Immaculate Conception

Parish History

Immaculate Conception traces its origin to 1853, when Father Matthias Hannon rode a stagecoach from Iowa City to say the first Mass in Linn County in the Dubuque House hotel. After years of missionary visits, Father William Emmonds organized the parish in 1858 and the first frame church was built at Third Avenue and Seventh Street. Father Clement Lowery became the first permanent pastor and in 1874 turned the parish school over to the Sisters of Mercy, who would run it for generations. Father Thomas Gunn enlarged the church and helped the Sisters start a hospital (the seed of Cedar Rapids' Mercy Medical Center), and St. Patrick's was carved out of the parish in 1886. Father Toomey raised $125,000 and built the present brick church and large parish school in the early 1900s. Monsignors Molloy, Schulte, and Sheehy shaped the 20th-century parish — Sheehy, a former Catholic University professor and Navy vice admiral, led the August 15–17, 1958 centennial.

• 1853 — First Mass in Linn County at the Dubuque House by Father Hannon
• 1858 — Parish organized by Father Emmonds; first frame church built
• 1874 — Sisters of Mercy take over the parish school
• 1886 — St. Patrick's Parish organized from Immaculate Conception
• 1906 — Father Toomey arrives; builds brick church and large school
• 1934 — Msgr. John Molloy becomes pastor
• 1957 — Msgr. Maurice S. Sheehy arrives from Catholic University
• August 15–17, 1958 — Parish centennial celebration

The Church Building

The current church was commissioned in 1914 from St. Paul architect Emmanuel L. Masqueray, who also designed the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary in Minneapolis. Built 1914–1916 and dedicated May 30, 1915, it is a red-brick building with stone trim and a crowning cupola inspired by the Italian Baroque, classified as Romanesque Revival by architectural historians. The interior was shaped under liturgical designer Angelo Gherardi, who designed settings for more than 300 churches nationwide. The adjacent rectory is the remodeled John Thomas family home, built c. 1885.

• Architect: Emmanuel L. Masqueray (1914)
• Style: Romanesque Revival, with Italian Baroque cupola influence
• Dedicated: May 30, 1915
• Interior design: Angelo Gherardi
• Rectory: remodeled John Thomas home, c. 1885

Parish Staff and Clergy

The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Dennis Conway and an associate pastor, with Deacon David Harris assisting. The lay staff includes a Parish Coordinator, Business Manager, Pastoral Associate/Youth Minister, Director of Faith Formation, Adult Faith Formation Coordinator, Hispanic Minister, Secretary, Music & Choir Director, and Custodian. As part of the Cedar Rapids Area Central Pastorate, several staff members are shared with St. Wenceslaus Church.

• Rev. Dennis Conway — Pastor
• Rev. Aaron Junge — Associate Pastor (2023)
• Rev. Kayiranga Felix — Associate Pastor (2024)
• Deacon David Harris
• Christina Coveyou — Pastoral Associate / Youth Minister
• Patti Jansa — Parish Coordinator
• Carmen Kelley — Business Manager
• Kim Smith — Adult Faith Formation Coordinator & Ministry Scheduler
• Sarah Coppa — Director of Faith Formation
• Zoraida Vega — Hispanic Minister & K-6 Religious Ed. Coordinator
• Gina Leahy — Music & Choir Director
• Sara Kohl — Custodian
• Maria Cavin / Sandra Osbon — Secretary

Parish Leadership and Councils

Lay leadership at Immaculate Conception is organized into several councils and committees that assist the pastor. The Pastoral Council assists with spiritual leadership; the Finance Council plans and supervises the financial affairs of the parish; and the Faith Formation Committee coordinates religious-education opportunities. The Liturgy Committee prepares for special liturgies and trains parishioners for liturgical ministries, while the Parish Life Committee organizes activities that build community, and the Social Concerns Committee meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00 PM in the St. Anne's Room.

• Pastoral Council
• Finance Council
• Faith Formation Committee
• Liturgy Committee (meets at St. Wenceslaus in Chihak Hall)
• Parish Life Committee
• Social Concerns Committee — partners with Willis Dady and Metro Catholic Outreach; provides backpacks for the homeless

Faith Formation and Religious Education

Faith formation at Immaculate Conception spans childhood through adulthood. K-6 Religious Education classes meet Wednesday evenings from 6:45 to 7:45 PM, September through April, coordinated by Zoraida Vega. Adult Faith Formation is led by Kim Smith, including a six-week video-based Bible study such as Philippians: Life in Christ. Bilingual adult Confirmation classes are offered on Wednesday evenings at St. Wenceslaus, and youth ministry is led by Christina Coveyou.

Sacraments

Couples planning to marry should contact Fr. Conway or Fr. Junge at least six months in advance. Baptisms are celebrated on Sunday afternoons at 2:30 PM; first-time parents are required to attend a Baptism class through the parish office. The Anointing of the Sick is available by contacting the priests directly. The parish also helps families plan Catholic funerals — vigil, wake, and funeral liturgy — once a funeral director has notified the church.

Hispanic Ministry

Immaculate Conception has a vibrant Hispanic ministry, anchored by a weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish at 12:30 PM. Hispanic Minister Zoraida Vega coordinates outreach, sacramental preparation, and bilingual formation opportunities. Adult Confirmation classes have been offered bilingually in partnership with St. Wenceslaus, and the parish regularly invites Spanish-speaking parishioners into its social and devotional life.

• Spanish Mass: Sunday 12:30 PM
• Hispanic Minister: Zoraida Vega ([email protected], 319-640-7904)
• Bilingual adult Confirmation classes
• Baptism and marriage prep in Spanish

Music and Liturgy

Music at Immaculate Conception is directed by Music & Choir Director Gina Leahy. A published Liturgical Minister Schedule rotates lectors, servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and sacristans for each Mass. The Liturgy Committee prepares special liturgies throughout the year and trains parishioners for liturgical participation.

Social Concerns and Outreach

The Social Concerns Committee meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00 PM in the St. Anne's Room. Its ministry reaches into the Cedar Rapids community through partnerships with Willis Dady Emergency Shelter and Metro Catholic Outreach, and through a backpack program for people experiencing homelessness.

Cedar Rapids Area Central Pastorate

Immaculate Conception now operates as part of the Cedar Rapids Area Central Pastorate with neighboring St. Wenceslaus Church. The two parishes share clergy, parish staff, and faith-formation programs under an interim Mass and confession schedule introduced in mid-2026. Parishioners are invited to be patient and grace-filled as the schedule is evaluated between July and January for any needed adjustments.

Visiting, Contact, and Office Information

The church is located at 857 3rd Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403. The parish office, shared with St. Wenceslaus, is at 1224 5th St SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, and is open Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM and Friday 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM. The main phone line is 319-362-7181. The mailing address is PO Box 42, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0042. Mass intentions, sacramental preparation, and pastoral needs are coordinated through the parish office.