About Us

The Diocese of Des Moines, created in 1911, serves people over a 12,446 square mile area in the southwestern quadrant of Iowa, including 23 counties.

The Diocese of Des Moines is comprised of:

• 108,687 estimated Catholics with a total population of 909,002, according to the 2020 Official Catholic Directory report. We estimate we serve 130,000 when including unregistered Hispanic families.
• 80 parishes
• 17 schools
• 51 active diocesan priests, and
• 4 Catholic hospitals

Bishop William Joensen is our shepherd.  

Retired bishops are:Bishop Richard Patesand Bishop Joseph L. Charron, C.PP.S.

Our diocesan priorities are:

• Meeting the needs of newcomers, particularly Hispanic Catholics
• Growing vocations, particularly to the priesthood
• Encouraging people to understand and support evangelization
• Serving youth and young adults, particularly millennials
• Marriage and family life