About St. Pius X · Cedar Rapids, Iowa
St. Pius X Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in northeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Founded in 1959 by Archbishop Leo Binz and first gathered as a community on September 25, 1960, the parish grew around 400 founding families who initially worshipped at Regis High School. Today the parish is served by Rev. Jon Seda and supports a vibrant campus that includes St. Pius X Elementary School (part of Xavier Catholic Schools), a perpetual Adoration Chapel, and a wide range of faith formation, social justice, fellowship, and pastoral care ministries for all ages.
- Established
- 1959 (incorporated); first Mass celebrated September 25, 1960
- Patron
- St. Pius X (Pope Pius X, canonized 1954)
- Rector
- Rev. Jon Seda
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Pius X is a welcoming northeast Cedar Rapids parish with weekend and daily Mass, a perpetual Adoration Chapel open Monday through Friday, weekly Eucharistic Adoration in the church on Wednesdays and Fridays, and Saturday confession. Parishioners of every age can get involved through the Faith Formation Commission (adult and youth ministry), Social Justice Committee, Faith in Action group, Men's Prayer Group and breakfast, Bible in a Year discussions, Sunday Morning Socials, Martha's Meals, Golden Age (55+) luncheons, the funeral luncheon team, liturgical ministries, and a long-standing Haiti mission partnership supported by an annual Golf Benefit. The parish also helps sustain St. Pius X Elementary School as part of Xavier Catholic Schools.
Mass times at St. Pius X
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- By appointment (contact Fr. Jon Seda at 319-393-4445 / 515-292-1192)
Adoration times
- Monday – Friday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (St. Pius Adoration Chapel, near the Parish Office entrance)
- Wednesday: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration in the church)
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration in the church)
Parish Identity & History
St. Pius X Parish is a Catholic community in the northeast quadrant of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, founded in 1959 by Archbishop Leo Binz and named for Pope St. Pius X, who had been canonized in 1954. The parish was incorporated in 1959, and about 400 founding families first gathered for Mass on September 25, 1960 at Regis High School, which served as a temporary church while the parish plant at 4949 Council Street NE was developed. The parish remains a member of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and today shares its campus with St. Pius X Elementary School, part of Xavier Catholic Schools.
- Founded: 1959 (incorporated); first Mass: September 25, 1960
- Founder: Archbishop Leo Binz, Archdiocese of Dubuque
- Patron: St. Pius X (Pope, canonized 1954)
- Original site: Collins Road and Council Street NE
- Temporary church: Regis High School
- Feast of St. Pius X: August 21 (current Roman Calendar) / September 3 (Extraordinary Form)
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Pius X is served by Pastor Rev. Jon Seda, who can be reached through the parish office or directly for confession appointments, anointing, and pastoral conversations. A team of parish staff and ministry coordinators supports the work of liturgy, faith formation, fellowship, and outreach.
- Pastor: Rev. Jon Seda (319-393-4445)
- Parish Secretary: Mary Swiderski (319-393-4445 x124)
- Fellowship & Stewardship Coordinator: Karissa Forde (319-393-4445 x117)
- Director of Faith Formation: Tony (Anthony) Lavorata
- Director of Religious Education & Sacraments: Deanna Gerber
- Coordinator of Pastoral Ministries: Jody Esker (319-393-4445 x135)
- Accountant: Melanie Martin-Trainor
- Social Justice contact: Cyndy Logue
- Liturgical Ministries and Pastoral Care volunteers support weekend and weekday Masses
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Pius X is organized through the Faith Formation Commission, a consultative body that develops faith-enriching opportunities for adults, young adults, adolescents, catechetical-age children, early childhood, families, persons with disabilities, and the marginalized. The commission works on the six tasks of catechesis: knowledge of the faith, liturgical education, moral formation, teaching to pray, education for community life, and missionary initiation.
