About Saint Mary/Holy Cross · Elkhart, Iowa
St. Mary–Holy Cross Parish is a Catholic parish of the Diocese of Des Moines serving rural northern Polk County, Iowa. It is a single parish with two historic churches: St. Mary Church in the town of Elkhart and Holy Cross Church in rural Maxwell (near Farrar). The community draws members from 13 school districts and roughly two dozen towns across the greater Des Moines area, including Ankeny, Ames, Bondurant, Polk City, Huxley, Nevada, Maxwell, Madrid, and Altoona, who come together to pray, serve, minister, socialize, and grow in the Catholic faith.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Mary Church) and the Holy Cross (Holy Cross Church)
- Rector
- Father Ross Parker
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines (Bishop William Joensen)
Why belong here
St. Mary–Holy Cross is a genuine rural parish where two historic churches serve a community stretching across 13 school districts in northern Polk County, so members truly know one another. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass at both sites, a strong religious-education program for preschool through 10th grade (including Confirmation and the OCIA/RCIA process), a music ministry now led by Laura Kutscher, an active Blessing Box Food Pantry serving local families, and ongoing building projects that visibly reflect parishioner generosity. If you are looking for a faithful, family-sized Catholic community with deep roots in central Iowa, this is a welcoming place to worship and serve.
Mass times at Saint Mary/Holy Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM at St. Mary Church, Elkhart (or by appointment with Father Parker)
- Special reconciliation services scheduled in Advent/Lent (e.g., Wednesday 6:15–7:15 PM at St. Mary)
About St. Mary–Holy Cross Parish
St. Mary–Holy Cross Parish is a single Catholic parish of the Diocese of Des Moines that worships in two historic churches in rural northern Polk County, Iowa. St. Mary Church sits in the town of Elkhart at 460 NW Washington Avenue, while Holy Cross Church stands in rural Maxwell near Farrar at 12704 NE 98th Street. Although its worship sites are rural, the parish's membership is strikingly broad, drawing Catholics from approximately 13 school districts and 23 communities, including Adel, Alleman, Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Baxter, Bondurant, Boone, Cambridge, Clive, Colfax, Collins, Des Moines, Elkhart, Huxley, Kelly, Lucas, Madrid, Maxwell, Mingo, Mitchellville, Nevada, Polk City, Prairie City, Sheldahl, Slater, and West Des Moines.
- St. Mary Church – 460 NW Washington Ave., Elkhart, IA 50073
- Holy Cross Church – 12704 NE 98th St., Maxwell, IA 50161
- Mailing address: PO Box 110, Elkhart, IA 50073
- Parish office phone: (515) 367-2685; Fax: (515) 367-7038
Parish History
Catholic life in northeast Polk County reaches back to the 1860s, when priests from St. Ambrose in Des Moines and Sacred Heart in Newton traveled the countryside to bring the sacraments to scattered farming families. The early missionary priests listed for the territory include Father F. Brazil (1860), Father J. Fogarty (1876), Father Patrick Feely (1880), Father John J. McAleese (1881), Father James Quinn (who rebuilt the Valeria church in 1882), and Father Thomas Sheehy (1893). The parish's own line of resident pastors begins with Father James Manning in 1915, followed by Father F. J. Larkin (1917–1924), who went on to found St. Joseph Parish in Des Moines.
150th Anniversary
The parish is currently celebrating its 150th anniversary. A new edition of the parish history book has been published, and the parish is updating family genealogy records for both churches to preserve parish heritage for future generations. Parishioners were invited to submit a family questionnaire by July 1 to have their information printed in the commemorative volume.
- Updated 150th anniversary history book
- Family genealogy questionnaire for both St. Mary and Holy Cross
Clergy and Staff
Father Ross Parker has served as pastor since February 7, 2023, while also working at the Diocesan Vocations Office. The parish does not publish a fixed weekly schedule for the pastor's presence in the office; he is reached by email, phone, or text. Parish office contact is Barb at [email protected].
- Pastor: Father Ross Parker (also Diocesan Vocations Office)
- Parish office contact: Barb – [email protected], (515) 367-2685
Mass Intentions
The parish accepts Mass Intentions to unite the prayers of the living and the deceased with Christ's offering in the Eucharist. Following a decree from Archbishop Zinkula effective January 1, 2026, the customary stipend for Mass Intentions increased to $10 across all Iowa dioceses.
- Mass Intention stipend: $10 per intention (effective 1/1/2026)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish runs a Religious Education program for students from Preschool through Grade 10, with registration for the 2026–2027 school year open online. Confirmation preparation is offered for students in 9th and 10th grade, including dedicated parent-and-student meetings. The parish also walks adults through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), preparing candidates to be received into full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil. Father Parker's bulletin letters frequently ask the community to pray for these candidates and their catechists.
- Religious Education: Preschool–Grade 10 (registration open)
- Confirmation: Grades 9 & 10
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Easter Vigil reception
Music Ministry
The music ministry at St. Mary–Holy Cross is currently led by Laura Kutscher, a longtime accompanist who stepped into the director role. The parish welcomes additional musicians — singers and instrumentalists, including teenagers — and provides training paired with experienced mentors. The choir rehearses regularly for the major seasons of the liturgical year, especially Advent, Christmas, Lent, and the Triduum.
