About St. Bridget /Trinity Cluster · Postville, Iowa
St. Bridget Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Postville, Iowa (Allamakee County), and the lead church of the Trinity Cluster, a three-parish Catholic community that also includes St. Patrick in Monona and St. Mary in McGregor, all within the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Founded by French and Irish Catholic pioneers in 1872, the parish is celebrated for its long-running bilingual ministry — a Spanish-language Saturday Mass, alongside English services, has served Postville's Mexican and Guatemalan community, many of whom came to work at the Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant. The current church, dedicated in 1970, features a distinctive hexagonal sanctuary with a Winona cut limestone facade on Williams Street.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- Saint Bridget of Ireland
- Rector
- Father Martin Coolidge
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Bridget's is the spiritual hub of a tight-knit Catholic community in rural northeast Iowa whose character has been shaped by two centuries of immigrant faith — first Irish and German homesteaders who built the parish in 1872, and today Mexican and Guatemalan families who worship at its Saturday evening Spanish Mass. It belongs to the Trinity Cluster, which means parishioners share ministries, faith formation, and weekend Mass rotations with St. Patrick (Monona) and St. Mary (McGregor), creating a connected Catholic family across three small towns. For newcomers — including the many Spanish-speaking immigrants who continue to find welcome here — the parish offers bilingual liturgy, a permanent deacon (Deacon Patrick Malanaphy), an active Faith Formation program, and a long tradition of opening its doors to people in crisis, most visibly during and after the 2008 Postville immigration raid.
Mass times at St. Bridget /Trinity Cluster
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes prior to all Saturday Vigil Masses
- 30 minutes prior to all Sunday morning Masses
- 15 minutes prior to all weekday Masses, and immediately after weekday Masses end until all confessions are heard
- Every Saturday morning from 8:00–9:00 AM at St. Patrick, Monona
- By appointment (call 563-539-4442 or email Fr. Martin)
- All confessional rooms have a screen for anonymous confessions or a chair for face-to-face confessions
Welcome & Mission
The Trinity Cluster, whose lead parish is St. Bridget in Postville, is a Catholic community of faith united in Christ, committed to inviting all people to celebrate God's love through the Holy Eucharist and to living the Gospel. The Cluster strives to build a unified, loving, compassionate, and welcoming community by sharing its gifts across its three parishes: St. Bridget (Postville), St. Patrick (Monona), and St. Mary (McGregor).
- Mission statement: 'inviting all people to celebrate God's love through the Holy Eucharist and living the Gospel.'
- Three-parish Cluster model with shared pastor and faith-formation team
- Welcoming posture toward Spanish-speaking immigrants and other newcomers
Parish History
Catholic life in the Postville area dates to the 1850s, when missionaries from Prairie du Chien crossed the Mississippi on horseback to celebrate Mass in a boxcar and in private homes. The Catholic Society, supervised by Father Charles Toner, built the first St. Bridget frame church in 1872 at Ogden and Murdock Streets. In 1914 the church was moved to McNeil-donated property on Williams Street, its present site. By 1960 the parish had outgrown the building, and on December 13, 1970 a new hexagonal-plan church with a Winona cut limestone facade was dedicated. The parish's modern identity has been shaped by decades of Hispanic ministry to Mexican and Guatemalan families, especially after 2003.
- 1856–1858 — Father Louis DeCailly ministers from Prairie du Chien
- 1872 — Catholic Society builds 36 x 70 ft frame church, $2,500
- 1910 — Father H. Felder named first resident pastor
- 1914 — Church relocated to McNeil property, Williams Street
- 1935 — Sanctuary and sacristy added (Father Patrick Hogan)
- 1962–1967 — Father Joseph A. Sullivan leads planning for new church
- 1967 — First Parish Council elected
- December 13, 1970 — New church dedicated; January 10, 1971 open house
- 2003 — First Hispanic minister (Paul Rael) hired
- 2008 — Parish serves as refuge after ICE raid at Agriprocessors
Pastorate Succession (Highlights)
St. Bridget's pastorate is one of the longest in Allamakee County. Because the parish was a mission served from Ossian, Clermont, and Monona until 1910, the succession begins with missionary priests (DeCailly, Nagle, Toner, Brady, Murphy) before the first resident pastor, Father H. Felder. Resident pastors from 1910 onward have shaped the parish's buildings, bilingual identity, and community outreach.
