About Immaculate Conception · Elma, Iowa
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a small rural parish serving the town of Elma in Howard County, Iowa, and is one of five parishes that together form the Holy Rosary Cluster of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The parish's history traces back to 1887, when Catholic pioneers in Elma — many drawn by work at the Great Western Railroad roundhouse — began gathering around the future parish; the cornerstone was laid in 1892 on land donated by Lemuel Potter, and the brick church was dedicated in the summer of 1902. Today it is led by Rev. Telesphore Dusabe (pastor since June 1, 2024) and offers Sunday morning Mass, weekday Masses, the sacraments, a parish school of religion shared with neighboring parishes, a Rosary Society, parish committees, and an associated Calvary Cemetery.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Telesphore Dusabe
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception in Elma is a small, close-knit Catholic parish where Sunday Mass is celebrated at 7:15 AM, weekday Masses are offered several mornings a week, and confessions are heard before Sunday Mass. Parishioners can grow in faith through combined faith-formation classes (grades 1–12) shared with neighboring parishes at Our Lady of Lourdes, serve on active committees (Faith Formation, Parish Life, Social Justice, Liturgy, Stewardship), pray together in the Rosary Society, and be buried in the parish's own Calvary Cemetery.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 6:30 AM – 7:00 AM
Parish Identity and Location
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church sits at 207 7th Street in the small town of Elma, Howard County, Iowa (mailing PO Box 38, Elma, IA 50628). It is a parish of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and one of five parishes that make up the Holy Rosary Cluster, which was formed in July 2005 and stretches across Chickasaw, Howard, and Mitchell counties. The parish's mailing and phone line, (641) 393-2520, also serves as the central cluster contact.
- Address: 207 7th Street, Elma, IA 50628
- Mailing: PO Box 38, Elma, IA 50628
- Phone: (641) 393-2520
- Email: [email protected]
- Cluster website: holyrosarycluster.dbqarch.org
History of Immaculate Conception, Elma
Catholic life in Elma began in the late 1880s when pioneers drawn to Howard County by work at the Great Western Railroad roundhouse began attending Saint Patrick Church at St. Cecilia's under Father Francis Gunn. In 1892, parishioners laid the foundation for their own church on land donated by Lemuel Potter, ultimately accumulating six acres. Construction proceeded in fits and starts, and in the summer of 1902 the parish dedicated its 600-seat brick church — trimmed in white stone, topped with a slate roof, and frescoed inside by George Satory, a prominent church decorator of the era. The parish was incorporated in Iowa in 1912. In 2005, Immaculate Conception–Elma joined four neighboring parishes to form the Holy Rosary Cluster.
- Parish roots: 1887
- Foundation laid: 1892, on land donated by Lemuel Potter
- Church dedicated: summer 1902
- Building: 600-seat brick with white stone trim and slate roof
- Interior decoration: frescoed by George Satory
- Incorporated in Iowa: January 27, 1912
- Joined the Holy Rosary Cluster: July 2005
The Holy Rosary Cluster
Immaculate Conception–Elma is one of five parishes in the Holy Rosary Cluster of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, formed in July 2005 to share pastoral and administrative resources across rural northeast Iowa. The cluster office, located at 203 7th Street in Elma, is the business office for all five parishes and is staffed Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (closed Mondays).
- St. Bernard – Alta Vista
- Our Lady of Lourdes – Lourdes
- Immaculate Conception – Elma
- Immaculate Conception – Riceville
- St. Peter – New Haven
- Cluster Office: 203 7th Street, Elma (Tue–Fri, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM)
Clergy, Staff, and Parish Leadership
The parish and cluster are currently served by Rev. Telesphore Dusabe as pastor, who also serves as RCIA Coordinator. He was assigned effective June 1, 2024. Cluster and parish staff support the pastor across all five parishes.
- Pastor / RCIA Coordinator: Rev. Telesphore Dusabe
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Chad Buckley — 515-290-5867, [email protected]
- Business Manager: Nancy Theis
- Secretary: Renee Burke
Parish Council and Committees (Immaculate Conception – Elma)
Immaculate Conception–Elma maintains a full slate of parish officers, committees, cluster representatives, and organizations. Each committee helps carry out the pastoral, liturgical, and community mission of the parish.
- Parish Council Chair: Dennis O'Brien; Vice Chair: Mike Zeimetz; Secretary: Teresa Klobassa
- Faith Formation: Pat Burke
- Parish Life: Teresa Klobassa
- Social Justice: Bruce Weigel
- Liturgy Committee: Lavern McGrane
- Stewardship: Vern Voves and Scott O'Brien
- Cluster Council reps: Dennis O'Brien, Mike Zeimetz
- Cluster Finance rep: Ann O'Brien
- Rosary Society: Samantha Burke
- Finance Council: Ann O'Brien
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Immaculate Conception–Elma shares a combined faith-formation program with St. Bernard (Alta Vista) and Our Lady of Lourdes (Lourdes). Classes meet Wednesday evenings from 6:30 PM to 7:45 PM at Our Lady of Lourdes School, beginning the first Wednesday after Labor Day and typically running through March. The program serves students in grades 1 through 12; graduating seniors are recognized during the Senior Mass. RCIA for adults is coordinated by the pastor.
- Combined Religious Education: grades 1–12, Wednesdays 6:30–7:45 PM
- Location: Our Lady of Lourdes School
- DRE: Chad Buckley — 515-290-5867, [email protected]
- RCIA (adults): coordinated by Rev. Telesphore Dusabe
Parish Ministries and Organizations
Beyond faith formation, Immaculate Conception–Elma supports the spiritual and social life of parishioners through dedicated committees and the parish Rosary Society.
- Liturgy Committee
- Parish Life Committee
- Social Justice Committee
- Stewardship Committee
- Finance Council
- Cluster Council representatives
- Rosary Society
Calvary Cemetery
Calvary Cemetery serves as the parish cemetery for members of Immaculate Conception Church, Elma. Inquiries about plots, burials, and cemetery records are directed to parish cemetery board member Francis (Zip) Zeimetz at 507-251-2234.
- Cemetery contact: Francis (Zip) Zeimetz, 507-251-2234 (cell)
Visiting and Getting Involved
Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed at Immaculate Conception. The parish is most easily reached by car, with on-site parking available at the church on 7th Street in Elma. Anyone interested in joining the parish, scheduling a baptism or wedding, enrolling a child in faith formation, or learning more about the Rosary Society or one of the parish committees is invited to call the cluster office at (641) 393-2520 during weekday business hours (Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM).
- Cluster office phone: (641) 393-2520
- Office hours: Tue–Fri, 9:00 AM–3:00 PM (closed Monday)
- Email: [email protected]
- On-site parking at the church