About Saint Francis · Corydon, Iowa
Saint Francis Parish is a small Roman Catholic mission parish in Corydon, Iowa, in the southern part of the state, belonging to the Diocese of Des Moines. It is currently served from Sacred Heart Parish in Chariton, with the pastor residing in Chariton and celebrating weekend Mass in the Methodist Church building at 213 W. Jackson Street in Corydon. The parish is part of a three-parish cluster — Sacred Heart (Chariton), St. Francis (Corydon), and St. Brendan (Leon) — under one pastor, and currently lists Saturday evening Mass at 6:30 p.m. as its regular worship time.
- Patron
- St. Francis (of Assisi, by tradition, though the specific dedication is not stated on the diocesan listing)
- Rector
- Rev. Remi Okere, C.S.Sp.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
Saint Francis Parish offers a small, close-knit Catholic community in the Wayne County seat of Corydon, with a weekly Saturday evening Mass and a priest-pastor who also serves the neighboring parishes of Sacred Heart in Chariton and St. Brendan in Leon. For Catholics living in or passing through southern Iowa, it is a welcoming place to worship, receive the sacraments, and connect with fellow parishioners. Because the parish is small and shares pastoral staff with Chariton and Leon, visitors can expect personal attention and a faithful, traditional Catholic experience grounded in the Diocese of Des Moines.
Mass times at Saint Francis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Mass and by appointment
Overview of Saint Francis Parish
Saint Francis Parish is a small Catholic community in Corydon, the county seat of Wayne County in southern Iowa. It is part of the Diocese of Des Moines and is currently served by Rev. Remi Okere, C.S.Sp., who also pastors Sacred Heart Parish in Chariton and St. Brendan Parish in Leon. Because the parish is a mission of the Chariton cluster, weekend worship takes place in the Methodist Church at 213 W. Jackson Street in Corydon. The regular weekly Mass is celebrated Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m., and the sacrament of Reconciliation is offered before Mass and by appointment.
- Diocese: Des Moines
- Parish type: Clustered mission parish
- Regular worship: Saturday 6:30 p.m. (English)
- Cluster: Sacred Heart (Chariton) and St. Brendan (Leon)
Parish Cluster & Pastoral Coverage
Saint Francis is one of three parishes served by a single priest in the southern Iowa rural deanery of the Diocese of Des Moines. The cluster pairs the historic Chariton parish (Sacred Heart, founded as St. Mary in 1869) with two mission parishes — St. Francis in Corydon and St. Brendan in Leon. The parish office and mailing address for the cluster is in Chariton (407 N. Main St., Chariton, IA 50049), and the same phone number, (641) 774-4978, is used for all three parishes.
- Sacred Heart Parish, Chariton — 407 N. Main St. (Saturday 4:30 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m.)
- St. Francis Parish, Corydon — 213 W. Jackson St. (Saturday 6:30 p.m.)
- St. Brendan Parish, Leon — Saturday 5:30 p.m. (per the cluster listing)
- Cluster office phone: (641) 774-4978
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
The Diocese of Des Moines 2025–26 Parish Information directory lists a single weekend Mass for St. Francis, Corydon — Saturday at 6:30 p.m. — celebrated in English. Reconciliation is available before Mass and by appointment. Because the parish does not operate a dedicated Catholic church building, weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and other devotions are not scheduled on-site in Corydon; parishioners can attend those at the sister parishes in the Chariton cluster.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 6:30 p.m. (English)
- Reconciliation: before Mass and by appointment
- Weekday Mass / Adoration: not scheduled on-site in Corydon
Pastor & Clergy
Saint Francis is currently pastored by Rev. Remi Okere, C.S.Sp., a member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost (Spiritans). Father Okere was born in 1963, attended school in Nigeria, was ordained in 1994, and has served in the Diocese of Des Moines since 1996. He previously served at St. Joseph Parish in Des Moines, Sacred Heart Parish in West Des Moines, Assumption Parish in Granger, and St. John Parish in Adel, before being assigned in mid-2024 to the Chariton–Corydon–Leon cluster for a six-year term.
- Rev. Remi Okere, C.S.Sp. — current pastor
- Religious order: Congregation of the Holy Ghost (Spiritans)
- Ordained: 1994, Nigeria
- In Diocese of Des Moines since: 1996
Pastoral Succession
Diocesan assignment records published by Bishop William Joensen show the recent pastoral succession for the Corydon–Chariton–Leon cluster. Father Samuel Danso served as pastor of the three-parish cluster until July 11, 2024, when he was reassigned to St. Patrick Parish, Dunlap, and Sacred Heart Parish, Woodbine. Father Remi Okere succeeded him in mid-2024 for an initial six-year term.
- Rev. Samuel Danso (until July 2024) — Ghanaian-born, ordained 2010, in Diocese of Des Moines since 2018
- Rev. Remi Okere, C.S.Sp. (from July 2024) — Nigerian-born Spiritan, six-year assignment
Location, Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors gather at the Methodist Church building, 213 West Jackson Street, Corydon, IA 50060. There is no separate Catholic church or rectory in Corydon — all parish mail should be addressed to the cluster office at 407 N. Main St., Chariton, IA 50049. The shared cluster phone number is (641) 774-4978, and the parish is listed on the diocesan directory at dmdiocese.org.
- Worship address: 213 W. Jackson St., Corydon, IA 50060
- Mailing address: 407 N. Main St., Chariton, IA 50049
- Phone: (641) 774-4978
- Diocesan listing: dmdiocese.org/worship/parishes-and-mass-times
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Samuel Dansountil July 2024
Previously pastor of Sacred Heart (Chariton), St. Francis (Corydon), and St. Brendan (Leon); reassigned July 11, 2024 to St. Patrick Parish, Dunlap, and Sacred Heart Parish, Woodbine. Born in Ghana in 1975; ordained 2010; arrived in Diocese of Des Moines 2018.
- Rev. Remi Okere, C.S.Sp.from July 2024 (six-year term)
Assigned to Sacred Heart (Chariton), St. Francis (Corydon), and St. Brendan (Leon). Born 1963 in Nigeria; member of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost (Spiritans); ordained 1994 in Nigeria; in the Diocese of Des Moines since 1996, previously at St. Joseph (Des Moines), Sacred Heart (West Des Moines), Assumption (Granger), and St. John (Adel).