- 1873–1876 — Father J.F. Brady (also St. Francis de Sales, Ossian)
- 1876–1879 — Father D.H. Murphy (Ossian)
- 1879–1889 — Clermont pastors (O'Sullivan, Brennan, Burns, Hackett, Lenihan)
- 1889–1893 — Fathers J.F. and P. Corbett (Monona)
- 1893–1910 — Father M. Hogan (Monona)
- 1910–1911 — Father H. Felder (first resident pastor)
- 1911–1922 — Father John J. Clune
- 1923–1944 — Father Patrick Hogan
- 1944–1962 — Father Francis J. Vallaster
- 1962–1967 — Father Joseph A. Sullivan
- 1967–1972 — Msgr. Cletus J. Hawes
- c. 2000–2004 — Father Paul (Lloyd Paul) Ouderkirk
- 2014–2020 — Father Nils de Jesús Hernández
- 2020– — Father Chris Podhajsky
- Current — Father Martin Coolidge
Architecture & Buildings
The current St. Bridget Church is a 1970-vintage worship building whose hexagonal sanctuary, clad in Winona (Minnesota) cut limestone, faces south on Williams Street. It was built on the same site as the 1914-rebuilt frame church, extending westward over the former Postville Public Library lot. The interior is lit by stained-glass windows and organized around a central altar beneath a 'cross of Jesus' as described in national press coverage of the parish's 2008 ministry.
- Hexagonal sanctuary plan
- Winona cut limestone facade on Williams Street
- Stained-glass windows
- Built 1970 (groundbreaking April 19–20, 1970; dedication December 13, 1970)
- Original 1872 frame church (36 x 70 ft) survives in parish memory; moved 1914; enlarged 1935; demolished 1970
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Cluster-wide Faith Formation is directed by Father Martin Coolidge, the current pastor, who also serves as Director of Cluster Faith Formation. The program is staffed by an Administrative Faith Formation Assistant (Cheri Moser) and serves the religious-education needs of families across Postville, Monona, and McGregor. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation is offered through this program, along with RCIA for adults.
- K–12 Cluster Faith Formation
- Father Martin Coolidge — Director
- Cheri Moser — Administrative Faith Formation Assistant
- Sacramental prep for Reconciliation, Communion, Confirmation
- RCIA for adults seeking initiation
Hispanic & Spanish-Language Ministry
St. Bridget's has been a hub of the Hispanic community in Postville since Mexican and Guatemalan families began arriving in significant numbers to work at the Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant. The parish hired its first Hispanic minister, Paul Rael, in 2003 under Father Ouderkirk's pastorate; today the Saturday Vigil at 6:00 PM is celebrated in Spanish and is livestreamed on the Trinity Cluster Facebook Page. The parish's response to the May 12, 2008 ICE raid — the largest single-site immigration enforcement action in U.S. history at the time — made St. Bridget's nationally known as a refuge, with nearly $1 million in donations flowing in.
- Saturday 6:00 PM Spanish Mass (livestreamed)
- Bilingual sacramental and pastoral care
- 2003 — Paul Rael hired as first Hispanic minister
- May 12, 2008 — parish serves as refuge after ICE raid at Agriprocessors
- Donations received from across the U.S. and from Jewish communities
- Ongoing pastoral outreach to Mexican and Guatemalan families
Staff & Clergy
Cluster staff includes Father Martin Coolidge (Pastor and Director of Cluster Faith Formation), Deacon Patrick Malanaphy (Permanent Deacon), Connie Leete (Cluster Administrative Assistant), and Cheri Moser (Administrative Faith Formation Assistant). Sacramental priest Father Richard Gaul and Pastoral Administrator Sister Mary Mcauley, BVM have served in past cluster configurations, particularly during the 2008 immigration response.
- Father Martin Coolidge — Pastor & Director of Cluster Faith Formation
- Deacon Patrick Malanaphy — Permanent Deacon
- Connie Leete — Cluster Administrative Assistant
- Cheri Moser — Administrative Faith Formation Assistant
The Trinity Cluster (Sister Parishes)
St. Bridget in Postville is the lead church of the Trinity Cluster, which also includes St. Patrick in Monona and St. Mary in McGregor. The three parishes share a pastor and faith-formation team and rotate weekend Masses. The Cluster model — formalized in the Archdiocese of Dubuque as a basic unit of pastoral ministry — allows the small rural Catholic communities to maintain resident clergy and sacramental life.
