About St. Ann - St. Joseph · Harpers Ferry, Iowa
St. Ann–St. Joseph Catholic Church is a small parish in the town of Harpers Ferry, Iowa, in the Mississippi River bluffs of northeastern Allamakee County. It is the merged successor of two earlier parishes: St. Joseph Parish, organized in 1855 atop the bluffs about two miles west of town, and St. Ann Parish, built within Harpers Ferry in 1897 by Father Michael Sheehan to serve the growing Catholic population. The two congregations united in 1973 when a priest shortage forced the older St. Joseph church to close. Since November 2010 St. Ann–St. Joseph has been linked with neighboring parishes and, in March 2025, was formally merged by decree of Archbishop Thomas Zinkula into Holy Family of the Bluffs Parish, headquartered in nearby Lansing. Today the parish is one of five worship sites (along with St. Joseph, New Albin; Immaculate Conception, Lansing and Wexford; and St. Pius V Oratory, Cherry Mound) served by a single priest.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- St. Ann and St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father Joseph Sevcik
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Ann–St. Joseph offers small-parish warmth in the heart of the Mississippi River bluffs, where Mass is celebrated Saturday afternoons in a 1897 church still graced by its historic 1968 renovation and a 1986 multi-purpose hall. Worshippers here belong to a faith community with deep roots — St. Joseph's was organized in 1855, the parish has fostered nearly fifty vocations to priesthood and religious life, and generations of families have been laid to rest in the historic Paint Rock cemetery. As part of the newly formed Holy Family of the Bluffs Parish, members also share ministry and friendship with neighboring Catholic communities in Lansing, New Albin, Wexford, and Cherry Mound — a perfect fit for those who value tradition, family, and faithful country Catholicism.
Mass times at St. Ann - St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm @ Harpers Ferry (St. Ann–St. Joseph)
- Saturdays 8:00 am – 9:00 am @ Lansing (Immaculate Conception)
- Sundays 7:15 am – 7:45 am @ New Albin (St. Joseph)
- First Fridays 8:30 am – 9:15 am during Adoration (Lansing)
- By appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- 1st & 3rd Wednesdays: New Albin 9:00 am – 10:00 am
- 2nd & 4th Thursdays: Wexford 9:00 am – 9:30 am
- Every Friday: Lansing 8:30 am – 9:30 am
History of St. Ann–St. Joseph Parish
St. Ann–St. Joseph Parish traces its roots to two distinct congregations in the Mississippi River bluffs of Allamakee County. St. Joseph Parish was organized in 1855 atop the bluffs about two miles west of Harpers Ferry, in a community then known as Paint Rock. As the town of Harpers Ferry grew, Father Michael Sheehan, pastor of St. Joseph from 1892, recognized the need for a church inside town. He supervised the building of St. Ann's, completed in 1897, and celebrated its dedication Mass on December 1, 1905. Sheehan served both parishes until his death in 1920 and was buried in the Paint Rock cemetery next to his church. Thereafter the two parishes shared a single priest, a tradition that continues today.
The 1973 Merger and the Old St. Joseph Site
By the early 1970s a shortage of active priests forced the closure of the 1855 St. Joseph Church on the bluffs. Its stained-glass windows, pews, statues, and Stations of the Cross were auctioned, and the building was razed in 1976. The 1973 union of the two parishes created St. Ann–St. Joseph Parish. A sheltered burial chapel was built on the old St. Joseph site in memory of the Kass Brothers but deteriorated quickly and was removed in 1994; a small maintenance building replaced it in 1994. Today the Paint Rock cemetery is still tended by parishioners, and the original 3,000-pound bell from the old St. Joseph steeple adorns the front of the cemetery.
Notable Milestones & Building Improvements
Several moments stand out in the parish's physical history. In August 1889 a 3,000-pound bell engraved with parishioners' names was raised into St. Joseph's steeple. In November 1964 Mass was offered facing the people for the first time, and in 1965 the altar rail was rebuilt as a forward-facing altar. A thorough 1968 renovation re-floored, re-carpeted, and re-paneled St. Ann's interior, with a stainless-steel holy water reservoir and baptismal urn added. The 1986–87 rear addition, dedicated by Archbishop Daniel Kucera, brought overflow seating, wake services, and a venue for funeral dinners and parish gatherings. A bronze Blessed Virgin Mary shrine east of the church was blessed on May 14, 1995.
Holy Family of the Bluffs Parish (Linked Parish)
Since November 2010 St. Ann–St. Joseph has been linked with St. Joseph in New Albin, Immaculate Conception in Lansing, Immaculate Conception in Wexford, and St. Pius V Oratory in Cherry Mound — five worship sites in Eastern Allamakee County served by a single priest. On March 6, 2025, Archbishop Thomas Zinkula formally decreed the merger of St. Ann–St. Joseph with the Lansing, New Albin, and Wexford parishes to create the new Holy Family of the Bluffs Parish, while preserving the identity of each individual church.
