About St. Elizabeth Seton · Glidden, Iowa
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church is a small rural parish in Glidden, Iowa, now a worship site of St. John Paul II Catholic Parish in Carroll. Founded in the early 1970s as a mission of Holy Family Parish in Lidderdale, it has served Catholic families in the Glidden farming community for over fifty years. The parish is part of the Diocese of Sioux City and offers Saturday evening vigil Mass and a Wednesday morning Mass to its roughly 160-family community. Today its life is woven together with the other eastern Carroll County parishes of the St. John Paul II cluster, sharing priests, deacons, faith formation, and lay leadership.
- Established
- 1976
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
- Rector
- Fr. Tim Friedrichsen
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sioux City
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is a close-knit rural parish where the faith is lived across generations — from a growing faith formation program that once reached 155 students in Grades 1–12, to a Ladies' Guild and Church Improvement Committee that keep the Glidden site active and welcoming. As part of the St. John Paul II cluster, Glidden parishioners enjoy Saturday vigil Mass in their own church building, weekly Wednesday morning Mass, and access to a wider family of ministries, perpetual adoration at Holy Spirit, and shared faith formation through Carroll Catholic Religious Education. It is a small community that still believes in doing the work itself: most of the building and remodeling of the parish center was done by parishioner volunteers.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth Seton
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM (before vigil Mass)
- By appointment — call (712) 792-9244
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel at Holy Spirit Church, Carroll — open daily 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM (parishioners may sign up for regular holy hours or visit anytime)
History of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church
Catholic worship in Glidden began on November 1, 1972, with a Mass in the city hall celebrated by Fr. Jerome Degan. After three years of growing numbers — 65 Catholic households in 1968 rising to 87 by 1973 — Sunday Mass moved to the Glidden Theater in December 1973. Bishop Frank J. Greteman formally established St. Elizabeth Seton as a mission of Holy Family Parish in Lidderdale in July 1976, and ground was broken that September for a parish center. The community numbered roughly 75 families.
- First Mass: November 1, 1972 at Glidden City Hall (Rev. Jerome A. Degan)
- Regular Sunday Mass moved to Glidden Theater: December 2, 1973
- Established as mission of Holy Family, Lidderdale: July 1976
- Parish center ground broken: September 1976
- Parish center mortgage burned: 1987
Building the Church (1987–1989)
By 1987 the parish had grown to about 160 families, with faith formation reaching 155 students in Grades 1–12. On July 13, 1987, Fr. James Bruch announced a $400,000 building project. In January 1988 the parish center was remodeled and two additional classrooms were added — most of the labor volunteered by parishioners. Ground was broken for the new church in September 1988, and Bishop Frank Greteman's dream became reality on August 13, 1989, when the new St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church was dedicated.
- $400,000 building project announced July 13, 1987
- Ground broken for new church: September 1988
- Church dedicated: August 13, 1989
- 7,200-square-foot addition including sanctuary, nave (275 seats), overflow/fellowship area, chapel, 3 classrooms, office
- Parishioner-volunteer labor for center remodel
Parish Leadership and Pastoral History
The parish's history page lists a long succession of priests who have served the people of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, beginning with founding pastor Fr. Jerome Degan and continuing through Fr. Robert Gralapp, Fr. Eugene Ceperly, Fr. Ron Reicks, Fr. Ed Tiedeman, Fr. Anthony Pick, Fr. James Bruch, Fr. Richard Kielbasa, Fr. Paul Kelly, and Fr. Merlin Sch… (name truncated on the parish website).
- Fr. Jerome Degan (founding)
- Fr. Robert Gralapp
- Fr. Eugene Ceperly
- Fr. Ron Reicks
- Fr. Ed Tiedeman
- Fr. Anthony Pick
- Fr. James Bruch
- Fr. Richard Kielbasa
- Fr. Paul Kelly
- Fr. Merlin Sch…
Cluster Reorganization and Merger into St. John Paul II Parish
In 2017 the Diocese of Sioux City placed all Carroll County parishes under one pastor, Fr. Kevin Richter, supported by Fr. Brian Feller, Fr. John Gerald, Fr. Tim Schott, Fr. Shinoj Jose, and Fr. Mark Stoll. In 2018 the county was split into a "western" group (Arcadia, Breda, Halbur, Mount Carmel, Templeton, and Glidden) pastored by Fr. Mark Stoll, and an "eastern" group led by Fr. Kevin Richter. By 2020, with priest numbers reduced from five to three, several sites moved to church-building status and Fr. Tim Friedrichsen continued as pastor of the western parishes. On July 1, 2022, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Glidden), Annunciation (Coon Rapids), St. Joseph (Dedham), and St. Mary (Willey) were formally merged into St. John Paul II Catholic Parish (Carroll) as the surviving corporation.
