About St. Cecilia · Ames, Iowa
St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ames, Iowa, has served the local Catholic community for over a century, beginning as a mission church in 1899 and evolving through multiple church buildings and expansions. The parish is known for its strong commitment to faith formation, community service, and music, honoring its patron saint, Saint Cecilia, who is revered as a patron of music. The current church at 2900 Hoover Avenue was dedicated in 1972 and underwent a major renovation in July 2025 to modernize its appearance and lighting. The parish offers multiple Mass times, including a Hispanic Mass, and supports ministries such as VBS, Journey in Faith, and preschool care.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- Saint Cecilia
- Diocese
- Diocese of Davenport
Why belong here
Join St. Cecilia Parish to be part of a vibrant community that offers faith formation for all ages, including VBS and Journey in Faith programs. The parish supports ministries like preschool care, coffee & donuts gatherings, and outreach through its school and social center. With multiple Mass times, including a Hispanic Mass, and a strong emphasis on music and liturgy, members find spiritual nourishment and fellowship in a welcoming environment.
Mass times at St. Cecilia
Weekly Mass schedule
History
For over a century, the members of the St. Cecilia Catholic community have met in Ames to worship God and celebrate our faith. As our parish grows, it is good to remember our humble beginnings. Church of the Good Shepherd, 1901 In 1899, Fr. Henry Eckart was commissioned by the Archbishop of Dubuque to establish a church in Ames as a mission church of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Gilbert. On August 30, 1899, he oversaw the purchase of Lincoln Way lots. The ten families and dozen Iowa State College students in the parish helped bring the building materials for the church. They met for Mass at the William Kinkade home and in Read’s Hall at 114 5th Street in downtown Ames until the white frame Church of the Good Shepherd was built at Boone (now Lincoln Way) and Elm Streets. It was dedicated October 11, 1901. The 34 by 36 feet church held approximately 60 parishioners and was heated by a wood burning cast iron stove. St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 1906 After the sale of the frame church to the Bethesda Lutheran congregation in 1905, a brick church was built with the cornerstone laid in 1906. This second church was 40 by 70 feet, seated 240 on the main floor, and was renamed St. Cecilia Catholic Church in 1906. In 1914 St. Cecilia and Sts. Peter and Paul parishes separated and an addition to the church was built. Addition of a school St. Cecilia School, the second Catholic school in the county, was completed in 1925 under the direction of Fr. Joseph Campbell and staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. An estimated forty-five students entered first through seventh grades. The original address of the school was 122 Oak Street and initially cost $30,000. The school was remodeled and expanded in 1960, during the pastorate of Father John Ryan, to add four additional classrooms, an audio-visual room, a teachers’ lounge, a larger gymnasium and school lunch facilities at a cost of $285,000. The third church, 1972 With a growing congregation, a third church was constructed at 30th Street and Hoover Avenue and dedicated in 1972. The following year, the rectory and administration center were built. In 1977, St. Cecilia Parish was placed under the care of the Conventional Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Consolation and our “black friars” arrived. Recent additions Building continued with the ground breaking for the social center in 1986. A new Education Center, built at the Hoover site in 1995, marked the end of 23 years of divided parish facilities. In 2005, the narthex (gathering space) was rebuilt. The church completed a renovation in July 2025 in order to bring in more light and soften the 70’s style that is evident in the church.
Patron Saint
Saint Cecilia is one of the most famous Roman martyrs of the early Church as well as one of the patrons of music. According to legend, Cecilia was a Christian of high rank betrothed to a Roman named Valerian. Through her influence, Valerian was converted. He was martyred along with his brother. Cecilia’s martyrdom followed. Since the time of the Renaissance, Saint Cecilia has usually been portrayed with a viola or a small organ. As one biographer put it, “Like any good Christian, Cecilia sang in her heart and sometimes with her voice. She has become a symbol of the Church’s conviction that good music is an integral part of the liturgy, of greater value to the Church than any other art.”
Ministries
- VBS 2026
- Journey in Faith
- Coffee & Donuts 2026
- 7th Grade and Wrap Around Pre School Care