About Immaculate Conception · Colfax, Iowa
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a small, welcoming parish in Colfax, Iowa — a town historically known as 'Spring City' for its mineral springs — and one of the Catholic communities of the Diocese of Davenport in southeastern Iowa. The parish traces its roots to 1893 and has gathered at its present site on the northeast corner of North Iowa and East Howard Streets since 1913, when the church was rebuilt in a Spanish style with Stations of the Cross hand-painted by its second resident priest. Today the parish is administered jointly with its sister parish, Sacred Heart in Newton, sharing weekend Mass coverage, faith formation classrooms, and weekday Confessions, while Deacon Joe Dvorak continues to anchor parish life locally as Business Manager and Pastoral leader.
- Established
- 1893
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Louis Hammond (recently appointed pastor of both Sacred Heart–Newton and Immaculate Conception–Colfax)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a small but warm parish that openly embraces the Benedictine motto 'Welcome all as Christ.' Members gather for weekly Sunday Mass, share faith formation from kindergarten through eighth grade (and a new toddler Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program for ages 18 months–3 years), and stay connected through the Altar & Rosary Society, Social Action Committee, Prayer Chain, and parish socials. Visitors can count on a friendly greeting, an active deacon who has served the parish for decades, and easy access to Confession and formation through the parish's partnership with Sacred Heart in Newton.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Confessions are heard at the sister parish, Sacred Heart in Newton, IA
- Confessions & Adoration at Immaculate Conception had been scheduled Thursdays 4:15–5:15 PM (currently postponed until further notice)
Adoration times
- Adoration had been offered Thursdays 4:15–5:15 PM at Immaculate Conception (postponed until further notice)
Our Story & Parish History
Immaculate Conception's roots go back to 1893, when the first Catholic church in Colfax opened on the corner of Elm and East Division Streets with Father A. Tyszka as the first resident pastor. In 1913 the parish moved to its present site at the northeast corner of North Iowa and East Howard Streets, where the building was enlarged and extensively redesigned in a Spanish style; Father Jackson, the second resident priest, hand-painted the Stations of the Cross that still adorn the church. Today the parish is twinned with Sacred Heart in Newton and is led by its newly appointed pastor, Fr. Louis Hammond, with Deacon Joe Dvorak continuing his long-standing role as Business Manager.
- 1893 — First Catholic church opens in Colfax (Elm & East Division Streets); Fr. A. Tyszka first resident pastor
- 1913 — Parish relocates to current site; Spanish-style redesign; Stations of the Cross hand-painted by Fr. Jackson
- Deacon Joe Dvorak, parishioner since 1972, ordained deacon in 2002 and served as Parish Life Coordinator 2004–2020
- Today partnered with Sacred Heart Parish in Newton under shared pastoral leadership
Mission & Welcome
The parish mission is rooted in the Benedictine motto 'Welcome all as Christ.' The community commits to live as a sign of Christ through worship, sacramental action, fellowship, education, and evangelization, and to show by example the love of Christ in daily life — accepting and proclaiming the Good News.
- Mission: 'Accepting and proclaiming the Good News'
- Embraces the Benedictine motto 'Welcome all as Christ'
- Five pillars: worship, sacramental action, fellowship, education, evangelization
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Immaculate Conception serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade, meeting Wednesday evenings from 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM during the program year. First Communion preparation takes place in second grade, while Confirmation is a one-year program in eighth grade, with the Confirmation Rite held at Sacred Heart in Newton. The parish also offers an innovative toddler-level Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program for children ages 18 months to 3 years, rooted in the methods of Maria Montessori and founded on scripture and liturgy.
- K–8 Religious Education classes, Wednesday evenings 6:15–7:30 PM (now held at Sacred Heart, Newton, Sept–May)
- First Communion preparation in 2nd grade
- Confirmation preparation — one-year program in 8th grade
- Annual safe-environment training for all students
- Toddler Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for ages 18 months–3 years, Friday mornings 9:00–10:30 AM
- Lead toddler catechist: Rachel Manley (90+ hours of CGS formation, M.Ed. in elementary education)
Parish Staff & Leadership
Immaculate Conception is currently transitioning pastoral leadership. Fr. Louis Hammond has been announced as the new pastor of both Sacred Heart–Newton and Immaculate Conception–Colfax, succeeding Fr. William Reynolds (Administrator) and Fr. Martin Goetz (Pastor). Deacon Joe Dvorak continues to serve as Deacon and Business Manager.
