About St. Pius X Catholic Church · Urbandale, Iowa
St. Pius X Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Des Moines located in Urbandale, Iowa, serving approximately 1,500 registered Catholic families from the Des Moines, Urbandale and Johnston areas. Founded in 1955 and now running its own K-8 Catholic school, the parish celebrates Mass on weekends and weekdays, offers Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, and operates a wide range of faith-formation, youth, family and outreach ministries. The parish's stated mission is 'Love God, Love Others, Make Disciples, Restore All Things in Christ,' and parishioners are asked to sign a Commitment of Faith as a condition of active membership.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Pius X (Pope St. Pius X)
- Rector
- Fr. Matthew Luft
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
St. Pius X offers the full sacramental life of a Catholic parish — daily and weekend Mass, Eucharistic Adoration all day on Wednesdays, regular Reconciliation, baptism, marriage, and Confirmation preparation — together with a thriving K-8 Catholic school and preschool. Active parishioners can get involved in dozens of ministries: small faith-sharing groups (Fiat Lux), men's groups (AM-Men, Holy Name), the Altar & Rosary JOY women's circles, Teams of Our Lady marriage enrichment, youth ministry, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, and outreach efforts including DMARC Food Pantry and the Salvation Army casserole program. New families register through a Commitment of Faith that asks them to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days, practice stewardship, and support the parish financially — a clear invitation to become part of a tight-knit Catholic community in the Des Moines suburbs.
Mass times at St. Pius X Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM — in the confession rooms off the Narthex; the line forms in the chairs in front of the ramp.
- Friday 9:00 AM — offered by a retired priest face-to-face in the church in front of the Blessed Virgin Mary statue.
- Anytime by appointment — call the parish office at 515-276-2059.
Adoration times
- Wednesday — Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 9:30 AM to 7:00 PM in the church. Begins after the 8:15 AM Mass, continues after the 5:15 PM Mass, and closes with Benediction at 7:00 PM (no Exposition or Benediction after the 5:15 PM Mass on the first Wednesday of the month).
Parish History
St. Pius X was carved out of Holy Trinity Parish in Des Moines in 1955 after Urbandale's Catholic population quintupled in five years. From its makeshift beginnings in a roller rink and a temporary Butler Building, the parish grew to its own church, school and parish center on a five-acre site at 66th Street and Oliver Smith Drive. A 2021 capital campaign funded a major two-story addition connecting the school to the parish center, dedicated on the parish's Feast Day in August 2022.
- Incorporated March 1, 1955 by decree of Bishop Edward C. Daly, O.P.
- Father F.B. Ostdiek (Holy Trinity) purchased the original 5 acres in Cornbelt Acres from Mrs. Mary Lewis in 1950.
- First Masses: July 25, 1955, in a roller rink at 3827 70th Street; 400+ attendees each Sunday.
- First pastor: Fr. Arthur Ring, appointed July 12, 1955.
- Bell from St. Gabriel's Passionist Monastery (Merle Hay Mall site); first rung at the election of Pope John XXIII.
- School opened September 1956 with the Sisters of Humility from Ottumwa; Sr. Mary Camillius was first principal.
- 2021 capital campaign funded new preschool classrooms, Pius Pals rooms, band room, gym bleachers; dedicated August 21, 2022.
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Pius X is led by a pastor and parochial vicar, assisted by three permanent deacons and a lay Professional Ministry Team covering liturgy and music, faith formation, youth ministry, outreach, administration, communications, and buildings and grounds. The school has its own principal and assistant principal.
- Pastor: Fr. Matthew Luft (since 2023)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. John Owusu-Agyemang
- Permanent Deacons: Dcn. Jim Houston, Dcn. Rob Stark, Dcn. Troy Thompson
- Director of Administration: Dean Roth
- Director of Evangelization Ministries: Dr. Cheryl Fournier
- Children's Ministries: Dorothy Miller
- Liturgy & Music Ministry: Cathy Moellenbeck & Beth Handeland
- Youth Ministry: Ben Lockwood
- Parish Activities / Christian Initiation: Mary Sue Lone
- Outreach Ministries: Mary Houston
- Bookkeeper / Digital Communications: Jill Snell
- Buildings & Grounds: Norm Bormann
- Administrative Assistant: Sharon Lyddon
- Principal: Alex Baranosky; Assistant Principal: Jordan Blackburn
St. Pius X Catholic School
The parish school opened in September 1956 and now serves Preschool (age 3) and Pre-Kindergarten (age 4) through Grade 8, with before- and after-school care through Pius Pals. Students attend weekly Mass together, prepare for the sacraments in 2nd grade, and follow a curriculum that includes Catholic Faith Formation, language arts, math, science, social studies, Spanish, music, band, art, STEM, guidance and physical education.
