About Sacred Heart · Rockwell, Iowa
Sacred Heart Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the farming community of Rockwell, Iowa, in Cerro Gordo County. It is part of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and gathers parishioners for Sunday morning Mass and a Thursday evening Mass that includes Eucharistic Adoration and Confession. The parish carries on the legacy of a community founded in the 1870s, reaches out to local nursing homes with monthly Masses, and hosts lively parish traditions such as the annual Irish Fair and Knights of Columbus Fish Frys.
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Josh (mentioned on the parish site leading Theology Thursday)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
Sacred Heart offers a quiet, faithful rhythm of Catholic life for the Rockwell area: a Sunday Mass preceded by the Rosary, a Thursday evening Mass with Adoration and Confession, and a 'Theology Thursday' Bible study with the pastor. The parish reaches beyond its walls with monthly Masses at the Rockwell Community Nursing Home and Sheffield Care Center, and it builds community through beloved traditions like the annual Irish Fair (now in its 80th year) and the Knights of Columbus Fish Frys — the kind of warm, multigenerational rural parish life where families know one another by name.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday at 5:00 PM (before 5:30 PM Mass)
- Sunday at 7:30 AM or by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday at 5:00 PM (before 5:30 PM Mass)
Parish Identity & Location
Sacred Heart Parish is the Catholic church for the small north-central Iowa farming community of Rockwell, in Cerro Gordo County. It is a parish of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and stands at 305 Elm Street East, Rockwell, IA 50469, where the parish office can be reached at (641) 822-4950 or by email at [email protected]. The parish maintains an official website at sacredheartrockwell.org and is listed in the Archdiocese's parish finder.
- Address: 305 Elm St E, Rockwell, IA 50469
- Phone: (641) 822-4950
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.sacredheartrockwell.org/
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Dubuque
- County: Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Faith Formation & Bible Study
The parish nurtures ongoing adult formation through 'Theology Thursday,' a Bible study and learning event led by Fr. Josh on the 2nd Thursday of each month, held after the 5:30 PM Mass. A second ongoing series, 'Journey in Faith,' is listed among upcoming parish events on the official website.
- Theology Thursday — 2nd Thursday of the month, after Mass, with Fr. Josh
- Journey in Faith — ongoing parish formation series
Pastoral Care to the Elderly & Shut-Ins
Sacred Heart extends the Eucharist to those who can no longer easily come to church through regular First Friday visits to local care facilities. This ministry keeps parishioners in care centers connected to the parish's liturgical rhythm and the wider Sacred Heart community.
- 3rd Friday — 10:15 AM Mass at Rockwell Community Nursing Home
- 1st Friday — 9:00 AM Mass at Sheffield Care Center
Parish Life & Community Events
Sacred Heart's calendar is anchored by two beloved community traditions: the Knights of Columbus Fish Frys held on selected Friday evenings in Lent, and the Annual Irish Fair, now in its 80th year. These events draw families from across the area and are a hallmark of parish identity in Rockwell.
- Knights of Columbus Fish Frys — select Lenten Fridays, 5:00–7:00 PM (or until sold out)
- 80th Annual Irish Fair — a long-running community celebration
Parish History
Catholic life in Rockwell traces back to 1873. The parish was shaped decisively by Father Lawrence H. Burns, who arrived in 1887 and served for 27 years. He directed construction of the larger Sacred Heart church dedicated in 1893 by Bishop Joseph B. Cotter of Winona, Minnesota. In 1897, five Sisters of the Holy Ghost from Dubuque opened a school in the remodeled parish hall; the Holy Ghost community had planned to place their motherhouse in Rockwell, but instead the Sinsinawa Dominicans took over the school as an independent academy.
- 1873 — Catholic mission present in Rockwell
- 1887 — Father Lawrence H. Burns arrives (serves 27 years)
- 1893 — Larger Sacred Heart church built and dedicated by Bishop Joseph B. Cotter
- 1897 — Five Sisters of the Holy Ghost open a parish school
- 1900 — Sacred Heart Academy, a three-story brick school, completed
- 1901 — Holy Ghost Sisters leave Rockwell for Sinsinawa Dominican community
- 2003 — Parish celebrates 125 years
Sacred Heart Academy
The parish's academy, built in 1900 during Father Burns's pastorate (with Rev. Father J. J. Clune assisting), was one of the most important educational institutions in this part of Iowa. It stood on the highest elevation in town, built of solid brick walls backed by hollow brick for warmth and dryness, three stories above a basement, 110 by 60 feet, with a chapel wing and twin stair towers — a lasting monument to the energy of Father Burns and the generosity of his parishioners.
- Completed 1900 under Father Lawrence H. Burns
- Three-story brick, 110 x 60 feet, with chapel wing
- Original cost approximately $25,000
- Site: highest elevation in Rockwell, toward the northern boundary
Parish Archives
The parish's records, including a Tri-Parish Progress Report covering 99 years of service with a pastor list and photographs, a 1988 history-and-inventory letter from Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt (Parish Profile #89, The Witness, September 4, 1988), and a compilation of pastor cards, are preserved at the Center for Dubuque History at Loras College. A 2003 article in The Witness noted 'Sacred Heart, Rockwell is celebrating 125 years.'
- Tri-Parish Progress Report: 99 Years of Service (pastor list and pictures)
- History and Inventory Letter, Rev. Msgr. Edgar Kurt, 1988
- Pastor Cards compilation
- The Witness, 13 July 2003 — 'Sacred Heart, Rockwell is celebrating 125 years'
Leadership & Staff
The parish is currently served by Fr. Josh, who is mentioned on the parish website leading the Theology Thursday Bible study. The parish's administrative office is staffed by a parish secretary who can be reached at [email protected].
- Pastor: Fr. Josh
- Parish office contact: [email protected]
- Phone: (641) 822-4950
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Kellyuntil 1887
Early pastor; left in 1887 after which Father Burns arrived.
- Father Lawrence H. Burns1887 – c. 1914 (27 years)
Directed construction of the larger 1893 Sacred Heart church and the 1900 Sacred Heart Academy.
- Father J. J. Cluneearly 1900s
Assisted Father Burns at Sacred Heart before being appointed pastor of St. Bridget, Postville shortly after Archbishop John J. Keane's installation in 1911.