- Rev. Louis Hammond — Pastor (newly appointed, shared with Sacred Heart, Newton)
- Rev. Martin Goetz — former Pastor
- Rev. William Reynolds — former Administrator
- Deacon Joseph (Joe) Dvorak — Deacon & Business Manager, (515) 490-6514, [email protected]
- Lisa Bussan — Office Manager
- Brad Hagarty & Sharon Jones — Lay Directors
- Peggy Dvorak — Organist/Director of Music
- Becky Carter — Custodial Staff
Pastoral Council & Organization Chairs
Parish life is guided by a Pastoral Council and several commissions, supported by trustees and committee chairs. The council works with the pastor and deacon to steward the parish's worship, formation, social action, and physical plant.
- Pastoral Council President — Natalie Owen; Vice President — Karen VanDusseldorp; Secretary — Marcia Grimm
- Trustee — Tom Wilson; Chair, Buildings and Grounds — Tom Wilson (also Tom Wilson listed as Chair)
- Buildings and Grounds — Karen VanDusseldorp
- Altar & Rosary Society — Peggy Dvorak / Tracy Spry
- Liturgy — Sharon Jones
- Social Action — Mary Dell Flattery / Tracy Spry
- Administration & Finance — Brad Hagarty
- Technology Committee — Giovanna Rodriguez
- Pastoral Council contact: Tom Wilson, (720) 939-2294
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the usual sacraments and welcomes inquiries at the parish office. Baptisms and weddings are scheduled through the office, with weddings requiring at least six months of advance planning. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is woven into the Faith Formation program.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Marriage — must be scheduled at least 6 months in advance
- First Communion — 2nd-grade preparation
- Confirmation — 8th-grade, one-year preparation (Confirmation Rite at Sacred Heart, Newton)
- RCIA for adults
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
Outreach & Social Action
Through its Social Action Committee and the wider parish family, Immaculate Conception extends its mission beyond Colfax with seasonal clothing drives and hands-on service. The parish partners with St. Vincent de Paul in Des Moines and takes an annual team to Meals from the Heartland.
- Winter coat & gear drive donated to those in need locally and to St. Vincent de Paul in Des Moines
- Annual Meals from the Heartland packing event (parish team of ~10)
- Prayer Chain requests for parishioners, family, friends, and deployed service members
- Coordinated by the Social Action Committee (Tracy Spry, Mary Dell Flattery)
Parish Life & Devotions
Devotional and community life centers on the Altar & Rosary Society, a Prayer Chain that prays by name for those in need, and liturgical ministries that serve at the altar each weekend. The parish also offers its bulletin and calendar online for parishioners and visitors.
- Altar & Rosary Society meetings (e.g. first Thursday evenings, 6:30 PM)
- Prayer Chain — Deacon Joe Dvorak or the parish office
- Liturgical ministers: Greeters, Servers, Readers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Mass Intentions offered at $10 per request
- Online bulletin at www.immaculateconceptioncolfax.com and on Facebook
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday from 8:00 AM to noon, staffed by Office Manager Lisa Bussan. Weekend Mass and faith-formation activities are hosted in partnership with Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton.
- Address: 302 E Howard Street, Colfax, IA 50054
- Phone: (515) 674-3711
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 8:00 AM – noon
- Parish Facebook: Immaculate Conception Colfax
- Website: www.immaculateconceptioncolfax.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father A. Tyszkafrom 1893
First resident pastor; served when the first Catholic church opened on the corner of Elm and East Division Streets.
- Father Jacksonafter Fr. Tyszka, through 1913 and beyond
Second resident priest; hand-painted the Stations of the Cross; oversaw the 1913 move and Spanish-style redesign of the church.
- Rev. Martin Goetz
Pastor (still named as a priest friend of the parish; previously served as Pastor).
- Rev. William Reynolds
Administrator of the parish before the appointment of Fr. Hammond.
- Rev. Louis Hammondappointed 2026
Newly appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish–Newton and Immaculate Conception Parish–Colfax.