- Preschool (3-year-olds) and Pre-Kindergarten (4-year-olds) — follow Iowa Quality Early Learning Standards
- Grades K–8; weekly school Mass on Wednesdays
- Pius Pals before- and after-school care (Iowa DHS licensed)
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in 2nd grade
- Curriculum: Catholic Faith Formation, Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Spanish, Phonics, Reading, Spelling, Handwriting, Music, Band, Visual Art, STEM, Guidance, PE, Health/Safety, Library
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Faith formation at St. Pius X spans the youngest children through adults, including the Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Children's Faith Formation (grades 1–6) using Loyola Press's 'Finding God,' a mentor-based Confirmation program for high-school sophomores, and a wide menu of adult offerings from men's studies to scripture study and Fiat Lux small groups.
- Children's Faith Formation (grades 1–6): Wed evenings 6:00–7:15 PM in the school
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium (Level I, ages 3–6): Sundays during 9:00 AM Mass
- Children's Liturgy of the Word during Mass
- Confirmation: prep begins with a mandatory meeting in May of Freshman year; sacrament in Sophomore year; mentor-based (Dr. Cheryl Fournier, 515-278-5684)
- Adult Faith Formation: AM-Men, Holy Name Men's Group, Monday Bible Study, scripture studies, Fiat Lux small groups
Parish Groups & Fellowship
Beyond faith formation, the parish supports a rich community life through long-standing women's, men's, marriage, and moms' groups. Many of these communities meet in the Martha & Mary Fellowship Hall and use Flocknote email to stay connected.
- Altar & Rosary JOY — women's group with Circles: Ave Maria, St. Francis, Martha & Mary, St. Elizabeth, St. Bernadette, St. Anne
- Daughters of Our Lord and Lady (DOLLS) — moms' group, 2nd & 4th Thursdays, Sept–May
- AM-Men — Catholic men's study, Tue 6:30–7:30 AM, Martha & Mary room
- Holy Name Men's Group — first Tuesdays at 6:30 PM in the Band Room
- Teams of Our Lady (TOOL) — international movement for married couples
- Friday-morning men's rosary — 6:00 AM, Martha & Mary Fellowship Hall
- Fiat Lux small groups — friendship and faith-sharing in parishioner-led groups
Outreach & Community Service
Outreach Ministries and the parish's Community Outreach Committee coordinate service to the wider Des Moines area. The parish has set tangible goals — like providing 1,000 casseroles in a year to the Salvation Army Canteen — and regularly collects for the DMARC Food Pantry. The Altar & Rosary JOY circles also support Catholic Charities, the Urbandale Food Pantry, the Urbandale Community Action Network, Bishop Drumm, and the parish's homebound and hospice members.
- DMARC Food Pantry collections on designated weekends
- Salvation Army Canteen breakfast casserole program — every other month (880 casseroles and 1,958 boxes of cereal contributed in 2023)
- Urbandale Food Pantry
- Urbandale Community Action Network
- Catholic Charities and its umbrella of services
- Bishop Drumm Retirement Center
- Hospice House refreshments
- Visits and care for homebound parishioners
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
St. Pius X celebrates all seven sacraments, with Baptism at weekend Masses (first-time parents take a required class), First Reconciliation and First Communion in 2nd grade, Confirmation in Sophomore year, and Matrimony scheduled at least six months in advance through the parish wedding coordinator. Pastoral care for the sick and homebound is coordinated through the Outreach office.
- Baptism — at weekend Masses; required Pre-Baptism Class for first-time parents; contact Sharon Lyddon
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — 2nd grade, prepared through the school
- Confirmation — Sophomore year; mentor-based (Dr. Cheryl Fournier)
- Marriage — 6–12 months advance notice; 'God's Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage' workshop, FOCCUS, NFP course, certified baptismal certificates; contact Fr. Matthew Luft or Sharon Lyddon
- Pastoral Care / Outreach — Dcn. Jim Houston, 515-237-5034, [email protected]
Parish Registration & Commitment of Faith
Becoming an active parishioner at St. Pius X involves signing a Commitment of Faith that was introduced in 2023 for school families and expanded in 2025 to all registered families by the Diocese of Des Moines. The Commitment asks parishioners to attend Sunday and Holy Day Mass, practice stewardship of time, talent and treasure, and meet financial responsibilities to the parish and school.
- Welcome letter signed by Fr. Matthew Luft
- Mission: 'Love God, Love Others, Make Disciples, Restore All Things in Christ'
- Diocese-defined active parishioner: registered, attending Mass, practicing stewardship, financially supporting parish and school
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Arthur Ring1955–1974
First pastor of St. Pius X; appointed by Bishop Daly on July 12, 1955.
- Fr. Maurice Schulte1974–1982
- Fr. Arthur McCann1982–1987
- Fr. Frank Bognanno1987
- Msgr. Edward Hurley1988–1997
- Msgr. Joseph McDonnell1997–2012
- Fr. David Fleming2012–2023
- Fr. Matthew Luft2023–present
Current pastor; leads the parish's 'Love God, Love Others, Make Disciples, Restore All Things in Christ' mission.