- St. Bridget — Postville (lead parish, Allamakee County)
- St. Patrick — Monona, Iowa
- St. Mary — McGregor, Iowa
- Shared pastor and faith-formation team
- Weekend Mass rotation: October–March and April–June schedules
Getting Involved
Parishioners and newcomers can get involved through the Cluster Faith Formation program, the Hispanic Ministry, the Parish Council, liturgical ministries (including livestreaming on Facebook), or by volunteering with ongoing outreach to immigrant families. Those wishing to volunteer or learn more should contact the parish office at 563-539-4442 or email Fr. Martin through his staff page on the Trinity Cluster website.
- Cluster Faith Formation (volunteer catechists and aides)
- Hispanic Ministry volunteers
- Liturgical ministries and Facebook livestreaming
- Parish Council membership
- Outreach and immigration-aid volunteer opportunities
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Louis DeCailly1856–1858
Mission priest from Prairie du Chien; one of the earliest sacramental ministers in the Postville area.
- Father Richard Naglefrom July 18, 1858
Stationed at McGregor; visited Postville and surrounding missions including Cherry Mound, Elkader, Monona, and Clermont.
- Father Charles Tonerlate 1860s–1870s
Supervised the Catholic Society in Postville that built and dedicated the 1872 frame church to St. Bridget.
- Father J.F. Brady1873–1876
First resident pastor of St. Francis de Sales, Ossian; concurrently had charge of Postville and Monona.
- Father D.H. Murphy1876–1879
Pastor of Ossian; also administered to Postville and Monona.
- Pastors of Clermont (E. O'Sullivan, D.H. Murphy, F.D. Brennan, L.H. Burns, John Hackett, Rev. B.C. Lenihan)1879–1889
Postville mission was entrusted to pastors resident in Clermont during this decade.
- Father J.F. Corbett1889 (died shortly after)
Of Monona; took over Postville mission again in 1889.
- Father P. Corbett1889–1893
Brother of J.F. Corbett; succeeded him at the Monona/Postville parishes.
- Father M. Hogan1893–1910
Directed St. Bridget Parish for ~17 years as part of his Monona pastorate under Archbishop Hennessy.
- Father H. Felder1910–1911
First resident pastor of Postville, appointed by Archbishop John J. Keane; remained only one year.
- Father John J. Clune1911–1922
Selected by Archbishop James J. Keane; oversaw 1913 parish house construction and 1914 relocation/reconstruction of the 1872 frame church on McNeil property.
- Father Patrick Hogan1923–1944
In 1935 enlarged the church with a new sanctuary and sacristy.
- Father Francis J. Vallaster1944–1962
Retired November 7, 1962 after 18 years; subsequently resided in Dubuque.
- Father Joseph A. Sullivan1962–1967
Led initial planning for a new church; 1964 advisory committee formed under his pastorate.
- Msgr. Cletus J. Hawes1967–1972
First Parish Council elected (1967); oversaw property purchase, architect selection, groundbreaking and construction of the present church dedicated December 13, 1970. Also taught at De Sales High School Ossian and St. Patrick High School Waukon during the same period.
- Father Paul (Lloyd Paul) Ouderkirkc. 2000–2004 (retired)
Hired the parish's first Hispanic minister (Paul Rael, 2003) to serve Mexican/Guatemalan workers at Agriprocessors. After 2004 retirement, returned twice monthly for Spanish Mass and led the parish response to the May 12, 2008 ICE raid.
- Father Nils de Jesús Hernández2014–2020
Assigned to Trinity Cluster in 2014; led 10th-anniversary commemoration of the Postville raid (May 11, 2018); reassigned effective July 14, 2020 to Queen of Peace Parish, Waterloo.
- Father Chris PodhajskyJuly 14, 2020–
Cedar Rapids native and Loras College graduate; previously served 12 years at Immaculate Conception and St. Wenceslaus, Cedar Rapids. Succeeded Hernández as Cluster pastor.
- Father Martin Coolidgecurrent (2024–)
Current Pastor and Director of Cluster Faith Formation; also serves as Sacramental priest across the cluster (e.g., celebrating funeral Masses at St. Mary's McGregor).