About Saint Patrick · Council Bluffs, Iowa
Saint Patrick Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Council Bluffs, Iowa, belonging to the Diocese of Des Moines. Founded in 1924 as the city's fourth Catholic parish, it originally served the northeast section of Council Bluffs and the personnel of nearby Mercy Hospital. After nearly a century in its historic red Sioux Quartzite stone church on Baughn and Harmony Streets, the parish relocated in 2018 to a new church at 4 Valley View Drive, dedicated by Bishop Richard Pates. Today it is a vibrant, growing parish of more than 1,000 families offering daily and weekend Masses, a 24/7 Adoration Chapel, RCIA, faith formation for youth, and numerous lay ministries.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- Saint Patrick
- Rector
- Fr. Joel McNeil
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
St. Patrick's offers the rare combination of a deeply rooted parish history (dating to 1924) and a brand-new worship facility, with a 24/7 Adoration Chapel, four Sunday Masses, and a daily Mass schedule including Tuesday and Thursday evening devotions. Its robust parish life includes RCIA, faith formation for grades 1 through Confirmation, the Fully Alive Youth Group for grades 9–12, the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, the Altar & Rosary Society, the Legion of Mary, That Man is You, and a vibrant music ministry — making it a community where newcomers can both deepen traditional Catholic devotion and find active fellowship.
Mass times at Saint Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- By appointment (call parish office 712-323-1484)
Adoration times
- 24/7 in the Adoration Chapel (after-hours passcode available from the parish office)
- Friday: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM (in the church)
- Friday: Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00 PM (in the church)
About Our Parish
St. Patrick's mission is to proclaim and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, deepening relationships with God and one another through individual and communal prayer, the celebration of the Eucharist, reflective study of scripture, education, and social activities. Rooted in the Gospels and activated by the Second Vatican Council's call to evangelize, the parish today occupies a 12-acre campus at 4 Valley View Drive, serving more than 1,000 registered families from across northeast Council Bluffs.
History of St. Patrick Parish
Catholic worship on the parish's ground dates to 1838. Founded in 1924 as Council Bluffs' fourth Catholic parish, St. Patrick's grew from 119 Depression-era families to a thriving community of more than 1,000 households. The original 1925–26 red Sioux Quartzite stone church served the parish for nearly a century before it outgrew the facility; the new church on Valley View Drive was dedicated June 7, 2018 by Bishop Richard Pates.
- 1838: Fr. Pierre-Jean de Smit, S.J. establishes first Council Bluffs church on the site
- 1924: Parish founded and property purchased at Baughn & Harmony for $14,500
- 1925–26: Construction of original Sioux Quartzite church; dedicated April 25, 1926 by Bishop Drumm
- 1937: First annual report (119 families, $7,153.17 budget)
- 1945: Rectory built
- 1950s: Parish school opens under the Sisters of Mercy
- 1960s: Parishioner Rev. Vincent McCauley named Bishop of Fort Portal, Uganda
- 1973: Sale of the parish school (later became Pizza King)
- 1970s: Interior renovation, Risen Christ carving installed
- 1988: Handicap ramp added
- 1990s: Parish grows to 1,035 families
- 2005–08: Granite exterior sandblasted and tuck-pointed; rectory converted to parish offices
- 2014: Plans for new church launched; 12 acres purchased on Valley View Drive
- June 7, 2018: New church dedicated by Bishop Richard Pates
Clergy & Staff
St. Patrick's is led by a pastor and assisted by a parochial vicar, deacon, and hospital chaplain, with a full lay staff overseeing faith formation, parish administration, music, communications, and youth ministry.
- Pastor — Fr. Joel McNeil ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Maxwell Carson ([email protected])
- Hospital & Nursing Home Chaplain — Fr. Emmanuel Offiong (712-406-0094, [email protected])
- Deacon — Rev. Mr. John Pfenning (402-679-2465, [email protected])
- Parish Manager — Darin Hecker (712-310-3138, [email protected])
- Director of Faith Formation — Jill Faust ([email protected])
- Parish Secretary — Chris Holton ([email protected])
- Music Ministry — Lyn Stuntz (402-578-6081)
- Youth Ministry — Amy Peterson ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a full program of faith formation for children and youth, sacramental preparation for 2nd graders, a two-year Confirmation program for 9th and 10th graders, and the Fully Alive Youth Group for high schoolers.
- Director of Faith Formation: Jill Faust ([email protected])
- Grades 1–4: Wednesdays 5:15–6:15 PM (snack 5:00–5:15)
- Grades 5–8: Wednesdays 6:30–7:45 PM (snack 6:15–6:30)
- Confirmation (Grades 9–10): Wednesdays 6:30–7:45 PM, two-year program
- Sacramental Prep (2nd grade): First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion
- Fully Alive Youth Group (Grades 9–12)
- Vacation Bible School (annual, July)
- RCIA for adults
Ministries & Organizations
Lay faithful find many ways to belong at St. Patrick's through prayer, service, fellowship, and parish governance groups.
