About Sacred Heart · Oelwein, Iowa
Sacred Heart Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Oelwein, Iowa, in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Founded in 1876 and approaching its 150th anniversary, it identifies itself as 'A Eucharistic Evangelizing Community' and is the largest parish in the Oelwein Pastorate (linked for more than a decade with Immaculate Conception in Fairbank). The parish ministers to roughly 1,231 individuals in about 900 families, including a Hispanic community, and offers daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, the sacrament of Reconciliation, and a full faith-formation program for children and adults.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Father Ray Atwood
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a parish that takes its identity as 'A Eucharistic Evangelizing Community' seriously, with regular weekday and Sunday Masses, monthly First Friday Mass and Devotions, a Eucharistic Adoration Day each month, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following Friday Mass. It is a multigenerational community with active organizations for women, men, and youth — the Catholic Daughters (Court St. Rita), the Knights of Columbus Council #1168, and the Rosary Society — together with a faith-formation program for children, an annual Mardi Gras school fundraiser, and outreach through Social Justice. As the largest parish in the new Oelwein Pastorate, it welcomes new parishioners and offers a clear path into the sacramental life of the Church through Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, the Anointing of the Sick, and adult initiation (OCIA/RCIA).
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. (before the 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass)
- Thursday 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (following the 12:00 p.m. Friday Mass at Sacred Heart/Oelwein — as listed on the catholicchurchtimes.com schedule; in practice the parish offers Reconciliation by appointment through the parish office)
Adoration times
- Friday following the 12:00 p.m. Mass until 1:00 p.m. (weekly)
- Monthly Eucharistic Adoration Day (date varies; published in the parish bulletin)
- First Friday Mass and Devotions (monthly)
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays following the 8:00 a.m. Mass (per bulletins), concluding with Benediction
Parish History
Sacred Heart Parish was established in 1876 to serve the growing Catholic population of Oelwein, a northeast Iowa railroad town. Its first resident pastor, the Rev. Patrick S. O'Connor, arrived in 1890 and oversaw the construction of the 1891 rectory, the 1901 three-story school building, and the church completed in 1908. The high school was added in 1929. The parish endured a tornado in May 1968 and a fire in June 1979, both of which badly damaged the church, and it was restored after each event. The Rev. Dr. John Bacci was installed as pastor in October 1931, and Father Ray Atwood became the current pastor in the summer of 2017.
- Founded 1876; approaching 150th anniversary
- First resident pastor Rev. Patrick S. O'Connor, arrived 1890
- Rectory built 1891; school building 1901; church 1908; high school 1929
- Tornado damage May 1968; fire June 1979 — church restored both times
- Rev. Dr. John Bacci installed October 1931
- Father Ray Atwood named pastor July 2017
Parish Identity & Mission
Sacred Heart identifies itself as 'A Eucharistic Evangelizing Community.' Its stated mission is to remain centered on the Eucharist while taking the Gospel to every corner of the community. The parish serves about 1,231 individuals in roughly 900 families, including a Hispanic community of around 60 members, and reflects the German, Irish, Italian, and Mexican heritage of its immigrant founders and later arrivals drawn by the railroad shops.
- Parish motto: 'Sacred Heart is a Eucharistic Evangelizing Community'
- Ministers to about 1,231 individuals in roughly 900 families
- Approximately 60 Hispanic members
- Heritage of German, Irish, Italian, and Mexican Catholic families
Oelwein Pastorate & Immaculate Conception, Fairbank
Sacred Heart is the largest parish in the Oelwein Pastorate, the multi-parish grouping that includes Immaculate Conception in Fairbank. The two parishes were linked more than a decade ago, sharing clergy and staff. In the next year or two, the parishes of the pastorate are expected to be canonically merged into a single parish. Some weekday Masses listed on the parish schedule are celebrated at Immaculate Conception in Fairbank rather than at Sacred Heart in Oelwein.
- Sacred Heart is the largest parish in the Oelwein Pastorate
- Immaculate Conception, Fairbank linked with Sacred Heart 10+ years
- Sunday 8:30 a.m. Mass and Wednesday 8:30 a.m. Mass celebrated at Immaculate Conception / Fairbank
- Anticipated canonical merger of pastorate parishes in coming years
Clergy & Parish Staff
Father Ray Atwood was named pastor of Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception in July 2017. The staff also includes a retired Permanent Deacon, a Director of Faith Formation, a Parish Secretary/Bookkeeper, and a Director of Maintenance and Custodial Services. Father Atwood studied journalism/mass communications at Drake University and earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in systematic theology from the Josephinum Seminary in Columbus, Ohio.
- Father Ray Atwood — Pastor (appointed July 2017)
- Deacon Jim Patera — Retired Permanent Deacon (Archdiocese of Dubuque)
- Nancy Kastli — Director of Faith Formation (RCIA, NCYC, Youth Ministry, RE); 319-283-3743
- Rachelle Troupe — Parish Secretary / Bookkeeper; office hours Mon 9–12, Tue/Wed/Thu 1–4
- Randy — Director of Maintenance and Custodial Services
- Emergency line for Anointing of the Sick: 319-283-9577
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Sacred Heart is directed by Nancy Kastli and includes the Religious Education (RE) program for parish children, a 'Story Camp' for incoming K–4 students each summer, adult faith formation including Bible Study and Adult Book Study, OCIA for adults becoming Catholic, Youth Ministry with NCYC involvement, and a Marriage Prep and 'Marriage On Fire' track for couples. The Faith Formation Commission coordinates these efforts and publishes minutes and class descriptions on the parish website.
