New Clinton church is dedicated Saturday (2024)

CLINTON — "After almost 19 years as a parish, we now have a church that bears our name.”

That was the greeting of the Rev. Anthony J. Herold, pastor of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Clinton, to the 600-plus parishioners and friends who crowded the new church for its dedication on Saturday morning.

Established in 1990, the parish resulted from the consolidation of the five Catholic parishes that had served the Catholic community of Clinton since 1852. In the years since its birth, Prince of Peace studied many ways to provide for the spiritual needs of parishioners, deciding in 2003 to build a new church on Clinton’s growing west side.

Two capital campaigns raised nearly $5.6 million — enough to purchase land and begin construction of a fully handicapped accessible, energy efficient church and office space to serve the present and future needs of the parish.

Thousands of parishioners took part in the planning and preparation for the new church, the capstone in the growth and development of the parish that also includes construction of the Prince of Peace Education Center to serve Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Academy and College Preparatory School and the Religious Education program. Consultants and architects from Chicago, Dallas and Omaha were enlisted to guide the planning. Estes Construction of the Quad-Cities was hired as general contractor.

The Most Rev. Martin Amos, Bishop of Davenport, presided at Saturday’s dedication, blessing the church building and appointments with holy water, oil and incense.

Some of the incense used in the ceremony was brought from the Diocese of Chulucanas, Peru, by parishioners who visited their sister parish there four years ago.

“We knew this day would come,” said Ray Mantsch, who carried the incense back.

“The dedication today of (your new) church is an opportunity for each of us to re-dedicate our lives to the mission of Jesus Christ as we pledge to sanctify our families, our neighborhoods and our communities,” Amos said in his opening remarks. “To gather as Catholics is central to who we are. In the house of the Church we come…to hear the Word and celebrate the sacraments…to give thanks for new beginnings in baptisms and weddings, for the gift of a life now returned to God in our funeral rites…to be fed (around the Table) and then sent out to feed a hungry world.”

Amos was joined by dozens of invited guests including retired Bishop of Davenport William Franklin; the first pastor of Prince of Peace Parish, Rev. Ronald Young; 42 other priests of the diocese including many who have served the parish in the past; Mayor Rodger Holm and former Mayor LaMetta Wynn; and State Rep. Polly Bukta, a member of the parish.

The procession into the new church was led by a banner pole bearing 75 4-foot white ribbons signed by more than 2,000 parishioners and friends during the last month. The ribbons were taken to nursing homes, schools, the hospital and on visits to homebound parishioners in addition to being available at parish functions.

“The ribbon pole symbolizes our unity as we enter our new church to continue our rich traditions,” explained Mantsch, who developed the project.

The style of the new church building is described by its architect, Randy Milbrath, as reflecting the history of the Iowa region.

“Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Church has been envisioned as a place that embraces the future from the rich foundation of the history of its members and this Iowa community. The Catholic community in Clinton developed during a period of time between the 1850s into the turn of the century that mirrored the growth of the Arts and Crafts Movement and Eastlake Victorian style in the United States,” wrote Milbrath in a letter to parishioners. “The parishes of Clinton, though diverse, also gathered in their artwork and furnishings, designs that shared similar ideals and ‘style.’ That style evoked traditional craftsmanship, spirituality, and reverence for humanist values. The architecture (of the) new (church) seeks to incorporate those wonderful treasures of artful appointments, sacred images, and furnishings which continue the proclamation and celebration of the liturgy in this new building by employing an Arts and Crafts theme throughout.”

The overall openness and light in the building provided by massive, arched windows on all sides reflect the parish’s desire for a place that will encourage community and provide a visual connection between what is done inside, that is, worship, and the sending forth to build up the kingdom of God. Seating is semi-circular with a slight slope to the altar space.

Entrance to the body of the church is past a large recessed baptismal font, symbolizing the rite of initiation. The font will be used for the first time during Holy Week services next month.

“We are building on the past, cognizant of our responsibility for the future,” wrote Father Herold in his letter to parishioners marking the dedication. In this church, God’s work will be proclaimed to future generations. As we enter our new home today, let us renew our commitments to draw all people into God’s eternal embrace and create a place of welcome and hospitality, for in this new home, our new church, all are welcome.”