About St. John XXIII · Cedar Rapids, Iowa
St. John XXIII Catholic Church is a parish in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, founded in 2000 to serve the growing Catholic population on the southwest side of the city and southwest Linn County. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Dubuque and is pastored by Rev. Greg Bahl. Its mission statement commits parishioners to be disciples of Jesus through prayer, worship, study and service, and the community supports a wide range of liturgical, faith formation, youth, and outreach ministries on its campus at 8100 Roncalli Drive SW.
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- St. Pope John XXIII (formerly Blessed Pope John XXIII, canonized 2014)
- Rector
- Rev. Greg Bahl
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. John XXIII is a vibrant, Spirit-filled parish on Cedar Rapids' southwest side where parishioners are actively involved in making the community a welcoming place of prayer, worship, study, and service. A wide range of lay-led opportunities — liturgical ministry, choir, faith formation teaching, RCIA/OCIA sponsorship, men's and women's faith-sharing groups, youth ministry, prayer shawl ministry, and outreach to the sick and homebound — make it easy to find a meaningful way to belong. Daily and weekend Mass, weekly Eucharistic adoration, and a family-based religious education program support the faith life of every age and stage.
Mass times at St. John XXIII
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 7:30 am
- Wednesday 7:30 am
- Friday 11:30 am – noon
- Saturday 2:30 – 3:45 pm
- Sunday 7:30 – 7:45 am
- Or by appointment (email [email protected])
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Tuesday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
About St. John XXIII Parish
St. John XXIII is a Catholic parish in southwest Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Its mission is simple and explicit: 'We, the parishioners of St. John XXIII, commit to be disciples of Jesus through prayer, worship, study and service.' In his welcome message, pastor Rev. Greg Bahl describes the parish as a vibrant church filled with the Holy Spirit, where parishioners are actively involved in making the faith community a welcoming place of prayer, worship, study and service.
- Founded September 3, 2000
- Member of the Cedar Rapids Area West Pastorate
- Located at 8100 Roncalli Dr. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
- Pastored by Rev. Greg Bahl
History of St. John XXIII
Created in 2000 to serve growing Catholic families on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids and southwest Linn County, the parish first gathered for Mass in Taft Middle School. After more than three years there, the community moved to a purpose-built multi-purpose center on 80th Street SW designed by Novak Design Group and built by Kleiman Construction. Archbishop Jerome Hanus blessed the new church on February 1, 2004. The worship space was furnished with sacred items reassembled from neighboring parishes — Holy Trinity in Walford, St. Pius X in Cedar Rapids, and the closed St. Patrick in Dumont. In 2010 the parish merged with St. Patrick's in Fairfax, and in July 2013 it adopted its current name following the canonization of Pope John XXIII.
- First Mass: September 3, 2000 at Taft Middle School, celebrated by Archbishop Jerome Hanus
- Permanent church blessed February 1, 2004
- 2010 merger with St. Patrick's, Fairfax
- Renamed St. John XXIII Parish, July 2013
- Furnishings from Holy Trinity (Walford), St. Pius X (Cedar Rapids), and St. Patrick (Dumont)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by pastor Rev. Greg Bahl and supported by a staff team reachable through the parish office at (319) 846-3139. Email addresses follow the pattern first initial + last name @dbqarch.org.
- Rev. Greg Bahl – Pastor (Ext. 103, [email protected])
- Deacon Stanley Scheiding (Ext. 110)
- Ron Junge – Business Manager (Ext. 102)
- Vicki Hergert – (parish life/ministry contact, [email protected])
- Jerica Christensen – Director of Faith Formation (Ext. 104, [email protected])
- Sabrina Marte – Youth Ministry (Ext. 113)
Faith Formation
St. John XXIII describes its educational apostolate as guiding individuals across the six tasks of catechesis and ten primary areas — from early childhood through the elderly and the marginalized. The parish stresses that the central time of learning for both adults and children is at weekend Mass, supplemented by parish classes and at-home lessons.
- Promoting knowledge of faith
- Liturgical education
- Morality formation
- Education on how to pray
- Education for community life
- Missionary initiation
Religious Education (K–Grade School)
St. John XXIII runs a family-based Religious Education Program for children, with classes running September through April. The registration fee is $90 per child, and online registration opens each July 1. Parents are invited to teach or assist with classes, reinforcing that faith formation begins at home and at the parish altar.
- Classes September–April
- $90 per child registration fee
- Online registration opens July 1
- Family-based model
- Contact: Director of Faith Formation
Adult Faith Formation & Small Groups
The parish takes adult faith formation seriously, describing it as 'essential to who we are and what we do as Church.' A variety of regular groups meet throughout the week for study, sharing, and prayer.
- Men of Action – men's faith sharing, Tuesdays 6:30 am & 6:00 pm
- Faith Study Group – Wednesdays 10:00 am
- Scripture Sharing – Thursdays 1:00–2:30 pm (discussion of upcoming Sunday readings)
- St. Monica's Hope – prayer group for loved ones not practicing their faith, third Monday of the month 12:15–1:15 pm
OCIA – Becoming Catholic
The parish uses the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) to welcome adults who are unbaptized or already baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. The parish describes OCIA as an 'apprenticeship in the Catholic way of life' — a combination of spiritual growth, service, community, and informal discussion of scripture and Catholic teaching, with each inquirer accompanied by a sponsor.
- For unbaptized adults and already-baptized Christians entering full communion
- Includes sponsor accompaniment
- Contact Fr. Greg Bahl or [email protected]
Sharing Your Time & Talent (Parish Life & Volunteering)
Parishioners are invited to share their gifts in service to the parish and those in need. The parish offers a wide catalog of lay volunteer opportunities — liturgical, musical, educational, and practical — and welcomes new participants through its online volunteer sign-up.
- Liturgical ministries (Eucharistic minister, lector, usher, altar server, greeter, sacristan)
- Choir / instrumentalists
- Teaching RE / leading Children's Liturgy
- Event planning and parish committees
- Gardening, lawn care, cleaning, maintenance
- Communion to the sick and homebound
- Welcoming new parishioners
- Funeral dinners / food donations
- Prayer shawls (quilting / crocheting)
- Adult faith formation leaders
- RCIA / OCIA sponsors
- Childcare, counting contributions, fundraising, food drives
Sacraments
St. John XXIII prepares parishioners for and celebrates all the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Reconciliation is offered on a weekly schedule (and by appointment), baptism, first Communion, and confirmation are prepared through the Religious Education Program, marriage preparation is coordinated through the parish office, and the homebound and sick are visited by Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
- Baptism preparation
- First Reconciliation and First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Communion to the Sick and Homebound
- OCIA for adults
Visit, Contact & Directions
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and Friday, 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. The church is on 80th Street SW, easily reached from Highway 30 (exit 246), 16th Avenue, or Highway 151 via Fairfax.
- Office: (319) 319-846-3139, Fax: 319-846-3159
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 am–4:30 pm; Fri 8:00 am–2:00 pm
- From Hwy 30 (Exit 246): south on 80th St., one mile on the right
- From 16th Avenue: south on 80th St., one mile on the right
- From Hwy 151 (Fairfax): north on 80th St., one mile on the left