Archdiocese of Dubuque

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The Archdiocese of Dubuque is the Catholic Church’s Latin‑rite territory in northeastern Iowa. It covers about 17,400 square miles and includes roughly 30 counties. There are about 183,700 Catholics in the archdiocese, served by 163 parishes organized into eight deaneries. The cathedral is St. Raphael’s in Dubuque, dedicated to St. Raphael the Archangel. The archdiocese is led by Archbishop Thomas Zinkula (appointed in 2023) and is a metropolitan see with three suffragan dioceses: Davenport, Des Moines, and Sioux City.

History in brief: The first Catholics in the region were French‑Canadian, German and Irish settlers. Missionaries arrived in the 17th–18th centuries. The Diocese of Dubuque was established in 1837 and elevated to an archdiocese in 1893. St. Raphael’s Cathedral was built during the 1850s. The archdiocese fostered Catholic education and religious orders, founding St. Raphael Seminary (which later became Loras College) and St. Joseph’s Academy (later Clarke University). Over time, immigrant communities shaped parish life and school development. In 1902 Sioux City was created from the archdiocese’s western territory; Des Moines and Davenport followed later as separate dioceses.

Leadership and development: Throughout its history, leaders emphasized Catholic education, parish life, and lay involvement. In the late 20th century, Archbishop Jerome Hanus promoted a reform plan to increase lay leadership and respond to changes in the church. After Bishop Michael Jackels was appointed in 2013, he retired in 2023 and Archbishop Thomas Zinkula was named the 11th archbishop. An apostolic administrator briefly led the archdiocese before Zinkula took full leadership.

Education and schools: The archdiocese supports Catholic higher education and schools, including Loras College and Clarke University in Dubuque and Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids. All Catholic schools in the area are part of the Holy Family system.

Challenges and current plans: Like many Catholic jurisdictions, Dubuque has faced the church’s sexual abuse crisis, including settlements with victims. The archdiocese continues to address priest shortages, parish realignment, and changing demographics. In 2025, it announced a restructuring plan called Journey in Faith to respond to declines in Mass attendance and marriages, aiming to focus resources on fewer churches.