- Faith Formation Commission members include Fr. Jon Seda, Tony Lavorata (staff), Miquel Melchert (Pastoral Council liaison), Scott Stadelmann, Kara Becker, Isaac Niess, and Allison Niess
- Adult Ministries: Bible in a Year Discussion, The Life of King David Video Series, study programs
- Youth Ministries for adolescents and catechetical-age children
- Director of Religious Education & Sacraments: Deanna Gerber
- RCIA and inquiry for those exploring the Catholic faith
- Learn your faith resources linked from crpiusx.org/learn
St. Pius X Elementary School (Xavier Catholic Schools)
St. Pius X School is the parish's Catholic elementary school serving PK through 5th grade on the parish campus at 4901 Council Street NE. The school is supported jointly by St. Pius X Parish and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and is a founding member of Xavier Catholic Schools, the unified K-12 Catholic school system serving the Cedar Rapids and Marion metro area under the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Xavier Catholic Schools formally began operating as a single corporation on July 1, 2024, unifying nine area schools around a common mission while each retains its parish identity.
- Grades: PK–5 (Early Learning Center and Elementary)
- Sponsored parishes: St. Pius X and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Feeder middle school: Regis Middle School (grades 6–8)
- Feeder high school: Xavier High School (grades 9–12)
- Unified as Xavier Catholic Schools effective July 1, 2024
- Part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque schools system
Pastoral Care & Outreach
The Pastoral Care Team assists the pastor in meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of the parish community. Members of the team pray with and visit parishioners, bring Communion to the homebound and to those in care centers, and support families through illness, bereavement, and life transitions. All conversations are kept strictly confidential.
- Ministers of Communion to Care Centers
- Ministers of Communion to the Homebound
- Home and Hospital visits (by request)
- Meal Ministry – Martha's Meals
- Vigil and Funeral Preparations / Funerals: What Catholics Believe
- Bereavement Support
- Divorce and Beyond
- Prayer Request ministry
- Golden Age Lunch for the 55+ community – 2nd Tuesday at 12:00 PM in Pius Hall
- Coordinator: Jody Esker (319-393-4445 x135)
Fellowship & Community Life
St. Pius X is known for its parish community life and the many small groups that gather on and off campus. Fellowship activities range from monthly Sunday Morning Socials after Mass to a 55+ luncheon, a Men's Prayer Group that meets for breakfast and accountability, and women's and family faith gatherings throughout the year.
- Sunday Morning Socials (donuts after Mass once a month)
- Childcare volunteer opportunities
- Funeral luncheon team (cooks and bakers)
- Men's Prayer Group – weekly breakfast and faith study
- Golden Age (55+) community luncheons – 2nd Tuesday, 12:00 PM, Pius Hall
- Fellowship & Stewardship Coordinator: Karissa Forde
Social Justice & Faith in Action
The Social Justice Committee and Faith in Action group organize the parish's outreach beyond its walls, addressing local needs in the Cedar Rapids community and supporting the parish's long-standing mission partnership in Haiti. Parishioners are invited to participate in committee meetings, justice education, and direct service opportunities.
- Social Justice Committee (contact: Cyndy Logue)
- Faith in Action meetings
- Cedar Rapids community outreach efforts
- Haiti Mission Partnership – supported by Sunday offertory and the annual Haiti Golf Benefit in August
- Mission started by Sr. Luvia Joseph; the parish has shared a portion of its Sunday collection with this work for over a decade
Get Involved & New Members
St. Pius X welcomes new members and visitors. The parish website offers a registration form for anyone wishing to become a member of the parish or to learn more about the Catholic faith, and a robust Get Involved page lists current volunteer openings in liturgy, fellowship, hospitality, outreach, and pastoral care.
- Register with the parish via crpiusx.org/register-with-us
- Liturgical Ministries volunteers (weekend and weekday Masses)
- Fellowship and Sunday Morning Social leads
- Childcare volunteers
- Funeral luncheon team
- Meal Ministry (Martha's Meals) – cook or receive
- Haiti Golf Benefit planning team
- Contact: Karissa Forde (Fellowship & Stewardship Coordinator)
Visit, Contact & Practical Information
The parish office is open during normal business hours at 4949 Council Street NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402. Visitors can call the parish office, email the secretary, or schedule a meeting with staff through the website. The parish is located at the intersection of Collins Road and Council Street NE in northeast Cedar Rapids, with on-campus parking and a perpetual Adoration Chapel near the office entrance open Monday through Friday.
- Address: 4949 Council Street NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
- Phone: 319-393-4445
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Website: http://crpiusx.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/crpiusx/
- School website: stpiusxschoolcr.com
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Dubuque