About St. Anthony · Des Moines, Iowa
St. Anthony Catholic Church is a historic parish on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa, in the Diocese of Des Moines. Founded in 1906 to serve Italian immigrant families who settled south of the Raccoon River, it has grown into a diverse, bilingual parish offering Masses in both English and Spanish. The current Lombardy Romanesque Revival church was built in 1931 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021. Inscribed above the front doors are the words 'Go forth and teach all nations,' words that have shaped more than a century of parish life, customs, and devotions.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- St. Anthony
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Amadeo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
St. Anthony's has been a south-side Des Moines landmark for more than a century and offers something rare: a thriving bilingual Catholic community where English- and Spanish-speaking families worship side by side, with two Spanish Masses each weekend and a third on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The parish pairs that missionary heritage with deep devotions — daily Eucharistic Adoration, First Saturday Litany of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, and a historic church on the National Register of Historic Places. Families will find a parish school, religious education and Confirmation programs, OCIA/OCIC for adults and children, and outreach rooted in the south-side neighborhoods the parish has served since 1906.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 am
- Tuesday 5:00 pm – 5:50 pm
- Thursday 5:00 pm – 5:50 pm
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm (Adoration Chapel; reposition at 6:00 pm)
Parish History
Italian immigrants began arriving in Des Moines in the 1870s, settling south of the Raccoon River along the streetcar lines. In 1898 Bishop Henry Cosgrove tried to found a parish for them with Rev. Francis Leonard, but the effort collapsed. Cosgrove tried again in 1906, sending Rev. Victor Romanelli — a Neapolitan who had served in New York and New Jersey — to start over. He celebrated the first Mass on August 19, 1906 in an old fire station he had bought, then built a small brick church on Columbus Avenue. A second floor was added and the parish school opened in 1912, staffed by the Congregation of the Humility of Mary; by 1956 it was the largest school in the diocese. The parish transferred to the newly created Diocese of Des Moines in 1911.
- First Mass celebrated August 19, 1906
- Transferred to Diocese of Des Moines in 1911
- School opened 1912 with Congregation of the Humility of Mary faculty
- Parish school largest in the diocese by 1956
The Church Building (1931)
The present brick church was built during the pastorate of Rev. Cornelius Lalley (1928–1955) and completed in 1931. Designed in the Lombardy Romanesque Revival style — a style recalling the Lombard rulers of medieval Italy, with its signature rounded arches over the windows — it replaced the original small brick church on Columbus Avenue. Women of the parish baked bread in a neighborhood outdoor oven on the church property, and each loaf sold helped fund a brick for the new building.
- Built 1931 under Fr. Cornelius Lalley
- Lombardy Romanesque Revival design with rounded arches
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Anthony's offers an unusually rich daily and weekend schedule, including two Sunday Masses in Spanish and one Saturday evening Vigil Mass. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Saturday at 8:30 am, with additional evening Masses on Wednesdays (English), and Tuesdays and Thursdays (Spanish).
Sacramental Schedule Highlights
The parish publishes clear weekly times for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons before the Spanish Mass, and Saturday mornings. First Saturdays feature the Litany of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel following the 8:30 am Mass.
- Saturday Confession: 9:00 am
- Tuesday & Thursday Confession: 5:00 pm – 5:50 pm
- First Saturday: Litany of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel after 8:30 am Mass
- First Friday Devotion
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments, with dedicated pages on the website for Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. Mass Intentions can also be scheduled through the parish office.
- Baptism
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Mass Intentions
Faith Formation & School
St. Anthony's continues the tradition that began when its school opened in 1912 with the Congregation of the Humility of Mary staffing the faculty. The parish now runs Religious Education (RE), Confirmation preparation, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) and OCIC (Order of Christian Initiation of Children) programs, and the parish school. Registrations for the 2026–2027 school year and for RE, Confirmation, OCIA and OCIC are listed on the parish website.
- Parish school (founded 1912)
- Religious Education (RE)
- Confirmation preparation
- OCIA for adults
- OCIC for children
- 2026–2027 school registrations open
Bilingual & Hispanic Ministry
Continuing its identity as a missionary parish, St. Anthony's is a bilingual community. Spanish Masses are offered Sunday at 8:30 am and 1:00 pm, Tuesday at 6:00 pm, and Thursday at 6:00 pm, with confessions before the Tuesday and Thursday Spanish Masses.
- Two Sunday Spanish Masses (8:30 am and 1:00 pm)
- Tuesday & Thursday evening Spanish Masses at 6:00 pm
- Confession before each Spanish Mass
Becoming a Parishioner
Newcomers are invited to stop by the parish office, call 515-244-4709, or fill out the online form linked from the homepage. The 'I'm New' page on the website walks visitors through next steps for registration and getting involved.
- Phone: 515-244-4709
- Office: 15 Indianola Rd., Des Moines, IA 50315
- Online registration form available
Office, Location & Contact
The parish office sits at 15 Indianola Rd on Des Moines' south side. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am to 12:00 pm; the office is closed on weekends. The parish fax is 515-280-6959.
- Phone: 515-244-4709
- Fax: 515-280-6959
- Monday–Thursday 8:00 am–4:00 pm
- Friday 8:00 am–12:00 pm
- Closed weekends
Catholic Resources
The website maintains a Catholic Resources page linking parishioners to devotional, liturgical, and educational materials.
Bulletin & Announcements
Weekly bulletins are posted online, along with a livestream link, featured events, and announcements such as the Nine-day Novena and Solemnity of the Sacred Heart in June, and Corpus Christi.
- Weekly bulletin online
- Livestream available
- Special devotion announcements (Novena, First Friday, Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Leonard1898
Appointed by Bishop Henry Cosgrove to found the parish; the project collapsed and was abandoned.
- Rev. Victor Romanelli1906–
Native of Naples; previously served parishes in New York and New Jersey. Celebrated the first parish Mass on August 19, 1906 in an old fire station, then built the first small brick church on Columbus Avenue.
- Rev. Cornelius Lalley1928–1955
Oversaw construction of the present Lombardy Romanesque Revival church, completed 1931.