About Saint Patrick · Corning, Iowa
St. Patrick Catholic Parish is a small Roman Catholic community located at 504 Grove Avenue in Corning, Iowa, the county seat of Adams County in southwest Iowa. A parish of the Diocese of Des Moines, St. Patrick gathers its members for worship through weekday noon Masses on Tuesday and Thursday, a Saturday evening vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m., and a Sunday Mass at 10:30 a.m. The parish is led by Father Livinus Anweting and supported by an engaged lay leadership team that includes parish and finance councils, an active Altar Society, Knights of Columbus council, and a thrift shop ministry that serves the wider Corning community.
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Fr. Livinus Anweting
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
St. Patrick is a close-knit Catholic family in the heart of Corning where every member is invited to draw life from the Eucharist and the other sacraments. The parish keeps a generous daily Mass schedule (Tuesday and Thursday noon, Saturday 5:30 p.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m.), weekly confession on Saturday evenings, a Tuesday rosary for the nation, monthly Holy Hour adoration on the first Thursday, and a robust Religious Education program led by a dedicated Director of Religious Education. Families looking for a parish that combines traditional Catholic worship with active service — through the Knights of Columbus, Altar Society, Thrift Shop, RCIA, and care for Calvary Cemetery — will find a welcoming home here.
Mass times at Saint Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 – 5:30 p.m.
- 30 minutes prior or after each Holy Mass
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- First Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. (Holy Hour Adoration)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Patrick Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic community of the Diocese of Des Moines serving Corning, Iowa, and the surrounding Adams County area. The parish mission statement, published on the parish website, declares that the members are 'dedicated to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ as individual members and as a community in the tradition of the Catholic Church,' drawing life from the Eucharist and other sacraments. The Parish Council invites all parishioners to pray that this Mission Statement may be a source of guidance in shaping the life and identity of St. Patrick Church. The mission statement commits the parish to 'worship, education, stewardship and service' as four pillars of parish life.
- Roman Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Des Moines
- Mission rooted in Eucharist, sacraments, and Gospel witness
- Four pillars: worship, education, stewardship, service
- Patron: St. Patrick
Pastoral Team & Parish Staff
The pastoral team is led by the pastor and supported by parish staff, trustees, councils, and ministry leaders listed on the parish's About Us page. The parish secretary/bookkeeper maintains regular office hours and is the first point of contact for most parish business.
- Pastor: Fr. Livinus Anweting — 641-322-3363
- Secretary/Bookkeeper: Jane Rychnovsky — 641-344-4089
- Director of Religious Education: Danielle Colella — 917-676-8873
- Liturgy Chair: Julia Paul — 319-470-4280
- Worship and Music Ministry: Nancy Amdor — 641-344-0864
- Parish Trustees: Jamie Hogan, Marjorie Reynolds
- Parish Council Chair: Stephen Gruba — 712-621-0105
- Finance Council Chair: Travis Paul — 712-621-0914
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Patrick centers on fostering an encounter with Jesus and on enabling intimacy with Him and His Church. Children are taught to 'learn from Jesus, to think and judge like Him' through the parish Religious Education program, which serves children from Kindergarten through High School. The parish welcomes families to register their children and offers a First Holy Communion retreat annually for those preparing to receive the sacrament for the first time.
- Director of Religious Education: Danielle Colella
- Grade-level catechists serve Kindergarten, Second, Third, Middle School, and High School
- First Holy Communion Retreat
- Parents supported as primary educators of the faith
- Contact parish office at 641-322-3363 to register
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the parish's formal process for adults seeking to become Catholic. As the parish explains, the Catholic faith is built on St. Peter's confession that 'You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.' The RCIA journey includes listening, learning, sharing faith stories, and joining the Church's rituals, culminating at the Easter Vigil.
- Open to non-baptized adults, Christians of other denominations, and uncatechized Catholics
- Process begins in August
- Culminates at the Easter Vigil
- Inquiries: contact the parish office
Altar Society
Since its inception in the early 1970s the Altar Society has served the material and spiritual needs of St. Patrick Parish from a feminine perspective. It provides spiritual growth to the women of the parish through the corporal works of mercy and maintains the Parish Center (rental, upkeep, and cleaning) using money raised from manning the Thrift Shop and a yearly bake sale. In 2017 the Society updated the altar servers' robes and cares for altar linens; in 2019 it replaced the parish computers. The Society visits the shut-in, leads the weekly Rosary for the Nation on Tuesdays, and runs a daily rosary prayer chain for the sick under the leadership of Marcella Gearheart (since 2014). Every woman of the parish is automatically a member. Meetings are at the Parish Center the first Tuesday of every month at 5 p.m.
- Founded early 1970s; every woman of the parish is automatically a member
- Operates the parish Thrift Shop and hosts a yearly bake sale
- Hosts funeral dinners, catechist thank-you dinner, First Communion celebration
- Delivers Meals on Wheels three months per year
- Daily rosary prayer chain for the sick since 2014
- Recipients of donations include Rose Ann Auxiliary, Hearts and Hugs Daycare, Kid Council, Feed the Pack, Fostering Hope, Matura, Ministerial Association
- Meets first Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m. at the Parish Center
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus Council at St. Patrick is part of the broader Knights of Columbus fraternal and service organization of Catholic men. The council is led by Grand Knight Jim Maeder and supports both parish life and wider community outreach.
- Grand Knight: Jim Maeder
- Contact the parish office for information on joining or meeting times
Parish Thrift Shop
The Parish Thrift Shop is both an outreach ministry to the broader Corning community and a primary fundraiser for the Altar Society's many good works. Operated by volunteers including Marcella Gearheart and Linda Schafroth, proceeds help support local charitable causes and the parish Religious Education program.
- Contacts: Marcella Gearheart (641-322-3885) and Linda Schafroth (641-247-1491)
- Operated by the Altar Society
- Funds community grants and parish Religious Education
Calvary Cemetery
St. Patrick Parish maintains Calvary Cemetery as a ministry to the faithful departed and their families. Inquiries about plots, records, or arrangements can be directed to the parish office or to the Cemetery Chairman.
- Cemetery Chairman: Jamie Hogan — 712-621-0523
- Additional contact: Lisa Allison — 641-344-8088
- Parish office: 641-322-3363
Visit Us, Location & Contacts
St. Patrick Catholic Church is located in the city of Corning, county seat of Adams County in southwest Iowa. The St. Patrick Parish Center is located one block east of the church and is the hub for many parish activities. Secretary office hours are kept on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that parishioners can speak with staff in person; voicemail messages may be left at any time.
- Church address: 504 Grove Ave., Corning, IA 50841
- Parish Center: 607 6th Street, Corning — 641-322-4093
- Phone & Fax: 641-322-3363
- Email: [email protected]
- Secretary office hours: Tuesday 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.; Thursday 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
- Web: http://www.stpatrickcorning.com/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Livinus Anweting
Current pastor; listed on the parish About Us page with parish phone 641-322-3363.