About Holy Trinity · Protivin, Iowa
Holy Trinity Parish is a small, family-oriented Roman Catholic parish in Protivin, Iowa, founded in 1878 by Czech Catholic settlers and still very much shaped by that heritage 145+ years later. The parish serves about 243 families and is part of the Christ Our Hope Cluster, a six-parish collaboration of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in northeast Iowa. Its current church building dates to 1907, and the parish runs the well-known annual Czech Days festival each August.
- Established
- 1878
- Patron
- Holy Trinity
- Rector
- Rev. Nick Radloff (Cluster Pastor for Christ Our Hope)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
Holy Trinity is a tight-knit Czech-Catholic community of about 243 families in northeast Iowa that still lives its heritage — annual Czech Days Masses with the Czech Choir, traditional polka music, kolaches, and four generations of family ties — while joining hands with five neighboring parishes through the Christ Our Hope Cluster. Visitors are welcomed to weekday and Sunday Mass (Sunday 8:30 am in the 1907 church on N Main St.), Reconciliation before Mass or by appointment, faith formation for all ages, and the famous August Czech Days festival. If you want a parish where your kids go to the same school, your grandparents are buried in the parish cemetery, and your priest knows your name, Holy Trinity is exactly that.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before the 4:00 pm Saturday Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Lawler
- Before the 8:30 am Sunday Mass at Holy Trinity, Protivin
- By appointment with Fr. Nick Radloff (call 563-569-8259 or 563-534-7299 after hours)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered cluster-wide (times listed on the cluster calendar and bulletin)
History of Holy Trinity Parish
Holy Trinity was founded in 1878 by Czech Catholic settlers in the Protivin area of northeast Iowa. The land for the church and cemetery was donated by Frank Jr. and Mary Chyle, and Rev. Frank L. Mikota, who also pastored Spillville, supplied the first priestly services. In 1881 the parishioners raised money to bring Rev. Anthony Ambroz over from Bohemia. The parish built a rectory and furnished the church interior under Rev. Frantisek Vrba (1890), opened a one-room grade school under Rev. Jan P. Broz in 1896, and replaced its storm-damaged original building with the present church in 1907 under Rev. Rudolph Lakomy. During the pastorate of Rev. Louis B. Kucera, a new elementary and high school was built and named 'Rudolphinum' in honor of Father Lakomy; the high school served students from 1927 until it closed in 1968, graduating 576 young people. New rectories followed in 1945 and 1975, a new grade school in 1955, and a Community Center in 1981 to mark the centennial.
- Founded 1878 by Czech Catholic settlers
- Land donated by Frank Jr. and Mary Chyle
- Present church built 1907
- 'Rudolphinum' school named for Rev. Rudolph Lakomy
- 12+ religious vocations and 4 priestly vocations from parish
Czech Heritage and Czech Days
Holy Trinity's identity is inseparable from its Czech-Catholic roots. The parish hosts the famous annual Czech Days festival each third full weekend in August, founded in 1978 by Rev. John Ptacek to celebrate the parish centennial. The weekend includes a Saturday evening Mass with the Czech Choir and a Sunday morning Polka Mass with Mollie B, alongside kolaches, traditional foods, tractor pulls, softball and volleyball tournaments, dancing, and live music. Czech Days proceeds benefit the parish and the local Catholic school.
- Czech Days founded 1978 by Rev. John Ptacek
- Held third full weekend in August (August 14–16, 2026)
- Saturday 5:45 pm Czech Choir Mass
- Sunday 10:30 am Polka Mass with Mollie B
- Community Center serves as the hub of the festival
Christ Our Hope Cluster
Since 2008 Holy Trinity has been part of the Christ Our Hope Cluster, a six-parish collaboration of the Archdiocese of Dubuque in northeast Iowa. The cluster shares staff, resources, and sacramental schedules to support Catholic faith and education across a wide rural area. The cluster mission statement reads: 'The Christ Our Hope cluster offers 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.'
