Saint Patrick

About St. Patrick Parish

St. Patrick Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Neola, Iowa, in the southwestern corner of the state in Pottawattamie County. The parish is a member of the Diocese of Des Moines and works in close partnership with St. Columbanus Parish in Weston, sharing one pastor and a combined ministry team. As described on the parish's own home page, the parish was founded in 1882 by families of mostly Irish Catholic heritage, and that Irish founding character is still very visible in the parish today. The parish's mission is straightforward: to worship God, form disciples of all ages, and serve neighbors in Neola and the surrounding rural communities.

History of the Parish

The Catholic community of Neola was organized by about twenty Irish-settler families in the 1870s — just a few years after the Rock Island Railroad arrived in 1869 and the township itself was formally created. Their first frame church, 28 by 40 feet, was built by Philip Mooman at a cost of about $800 and completed in 1874; its first priest was Rev. B. P. McMenomy. By 1882 the parish had grown to roughly 100 families and broke ground for a brick church building, the date the parish now marks as its official founding. A century and more later, in the spring of 2024, an EF3 tornado ripped through nearby Minden, and the people of St. Patrick — led by their pastor — poured in to help with cleanup and pastoral care.

• 1874: First frame church built by Philip Mooman at a cost of about $800.
• First priest: Rev. B. P. McMenomy (later of Council Bluffs).
• 1882: Parish counted ~100 families; began construction of its brick church.
• 1882: Officially marked as founding year on the parish's present website.
• April 26, 2024: EF3 tornado strikes Minden; parish provides major relief effort.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation at St. Patrick is directed by Shannon Nye, the parish's Director of Faith Formation (712-485-2754, [email protected]). The program prepares children for the sacraments — First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are celebrated in 2nd grade, after required Faith Formation in 1st and 2nd grades, and Confirmation is celebrated in 10th grade, after required Faith Formation in 9th and 10th grades. The parish also runs an Adult Faith Formation Bible Study that meets in small groups, and publishes a yearly calendar plus a 'Back to School' and 'Rooted Families' letter for parents.

• Faith Formation Director: Shannon Nye, 712-485-2754
• First Reconciliation / First Eucharist: 2nd grade
• Confirmation: 10th grade
• Adult Faith Formation: Bible Study groups (contact Shannon Nye)
• 2025-2026 Faith Formation Calendar & Registration Form available on the parish website

Sacraments at St. Patrick

The parish celebrates all seven sacraments and provides clear instructions for each on its Sacraments page. Baptism requires parish registration in good standing for at least three months and at least one month's notice; a baptismal class for first-time parents is held on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are celebrated in 2nd grade; Confirmation in 10th grade. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard monthly before Saturday Mass and during First Thursday Adoration. Weddings are scheduled through the parish office, and Anointing of the Sick and pastoral visits are arranged by phone.

• Baptism: 3-month parish membership; 1-month notice; class 1st Tuesday, 7:00 PM
• First Reconciliation / First Eucharist: 2nd grade
• Confirmation: 10th grade
• Confession: 1st Saturday before Mass; 1st Thursday 6:30–7:30 PM
• Marriage: Pre-registration by phone through parish office
• Anointing of the Sick & pastoral visits: Call parish office

Parish Staff

The parish is staffed by a small but dedicated team working together with many volunteer ministers. The pastor is also responsible for the linked parish of St. Columbanus in Weston. Staff members are listed with their own extensions so that parishioners can quickly reach the right office.

• Pastor / Administrator: Rev. Julius Itamid — 712-485-2753
• Business Manager: RaeShelle Jensen — 712-485-2750
• Director of Faith Formation: Shannon Nye — 712-485-2754, [email protected]
• Parish Office: 712-485-2750 — [email protected]

Shut-Ins & Outreach Ministry

St. Patrick operates an active Outreach Ministry that keeps the parish connected to its elderly and homebound members. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion bring the Eucharist on Sundays, and the pastor arranges pastoral visits, Anointing of the Sick, and visits to parishioners in hospitals or care centers. Because of federal confidentiality rules, hospitals no longer notify the parish automatically, so family members are asked to call the parish office whenever a loved one is admitted.

• Outreach Ministry contact: Shannon Nye, 712-485-2754, [email protected]
• Home Communion on Sundays by EMHCs
• Pastoral visits to hospitals, care centers, and homes — call parish office
• Parish maintains a current Shut-Ins & Elderly list

Liturgical Ministries

Volunteer liturgical ministers — lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans and others — serve on a published rotation so that the parish never has to scramble at the last minute. The parish publishes a Ministry Schedule on its website with two documents per year (January–April and May–August). All ministers are asked to arrive in the sacristy 15 minutes before Mass and, if unable to serve, to find their own substitute.

• Published Ministry Schedules (Jan–Apr and May–Aug)
• Sacristy arrival: 15 minutes before Mass
• If unable to serve, ministers find their own replacement

Neola Township & St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery

The parish operates the historic Neola Township and St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery, located on a gravel road north of the town of Neola and serving both the local township and parish community. Land for the Catholic portion was deeded to St. Patrick's Church on February 5, 1915, by James Davis, formerly Bishop of Davenport. The cemetery has its own website (neolaiowacemetery.com) with a full searchable directory of interments, photographs, a cemetery map, and contact information. All cemetery inquiries are routed through the parish office at 712-485-2750.

• Separate website: neolaiowacemetery.com
• Cemetery land deeded to St. Patrick's Church on Feb. 5, 1915, by Bishop James Davis
• Searchable online directory of interments, plus photographs and map
• Inquiries: parish office 712-485-2750

Bulletins & Staying Connected

St. Patrick maintains a regularly updated online bulletin archive, a Ministry Schedule page, and announcements of weekday Mass changes. Because the parish is linked with St. Columbanus in Weston, bulletins often include news, Mass intentions, and events affecting both parishes. Visitors and parishioners are encouraged to pick up a registration form at either entrance of the church or call the parish office.

• Online bulletin archive on the parish website
• Registration forms available at both church entrances
• Single pastor for St. Patrick (Neola) and St. Columbanus (Weston)

Parish Office, Address & Contact

The parish office, located on Third Street in Neola, is the hub for all sacramental scheduling, registration, and outreach needs. The mailing address is a PO Box, and the church street address used by the Diocese of Des Moines directory is 308 Fourth Street in Neola. Three separate phone lines let callers reach the parish office, the priest's office, and the Faith Formation office directly.

• Parish Office: 712-485-2750 — [email protected]
• Priest Office: 712-485-2753
• Faith Formation Office: 712-485-2754 — [email protected]
• Mailing: PO Box 127, Neola, IA 51559
• Church (per diocesan directory): 308 4th St., Neola, IA 51559