Archdiocese of Dubuque Announces Final Pastorate Plans

The Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque announced the results this weekend of its plans to reorganize. 

Archbishop Thomas Zinkula says in a statement that the Archdiocese will reorganize its 160 parishes serving 180-thousand Catholics into 24 pastorates, with the change going into effect July 14th.

The Archbishop sent individual letters to the 160 parishes explaining what will happen to them. Nearly half will no longer hold weekend masses. The decision comes after what the Archbishop calls a yearlong “Journey in Faith” discernment process.

He says the changes are NOT a sign of failure.

The six pastorate plans in our area include:

Manchester Area Pastorate, which includes Manchester, Dyersville, Delhi, Petersburg, New Vienna, Worthington, Earlville, Ryan and Masonville. Dyersville will host three weekend Masses and one Spanish Mass, Manchester will also have three, Delhi will have one and Petersburg will host one weekend Mass. There will no longer be weekend Masses at New Vienna, Worthington, Earlville, Ryan and Masonville.

Oelwein Area Pastorate, which includes Edgewood, Oelwein, Elkader, West Union, Colesburg, Strawberry Point, Guttenberg, Garnavillo, Volga, Fayette, Clermont, Sumner and Pinhook. Edgewood will host two weekend Masses and Elkader, Oelwein, Guttenberg and West Union will have one. There will no longer be weekend Masses at Colesburg, Strawberry Point, Garnavillo, Volga, Fayette, Clermont, Sumner and Pinhook.

Peosta Area Pastorate, which includes Farley, Peosta, Holy Cross, Luxemburg, North Buena Vista, Balltown, Sherrill, Rickardsville, Bankston, Epworth and Placid. Peosta will host three weekend Masses and Farley and Holy Cross will each host two. There will no longer be weekend Masses at Luxemburg, North Buena Vista, Balltown, Sherrill, Rickardsville, Bankston, Epworth and Placid. 

Anamosa Area Pastorate, which includes Cascade, Monticello, Anamosa, Hopkinton, Prairieburg, Stone City, Garryowen, Temple Hill and Fillmore. Cascade will host three weekend Masses, Monticello will host two and Anamosa will host one. There will no longer be weekend Masses at Hopkinton, Prairieburg, Stone City, Garryowen, Temple Hill and Fillmore. 

Independence Area Pastorate, which includes Independence, Winthrop, Monti, Jesup, Gilbertville, Fairbank, Barclay, Raymond, LaPorte City and Eagle Center. Gilbertville will host three weekend Masses, with Independence and Jesup each hosting two. There will no longer be weekend Masses at Winthrop, Monti, Fairbank, Barclay, Raymond, LaPorte City and Eagle Center.

Cedar Rapids Area Pastorate, which includes Coggon, Walker, Central City, Springville, Marion, Hiawatha, Urbana and Vinton. Marion and Hiawatha will each host three weekend Masses, while Central City and Urbana will each host one. There will no longer be weekend Masses at Coggon, Walker, Springville and Vinton.

Zinkula says there are voices and concerns that risk dividing the church, particularly around Sunday Mass in some communities. But he says he is “confident that as we remain united in the Holy Spirit and grounded in the Eucharist, wherever we gather for worship the Lord will bring this process to a good and grace-filled outcome”.

You can find more information here: https://www.dbqjourneyinfaith.org/

partial story contribution and audio courtesy of Radio Iowa