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — Little Turkey
- Holy Trinity — Protivin
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel — Lawler
- St. John Nepomucene — Fort Atkinson
- St. Luke — St. Lucas
- St. Mary — Waucoma
- Cluster office: 110 Commercial Ave, Protivin, IA 52163
Pastoral Staff
Rev. Nick Radloff serves as pastor of the entire Christ Our Hope Cluster, including Holy Trinity. Born in 1985, Father Radloff graduated from Beckman High School in Dyersville, studied Aerospace Engineering at Saint Louis University, and served seven and a half years as a U.S. Air Force combat search-and-rescue navigator before entering Pre-Theology studies at Saint Pius X Seminary in Dubuque in 2016. He is supported by Deacon Jim Zajicek, Pastoral Minister Grace Arens, Bookkeeper Terra Kuennen, and Secretary Carrie Rassman.
- Rev. Nick Radloff — Pastor
- Deacon Jim Zajicek
- Grace Arens — Pastoral Minister
- Terra Kuennen — Bookkeeper
- Carrie Rassman — Secretary
- After-hours sacramental emergencies: 563-534-7298
Sacraments
The cluster prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church. Preparation is offered for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Baptism, Anointing of the Sick, and Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). Sacramental emergencies outside office hours are handled by Fr. Radloff on his emergency line.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA
Faith Formation and Education
The Christ Our Hope Cluster provides faith formation for children, youth, and adults across its six parishes. Programs include preparation for First Reconciliation/First Holy Communion and Confirmation, an Adult/High School Faith Formation Talks series (such as Fr. Kyle Digmann's 2017 'The Last Supper: Understanding the Meaning of the Eucharist in Da Vinci's Painting'), the 'Morsels of Faith' newsletter, and 'Saint Talks with Fr. Aaron.' Catholic school education continues in Protivin through Trinity Catholic School.
- First Reconciliation / 1st Holy Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Adult / High School Faith Formation Talks
- Morsels of Faith Newsletter
- Saint Talks with Fr. Aaron
- Trinity Catholic School (Protivin)
Parish Facilities and Cemetery
The Holy Trinity campus on N Main Street includes the 1907 church at 124 N Main St, the historic grade school at 116 N Main St, and the rectory at 110 Commercial Ave. The modern Community Center, built in 1981 to mark the centennial, serves as the gathering place for Czech Days and parish events. The parish cemetery, established with the founding in 1878, remains an active part of parish life.
- Church — 124 N Main St
- Grade School — 116 N Main St
- Rectory — 110 Commercial Ave
- Community Center (built 1981 for centennial)
- Parish cemetery (founded 1878)
Getting Involved
Parishioners are invited to participate in the many lay ministries and traditions of Holy Trinity. The Lay Ministry Schedule is published on the cluster website. Members serve as liturgical ministers, choir members (including the celebrated Czech Choir), catechists, festival organizers for Czech Days, cemetery caretakers, and members of pastoral and finance councils.
- Lay Ministry Schedule published on website
- Czech Choir (performs at Czech Days Masses)
- Czech Days Festival Committee
- Faith formation catechists
- Pastoral and finance councils
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Frank L. Mikota1878 (founding)
Also pastor of Spillville; provided first priestly services to Holy Trinity.
- Rev. Anthony Ambroz1881
Brought from Bohemia at parishioners' expense.
- Rev. Frantisek Vrba1890
Built rectory and furnished church interior.
- Rev. Jan P. Broz1895
Appointed to parish.
- Rev. Rudolph Lakomy1906
Built the present church in 1907 after storm damage.
- Rev. Louis B. Kucera
Built the 'Rudolphinum' elementary and high school, named for his predecessor.
- Rev. Wenceslaus HradeckyUp to the 1930s
Came from Czechoslovakia.
- Rev. John Ptacek1976–1982
Founded Czech Days festival in 1978 to celebrate the parish centennial.
- Fr. Kyle Digmann
Listed as parish priest on Howard County tourism site; led 2017 Last Supper faith formation series.
- Rev. Nick RadloffCurrent
Cluster pastor for Christ Our Hope, former Air Force combat navigator; studies at Saint Pius X Seminary in Dubuque.