- 2017: All Carroll County parishes under Fr. Kevin Richter
- 2018: Western grouping (incl. Glidden) pastored by Fr. Mark Stoll
- 2020: Fr. Tim Friedrichsen — pastor of western parishes
- July 1, 2022: Glidden formally merged into St. John Paul II Parish
- Cluster priests include Fr. Peter Duc Nguyen, Fr. Joe Dillinger, Fr. Andrew Hoffman (parochial vicars)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Glidden families participate in the cluster's faith formation programs, currently led by Director of Evangelization EmmaLee Miklosovic and a local Director of Religious Education. Registration is available through the Glidden Faith Formation form, alongside Carroll Catholic Religious Education (CCRE), the Coon Rapids CCD Program, and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The parish also offers pre-registration for the Steubenville youth conference.
- Director of Evangelization — Carroll: EmmaLee Miklosovic (712-792-0513)
- Director of Religious Education (DRE) — Glidden
- Director of Religious Education (DRE) — Coon Rapids: Lori Danner (712-830-3020)
- Glidden Faith Formation registration form
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Steubenville Pre-Registration
Lay Leadership, Guilds and Committees
Lay leadership at the Glidden site includes the St. Elizabeth Seton Ladies' Guild (President: Mandy Bock, 712-830-4862) and the Glidden Church Improvement Committee, which oversees building and grounds needs at the rural worship site. Cluster-wide groups include the Pastoral Council, Finance Council, Newcomer Welcome Committee, Women's Club (Carroll), Ladies' Guilds (Coon Rapids, Dedham, Glidden), Men's Clubs (Carroll and Coon Rapids), and the Flowers & Shrubs Committee.
- St. Elizabeth Seton Ladies' Guild — President Mandy Bock (712-830-4862)
- Glidden Church Improvement Committee
- Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- Newcomer Welcome Committee
- Prayer Chain — Mary Jo Wieland (712-830-5265)
- Flowers & Shrubs Committee
Patron Saint — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
The parish is named for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (August 28, 1774 – January 4, 1821), the first native-born American saint. She is the patron of those facing in-law problems, against the death of children, widows, the death of parents, and against the opposition of Church authorities. Beatified by Pope John XXIII on March 17, 1963, she was canonized by Pope Paul VI on September 14, 1975. Her feast day is January 4.
- Born: August 28, 1774
- Died: January 4, 1821
- Beatified: March 17, 1963 (Pope John XXIII)
- Canonized: September 14, 1975 (Pope Paul VI)
- Feast day: January 4
- First native-born American saint
Visiting and Contact
The St. John Paul II Parish office is located behind St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 8 AM to 5 PM and Friday 8 AM to 2 PM. The general parish phone is (712) 792-9244 and the office email is [email protected]. The Glidden worship site is at 226 W 6th St, Glidden, IA 51443. The parish uses Flocknote for messaging in addition to Facebook.
- Parish office: behind St. Lawrence Church, Carroll
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8 AM–5 PM; Fri 8 AM–2 PM
- Phone: (712) 792-9244
- Email: [email protected]
- Glidden church: 226 W 6th St, Glidden, IA 51443
- Facebook & Flocknote messaging for parish communications
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Jerome Degan1972–
Celebrated the very first Mass in Glidden City Hall on Nov. 1, 1972; established regular Sunday Mass at the Glidden Theater in Dec. 1973.
- Fr. Robert Gralapp
Broke ground for the parish center in September 1976.
- Fr. Eugene Ceperly
- Fr. Ron Reicks
- Fr. Ed Tiedeman
- Fr. Anthony Pick
- Fr. James Bruchby 1987
Announced the 1987 $400,000 building project for a new church.
- Fr. Richard Kielbasa
- Fr. Paul Kelly
- Fr. Merlin Sch…
Name truncated on the parish history page.
- Fr. Kevin Richter2017–
Placed over all Carroll County parishes in 2017; led the eastern grouping; pastor of St. John Paul II Parish through its 2018 formation.
- Fr. Mark Stoll2018–
First pastor of the 2018 western grouping that included Glidden.
- Fr. Tim Friedrichsen2020–
Continued as pastor of the western parishes as the county moved from five active priests to three.