About St. John Vianney · Bettendorf, Iowa
St. John Vianney Catholic Church is a parish in Bettendorf, Iowa, part of the Diocese of Davenport. Founded in 1967, the parish grew from a community that first worshipped at Bettendorf Middle School into a large parish of over 1,700 households. The parish is well known for its pioneering 24-hour weekly Eucharistic Adoration and a welcoming culture that includes a glass-walled back chapel for families with young children. As of July 1, 2026, St. John Vianney merged with neighboring Our Lady of Lourdes Parish to form the new St. Joan of Arc Catholic Parish of Bettendorf, with the SJV campus continuing in active use.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- St. John Vianney (Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, the Curé d'Ars)
- Rector
- Rev. Richard (Rich) Adam
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
St. John Vianney is a large, family-friendly Catholic community in Bettendorf that puts real effort into welcoming newcomers — including a glass-walled back chapel for families with small children and online Mass streaming for the homebound. The parish is especially notable for running 24 straight hours of Eucharistic Adoration every week (Thursday morning through Friday morning), a rare and powerful commitment that has shaped its identity. With active children's religious education, a structured Youth Ministry (Unplugged for middle schoolers, L.I.F.T. for high schoolers, Confirmation, and a Retreat Team), adult formation programs, Vacation Bible School, a QC Young Adult Ministry, and a deeply involved staff, there is a place for every age and stage of life.
Mass times at St. John Vianney
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
- By appointment (call Fr. Rich at 563-332-7910)
Adoration times
- 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration every week, Thursday 9:30 AM through Friday approximately 8:45 AM (some sources say 9:00 AM)
- First Fridays of the month at Our Lady of Lourdes campus, 8:15 AM – 8:55 AM
History of St. John Vianney Parish
St. John Vianney was founded in 1967 by Bishop Gerald O'Keefe as a new Catholic parish in Bettendorf. The community first worshipped at Bettendorf Middle School while a permanent home was built. Ground was broken November 18, 1968, the cornerstone dedicated September 14, 1969, and the first Mass in the new church was celebrated on Thanksgiving Day 1969. Bishop O'Keefe formally dedicated the church on April 12, 1970, at a total project cost of $464,000. Over the decades the campus expanded: a religious education wing with offices in 1985, a $450,000 expansion and remodeling in 1990 (rededicated December 16, 1990), and a major $4.1 million expansion with a day chapel rededicated by Bishop William Franklin on October 30, 2004. By its 50th anniversary in 2017, the parish had grown to 1,763 households.
- 1967 — Parish founded by Bishop Gerald O'Keefe
- 1968 — Ground broken November 18
- 1969 — Cornerstone dedicated September 14; first Mass Thanksgiving Day
- 1970 — Church formally dedicated April 12 by Bishop O'Keefe
- 1985 — Religious education wing and offices added
- 1990 — $450,000 expansion/rededicated December 16, 1990
- 2004 — $4.1 million expansion with day chapel, rededicated October 30 by Bishop William Franklin
- 2017 — 50th anniversary celebrated (parade float, 5K, picnic, talent show, Father Jim Vrba's 40th priesthood anniversary)
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Rich Adam, who in August 2025 was appointed by Bishop Dennis Walsh to serve as pastor of both St. John Vianney and Our Lady of Lourdes, and who was named pastor of the new merged St. Joan of Arc Parish effective July 1, 2026. He is assisted by Fr. Tony Herold, senior priest, and two deacons, Steve Barton and Daryl Fortin. The lay staff includes a Director of Religious Education and Safe Environment Coordinator, Director of Youth Ministry, Director of Liturgy & Music, Communications Director, Office Manager, Finance Manager, and Receptionist.
- Fr. Rich Adam — Pastor ([email protected])
- Fr. Tony Herold — Senior Priest ([email protected])
- Deacon Steve Barton — [email protected]
- Deacon Daryl Fortin — [email protected]
- Jeannie Moran — Director, Religious Education & Safe Environment Coordinator ([email protected])
- Jessica Palczynski — Director of Youth Ministry ([email protected])
- Colin Evers — Director of Liturgy & Music ([email protected])
- Marty Corrigan — Communications Director ([email protected])
- Angie Valleroy — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Julie Mishler — Finance Manager ([email protected])
- Lori Faidley — Receptionist ([email protected])
Faith Formation
Faith formation at SJV spans children, youth, and adults. Children's Religious Education serves grades 1–5 on Wednesday evenings in two sessions (4:15–5:15 PM and 6:00–7:00 PM), following the Bettendorf Community School District calendar. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion takes place in Second Grade, in class and at family workshops. Adult Studies and Formation offers programs such as 'Called and Gifted' for adult faith enrichment.
- Children's RE (grades 1–5), Wednesdays 4:15–5:15 PM and 6:00–7:00 PM
- First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation in 2nd grade
- Adult Studies and Formation — 'Called and Gifted' (cost $50)
Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) and Sprouts
Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) is offered to children ages preschool through 3rd grade on the first and third Sundays of each month (except certain holidays) from October through May during the 8:30 AM Mass. Children begin Mass seated with their families; after the opening prayer Fr. Rich calls the children forward for a blessing and then dismisses them to the McGrath Center, where catechists lead them through the readings and Gospel at their level. They return during the offertory. No registration is required. Sprouts is a parallel program offered at the same times.
