About St. Andrew · Blue Grass, Iowa
St. Andrew Catholic Parish is a small Catholic community serving Blue Grass, Iowa, in the Diocese of Davenport. Founded in July 1976, the parish first gathered for Sunday Mass in the Blue Grass Community Hall before moving to a newly built Parish Center in 1977. After more than a decade of growth, the parish broke ground for its present church on August 14, 1990, and celebrated its first Easter Vigil in the new building on March 30, 1991. Today the parish is led by Deacon Matt Levy as Parish Life Coordinator, with Father Dale Mallory as Priest Moderator and Father Robert "Bud" Grant as Sacramental Minister. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:30 a.m., with Holy Day Mass at 7:00 p.m., and the parish offers faith formation, OCIA, and a range of lay-led ministries and committees.
- Established
- 1976
- Patron
- St. Andrew (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Deacon Matt Levy, Parish Life Coordinator; Father Dale Mallory, Priest Moderator; Rev. Robert "Bud" Grant, Sacramental Minister
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
St. Andrew offers the closeness of a small-town Catholic parish where members genuinely know one another, sharing a meal and conversation around the parish-center table alongside their worship. The parish celebrates Mass on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and Holy Days at 7:00 p.m., prays the Rosary before Sunday Mass, and hosts Eucharistic Adoration on second Wednesdays. New members can register through Deacon Matt Levy, and adults seeking the sacraments are welcomed through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process.
Mass times at St. Andrew
Weekly Mass schedule
Adoration times
- Second Wednesdays, 6:30 pm–7:00 am (overnight)
Parish History
St. Andrew Parish traces its roots to July 1976, when the first Sunday Masses were celebrated in the Blue Grass Community Hall. The following July, ground was broken for a Parish Center, and once it was completed the community gathered there for worship. Growing demand led to planning for a permanent church; on August 14, 1990, ground was broken, and on March 30, 1991, the first Easter Vigil was celebrated in the new church. The parish was incorporated in Iowa as a Revised Domestic Non-Profit on November 4, 1976, and is listed among the churches of the Diocese of Davenport's Davenport Deanery.
- July 1976 – First Sunday Masses in Blue Grass Community Hall
- July 1977 – Ground broken for the Parish Center
- August 14, 1990 – Ground broken for the present church
- March 30, 1991 – First Easter Vigil in the new church
- November 4, 1976 – Parish incorporated in Iowa (entity #062711)
Clergy & Staff
St. Andrew is served by a small but dedicated clergy and staff team. Deacon Matt Levy serves as Parish Life Coordinator and is the main point of contact for parish life and registration. Father Dale Mallory is the Priest Moderator, and Father Robert "Bud" Grant serves as Sacramental Minister — celebrating baptisms, weddings, and other sacraments that require a priest. Jill Halligan is the Office Manager, and Phyllis Avesing directs Religious Education.
- Deacon Matt Levy — Parish Life Coordinator; cell 309-428-1530; [email protected]
- Rev. Robert "Bud" Grant — Sacramental Minister (since 2008)
- Father Dale Mallory — Priest Moderator; [email protected]
- Jill Halligan — Office Manager
- Phyllis Avesing — Religious Education
Sacraments
St. Andrew celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments. To schedule or request Baptism, First Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, or Anointing of the Sick, parishioners are asked to contact the Parish Life Coordinator, Deacon Matt Levy. Adults preparing for full initiation are guided through the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process.
- Baptism
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
- Anointing of the Sick
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education at St. Andrew is coordinated by Phyllis Avesing, with registration available through the parish office. The parish also runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church or complete their sacraments; inquiries go through Deacon Matt Levy.
- Religious Education Registration — contact Phyllis Avesing, (563) 381-1363
- OCIA — contact Deacon Matt Levy
Parish Council & Committees
Parish life is shaped by a Parish Council chaired by Kristal Schaefer, with Bob Brus as Vice-Chairperson. The Council coordinates several standing committees that organize the parish's worship, service, and upkeep. Each committee has a designated point of contact.
- Worship & Prayer Committee — Shirley Schmidt
- Justice & Peace Committee — Ray Harre
- Building & Grounds Committee — Ed Kocal
- Welcoming Committee — Pat Becker
- Faith Formation — Brenda Todd
- Christian Service — Mary Nelson
- Mary's Angels — Wendy Schnack
- Knights of Columbus — Chris Rubley
- Council Chairperson — Kristal Schaefer
- Vice Chairperson — Bob Brus
- Finance Council Rep — Joan Martz
- Parish Trustees — Mike Moellenbeck and Chris Rubley
Mission, Vision & Values
The parish articulates a compact set of guiding statements: its Mission is to "Live to Give the Gospel," its Vision is to "Glorify the Lord!!!" and its Value Statement is to be "Becoming the Good News, Being the Good News!" These phrases frame how the small community understands its worship and outreach.
- Mission: Live to Give the Gospel
- Vision: Glorify the Lord!!!
- Values: Becoming the Good News, Being the Good News!
Joining the Parish
Anyone interested in registering or learning more about St. Andrew is invited to contact Deacon Matt Levy through the parish office. The parish encourages new members and returning Catholics to introduce themselves; the website also links to the Diocese of Davenport (davenportdiocese.org) and the Catholics Come Home resource.
- Contact Deacon Matt Levy to register or ask questions
- Diocese of Davenport — davenportdiocese.org
- Catholics Come Home — catholicscomehome.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert "Bud" Grant2008–present
Sacramental Minister; ordained in 1984 for the Diocese of Des Moines, on faculty at St. Ambrose University since 1994; parishioners marked his 40th anniversary of priesthood in 2024.