About St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church · West Des Moines, Iowa
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in West Des Moines, Iowa, in the Diocese of Des Moines. Founded in 1991 to serve one of the fastest-growing parts of the Des Moines metro, the parish today combines a large K-8 Catholic school, a preschool, and a thriving worship and outreach community. The parish's identity is shaped by the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi — being instruments of peace and love — and its church design was specifically inspired by the architecture of Assisi itself. With three weekend Masses, a livestreamed 9:30 a.m. Sunday liturgy, American Sign Language interpretation, a robust music program, and outreach to the homeless and hungry of greater Des Moines, St. Francis is recognized as one of the largest parishes and Catholic schools in Iowa.
- Established
- 1991
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. Joseph Pins
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi offers the rare combination of a large, vibrant Catholic community and the close-knit feel of a parish grounded in St. Francis's call to be instruments of peace. Members enjoy three weekend Masses including an ASL-interpreted and YouTube-livestreamed 9:30 a.m. Sunday liturgy, daily Mass Monday–Saturday, accessible reconciliation including before every weekend Mass, adoration, and a Children of Eden-style listening assistance program. The parish campus wraps around a K-8 school, preschool, parish hall, and meeting rooms, so families can live their faith daily from early childhood through adulthood. Outreach runs deep: parishioners serve meals at three local shelters each month and run coat drives, Thanksgiving baskets, Angel Tree, and a food pantry collection. With adult choirs, hand bells, youth choirs, Knights of Columbus, men's and women's small groups, EDGE, RCIA, a Young Adults ministry, and a thriving preschool, there are many sincere ways to belong here.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 8:00–9:00 am
- Wednesday: 12:00–1:00 pm
- 30 minutes before each Weekend Mass
- Private appointments by calling the Parish Office at 515-223-4577
Parish History & Identity
St. Francis of Assisi Parish was established on July 11, 1991, by Bishop William H. Bullock to serve the booming western suburbs of Des Moines. After celebrating its first Mass in a hotel ballroom and a borrowed high school auditorium, the parish built a campus deliberately modeled on the churches of Assisi. Three construction phases (1993–2004) produced a worship center, school, preschool, parish hall, and administrative offices that together house one of the largest parish communities in Iowa.
- Founded July 11, 1991 by Bishop William H. Bullock
- First Mass: October 6, 1991, in the ballroom of what is now the West Des Moines Marriott
- Temporary home: Dowling High School auditorium; parish offices at Mercy Hospital
- Ground broken October 3, 1993; Phase I dedicated one year later
- Preschool opens fall 1998
- First Mass in new church: August 27, 2000, with Bishop Joseph Charron
- St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School opens August 2000
- Phase III dedication: August 21, 2004, Bishop Charron presiding
Clergy & Staff
The current pastor is Fr. Joseph Pins, appointed in 2022. He is assisted by at least two permanent deacons ordained for the parish in 2022 — Deacon Dan Dombrosky and Deacon Oran Struecker. Day-to-day operations are supported by a Parish Manager and an extensive staff of directors and coordinators for liturgy, music, faith formation, communications, finance, the school, and preschool.
- Fr. Joseph Pins — Pastor (2022–present)
- Deacon Dan Dombrosky — ordained July 16, 2022
- Deacon Oran Struecker — ordained July 16, 2022
- Emily Schmid — Director of Liturgy and Music
- Katie Patrizio — Director of Faith Formation
- Rebecca Bahl — Newcomer and Volunteer Coordinator ([email protected])
- Heather Rohe — Faith Formation Administrative Assistant
- Cheri Hopkins — Bookkeeper / HR
- Phillip Grothus — Communications Coordinator
- Cheryl Riedl — School Nutrition Director
- Wendy Henry — Preschool Director
- Jessica Riemenschneider — ECE Director
- Kristin Carlson — EDGE Coordinator
Worship & Liturgy
St. Francis offers daily Mass Monday through Saturday, with two additional midday Masses Tuesday and Thursday, and three Masses on Sunday. The 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel and interpreted in American Sign Language when an interpreter is available. Reconciliation is offered twice weekly, before every weekend Mass, and by appointment.
- Daily Mass: Monday–Saturday 7:15 am
- Tuesday and Thursday: 12:00 pm
- Saturday Vigil: 4:30 pm
- Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:30 am (ASL & livestreamed), 11:30 am
- Reconciliation: Saturday 8:00–9:00 am and Wednesday 12:00–1:00 pm
- Reconciliation 30 minutes before each Weekend Mass
- Private confession appointments via Parish Office
Music Ministry
The St. Francis Music Ministry, directed by Emily Schmid, welcomes vocalists and instrumentalists of all ages starting in 3rd grade. The parish supports an unusually rich range of ensembles — youth choirs, an adult contemporary Praise Choir with band, a Knights of Columbus men's choir, a Schola for advanced liturgical repertoire, and the Bells of Assisi handbell choir.
