
- Men's and Women's Support Groups — Friday 9:30–10:30 a.m.
- AA Meetings — Tuesday and Thursday 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Wings of Hope: Immigration Help
Wings of Hope assists parishioners and the wider community with immigration paperwork, connecting people with legal referrals, emergency planning, document instructions, power of attorney for minors and property, and Discovering Christ. Paper copies of forms are available at the parish office; for help completing forms or notarial services, the parish directs people to QCAIR at (563) 594-0854.
- Legal referrals and resources
- Emergency plan instructions
- Power of attorney for minors / temporary guardianship
- Power of attorney for property
- Paper copies available at the parish office
- QCAIR partnership for completion help and notarial services
Parish Staff & Pastoral Leadership
St. Anthony's is led by Very Rev. Father Rudolph (Rudy) Juarez, with Rev. Robert McAleer as senior priest. A bilingual staff of lay ministers, directors, and support personnel — many of whom serve in dual English/Spanish roles — runs faith formation, music, religious education, parish health, finance, and operations. The Parish Council for 2024–25 is led by President Chelsea Rulli with Vice President Bobbie Martinez and includes representatives from across the parish.
- Pastor: Fr. Rudolph (Rudy) Juarez
- Senior Priest: Rev. Robert McAleer
- Pastoral Associate & Business Manager: John Cooper
- Faith Life Coordinator: Jessica Warnke
- Religious Education Coordinator: Kay Steele
- Music Director: Kim Noftsker
- Parish Health Ministry: Steve Cooley, RN
- Parish Secretary & Accountant: Tina Wagschal
- Bilingual Office Assistance: Amalia (Molly) Ortega, Cristina Neira-Weston, Mia Guerrero
- Kitchen & Church Operations: Alan Gahagan
- Maintenance: Mike Kent, Jim Schebler
- Parish Council 2024–25 President: Chelsea Rulli
Parish Life & Devotions
Beyond Mass and sacraments, St. Anthony's gathers for daily rosary groups (English and Spanish), Bible studies, charismatic formation, prayer and support groups, AA meetings, Knights of Columbus, and fellowship like coffee and doughnuts after Mass. The parish publishes a bilingual weekly bulletin with Mass intentions, the week's schedule, and announcements for both communities.
- Rosary — six evenings a week (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun)
- AA Meetings (English) — Tue/Thu 9:30 a.m., Parish Center
- Knights of Columbus 4th Degree
- Grief Group — Tuesday 4:00 p.m., Grace Center
- Coffee and Donuts after Thursday Mass
- New Member Welcome Sundays
- Annual Holiday Concert and Dessert Reception
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli, OP1837–
Italian Dominican frontier missionary who founded the parish at Antoine LeClaire's donated Church Square.
- Fr. John Pelamourges1837–
First resident pastor; served as bell ringer for town hall meetings.
- Fr. Kenneth Martin
Began the Care and Share program in 1985 in honor of St. Anthony, patron saint of the poor.
- Rev. James Conroy1987–1997
Opened the McAnthony Window; Chicago native and Cubs fan who installed a replica Wrigley Field sign.
- Fr. Apo Mpanda
Pastor at the time of the announced merger with St. Mary's.
- Fr. Chris Youngfrom 2020
Former St. Mary's pastor; became parochial vicar of St. Anthony at the merger.
- Very Rev. Father Rudolph (Rudy) Juarezfrom July 1, 2020
Installed as pastor of the merged St. Anthony parish; previously pastor of St. Patrick (Iowa City), St. Bernadette (West Branch), and St. Joseph (West Liberty).