- Altar & Rosary Society — Petra Lincoln ([email protected]); meets 3rd Thursday 6:30 PM, Social Hall
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Anthony #330 — Matalyn Sebetka, 319-310-9925
- Knights of Columbus — Dennis McEnearney, 712-310-2091
- Legion of Mary — Cathy Eastwood, 402-598-0172; meets Friday after 8 AM Mass
- Junior Legion of Mary — Eileen Smith, 402-598-1798; ages 12–17, Thursdays at St. Albert Schools 3:30–4:30 PM
- That Man is You (TMIY) — Matt Buyske ([email protected])
- Serra Club (vocations) — Phil Caniglia, 712-323-2236
- Women's Book Club — Jeanette Kenny, 402-490-7983
- Joy on the Journey — Mary Bartlett 712-269-1501; Dick Janousek 712-256-0631
- Mission of 72 — Margie Graeve, 712-309-1119
- Young Adult / College Outreach — Parish Office
- Prayer Chain — requests via parish office or website
- Music Ministry — Lyn Stuntz, 402-578-6081
- Tech / Communications Team
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments and provides preparation programs for each, including marriage preparation and hospital visits.
- Baptism
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion (2nd grade Sacramental Prep)
- Confirmation (two-year program for 9th–10th graders)
- Marriage — Marriage Prep contacts George & Kris Smith, 402-650-6471
- Anointing of the Sick / Hospital & Nursing Home visits — Fr. Emmanuel Offiong, 712-406-0094
- RCIA — adult initiation
Getting Involved & Contact
Parish office hours are Tuesday through Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed Mondays). The parish publishes a weekly bulletin and hosts events year-round, including Vacation Bible School, the Annual Diocesan Appeal, and seasonal celebrations like the May crowning.
- Parish Office: 712-323-1484
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stpatrickcb.org
- Address: 4 Valley View Drive, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
- Office Hours: Tue–Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed Mondays)
- Hall Rentals: 712-323-1484
- Annual Diocesan Appeal goal: $139,000 (2024–25)
Notable Parish Trivia
St. Patrick's small but rich history includes a saintly stone, a parish-raised bishop in Uganda, and one of the rare 24/7 Adoration Chapels in southwest Iowa.
- Rev. Vincent McCauley, parishioner, was named Bishop of Fort Portal, Uganda, by Pope John XXIII
- Parishioner Fr. Michael Berner ordained May 15, 1986
- Original church stone was reclaimed from Broadway paving
- 2018 new church dedicated by Bishop Richard Pates
- 24/7 Adoration Chapel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Cletus Portel1924–1927
Founding pastor; obtained $25,000 bank loan from Bishop Thomas W. Drumm; oversaw 1925–26 construction; transferred to Dunlap, Iowa in 1927.
- Msgr. J.F. Costello1927–1952
Second pastor; led the parish through the Great Depression; commissioned the 1945 rectory and the parish school; died suddenly of a heart attack at age 69 on a return voyage from Ireland.
- Msgr. Thomas J. Moriarty1952–1969
Born Fall River, MA, 1899; ordained 1925; elevated to Monsignor 1959; WWI veteran; co-founder of St. Albert school system; American Legion Chaplain from 1946.
- Msgr. Michael W. Schwarte1969–1972
Succeeded Msgr. Moriarty; oversaw the early 1970s transition.
- Fr. Gerald Stessman1972–1980
Major 1970s interior renovation including installation of the wood carving of the Risen Christ.
- Fr. John Lorenz1980–1982
Replaced Fr. Stessman.
- Fr. Richard Wagner1982–1987
Succeeded Fr. Lorenz.
- Fr. Don Bruck1987–1989
Later served again in the 1990s as associate.
- Msgr. Edward Pfeffer1989–1996
Long-tenured pastor during 1990s growth period.
- Msgr. Edward Kelly1996–1999
Succeeded Msgr. Pfeffer; served until retirement in 1999.
- Fr. John O. Bertogli1999–2005
Shepherded the parish into the new millennium and 75th anniversary.
- Fr. David Fleming2005–
Led the major granite sandblasting, tuck-pointing, and rectory-to-offices conversion; oversaw early new-church planning.
- Fr. Joel McNeilpresent
Current pastor; led the 2018 dedication of the new church on Valley View Drive.
- Fr. Patrick Bacon1959
First associate pastor on record (June–September 1959).
- Fr. Sam Palmer1959–1961
Associate pastor under Msgr. Moriarty.
- Fr. Frank Palmer1962–1967
Associate pastor during the 1960s.
- Fr. Robert Schoeman1966–1970
Associate pastor during the 1960s.
- Fr. Keith Engel1970–1971
Associate pastor in the 1970s.
- Fr. John Cunningham1970–1971
Associate pastor in the 1970s.
- Fr. Don Bruck1971–1972
Associate pastor before becoming pastor.
- Fr. Ray Fitzpatrick1972–1973
Associate pastor in the 1970s.
- Fr. James Kleffman1973–1975
Associate pastor in the 1970s.
- Fr. Bob Weis1975–1977
Associate pastor in the 1970s.
- Fr. Don Daleke1978–1979
Associate pastor in the 1970s.
- Fr. Gerald Deere1981–1982
Associate pastor; retired in Council Bluffs adjacent to St. Patrick's (the 'Deere House'); continued assisting in ministry through 1993.
- Fr. Kevin Cameron1987–1989
Associate pastor.
- Fr. Frank Cordero1992–1995
Associate pastor in the 1990s.
- Fr. Raphael Masabakhawa1995–2003
Associate pastor; later assigned to St. Patrick's, Neola, Iowa.
- Fr. Dean Nimerichter2003–2004
Associate pastor assisting Fr. Bertogli.
- Fr. Maxwell Carsonpresent
Current Parochial Vicar.