About Holy Family · Peosta, Iowa
Holy Family Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, located in the rural community of New Melleray near Peosta, Iowa, just steps from the historic New Melleray Trappist Monastery. Founded by the Trappist monks of the abbey in 1850 to serve Irish immigrant settlers in southern Dubuque County, the parish today is a community of about 240 families who gather for worship, religious education, and mutual support. The parish is currently linked in a pastoral grouping with St. Joseph Parish in Key West, sharing clergy and forming one Catholic family across rural western Dubuque.
- Established
- 1850
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Msgr. Tom Toale
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
Holy Family is a warm, country parish of around 240 households tucked into the rolling hills of southern Dubuque County, where the rhythms of rural Iowa life still meet the prayer of a 175-year-old Cistercian community next door. Parishioners worship in a historic 1889 brick church, share faith formation for their children, support one another through community outreach, and live out the Eucharist through regular adoration and the sacrament of reconciliation celebrated by Msgr. Tom Toale and Fr. Martin Obeng. The parish warmly invites newcomers — 'we are always happy to meet new people, everyone is welcome.'
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–3:45 PM at Holy Family, New Melleray
- Saturday 3:45–4:15 PM at St. Joseph, Key West (also available by appointment)
- First Friday 8:00–8:30 AM during the First Friday Holy Hour
Adoration times
- First Friday 8:00–9:00 AM (Holy Hour in honor of First Fridays) at the parish, with confessions during the first 30 minutes
About Holy Family Parish
Holy Family Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic Parish in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, located steps away from New Melleray Trappist Monastery. Its history and spiritual heritage are rooted in the prayerfulness of the monks of New Melleray. The community is dedicated to the glory of God through worship, prayer, education, service, and community support, and describes itself as a warm, active community of about 240 families. The parish keeps an open door: 'we are always happy to meet new people – everyone is welcome.'
- Roman Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of Dubuque
- Located in New Melleray, rural Peosta, Iowa
- Approximately 240 registered families
Parish History: From the Abbey to a Brick Church
Holy Family was founded in 1850 by the monks of New Melleray Abbey, who had arrived from Mount Melleray, Ireland, just a year earlier. Irish immigrant settlers in southern Dubuque County had initially gathered at the monastery for Sunday Mass, then asked the monks to help them form their own parish. A small stone church was built across the road from the abbey; a larger wood-frame church followed at the north end of the present cemetery; and the present brick church was dedicated in April 1889 by Bishop Hennessy. The monks of New Melleray served as pastor of Holy Family from its inception. After the death of Fr. Placid Magee, O.C.S.O., in 1952, the parish came under the care of the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
- 1849 — New Melleray Abbey founded by Trappist monks from Mount Melleray, Ireland
- 1850 — Settlers ask the monks to help form a parish; small stone church built
- Later 19th century — Larger wood-frame church at north end of present cemetery
- April 1889 — Current brick church dedicated by Bishop Hennessy
- 1910–1952 — Fr. Placid Magee, O.C.S.O., serves as pastor
- 1952 — Parish passes to Archdiocese of Dubuque care
- St. Joseph Prairie parish later merged into Holy Family
- 2025 — Parish celebrates 175th anniversary
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Family shares its pastoral staff with its partner parish, St. Joseph in Key West, forming a single Catholic community in the western Dubuque countryside.
- Msgr. Tom Toale — Pastor (563-582-7392)
- Rev. Martin Obeng — Associate Pastor ([email protected])
- Stacy Wimpey — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Parish office phone: 563-582-7392
Sacraments & Religious Education
Holy Family prepares its children and families for the sacraments of initiation and supports lifelong faith formation through programs tied into the combined St. Joseph–Holy Family community.
- Baptism — by arrangement with the parish office
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- First Reconciliation preparation
- Anointing of the Sick / First Friday devotions
- Holy Matrimony — by arrangement with the parish office
Outreach & Mission
The parish reaches beyond its rural neighborhood through mission giving, including support for a diocesan hospital project in Ghana coordinated with the partner St. Joseph Parish community.
- Ghana Hospital Project — parish contributed $12,798.00 in 2024
- Eucharistic Revival mission participation
- Community support and neighbor-to-neighbor outreach
Visit Holy Family in New Melleray
Holy Family sits in the small community of New Melleray, just minutes from Peosta, Iowa, and within sight of the Trappist abbey the parish grew up beside. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any Mass or service, and many combine a visit to Holy Family with time at the monastery's retreat facilities.
- Address: 16318 Holy Family Lane, Peosta, IA (New Melleray)
- Phone: 563-582-7392
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: stjosephkeywest.com/holy-family
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monks of New Melleray Abbey (O.C.S.O./Trappist/Cistercian)1850–1952
Served as pastors of Holy Family from its founding; monks of the abbey built and staffed the parish for more than a century.
- Rev. Placid Magee, O.C.S.O.1910–1952
Longest-tenured monastic pastor; served until his death in 1952, after which the parish came under diocesan care.
- Priests of the Archdiocese of Dubuque1952–present
Diocesan priests have served as pastor since the parish was transferred to archdiocesan administration.