- St. Ann–St. Joseph, Harpers Ferry (Saturday Vigil 4:00 pm)
- Immaculate Conception, Lansing (Sunday 10:00 am)
- St. Joseph, New Albin (Sunday 8:00 am)
- Immaculate Conception, Wexford (Saturday 5:30 pm)
- St. Pius V Oratory, Cherry Mound
Parish Staff & Office
The Holy Family of the Bluffs staff, based at the parish office in Lansing, serves all five linked worship sites including St. Ann–St. Joseph. The pastor is Father Joseph Sevcik, with Father Philip Agaye — on loan from the Diocese of Konongo-Mampong, Ghana — serving as Parochial Vicar. Amber Lier is Business Manager; Kristi Hager is Coordinator of Faith Formation & Evangelization; and Peggy Berns is Secretary/Bookkeeper. The office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 am to 2:30 pm at 648 Main Street, Lansing, IA 52151.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph J. Sevcik
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Philip Agyei (on loan from the Diocese of Konongo-Mampong, Ghana)
- Business Manager: Amber Lier
- Coordinator of Faith Formation & Evangelization: Kristi Hager
- Secretary/Bookkeeper: Peggy Berns
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith Formation and Evangelization for the linked parishes is coordinated by Kristi Hager. Sacramental preparation — including Baptism (the 1968 stainless-steel baptismal urn remains in use), First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick — is arranged through the parish office. First Friday devotions, including Adoration and the sacrament of Reconciliation, are a regular opportunity for spiritual renewal.
Bulletin & Communications
A weekly parish bulletin carries Mass intentions, announcements, and reflections, including 'This Week's Gospel' and 'American Saint of the Week.' Bulletin submissions are due Mondays at 10:00 am each week. The parish asks visitors to consult the bulletin and the website calendar for the most current Mass, confession, and event times.
Paint Rock Cemetery
The Paint Rock cemetery, adjacent to the former St. Joseph site on the bluffs, has been maintained continuously by St. Joseph's and St. Ann's parishioners since the nineteenth century. The original 3,000-pound bell from St. Joseph's steeple — engraved with parishioners' names from 1889 — stands at the front of the cemetery as a memorial. Father Michael Sheehan, who built St. Ann's in 1897, is buried here. A small maintenance building was added in 1994 to house lawn mowers and landscaping materials for ongoing care.
Vocations & Parish Identity
A point of deep parish pride is the long record of religious vocations: nearly fifty men and women from St. Ann's and St. Joseph's have entered the priesthood or religious life over the decades. This heritage of faith, family, and service continues to shape the identity of Holy Family of the Bluffs today.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Coyle1881–1888
Resident pastor of St. Joseph Parish
- Father Thomas Kiernan1888–1892
In 1889 a 3,000-lb bell with parishioners' names was raised into St. Joseph's steeple
- Father Michael Sheehan1892–1920
Built St. Ann's in 1897 within Harpers Ferry; served both parishes; dedication Mass Dec. 1, 1905; buried at Paint Rock cemetery
- Father Maurice Nolan1920–1934
Launched parish activities as Catholic population grew
- Father John Costelloe1934–1950
Oversaw parishioners digging a basement under St. Ann's for parish events
- Father Robert Palen1950–1952
Installed new interlocking asphalt-shingle roof
- Father William Leonard1952–1958
- Father John Peters1958–1966
First Mass facing the people, Nov. 29, 1964; Monsignor Vernon Peters helped rebuild altar forward-facing in 1965
- Father William Holzer1967–1970
Upgraded basement (heating, paneling, suspended ceiling); began thorough 1968 renovation of St. Ann's
- Father William Tiedemann1970–1975
Repaired church windows in 1971
- Father Robert Levenhagen1975–(approx. 1979/80)
Resigned due to illness
- Father Joseph Heineman1980–1985
Added air conditioning, new altar, tabernacle, and baptismal font
- Father John Smith1985–1987
Built multi-purpose rear addition, dedicated by Archbishop Kucera March 17, 1987
- Father Duane Raftis1987–1991
Took over after Father Smith's retirement
- Father Louis Trzil1991–(after Knipper)
Blessed the Blessed Virgin Mary shrine, May 14, 1995
- Father Daniel Knipper
- Father John Moser
- Father Sean Smith
- Father Joseph Sevcikcurrent
Current pastor of Holy Family of the Bluffs Parish