About Holy Trinity / St. John the Baptist de La Salle pastorate · Luxemburg, Iowa
Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Luxemburg, Iowa, is one of six historic worship sites that together form the St. John Baptist de La Salle Pastorate in Dubuque County. The parish traces its origins to the 1850s, when Luxembourgian immigrant families petitioned the Archdiocese of Dubuque for a church of their own. The current brick church was built in 1874–1875 and still anchors the small town of Luxemburg, where the parish remains a focal point of rural Catholic life. Today the parish is led by Father Tyler Raymond and is closely linked to La Salle Catholic School in nearby Holy Cross.
- Established
- 1850s (first church 1861; current church 1874–1875)
- Patron
- Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit); the pastorate is named for St. John Baptist de La Salle
- Rector
- Rev. Tyler Raymond
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
Holy Trinity offers weekly Sunday Mass in a small-town church built by Luxembourgian immigrant farmers more than 150 years ago, and the parish still identifies as a community of 'sturdy farmers' who built their church with their own hands. As part of the St. John Baptist de La Salle Pastorate, parishioners have access to Mass and the sacraments across six historic worship sites, a parish school (La Salle Catholic School in Holy Cross), faith formation, and a wide range of liturgical roles — acolytes, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, sacristans, hospitality ministers, and musicians.
Mass times at Holy Trinity / St. John the Baptist de La Salle pastorate
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 10:00 AM – 10:20 AM (before Mass; check parish for current schedule)
Parish History and Heritage
Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Luxemburg, Iowa, is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Dubuque County, founded by Luxembourgian immigrant farmers who settled in Liberty Township between 1838 and 1851. By the mid-1850s about sixty Catholic families had petitioned the Archdiocese of Dubuque for their own church, and in 1859 John Plettchette donated land. A first frame church went up in 1861, was dedicated in 1865, and the present brick church was built in 1874–1875. The parish centennial observance describes the founders as 'sturdy farmers' who 'put up a church' with their own hands.
- First Catholic families arrived in Liberty Township 1838–1851 (Luxembourgian, German, Irish, English).
- About 60 Catholic families petitioned the Archdiocese of Dubuque by the mid-1850s.
- 1859: John Plettchette donated land for the first church.
- 1861: first frame church built under John Heles and Joseph Friedman (carpentry by Adolph Langel, masonry by John Maiers).
- 1865: church formally dedicated.
- 1874–1875: present brick church built.
- 1878: Franciscan Sisters of LaCrosse, WI, begin teaching at the parish school.
- 1926: new parish school building constructed.
- 2010: lightning-sparked fire destroys the steeple; the rest of the church is saved and the steeple is rebuilt.
The St. John Baptist de La Salle Pastorate
Holy Trinity is one of six historic worship sites that together make up the St. John Baptist de La Salle Pastorate, a single canonical parish in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The pastorate shares clergy, staff, school, and liturgical ministries across rural northeast Iowa. Father Tyler Raymond serves as pastor of the entire pastorate and as Pastoral Coordinator of La Salle Catholic School.
- Church of the Holy Trinity — Luxemburg
- Church of the Holy Cross / St. John Baptist — Holy Cross
- Church of St. Francis of Assisi — Balltown
- Church of St. Joseph — Rickardsville
- Church of Ss. Peter & Paul — Sherrill
- Pastor: Rev. Tyler Raymond (since July 2022)
Clergy and Staff
Holy Trinity is pastored as part of the St. John Baptist de La Salle Pastorate. Father Tyler Raymond was re-assigned in April 2022 from the Spires of Faith Cluster to become Pastor of the LaSalle Pastorate, effective July 12, 2022; he also serves as Pastoral Coordinator of La Salle Catholic Schools and provides a priest presence at Beckman Catholic.
- Rev. Tyler Raymond — Pastor, St. John Baptist de La Salle Pastorate; Pastoral Coordinator, La Salle Catholic School
- Lynne McDermott — contact for Baptisms and Wedding preparation (parish office)
La Salle Catholic School
La Salle Catholic School, located at 835 Church St., Holy Cross, IA, is the educational ministry of the pastorate and serves students from PreK3 through 6th grade. The school is named for St. John Baptist de La Salle, the patron saint of teachers, who taught that 'to touch the hearts of your students is the greatest miracle you can perform.' Father Tyler Raymond serves as Pastoral Coordinator. The school's motto is 'Faith. Family. Future.'
- La Salle Catholic School, 835 Church St., PO Box 368, Holy Cross, IA 52053
- Phone: (563) 870-2405
- Grades: PreK3 through 6th grade
- Principal: Beth Hilliard
- Pastoral Coordinator: Fr. Tyler Raymond
- Motto: Faith. Family. Future.
- 2025–2026 Board Chair: Patrick Bries (Luxemburg)
Liturgical Ministries and Getting Involved
The pastorate actively recruits parishioners for liturgical roles across all six churches. The official website hosts a 'Sign Up for Roles' page and posts informational meetings for each ministry, as well as music settings and musician information for the current liturgical year.
- Acolytes
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Sacristans
- Hospitality / Usher Ministry
- Music Ministry (musicians and cantors; music settings 2023–2024 published)
- Baptism and Wedding preparation team (Lynne McDermott)
Sacraments
Preparation for the sacraments is coordinated through the pastorate office so that all six worship sites serve from a single shared program. Families preparing for Baptism or Marriage are asked to contact Lynne McDermott via the parish office for details.
- Baptism — preparation coordinated through the pastorate
- Marriage / Wedding — preparation coordinated through the pastorate
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Sundays 10:00–10:20 AM and by appointment
- Eucharist, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick — celebrated through the pastorate
Visiting and Contact
Holy Trinity Catholic Church sits at 203 S Andres Street in the small town of Luxemburg, Iowa (mailing address often shown as 103 South Andres St., P.O. Box 398, Luxemburg, IA 52053). The pastorate's central office number is (563) 870-4041. Visitors are welcome to join the small-town worship community — the parish notes that its website is being minimally maintained during a wider pastorate transition, with a new pastorate website to be shared when available.
- Address: 203 S Andres St., Luxemburg, IA 52045
- Phone: (563) 870-4041
- Website: http://www.lasallepastorate.com/
- School phone: (563) 870-2405
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Tyler Raymondsince July 2022
Re-assigned in April 2022 from the Spires of Faith Cluster to become Pastor of the LaSalle Pastorate; also serves as Pastoral Coordinator of La Salle Catholic Schools and provides a priest presence at Beckman Catholic.