About Sacred Heart · Templeton, Iowa
Sacred Heart Catholic Church sits at 202 S. 5th Avenue in Templeton, Iowa, and is the only church congregation to have ever existed in this small Carroll County town — a testament to the area's deep German-Catholic roots. The parish dates to the late 1870s, with the first church built in 1883 and the current Gothic-style church erected in 1900. Today Sacred Heart is part of Good Shepherd Catholic Parish in western Carroll County (under the umbrella grouping Christ the King Catholic Community) and is served by Rev. Terry A. Roder as part of the Diocese of Sioux City. The parish is best known for its striking onyx Communion rail, imported Italian-marble statue of St. Michael the Archangel, and a 2,675-pound bell cast in St. Louis in 1889.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Terry A. Roder
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux City
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is the only Catholic parish in Templeton, a small Carroll County community with deep German-Catholic roots dating to the 1870s, so newcomers quickly become part of a multigenerational parish family. Worshippers experience Mass in a striking 1900 Gothic church with rare historic features — an onyx Communion rail and an Italian-marble St. Michael — that have been carefully preserved through a major 2010 renovation. As part of Good Shepherd Catholic Parish (Christ the King Catholic Community) in the Diocese of Sioux City, members share in the broader sacramental life of six neighboring churches while keeping their own strong local identity.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 9:30 AM – 9:45 AM (before Mass, at Sacred Heart, Templeton)
- By appointment (across Good Shepherd Catholic Parish)
Adoration times
- 1st Friday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (at Sacred Heart, Templeton)
History & Origins
Sacred Heart's parish story begins in the late 1870s with German-Catholic families scattered across Eden, Roselle, and Warren townships in Carroll County. In the spring of 1883, Bishop John Hennessey of Dubuque commissioned Very Rev. B. A. Schulte to organize a new mission along the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and a frame church was moved to Templeton in 1883. Father Schulte became resident pastor in April 1884 and would go on to design — and supervise construction of — the present Gothic church that opened to worshippers in 1900.
- Late 1870s — parish mission organized
- 1883 — first frame church moved to Templeton
- April 1884 — Very Rev. B. A. Schulte becomes first resident pastor
- 1900 — current Gothic church construction begins
Church Building & Architecture
The present church was designed by Father Schulte after a monastery church in the Old World and built by a St. Louis firm at about $25,000 (with parishioner labor adding significant value). At 136 by 57 feet with a 170-foot central spire and four 70-foot flanking towers, it was once one of the largest churches in Carroll County, seating over 700. The 150-foot original steeple was removed in the 1970s and the bell tower rebuilt. Inside, highlights include a pure-onyx Communion rail and an imported-Italian-marble statue of St. Michael the Archangel.
- Gothic style, Old World monastery inspiration
- Original 150-foot steeple removed in the 1970s
- Original construction cost: ~$28,000 plus $5,000 in altars/furnishings
- Communion rail of pure onyx
- Statue of St. Michael the Archangel — Italian marble
- 1889 bell — St. Louis cast, 53 inches, 2,675 lbs, 'D' natural
Renovations & Care of the Building
A major 2010 renovation brought the historic building up to contemporary standards while preserving its character. The work added a gathering area (narthex) and restroom facilities, repainted and redecorated the altar, installed new flooring, refinished the pews, and added a new heating and cooling system — making the 1900 church comfortable and welcoming for a 21st-century parish family.
- 2010 — narthex/gathering area added
- 2010 — new restrooms, flooring, refinished pews
- 2010 — altar repainted and redecorated
- 2010 — new HVAC system
Educational Heritage
Sacred Heart has been a center of Catholic education in Carroll County for more than a century. The first Catholic school in the area was built here in 1889, and in 1917 Sacred Heart founded the first Catholic high school in Carroll County — Sacred Heart High School. The high school operated until 1959, when it merged with Kuemper Catholic High School in Carroll. A new school building was built in 1964, and the elementary and junior high grades continued in Templeton until the late 1960s and early 1970s.
- 1889 — first Catholic school in the area
- 1917 — first Catholic high school in Carroll County (Sacred Heart High School)
- 1959 — merged into Kuemper Catholic High School in Carroll
- 1964 — new school building constructed
- Late 1960s/early 1970s — merged with Halbur & Roselle grade schools as Holy Trinity School
- 2003 — Holy Trinity merged fully into the Kuemper system
From School to Community Center
Although the school is no longer used for education, the parish remains proud of its educational legacy. In 2011, a committee formed and began a multi-year process to have the City of Templeton acquire the old school building so it could be redeveloped into a fully functional multi-purpose community center — a fitting second life for a structure that educated generations of Carroll County Catholics.
- 2011 — community committee formed
- Acquisition by City of Templeton
- Redevelopment as a multi-purpose community center
Christ the King Catholic Community & Good Shepherd Parish
Sacred Heart is part of a six-parish grouping known as Christ the King Catholic Community within the Diocese of Sioux City. In 2021 the Diocese reorganized western Carroll County parishes: St. John's (Arcadia), St. Bernard's (Breda), and Sacred Heart (Templeton) were merged into Good Shepherd Catholic Parish, with St. Augustine (Halbur), Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Mount Carmel), and Holy Angels (Roselle) continued as church buildings under that umbrella. The grouping is led by Pastor Rev. Terry A. Roder.
- Sacred Heart Church — Templeton
- St. John the Baptist Church — Arcadia
- St. Bernard Church — Breda
- St. Augustine Church — Halbur
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church — Mount Carmel
- Holy Angels Church — Roselle
- Pastor: Rev. Terry A. Roder
Staff & Contacts
Sacred Heart is served through Good Shepherd Catholic Parish's central office. The pastor is Rev. Terry A. Roder; Cindy Lawler serves as Bookkeeper / Administrative Assistant; Rosie Sporrer is Parish Secretary; and Julie Eich handles administrative duties at St. John the Baptist (Arcadia). The parish office is located in Breda, with the church itself in Templeton.
- Pastor — Rev. Terry A. Roder (Breda Rectory 712-673-2351)
- Bookkeeper / Admin Assistant — Cindy Lawler (712-673-2582)
- Parish Secretary — Rosie Sporrer (712-658-2464)
- Parish Office — 304 N. 2nd Street, P.O. Box 29, Breda, IA 51436-0029
- Email — [email protected]
Visiting Sacred Heart
Because Sacred Heart is the only church congregation in Templeton, visitors and newcomers find it easy to plug in. The church stands at 202 S. 5th Avenue in the heart of town, while parish administration is run through the Good Shepherd office in nearby Breda. The parish encourages visitors to check gscpcarrollco.org and the weekly bulletin for the latest Mass times, especially around Holy Days and special feasts.
- Church address: 202 S. 5th Avenue, Templeton, IA 51463
- Parish Office: 304 N. 2nd Street, P.O. Box 29, Breda, IA 51436-0029
- Website: gscpcarrollco.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Very Rev. B. A. Schulte1884–early 1900s
First resident pastor of Sacred Heart; commissioned by Bishop John Hennessey in spring 1883 to organize the mission. Designed the interior decorations and oversaw construction of the present 1900 Gothic church.