St. John Vianney Campus

The St. John Vianney Campus traces its origins to 1967, when the Diocese of Davenport established a new parish to serve the rapidly growing northern portion of Bettendorf. Named after St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, the parish was founded with an eye toward the future. At the time, the surrounding area was largely farmland, and the church stood near a rural cornfield just south of what was then a gravel road, now 53rd Avenue. Parish leaders recognized that Bettendorf was growing northward and envisioned a Catholic presence that would serve generations to come.

That vision quickly became reality. In September 1969, Bishop Gerald O’Keefe and Bettendorf Mayor Frank Tucker joined parishioners for the laying of the church cornerstone, and the first Mass was celebrated later that year. Beginning with approximately 300 families, St. John Vianney became a spiritual home for countless Catholics who settled in Bettendorf during the city’s most significant period of residential growth.

As the community expanded, so did the parish. The McGrath Center for religious education was added in 1985, sanctuary improvements were completed in 1990, and a major church expansion project was completed in 2004. By its fiftieth anniversary in 2017, the cornfields that once surrounded the church had become the heart of Bettendorf, and St. John Vianney had grown into one of the largest parishes in the Diocese of Davenport.

Throughout its history, St. John Vianney has been known for strong parish life, vibrant liturgical ministries, dedicated volunteers, and a commitment to Catholic formation. The parish’s preschool program served generations of young families and helped lay the foundation for Catholic education in northern Bettendorf.

A significant new chapter began in 2023 when leaders from St. John Vianney and Our Lady of Lourdes began formal discussions about unifying Catholic education in Bettendorf. That vision became reality in 2025 with the opening of St. Joan of Arc Catholic School on Hopewell Avenue. The new school brought together the students of Lourdes Catholic School and the St. John Vianney Preschool into one state-of-the-art campus, creating a shared future for Catholic education in the community.

Later in 2025, under the leadership of Father Richard Adam, who served as pastor of both St. John Vianney and Our Lady of Lourdes, the two parishes began a formal process of consultation, planning, and discernment regarding the future of Catholic ministry in Bettendorf. Following extensive consultation with parishioners, staff, councils, and diocesan leadership, Bishop Dennis Walsh approved the unification of the two parishes.

On July 1, 2026, St. John Vianney Parish and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish officially became St. Joan of Arc Parish of Bettendorf, Iowa. Today, the St. John Vianney Campus continues as one of two worship campuses of St. Joan of Arc Parish, carrying forward a legacy of faith, growth, and service while helping shape the future of Catholic life in Bettendorf.