About St Alphonsus · Mount Pleasant, Iowa
St. Alphonsus Catholic Parish is a Roman-Latin Rite parish serving the Catholics of Mount Pleasant and Henry County, Iowa, from its location at 607 S. Jackson Street. Founded in the early 1860s by Irish immigrants who gathered in the southwest Mount Pleasant neighborhood known as Irishtown, the parish today continues its 160-plus-year tradition of prayer, service and spiritual growth under the Diocese of Davenport. With roughly 360 registered families, St. Alphonsus offers daily and weekend Mass in English (and monthly Spanish Mass), Reconciliation, a school-era CCD/Faith Formation program, an adult choir and youth band, Homebound Ministry, Altar & Rosary Society, Knights of Columbus, and a variety of parish groups — all centered in a 2005-dedicated church built to replace the 1862 original.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787, Italian bishop, moral theologian, founder of the Redemptorists, patron of confessors and moral theologians)
- Rector
- Fr. Ross Epping (assigned July 1, 2024)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
St. Alphonsus is a long-established, family-friendly parish where, in the words of current parishioners, "everybody knows everyone just about, and if they don't know you, they're in the process of getting acquainted." Daily Mass is offered Tuesday and Thursday mornings and the parish hosts a Spanish Mass on the second Sunday of the month, alongside weekend Masses Saturday evening and Sunday morning. A real community surrounds the altar — an adult choir, youth band, Knights of Columbus, Altar & Rosary Society with the Quilters guild, Ladies for Charity, Finance and Parish Councils, and a Homebound Ministry that brings Communion each week to the sick and elderly. With Faith Formation for children through Director of Faith Formation Samuel Obert, sacramental preparation for Baptism, Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Marriage and the Sick, and a 125th- and 150th-anniversary tradition still alive in parish memory, St. Alphonsus offers belonging, ministry, and continuity in the heart of Henry County.
Mass times at St Alphonsus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 10:00–11:00 am
- Or by appointment (contact the parish office)
Adoration times
- Tuesdays 9:00–10:00 am
History of St. Alphonsus Parish
The parish was born out of the Irish Catholic immigration wave of the 1840s and 1850s, when famine and political discord in Ireland drove families to the developing railroad and quarries of southeast Iowa. By 1860 the Catholic families of Mount Pleasant — concentrated in a southwest neighborhood called Irishtown — were ready to build a church; Father Slattery purchased four lots on Jackson Street and Irish parishioners erected the stone-and-brick structure in time for its first Mass on Christmas Eve, 1862. The 19th century saw repeated setbacks (most dramatically the 1882 cyclone that destroyed the steeple and rectory) alongside growth: a school opened in 1888 under the Sisters of the Humility of Mary, a new Walnut Street cemetery was blessed, and a pipe organ, heating plant and high school were added in the early 20th century. The post-war era brought a new school and convent dedicated by Bishop Ralph Hayes in 1961; the school eventually passed to the public district as Manning Elementary when the Sisters of Mercy could no longer staff it after Vatican II.
- 1860 — Parish organized; Father Slattery purchases Jackson Street lots
- 1862 (Christmas Eve) — First Mass celebrated in the new church
- 1882 (June 17) — Cyclone destroys steeple and rectory; parish records lost
- 1888 — First Catholic school opened under Sisters of the Humility of Mary
- 1920s — Brick rectory built (1927); Young Ladies Sodality of the BVM organized
- 1950 — Fr. John Manning arrives
- 1961 — New school and convent dedicated by Bishop Ralph Hayes
- 1975 — Church basement remodeled and renamed Loyola Hall (in memory of Sister Mary Loyola, RSM)
- 1983 — Grotto in honor of the Blessed Mother built
- 1987 — 125th Anniversary celebrated; Bishop Leo Maher (San Diego) returns
Building the Modern Parish (1991–Present)
Under pastors Greg Miller, Nick Adam, Joseph Phung, Brian Shepley, John Stack, Paul Connolly, and now Ross Epping, St. Alphonsus has undertaken two major capital campaigns. Phase I produced a new Gathering Space, library, Reconciliation Room, bridal room, classrooms, staff offices, and remodeling of Manning Hall and the kitchen (dedicated September 1998). Phase II brought the present-day church, dedicated by Bishop William E. Franklin in August 2005 with the motto 'Preserving the Past…Preparing for the Future.' The 1862 original was demolished in 2012 to relieve maintenance costs. The rectory was torn down in 2023 after the Gathering Space was updated in 2022 and Manning Hall's kitchen was remodeled in 2020.