- K–8 Religious Education program
- Summer 'Story Camp' for incoming K–4 students
- Adult Book Study / Adult Bible Study
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Become Catholic
- Youth Ministry and NCYC (National Catholic Youth Conference)
- Marriage Prep (FOCCUS, sponsor couple, FORMED, Pre-Cana)
- Marriage On Fire enrichment
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates all seven sacraments. Infant Baptism requires a Baptism Class for parents and is scheduled with Father Atwood; unbaptized children age 7 and older follow the OCIA for youth process. Confirmation is prepared during the sophomore year of high school. Reconciliation is heard Saturday afternoons and by appointment. The Anointing of the Sick is offered after Mass on designated weekends and on request through the parish office. Marriage preparation begins with a meeting with the pastor, the FOCCUS inventory, a sponsor couple, FORMED videos, and an Archdiocesan Pre-Cana program; the parish also welcomes civilly married couples seeking a sacramental marriage.
- Baptism (infant Baptism Class required; OCIA for youth age 7+)
- Confirmation (sophomore-year preparation in RE)
- Holy Eucharist (First Communion through RE)
- Reconciliation (Saturday 3:30–4:15 p.m. and by appointment)
- Anointing of the Sick (after designated Masses or by request)
- Marriage (FOCCUS, sponsor couple, FORMED, Pre-Cana)
- Holy Orders (vocations awareness)
Parish Organizations & Ministries
Sacred Heart's lay organizations are central to parish life. The Catholic Daughters — Court St. Rita — is an active women's group that meets monthly, prays the Rosary together, and supports various charities. The Knights of Columbus Council #1168 (Oelwein) meets the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Columbus Club and runs the annual 'Tootsie Roll' campaign for people with intellectual disabilities and a high-school scholarship. The Rosary Society is a longstanding women's organization, and the Social Justice Commission coordinates outreach and charitable works. The Adult Choir leads music at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass.
- Catholic Daughters — Court St. Rita (monthly meetings; $25 annual dues)
- Knights of Columbus — Council #1168 (monthly meetings; Grand Knight Mike Schulmeister, 563-920-8345)
- Rosary Society
- Social Justice Commission
- Adult Choir (sings at 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass; rehearsal at 9:20 a.m.)
- Parish Pastoral Council and Faith Formation Commission
Devotions & Special Observances
Beyond the regular weekly Mass and Adoration schedule, Sacred Heart holds a monthly Eucharistic Adoration Day and First Friday Mass and Devotions. During Lent the parish adds a Friday-evening Mass followed by Stations of the Cross, and the Catholic Daughters pray Mary's Stations of the Cross. In November the parish honors the souls in Purgatory with a remembrance tree, a remembrance book, and All Souls' Envelopes.
- Monthly Eucharistic Adoration Day
- First Friday Mass and Devotions
- Lenten Stations of the Cross and additional Friday-evening Mass
- Mary's Stations of the Cross (Catholic Daughters)
- November remembrance of the souls in Purgatory (tree, book, All Souls' Envelopes)
School & Parish Facilities
Sacred Heart Grade School opened in 1906 under six Sisters of Mercy of Cedar Rapids with 164 pupils and continued in operation until 2020. The parish plant includes the 1891 rectory, the 1901 three-story school building, the 1908 church (some directories say 1910), the 1929 high school, the 1956 original convent now serving as the Pastoral Center (parish office and Faith Formation center), and a 1964 auditorium used for the annual school Mardi Gras fundraiser and athletic events.
- Sacred Heart Grade School opened January 1906 (six Sisters of Mercy; 164 pupils)
- School continued in operation until 2020
- 1956 convent now the Pastoral Center / parish office / Faith Formation center
- 1964 auditorium used for the annual Mardi Gras fundraiser and athletic events
Contact, Office & Practical Information
Parish office hours are Monday 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 1:00–4:00 p.m. The parish office phone is (319) 283-3743, with extension 1 reaching the parish secretary. For emergencies requiring a priest to administer the Anointing of the Sick, call Father Atwood at 319-283-9577. The parish email is [email protected] and the parish posts news and bulletins on its website and its Facebook page.
- Parish office phone: (319) 283-3743 (ext. 1 for the parish secretary)
- Emergency / Anointing of the Sick line: 319-283-9577
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.; Tue, Wed, Thu 1:00–4:00 p.m.
- Website: sacredheartoelwein.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/SacredHeartParishOfOelwein
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick S. O'Connor1890–
First resident pastor; arrived in Oelwein in 1890 and oversaw construction of the 1891 rectory, 1901 school building, and the church completed in 1908.
- Rev. Dr. John BacciInstalled October 1931
Installed as pastor of Oelwein (per The Witness, Archdiocese of Dubuque).
- Fr. Paul McManusSacramental priest, c. 2012–2017
Served alongside Deacon Jim Patera for five years before Father Atwood's arrival.
- Deacon Jim PateraPastoral minister, c. 2012–
Permanent deacon who served as pastoral minister; now retired but still assisting at Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception.
- Father Ray AtwoodSummer 2017–present
Named pastor of Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception in July 2017.