Worship Director moves to Archdiocese of Milwaukee

August 8, 2018

Des Moines diocesan Worship Director Kimberly Mandelkow will become the Director of the Office for Worship with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in early September. She has served the Des Moines diocese for three years. Her last day in Des Moines will be Aug. 31.

Mandelkow has been a key resource for the bishop and the diocese’s 80 parishes in the ongoing renewal of liturgical life and formation.

“We’re very grateful to Kim for the dedicated expertise and service she brought to the diocese,” said Bishop Richard Pates. “She has reached out to our refugee and immigrant communities, incorporating their spirit and music into our liturgies. She also has welcomed participation of parishes across the diocese in our liturgies so they reflect our diocesan faith community. We wish her well in her new position.”

Working with Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, Mandelkow will help the archdiocese continue its development of a long-range strategic plan of enhancing parish supportive services and development of intercultural liturgy. She will also be a part of a new program which is still developing between the archdiocese and a local college providing formation and training of church music ministers.

“The past three years with the Diocese of Des Moines have been a wonderful opportunity for me to grow in diocesan ministry…,” Mandelkow wrote to Bishop Pates. “I will miss the great many friends, both clergy and lay, that I have made here in the diocese.”

The Minnesota native came to the Diocese of Des Moines after having lived a life of work, prayer and service while in the religious community of the Sisters of St. Benedict. She has ministered in Missouri, Indiana and Kentucky. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College in Minnesota, a master’s degree in pastoral ministry and liturgy from St. Meinrad School of Theology in Indiana.