Administrative and Special Services

Sister Jude Fitzpatrick, CHM, serves as director of administrative and special services and assistant to the bishop, a role she has fulfilled since 2005.  She oversees the diocesan archives, safe environment program and building services for the Catholic Pastoral Center.  In addition, she is actively involved in addressing imigration requirements for our international priests.

She has served the Diocese of Des Moines for 31 years as superintendent of schools, chancellor and director of administrative and special services.

Sister Jude's Background

Sister Jude is a native of Dunlap and entered the Congregation of the Humility of Mary in 1959 and professed her first vows in 1962.

She attended Ottumwa Heights College in Ottumwa and received an associate’s degree in education. She received a bachelor’s degree in education from Marycrest College and a master’s in education from Arizona State in Tempe, AZ.  Sister Jude Fitzpatrick furthered her studies in education at Drake University in Des Moines and Iowa State University in Ames.

Her ministry in education included teaching at Lourdes Memorial School in Bettendorf, St. Joseph in Neola and St. Vincent in Davenport.  She was also assistant principal at Lourdes Memorial School and principal at St. Theresa School in Des Moines.

In addition to her many years of service in education and with the Diocese of Des Moines, Sister served her religious community. She was president of the Congregation of the Humility of Mary from 1996-2004.