- CLOW — preschool through 3rd grade
- Held 1st and 3rd Sundays at 8:30 AM Mass, October–May
- Held in the McGrath Center
- Sprouts program offered at the same times
Youth Ministry
St. John Vianney's Youth Ministry, led by Jessica Palczynski, aims to encourage young people to know God's Word, develop a relationship with Jesus Christ, and become active members of the Church community. Programs include 'Unplugged' for 6th–8th graders, 'L.I.F.T.' for 9th–12th graders, Confirmation preparation in 10th grade, and a Retreat Team for 11th–12th graders. Registration opens each year on June 1.
- Unplugged (grades 6–8)
- L.I.F.T. (grades 9–12)
- Confirmation (10th grade)
- Retreat Team (grades 11–12)
Young Adults
The parish supports a QC (Quad Cities) Young Adult Ministry for adults in their young-adult years — a gathering space for Catholics in their 20s and 30s in the broader Bettendorf/Davenport area.
- QC Young Adult Ministry — contact via the parish office
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments and lists specific staff contacts for each. Baptism inquiries go through the Parish Office; First Communion and First Reconciliation are typically received in 2nd grade; Confirmation is prepared in 10th grade through Youth Ministry; Anointing of the Sick is coordinated through Fr. Rich Adam; Marriage preparation begins with the Parish Office; and inquiries about Holy Orders or the Diaconate are directed to Fr. Rich.
- Baptism — Parish Office ([email protected])
- Eucharist / First Communion — Jeannie Moran ([email protected])
- Confirmation — Jessica Palczynski ([email protected])
- Anointing of the Sick — Fr. Rich Adam (563-332-7910)
- Marriage — Parish Office ([email protected])
- Holy Orders / Vocations — Fr. Rich Adam
Liturgy and Music
Liturgy and Music at SJV is led by Colin Evers, Director of Liturgy & Music ([email protected]). The parish is known for a high quality of liturgical life, including the live-streaming of every Mass via YouTube for parishioners who are homebound or traveling. Children's Liturgy of the Word and Sprouts are integrated into the 8:30 AM Sunday Mass during the school year.
- Colin Evers — Director of Liturgy & Music
- Live-streamed Mass via YouTube (linked from sjvbett.org)
- CLOW and Sprouts integrated into 8:30 AM Sunday Mass
Safe Environment
Jeannie Moran serves as the parish's Safe Environment Coordinator in addition to her role as Director of Religious Education. All adult leaders in children's and youth ministry are required to pass a background check and complete diocesan VIRTUS training, including teen leaders in the Confirmation program who help with CLOW.
- Jeannie Moran — Safe Environment Coordinator
- Background checks and VIRTUS training required for all adult and teen ministry leaders
Visiting and Registering
The parish explicitly welcomes visitors and newcomers and offers straightforward answers to common questions: visitors are not expected to contribute to the offering, and non-Catholics are warmly welcomed but asked not to receive Communion (they may come forward with arms crossed for a blessing). The church has a glass-walled back chapel that is a 'favorite for families that need that environment.' Online registration for the parish is available, and registration for faith-formation programs opens each summer.
- Newcomers welcome — no offering expected from visitors
- Non-Catholics invited to receive a blessing instead of Communion
- Glass-walled back chapel / cry room available
- Online parish registration available
- Faith Formation registration opens in early June
Office and Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM. The main phone line is (563) 332-7910, and the general email is [email protected]. Mass is live-streamed on YouTube, and the parish maintains an active Facebook page.
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8 AM–4 PM, Fri 8 AM–12 PM
- Phone: (563) 332-7910
- General email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/sjvbett
- YouTube: live-streamed and recorded Masses
The 2026 Merger into St. Joan of Arc Parish
In August 2025, Bishop Dennis Walsh of the Diocese of Davenport appointed Fr. Rich Adam as pastor of both St. John Vianney and Our Lady of Lourdes, beginning a year of shared clergy, staff, and ministries between the two parishes. On April 29, 2026, Bishop Walsh issued the 'Episcopus Davenportensis Decree' formally merging the two parishes effective July 1, 2026, into the new St. Joan of Arc Catholic Parish of Bettendorf — a name unanimously chosen by parishioners of both parishes and unveiled in 2023. Fr. Adam was appointed to a six-year term as pastor; the historical and sacramental records of both parishes are kept at the 4097 18th Street offices; the parish residence is 4129 18th Street. The SJV campus remains in active use. A new shared school, St. Joan of Arc Catholic School, opened in fall 2025, replacing Lourdes Catholic School. The long-term diocesan vision is a unified Catholic campus in Bettendorf.
- Bishop Dennis Walsh — Diocese of Davenport
- Episcopus Davenportensis Decree issued April 29, 2026
- Merger effective July 1, 2026
- Fr. Richard Adam — pastor, six-year term
- Parish offices: 4097 18th Street, Bettendorf, IA 52722
- Pastor residence: 4129 18th Street, Bettendorf, IA 52722
- New St. Joan of Arc Catholic School opened fall 2025
- Both SJV and OLOL campuses remain in use
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jim Vrba
Celebrated 40th anniversary of priesthood in 2017 during the parish's 50th anniversary events, indicating long service to SJV.
- Rev. Richard 'Rich' Adam2025–present
Appointed by Bishop Dennis Walsh in August 2025 to pastor both St. John Vianney and Our Lady of Lourdes; named pastor of the merged St. Joan of Arc Parish effective July 1, 2026.