About Immaculate Conception · Masonville, Iowa
Immaculate Conception is a small Catholic mission parish in the rural community of Masonville, Iowa, in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Since its first recorded baptism in March 1883 and the dedication of its brick church on December 6, 1903, it has served Catholic families in the Masonville area, originally visited by missionary priests from Independence and Monti in the early 1860s. Today it is part of the Blessed Trinity Cluster, sharing clergy and resources with St. Mary in Manchester, St. Patrick in Ryan, and the linked St. John parish in Delhi.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Gabriel Anderson
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a small, country-rooted mission parish where generations of Masonville-area Catholic families have worshipped since 1883. Visitors are welcomed into a tight-knit rural community that keeps alive traditions like the annual Lord's Acre Day fundraiser, which has supported parish operations since 1958. As part of the Blessed Trinity Cluster, parishioners benefit from shared cluster-wide Faith Formation (K–12), a parish nurse, youth ministry, and a Catholic school (St. Mary School) — while still gathering in the historic brick church in Masonville.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
Missionary priests from Independence and Monti first brought the sacraments to Catholic families in the Masonville area in the early 1860s. The parish took formal shape with its first recorded baptism in March 1883 and outgrew its original eight-pew church by 1903, when a larger brick church was dedicated. A 1923 Holy Saturday fire gutted the interior, but parishioners rebuilt within a year, and the building has been redecorated twice since while retaining its country-parish warmth.
Blessed Trinity Cluster
Since 2005 Immaculate Conception has been a member of the Blessed Trinity Cluster, a multi-parish partnership sharing clergy, staff, and programs. Cluster parishes include St. Mary, Manchester (the cluster hub), St. Patrick, Ryan, and the linked St. John, Delhi. Weekend and daily Masses rotate among these churches, and cluster-wide staff serve Faith Formation, youth ministry, music, parish nursing, and parish business operations.
- St. Mary, Manchester
- St. Patrick, Ryan
- St. John, Delhi (linked)
- Cluster Business Office: 119 W. Fayette Street, Manchester, IA 52057 — (563) 927-4710
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is served by the Blessed Trinity Cluster's pastor and staff, with a parish council chair at Immaculate Conception handling local coordination.
- Pastor: Rev. Gabriel Anderson ([email protected])
- Supply Priest: Rev. John Kremer
- Deacon: Dave Loecke ([email protected])
- Immaculate Conception Council Chair: Sandy Weber (563-932-2027)
- Cluster Business Manager: Cara Heffernen
- Director of Faith Formation: Kathy Oberreuter
- Lead Teacher/Youth Minister: Marcia Nachtman
- Bookkeeper: Diane Hammell
- Parish Nurse: Nancy Appleton
- Bulletin Editor: Jane Rubner
Mass & Service Schedule
Weekend and daily Masses for Immaculate Conception parishioners are celebrated across the Blessed Trinity Cluster churches. The principal weekend Masses are Saturday at 4:00 PM and Sunday at 7:30 AM at St. Mary, Manchester, with a 9:30 AM Sunday Mass rotating among Immaculate Conception, St. John, and St. Patrick. Immaculate Conception itself hosts a 1st-Saturday 8:00 AM Mass.
- Sunday 7:30 AM — St. Mary, Manchester (all year)
- Sunday 9:30 AM — rotating: Immaculate Conception, St. John & St. Patrick
- Saturday 4:00 PM — St. Mary, Manchester
- 1st Saturday 8:00 AM — Immaculate Conception, Masonville
- Tuesday 8:30 AM — St. Mary, Manchester
- Wednesday 8:00 AM — St. Patrick, Ryan
- Thursday 12:30 PM — St. Mary, Manchester
- Friday 8:30 AM — St. Mary, Manchester
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Cluster-wide Faith Formation, led by Director Kathy Oberreuter, serves students entering Grades K–11 with a variety of session options each year. Lead Teacher/Youth Minister Marcia Nachtman coordinates the St. Paul School of Religion and youth programming, including summer Totus Tuus, which draws together students from across the cluster parishes for a week of catechesis and prayer.
- Blessed Trinity Cluster Faith Formation (K–11)
- St. Paul School of Religion
- Totus Tuus summer program
- NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference) fundraising activities
St. Mary School
As part of the cluster, Immaculate Conception families have access to St. Mary School in Manchester, the cluster's parish school. The school is led by Principal Kelley Harbach and supported by a school board chaired by Sarah Taylor, with a SCRIP gift-card program as a key fundraiser.
- Principal: Kelley Harbach (563-927-3689)
- School Board Chair: Sarah Taylor
- SCRIP program: [email protected]
Lord's Acre Day
Lord's Acre Day is Immaculate Conception's signature parish tradition, begun on November 1, 1958 by longtime pastor Father Michael O'Sullivan. Each fall, donated grain from parishioners' farms is auctioned to local buyers — seventeen loads in 2010 — alongside cash gifts from nearly thirty families. The annual event accounts for roughly half of the parish's operational funds and remains a vibrant expression of the rural, agricultural character of the Masonville community.
- Tradition begun November 1, 1958
- Annual grain auction + cash gifts
- Provides nearly half of parish operating funds
Facilities & Buildings
The Immaculate Conception campus has grown organically with the parish community over more than a century. The 1903 brick church, rebuilt inside after the 1923 fire, remains the worship heart of the parish. A rectory was added on the east side of the church in 1960 during Father Mike O'Sullivan's pastorate, and a parish hall bearing his name was adjoined to the west side of the church in 1971.
- Brick church, first Mass December 6, 1903
- Interior rebuilt 1924 after 1923 fire; redecorated twice since
- Rectory built 1960 (east of church)
- Father Mike O'Sullivan Hall built 1971 (west of church)
Parish Nurse Ministry
The cluster-wide Parish Nurse ministry, led by Nancy Appleton, serves the elderly, homebound, and those facing health challenges across all four cluster parishes. It is one of the distinctive pastoral outreach programs available to Immaculate Conception families.
- Parish Nurse: Nancy Appleton ([email protected]; 563-920-1394)
Visit & Contact
Immaculate Conception is located at 606 Bernhart Street in the small town of Masonville, Iowa. Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at the historic 1903 brick church; cluster Mass times and parish contacts are coordinated through the Blessed Trinity Cluster office in Manchester.
- Address: 606 Bernhart St., Masonville, IA 50654
- Cluster Phone: (563) 927-4710
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Website: https://blessedtrinitycluster.com/immaculate-conception-masonville-iowa
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael O'Sullivan1939–1977
Native of County Limerick, Ireland; served Immaculate Conception for nearly 38 years; built the 1960 rectory and the parish hall (1971) named after him; began the annual Lord's Acre Day auction tradition on November 1, 1958; died July 6, 1977, two weeks after his golden jubilee of priesthood.