About Saint Augustin · Des Moines, Iowa
Saint Augustin Catholic Church is a historic parish on the west side of Des Moines, Iowa, belonging to the Diocese of Des Moines. Founded in 1920 by twelve families from St. Ambrose Cathedral and formally dedicated on February 3, 1924, the parish grew up around a Gothic Revival church designed by the eminent Boston firm Maginnis & Walsh, with stained glass windows by Charles Jay Connick. The parish complex at 545 42nd Street includes the church, rectory, parish hall, a perpetual adoration chapel, and St. Augustin Catholic School (PK-8), which has served neighborhood families since 1926 and was named a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School in 2004. The community gathers for daily and Sunday Mass, perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, faith formation across life stages, and outreach to those in need, welcoming new parishioners into what the parish describes as a journey 'in love, sacrifice, commitment and community.'
- Established
- 1920
- Patron
- Saint Augustine
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher Pisut (currently on medical leave of absence, November 15, 2025 – March 1, 2026); Rev. Greg Leach (retired) serving as Parochial Administrator during that period.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
St. Augustin offers the rhythm of a traditional Catholic parish grounded in prayer — including a perpetual adoration chapel open 24 hours a day — combined with faith formation for every stage of life, a parish school serving pre-K through eighth grade, liturgical ministries (lectors, cantors, altar servers, ushers, sacristans), and outreach to those less fortunate. The community gathers for multiple Sunday Masses and daily Mass during the week, with reconciliation in the adoration chapel before each Sunday and Saturday Mass, making it easy for busy families and visitors to plug in.
Mass times at Saint Augustin
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (in the adoration chapel)
- Sunday 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM (in the adoration chapel)
Adoration times
- Perpetual 24-hour adoration in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel (entered off 42nd Street on the circle drive)
History of Saint Augustin Parish
Saint Augustin was founded on July 4, 1920, when twelve parishioners of St. Ambrose Cathedral petitioned Bishop Thomas W. Drumm for a new parish on Des Moines's west side. Rev. John Noonan was named founding pastor, articles of incorporation were filed, and a slice of the former Iowa State Fairgrounds at 42nd Street and Grand Avenue was purchased for $20,000. The resulting church, dedicated February 3, 1924, was designed by Boston's Maginnis & Walsh firm and built for roughly $100,000.
- Petition to Bishop Drumm: July 4, 1920
- Land purchased from old Iowa State Fairgrounds: $20,000
- Church dedicated: February 3, 1924
- Seven-room school opened at 4320 Grand Avenue: 1926, staffed by Adrian Dominican Sisters
- Rectory added: 1928
- Stained glass by Charles Jay Connick installed: 1935
- Parish debt paid off and church consecrated by Bishop Gerald Bergan: 1947
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places: April 24, 2013 (Greenwood Park Plats Historic District)
Architecture
St. Augustin Church is an English Gothic Revival brick structure with Bedford stone trim and a red flat-tile roof, dominated by a large square tower at the crossing. The design is by the Boston firm Maginnis & Walsh, whose Catholic portfolio includes the high altar of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013 as a contributing property of the Greenwood Park Plats Historic District.
- Architect: Maginnis & Walsh (Charles Maginnis) of Boston
- Style: English Gothic Revival
- Materials: Brick with Bedford stone trim, red flat-tile roof
- Tower: large square tower at the crossing
- Stained glass: Charles Jay Connick of Boston, documented in 'Art of Prayer'
St. Augustin Catholic School
St. Augustin Catholic School has educated children on the parish's west-side campus since 1926, when the original seven-room school was staffed by the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Today the school serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, with a teacher-to-student ratio of about 15:1 and a teacher associate in every classroom from pre-K through fifth grade. It was named a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence in 2004, and its curriculum integrates Gospel values, faith formation, community service, and a wide range of activities.