- Children's Choir — grades 3–5, monthly Mass
- Middle School Choir — grades 6–8, weekly Wednesday rehearsals
- Liturgy of Life (LOL) — high school, twice-monthly Mass
- Praise Choir — adult contemporary, Monday 7–8 p.m., leads two Masses/month
- Knights of Columbus Men's Choir — sings one Saturday Mass/month
- Bells of Assisi — handbell choir, Sunday evenings
- Schola — advanced vocal/instrumental ensemble, twice-monthly Mass
- Cantors, accompanists, instrumentalists — always welcome
Faith Formation & Schools
Faith formation at St. Francis spans early childhood through adulthood. In addition to Adult Faith Formation with small groups and study series, the parish runs programs for children and youth, and operates an award-winning K-8 school and preschool on the same campus.
- Adult Faith Formation — small groups, studies (Wild Goose, Acts of the Apostles, Financial Peace University)
- Men's study group (Sunday evenings)
- St. Francis Young Adults
- Family Faith Formation
- Early Childhood Faith Formation
- EDGE (middle school)
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic inquiries through Adult Faith Formation
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School
Opening in August 2000 alongside the new church, St. Francis of Assisi School is a Preschool through 8th-grade Catholic school on the parish campus. It is recognized as a Blue Ribbon school and serves roughly 750 students in three sections per grade, with an average class size of 25 and teacher associates in K–2 classrooms. The school completes its K-8 program by fall 2006.
- Grades: Preschool through 8
- Three sections per grade; average class size 25
- Approximately 750 students; teacher-student ratio 1:13
- Blue Ribbon school designation
- Phone: (515) 457-7167 | Fax: 515-440-1042
- Open annually for tours via the parish website
St. Francis Preschool
The parish preschool offers two programs designed to nurture the whole child and awaken their understanding of God. Children must be toilet trained prior to attendance.
- Growing Learners (age 3 by Sept. 15) — T/W/Th half-day sessions (morning 8:30–11:15 am or afternoon 12:15–3:00 pm)
- Pre-Kindergarten (age 4 by Sept. 15) — M–Th half-day sessions (8:30–11:15 am or 12:15–3:00 pm)
- Director: Wendy Henry
- Preschool Associates: Hayley Coder, Amy Christopherson
Outreach & Service
The Homeless and Hungry Committee mobilizes the parish to feed and shelter neighbors across the Des Moines metro, with monthly meal service at three shelters and seasonal drives throughout the year.
- St. Joseph Family Emergency Shelter — dinner for ~30 on the 2nd Saturday of each month
- Central Iowa Shelter & Services — meal and supplies downtown around the 9th–10th of each month
- Connection Café — lunch service for 100+ on the 3rd Wednesday of each month
- Food Pantry Sunday — monetary collection every 4th Sunday
- Iowa Homeless Youth Center — meal donated 2nd Wednesday (Sept.–May)
- Annual Coat Drive (Fall)
- Thanksgiving Baskets (November)
- Angel Tree (December)
- Lenten Crosses (March/April)
- Contact: [email protected]
Knights of Columbus
The St. Francis Knights of Columbus Council (#) serves the parish, the Diocese of Des Moines, and the global Church. Catholic men over 18 are invited to join, with signature activities including parish fish fries and a men's choir that sings one Saturday Mass each month.
- Service to parish, diocese, and global Church
- Annual fish fries and parish fundraisers
- Knights of Columbus Men's Choir (sings one Saturday 4:30 pm Mass each month)
Becoming a Parishioner
St. Francis runs a two-step registration process for new parishioners. Baptized Roman Catholics are encouraged to register so the parish can welcome them, celebrate the sacraments with them, and connect them with ministries and fellow parishioners.
- Step 1: Submit the household information form on the parish website
- Step 2: Attend a Newcomer Session — first Sunday of every month after 9:30 am Mass in the Serra Room
- Contact: Rebecca Bahl, Newcomer & Volunteer Coordinator ([email protected])
- Members receive tithing envelopes (electronic giving available)
- Members receive priority consideration for the parish school and preschool
Visiting St. Francis
Practical guidance for first-time visitors, drawn directly from the parish website's 'I'm New' page.
- Church entrance on the west side of the building (north and south doors)
- Listening assistance available — inquire at the Mass Coordinators table
- Nursery available during 9:30 am Mass — north hall past restrooms and Adoration chapel
- Low-gluten hosts available at every Mass (join the Priest's communion line)
- Non-Catholics welcome to come forward during communion for a blessing
- Follow @SFAWDM on social media for updates
Visiting the Church Architecture
Worship at St. Francis takes place in a sanctuary deliberately designed to evoke the churches of Assisi, where St. Francis lived and died. The result is a stone-and-wood building with small round windows, banding on multiple stone levels, a courtyard, and a bell tower — all tied back to Italy through a relic of Assisi itself built into the south entrance.
- Inspired by the churches and architecture of Assisi, Italy
- Small round windows at the peak of the worship center
- Banded stone exterior and interior
- Bell tower and courtyard
- Stone and wood as primary building materials
- Bell gate at south entrance contains a rock from Assisi brought by Msgr. Steve Orr
- Peace Tower funded by parish youth with a time capsule at its base
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Steven (Steve) Orr1991–1997
Founding pastor; established the parish in 1991 and brought a rock back from Assisi used in the bell gate.
- Fr. Edward Hurley1997–2010
- Fr. Bob Hoefler2010–2013
- Fr. Ray McHenry2013–2022
- Fr. Joseph Pins2022–
Current pastor.