- Music Ministry director: Laura Kutscher
- Contact: Sue Schmidt, [email protected] / 515-689-9949
- Teenagers welcome to participate
Liturgical Ministries and Hospitality
Parishioners serve the liturgy as Altar Servers, Lectors, Ministers of the Eucharist, and Ushers, with training provided for new volunteers. Current openings are listed on the parish's Events & Opportunities page. Hospitality is also a ministry: the parish hosts Wine & Cheese after the Saturday 5:00 PM Mass at St. Mary and Coffee & Donuts after the 8:00 AM Mass at Holy Cross, with experienced hosts paired with new helpers.
- Altar Servers, Lectors, Ministers of the Eucharist, Ushers
- Wine & Cheese after Saturday 5:00 PM Mass at St. Mary
- Coffee & Donuts after Sunday 8:00 AM Mass at Holy Cross
Outreach: Blessing Box Food Pantry
The parish operates a Blessing Box Food Pantry that distributes food to local families on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. Volunteers are needed to box items, with the ministry led by coordinator Tammi McClain. The parish also takes up monthly food collections at Mass to benefit the Catholic Charities Emergency Family Shelter in Des Moines.
- Distribution: 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month
- Volunteer coordinator: Tammi McClain, 515-290-3904
- Monthly collection supports Catholic Charities Emergency Family Shelter
Events, Fellowship, and Parish Life
Beyond the regular Sunday schedule, the parish publishes a weekly bulletin (bi-weekly in summer) and a monthly calendar that highlight ministry opportunities, retreats, and social events. The annual 'Work of Our Hands' fair invites parishioners who make handmade items, baked goods, or provide services to showcase their talents and support one another. The parish also organizes annual trips — including a pilgrimage to Italy with the pastor — and supports the Annual Diocesan Appeal, with every dollar raised over the parish's $47,270 goal returning directly to the parish.
- Weekly bulletin (bi-weekly in summer); monthly calendar
- 'Work of Our Hands' parish craft and vendor fair
- Italy pilgrimage with the pastor
- Annual Diocesan Appeal goal: $47,270 (2025)
Sacraments
St. Mary–Holy Cross celebrates all the usual Catholic sacraments. Baptisms, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick are arranged through the parish office. Sacramental preparation for children runs through the Religious Education program, while adults prepare through the OCIA process. Reconciliation is heard weekly on Saturdays and by appointment with Father Parker.
- Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00–4:30 PM at St. Mary or by appointment
Giving and Parishioner Support
Parishioners can support the parish through the Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa, choosing St. Mary/Holy Cross Parish–Elkhart from a drop-down menu and designating Tithes, Building Fund, or Food Pantry contributions. The Annual Diocesan Appeal also underwrites diocesan services that in turn support the parish, including faith-formation materials, priest benefits, and seminarian assistance.
- Online giving via Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa (QR code on parish site)
- Designation options: Tithes, Building Fund, Food Pantry
- Annual Diocesan Appeal supports diocesan services that benefit the parish
Contact and Social Media
The parish office is reachable by phone, fax, and email, with Father Parker best reached by email, phone, or text since he does not hold set office hours at the parish. Office hours vary during summer (e.g., July 20–22 varied hours, closed July 23–24); parishioners are encouraged to call before stopping in. The parish maintains a Facebook page linked from the website's Contact page.
- Parish office: (515) 367-2685; Fax: (515) 367-7038
- Email: [email protected] (office: [email protected])
- Mailing: PO Box 110, Elkhart, IA 50073
- Social: Facebook (via saintmaryhc.org)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Ross Parker2023–present (installed February 7, 2023)
Also serves the Diocesan Vocations Office
- Father Michael Amadeo2022 (Canonical Administrator, July 14)
Had previously served 1998–2007; returned as Canonical Administrator
- Father Andrew Windschitl2018–2022 (to July 13, 2022)
- Father Dan Krettek2008–2018
Also worked at Emmaus House
- Father Robert Harris2007
- Father Michael Amadeo1998–2007
Also worked at the Diocese
- Father Dan Kirby1997–1998
- Father John Acrea1990–1997
Also worked at the Diocese
- Father Philip Kruse1987–1990
Also worked at the Diocese
- Monsignor Joseph Schulte1984–1987
- Father Dennis Trausch1982–1984
- Father Joseph Devlin1980–1982
- Monsignor John J. Gorman1973–1980
- Father John E. Cunningham1972–1973
- Father Michael J. Flood1969–1972
- Father Richard Bergman1967–1969
- Monsignor John McIlhon1960–1967
Held other diocesan positions concurrently
- Father Joseph P. Ryan1959–1960
Came from Dowling High School
- Monsignor Raymond Conley1955–1959
Remained editor of The Messenger diocesan paper
- Father G. C. Jermaine1924–1955
Long-tenured pastor; died in office 1955
- Father F. J. Larkin1917–1924
Went on to establish St. Joseph Parish in Des Moines
- Father James Manning1915
First resident pastor listed for the parish