- Serving PK-8 since 1926
- Blue Ribbon School of Excellence: 2004 (U.S. Department of Education)
- Specials: music, physical education, art, Spanish, guidance, library
- Activities include Student Council, Band, Choir, Spring Musical, Mock Trial, Chess Club, Speech/Debate, Catholic Football League, middle school volleyball/basketball/cheerleading
- Service projects benefit Mary's Helping Hands, Salvation Army, Blank Park Zoo, Catholic Charities, and other community partners
- School website: https://www.staugustinschool.org/
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith formation at St. Augustin is structured around the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), a parish catechetical leader, and family sacramental preparation. Baptisms are arranged through the parish office, marriage preparation is coordinated through Deacon Kurt Heinrich, and the parish reaches Catholics who are homebound or in the hospital through a dedicated ministry led by Deacons Joe Coan and Mike Manno.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults): Tyler Fernholz, [email protected]
- Catechetical Leader: Janis Falk — [email protected]
- Baptismal Preparation: Cindy Sullivan, [email protected]
- Marriage Preparation: Rev. Mr. Kurt Heinrich — [email protected]
- Hospital / Homebound Ministry: Deacons Joe Coan and Mike Manno
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM and Sunday 9:00–9:30 AM (adoration chapel)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners of all ages are invited to serve in the liturgy. Lectors proclaim the Word, ushers welcome and seat the assembly, cantors lead sung prayer, altar servers assist at the altar (open to youth beginning in fifth grade), and sacristans prepare the worship space. Initial training is provided for each role.
- Lectors: Deacon Kevin & Rhonda Heim — 515-274-4321, [email protected]
- Ushers: parish office, 515-255-1175, [email protected]
- Cantors: Dr. Marion Scott, Music Director — [email protected]
- Altar Servers: Lisa at the parish office (515-255-1175), open to youth in 5th grade and up
- Sacristan: contact Rev. Pisut via the parish office, ext. 202
Parish Staff & Office
Pastoral and administrative work is shared between the pastor, a parochial administrator during the pastor's current medical leave, sacramental assistance, four deacons, and parish office staff. The parish also notes that the pastor, Very Rev. Christopher Pisut, serves simultaneously as Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Des Moines.
- Pastor: Rev. Christopher Pisut (on medical leave Nov 15, 2025 – Mar 1, 2026)
- Parochial Administrator: Rev. Greg Leach (retired)
- Sacramental Assistance: Rev. Jason Catania
- Deacons: Joe Coan, Kevin Heim, Kurt Heinrich, Mike Manno
- Office Manager / Secretary: Cindy Sullivan — [email protected]
- Business Manager: Nicole Bradley — [email protected]
- Communications Coordinator: Victoria Bettis — [email protected]
- Music Director: Marian Scott — [email protected]
- Catechetical Leader: Janis Falk — [email protected]
Getting Involved & New Parishioners
The parish invites newcomers to register through its New Parishioner Registration Form and to get involved through any of the liturgical, formation, outreach, or adoration ministries described on its website. Online giving and ACH tithing options are also available for those wishing to support the parish financially.
- New Parishioner Registration Form (available on staugustin.org)
- Online Giving and ACH Tithing Form (available on staugustin.org)
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel sign-up — contact the parish office
Heritage & Historic Significance
Beyond its role as a worshipping community, St. Augustin is recognized as a significant piece of Iowa's built heritage. Its Maginnis & Walsh design and Connick stained glass place it among the most architecturally distinguished Catholic churches in central Iowa, and the parish complex forms a contributing property within the Greenwood Park Plats Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Architectural firm Maginnis & Walsh was nationally prominent for Catholic commissions
- Charles Jay Connick stained glass is documented in the book 'Art of Prayer'
- National Register listing: April 24, 2013
- Historic district: Greenwood Park Plats
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Noonan1920–1928
Founding pastor; led the parish from its petition in 1920 through the 1924 dedication of the church and the 1926 opening of the school.
- Rev. James Manning1928–1933
Appointed 1928; oversaw construction of the rectory.
- Rev. Francis O'Connell1933–1948
Completed the interior furnishings, enlarged the school, and eliminated the parish debt; parish consecrated by Bishop Gerald Bergan in 1947.
- Msgr. Gerald Walker1948–1981
Retired June 1981 after 33 years; oversaw construction of a second school building.
- Rev. Frank Nugent1981–1989
Repaired the church and completed the parish hall (lower level 1988); died October 1989.
- Rev. Thomas Crowley1989–1990
Parish administrator following Nugent's death.
- Msgr. Frank Bognanno1990–2000
Expanded the school building and church parking lot.
- Rev. James Polich2000–2011
Purchased additional property at Grand Avenue and 40th Street; died 2011.
- Rev. James Livingstone2011–2012
Parish administrator following Polich's death.
- Rev. Christopher Hartshorn2012–
Appointed 2012.
- Rev. Christopher Pisut
Current pastor; also serves as Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Des Moines; on medical leave Nov 15, 2025 – Mar 1, 2026, with Rev. Greg Leach as Parochial Administrator.