About Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary · Lawler, Iowa
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish is a small, Czech-and-German-heritage Catholic community in the hamlet of Little Turkey, near Lawler in northeast Iowa. Founded in 1903 by immigrants who purchased the local Methodist church for $500, the parish constructed its present church in 1915 and today counts roughly 92 families. Since 2008 it has been part of the six-parish Christ Our Hope Cluster in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, sharing clergy and resources with Holy Trinity (Protivin), Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Lawler), St. John Nepomucene (Fort Atkinson), St. Luke (St. Lucas), and St. Mary (Waucoma). Sunday Mass at Assumption is celebrated on a rotating basis through the cluster, and the parish is best known for its annual August 15 picnic that draws more than a thousand people.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- Blessed Virgin Mary (Assumption of the BVM)
- Rector
- Rev. Nick Radloff (cluster pastor)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
Assumption of the BVM is a welcoming, family-sized Catholic community rooted in over 120 years of Czech and German Catholic heritage in northeast Iowa. The parish shares clergy and faith-formation programming with five neighboring parishes through the Christ Our Hope Cluster, so members enjoy a wider circle of fellowship, adult faith formation, and the parish picnic on August 15 that draws well over a thousand people each year. If you are drawn to small-town Catholic life, bilingual liturgical traditions, and a congregation that prides itself on being small but vibrant and youthful, you will find a home here.
Mass times at Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM (before the 4:00 PM Vigil Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Lawler)
- Sunday before the 8:30 AM Mass (cluster-wide)
- By appointment with Fr. Radloff
Parish Identity & Heritage
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish serves the small rural community of Little Turkey, in the Lawler area of Chickasaw County, Iowa. The parish carries a distinct Czech and German Catholic heritage stretching back to its 1903 founding by immigrant families. Today it counts around 92 families and is part of the Christ Our Hope Cluster, a six-parish collaboration in northeast Iowa.
- Founded in 1903
- Current (second) church built in 1915
- Czech and German heritage
- Approximately 92 families
- Patronal Feast Day: August 15 (Assumption of the BVM)
History & Milestones
Assumption's story is one of steady immigrant-rooted growth through the 20th century: a 1915 church built for 55 families, a tornado and rebuild in 1918, Silver (1928), Golden (1953), and Diamond (1978) Jubilees, a 100-year celebration in 2003, and entrance into the Christ Our Hope Cluster in 2008. The parish's last resident priest, Rev. Mark McGovern, served until 1989; since then, Assumption has shared clergy with the cluster.
- 1902 — Methodist church purchased for $500 on the site of the present St. Mary's Cemetery
- March 19, 1903 — first Mass celebrated by Rev. Joseph Dostal
- 1903 — Rev. Godfrey Kramolis appointed first resident pastor
- 1914–1921 — Rev. Vincent Opava oversees building of the current church
- May 19, 1918 — tornado damages the new church; rebuilt by September
- 1936 — Rosary Society founded
- 1946–1953 — Rev. Valentine J. Hlubek serves; 1951 rectory built
- 1979 — bus trip to Des Moines to see Pope John Paul II
- 1987–1989 — Rev. Mark McGovern, last resident priest
- June 29, 2003 — 100-year anniversary celebration
- 2008 — joins Christ Our Hope Cluster
Christ Our Hope Cluster
Since 2008, Assumption has been one of six parishes collaborating as the Christ Our Hope Cluster in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The cluster's stated mission is to offer 'meaningful, fulfilling, and varied avenues of worship, Catholic education, social service, and community life for all ages within our six parishes to support the active practice of Catholic Faith in all that we do.' Cluster offices are located at the Holy Trinity Rectory in Protivin.
- Assumption of the BVM — Little Turkey
- Holy Trinity — Protivin
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel — Lawler
- St. John Nepomucene — Fort Atkinson
- St. Luke — St. Lucas
- St. Mary — Waucoma
Cluster Office & Staff
Day-to-day operations for all six parishes — including Assumption — are coordinated through the Christ Our Hope office.
- Cluster Pastor: Rev. Nick Radloff
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Office phone: (563) 569-8259
- Office: 110 Commercial Ave, PO Box 205, Protivin, IA 52163
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
Faith Formation
Faith formation for all six parishes — including Assumption — is offered through The Light of Christ program, a cluster-wide initiative that embraces lifelong formation rather than stopping at Confirmation. Adult faith formation and sacramental preparation are also coordinated at the cluster level.
- The Light of Christ — cluster-wide faith formation
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Cathy Humpal ([email protected])
- Director of Evangelization: Teri Rosendahl ([email protected])
- Faith Formation Office: 3038 Hwy 24, P.O. Box 119, Lawler, IA 52154
- Office phone: (563) 238-5001
Sacraments
The seven sacraments are celebrated at Assumption of the BVM and across the Christ Our Hope Cluster. Reconciliation is offered routinely before weekend Masses and by appointment. Baptisms, weddings, and Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the cluster office, and First Communion and Confirmation preparation is delivered via The Light of Christ faith formation program.
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- First Communion (Eucharist)
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
Parish Life & Traditions
Assumption's most beloved tradition is the yearly parish picnic on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption, which regularly draws more than 1,000 people from across the region to Little Turkey. The parish also continues the century-old Rosary Society (founded 1936) and participates in cluster-wide fund-raising and community events.
- Annual Assumption Picnic — August 15 (every year)
- Rosary Society (founded 1936)
- Cluster fund-raising events throughout the year
Visit & Contact
Plan a visit by contacting the Christ Our Hope Cluster office in Protivin during office hours (Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 AM–3:00 PM). Mailing address uses the cluster P.O. Box in Protivin.
- Church address: 3303 160th St, Little Turkey, IA 52154
- Mailing: PO Box 205, Protivin, IA 52163
- Phone: (563) 569-8259
- Email (Fr. Radloff): [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Godfrey (Bohumil) Kramolis1903–
First resident pastor of Assumption; officiated at the parish's first marriage.
- Rev. Vincent Opava1914–1921
Directed the construction of the new (current) church in 1915.
- Rev. Valentine J. Hlubek1946–1953
Built the present rectory in 1951; last priest to preach in both Czech and English.
- Rev. Mark McGovern1987–1989
Last resident priest of Assumption before the parish joined the cluster staffing model.
- Rev. J. David Pepper1989–
Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Lawler, assigned in July 1989 also to serve Little Turkey.