- 1991–1996 Fr. Greg Miller: Future Planning Committee; Phase I campaign launched
- 1996–2008 Fr. Nick Adam: Phase I dedicated September 1998
- 2008–2016 Fr. Joseph Phung: old church demolished (2012)
- July 1, 2016 Fr. Brian Shepley (until his passing Dec. 6, 2016)
- Dec. 12, 2016–June 30, 2017 Fr. John Stack (appointed by Bishop Zinkula)
- July 1, 2017–Jan. 2024 Fr. Paul E. Connolly
- 2020 Manning Hall kitchen remodeled
- 2022 Gathering Space updated
- 2023 Rectory torn down
- July 1, 2024 Fr. Ross Epping — current pastor
Celebrating Anniversaries
The parish's 125th anniversary in 1987 drew former parishioners and clergy, with Bishop O'Keefe concelebrating the Mass and Bishop Leo Maher of San Diego returning to his Mount Pleasant roots. The 150th anniversary was marked on the weekend of November 4, 2012, when Bishop Martin Amos presided at a 2 pm Mass followed by a light supper and fellowship. The anniversary article in the Catholic Messenger noted that some current parishioners are direct descendants of the original Irish immigrant founders — among them families whose forebears made their first Communions at home before the 1862 church was built, or who helped lay its brick.
- 1987 — 125th Anniversary
- November 4, 2012 — 150th Anniversary Mass with Bishop Martin Amos
Pastoral Staff & Parish Office
Day-to-day parish life at St. Alphonsus is led by a small, dedicated team. Fr. Ross Epping serves as pastor (since July 1, 2024), supported by Director of Faith Formation Samuel Obert, Director of Music and Choir Director Paul Skevington, Youth Band Director Laura Westfall, and Office Manager Barb Brown, who is also the point of contact for the Homebound Ministry. Office hours are Monday–Friday 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (closed for lunch 11:00 am–12:00 pm), and the parish office phone is (319) 385-8410.
- Pastor: Fr. Ross Epping
- Director of Faith Formation: Mr. Samuel Obert
- Director of Music / Choir Director: Mr. Paul Skevington
- Youth Band Director: Ms. Laura Westfall
- Office Manager: Mrs. Barb Brown
- Parish Office Phone: (319) 385-8410
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 am–3:00 pm (closed 11 am–12 pm for lunch)
Mass & Service Schedule
St. Alphonsus celebrates the Eucharist in English on Saturday evening at 6:00 pm and Sunday morning at 8:00 am, with a Spanish-language Mass at 2:00 pm on the second Sunday of each month. Daily Mass is offered Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8:30 am (no Mass on Monday, Wednesday or Friday). Reconciliation is heard Saturday mornings at 10:00 am or by appointment, and Eucharistic Adoration is held Tuesday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 am.
- Saturday Vigil: 6:00 pm (English)
- Sunday: 8:00 am (English)
- Sunday (2nd Sunday of the month): 2:00 pm (Spanish)
- Tuesday: 8:30 am Mass
- Thursday: 8:30 am Mass
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 10:00–11:00 am, or by appointment
- Adoration: Tuesdays 9:00–10:00 am
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments in keeping with universal Church practice and the norms of the Diocese of Davenport. Sacramental preparation is coordinated through the parish office; couples planning marriage are asked to call at least six months in advance and to take part in the Sponsor Couple or Engaged Weekend program. An Inquiry Class welcomes those discerning the Catholic faith (often a stepping stone to the OCIA/RCIA process). The parish continually offers the Anointing of the Sick to those in need, and Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Eucharist preparation are supported through the Faith Formation program under Samuel Obert.
- Baptism — Entrance into the Church
- Reconciliation — Sat. 10 am or by appointment
- Eucharist — Body and Blood of Christ
- Marriage — contact office 6+ months ahead; Sponsor Couple or Engaged Weekend required
- Sacrament of the Sick — In times of need
- Inquiry Class — Discerning the Catholic faith
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation for parish children and youth is coordinated by Director of Faith Formation Mr. Samuel Obert, working out of the parish's classrooms on the St. Alphonsus grounds (originally built as part of Phase I in the late 1990s, when the Religious Education Center was replaced with a Gathering Space, library, Reconciliation Room, and bridal room). The parish also offers an Inquiry Class for adults discerning the Catholic faith.
- Faith Formation Director: Samuel Obert
- Children's religious education / CCD classroom space
- Inquiry Class for adults exploring the Catholic faith
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry at St. Alphonsus is shared between an adult choir directed by Paul Skevington (Director of Music) and a youth band directed by Laura Westfall. Together they support the parish's weekend and daily Mass schedule, including English and Spanish liturgies.
- Adult Choir — Director Paul Skevington
- Youth Band — Director Laura Westfall
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Alphonsus lists nine core parish groups on its Ministries page, organized under the categories of Church Groups and Parish Life, with an emphasis on outreach, service and spiritual growth. The Homebound Ministry team visits care centers and the homebound each week to bring Holy Communion and prayer — coordinated through Office Manager Barb Brown and the parish office.
- Altar & Rosary Society
- Altar & Rosary Quilters
- Choir / Music
- Finance Council
- Homebound Ministry
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies for Charity
- Parish Council
- Parish Calendar
Homebound Ministry
The Homebound Ministry is one of the parish's most active outreach programs. Each week, volunteers visit local care centers and homebound parishioners to bring Holy Communion and prayer. Those interested in volunteering as Homebound Ministers — or parishioners who would like to receive Communion at home — are asked to contact Barb Brown at the parish office, (319) 385-8410. The group observes seasonal breaks (no March meeting; no November and December meetings).
- Weekly Communion visits to care centers and homes
- Contact: Barb Brown, Parish Office (319) 385-8410
- Seasonal breaks in March, November, and December
Outreach & Parish Fundraisers
St. Alphonsus supports diocesan and local causes through traditional Catholic parish fundraising: the Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA) is highlighted on the parish website each campaign year, and the parish hosts an annual Autumn Festival for parish benefit. The parish also participates in community events such as the Old Thresher's Reunion (a Mount Pleasant tradition) by staffing a food area in Manning Hall — a concrete example of parish-community partnership.
- Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA)
- Autumn Festival
- Old Thresher Reunion food area in Manning Hall
Visiting, Contact & Office
Whether you're a long-time member or a first-time visitor, St. Alphonsus extends a parish welcome: 'We the family of St. Alphonsus Catholic Parish, strive to live out Jesus Christ's call to discipleship by praying, serving, and growing spiritually.' The parish office is located at 607 S. Jackson Street, Mount Pleasant, IA 52641, with phone (319) 385-8410 and email [email protected]; the office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:00 pm (closed for lunch 11 am–12 pm).
- Address: 607 S. Jackson Street, Mount Pleasant, IA 52641
- Phone: (319) 385-8410
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.mtpstalphonsus.org/
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 am–3:00 pm (closed 11 am–12 pm for lunch)
- Diocese: Davenport
St. Alphonsus Cemetery
The parish maintains Catholic cemetery history dating back to the Irishtown era; the original Catholic cemetery at Irishtown was restored in the early 1940s by Fr. James Welsh's remodeling program, honoring the pioneer members buried there. After the 1882 cyclone, the parish opened a newer cemetery on Walnut Street which remains the parish's historic burial ground — including the 1966 grave of Fr. John Manning (a native of County Kerry, Ireland).
- Irishtown cemetery restored c. 1941 in honor of pioneer Catholic families
- Walnut Street cemetery opened in 1881
- Fr. John Manning buried in St. Alphonsus cemetery (1966)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Slattery (Fr. James Slattery)1860–c. 1864
Resident priest who organized the Irish Catholic community, purchased the Jackson Street lots, supervised construction of the 1862 stone-and-brick church; namesake of the parish's patron, St. Alphonsus Liguori.
- Rev. Norton1872
Succeeded by Fr. Kearney for a short term, then Fr. Francis Walsh who served the next thirteen years.
- Rev. J.J. O'Farrell1881
On June 17, 1882 a cyclone toppled the church steeple and destroyed the rectory; repairs, new bell and belfry cost $6,027; opened the new Walnut Street cemetery.
- Rev. J.J. Bassler1888
Founded the parish's first Catholic school, staffed by the Sisters of the Humility of Mary from Ottumwa; served twenty-four years, redecorating the church.
- Fr. Kissane1911
Reopened the parish school in 1912; sisters of St. Francis from Clinton taught for two years.
- Rev. M.M. O'Laughlinlate 1912
Installed a pipe organ and a heating plant for the church and school; Sisters of Mercy took charge of the school.
- Fr. M.J. Gaffney1920s
Added a high school and commercial course; built the brick rectory (finished 1927); organized the Young Ladies Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the parish welfare councils.
- Rev. John Manning1950–1966
Native of County Kerry, Ireland; began a remodeling program (1941 reference). Built new school and convent dedicated in 1961 by Bishop Ralph Hayes; died 1966 and is buried in St. Alphonsus cemetery.
- Fr. Lawrence Vogelafter 1966
Succeeded Fr. Manning; oversaw closure of the elementary school when the Sisters of Mercy could no longer provide teachers.
- Fr. Paul Albers1969–1982
Extensively remodeled and redecorated the church; Manning School rented to public schools and convent converted to CCD center; Loyola Hall renovation 1975.
- Fr. Tom Spiegelafter 1982
Began service after Fr. Albers's 1982 retirement; grotto in honor of the Blessed Mother built in 1983.
- Rev. Greg Miller1991–1996
Future Planning Committee formed under him; Phase I campaign launched to fund the new Gathering Space, library, Reconciliation Room, bridal room, and renovation of Manning Hall.
- Fr. Nick Adam1996–2008
Phase I Building plan completed and dedicated September 1998.
- Fr. Joseph Phung2008–2016
Old 1862–2012 church demolished in 2012 during his tenure.
- Fr. Brian ShepleyJuly 1, 2016 – December 6, 2016
Passed away five months into his assignment.
- Fr. John StackDecember 12, 2016 – June 30, 2017
Appointed by Bishop Thomas Zinkula to finish out the year after Fr. Shepley's passing.
- Fr. Paul E. ConnollyJuly 1, 2017 – January 2024
Served as pastor; Manning Hall kitchen remodeled in 2020; Gathering Space updated in 2022; rectory torn down in 2023.
- Fr. Ross EppingJuly 1, 2024 – present
Current pastor.