About St. Francis Xavier · Dyersville, Iowa
The Basilica of St. Francis Xavier is a historic Catholic parish church in Dyersville, Iowa, serving the Archdiocese of Dubuque. Built in the late 1880s to serve the rapidly growing German-Catholic population of the area, its soaring twin Gothic spires rise 212 feet above the rolling farmland of northeast Iowa, making it visible for miles and a famous local landmark — particularly for visitors to the nearby Field of Dreams movie site. Elevated to the status of a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII on May 11, 1956 (the twelfth church in the United States to receive this honor), it remains one of fewer than 60 minor basilicas in the country and the only one outside a major metropolitan area. The parish anchors the Spires of Faith Cluster of five nearby parishes and operates the parish school, St. Francis Xavier School.
- Established
- 1859 (parish); 1862 (first church); 1889 (current basilica dedicated)
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier (1506–1552), Jesuit missionary to the Far East
- Rector
- Rev. David Schatz (Pastoral Coordinator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier offers a rare combination of small-town Midwestern parish life with the richness of a minor basilica: daily and Sunday Masses in English and Spanish, a robust parish school (K-6) on site, year-round Eucharistic adoration, a deep choir and music program, and a wide array of lay-led councils (Parish, Finance, Building & Grounds, Peace & Justice, Liturgy, Faith Formation, Stewardship). Pilgrims and travelers are warmly welcomed — the side doors open daily 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for prayer and quiet visits — and the parish belongs to the Spires of Faith Cluster, linking it to four neighboring Catholic communities. For Catholics in northeast Iowa, it is the spiritual center of a nearly 5,000-family faith community with a 135-plus-year tradition of beauty, hospitality, and devotion.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 pm
- After the 6:30 am morning Masses (Mon/Tue/Thu)
- Before the 5:15 pm Mass on Wednesday
- Before the 8:30 am Mass on First Friday
- By appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Periods of Eucharistic adoration offered during most weekdays for prayer (see parish bulletin / office for current schedule)
- The basilica is always open for silent prayer in the Presence of the Lord in the Tabernacle
History of the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier
Catholic life in Dyersville began in 1846 with a small colony of Bavarian settlers, organized as a parish in 1859 and served by a series of pastors from the German-Irish immigrant tradition. The current Gothic Revival basilica was designed by the Dubuque firm of Fridolin Heer Sr. and Fridolin Heer Jr., built 1887–1889 under Father Anton Kortenkamp, and dedicated by Bishop John Hennessy on December 3, 1889 — the feast of St. Francis Xavier. Raised to minor-basilica status by Pope Pius XII on May 11, 1956, it is the only basilica in the United States outside a major metropolitan area, and it stands on the National Register of Historic Places (1999).
- 1859 — parish founded for German Catholic immigrants
- 1857 — Rev. A. Longfils, first resident pastor; small church built 1858
- 1862 — Father Anton Kortenkamp becomes second pastor; first dedicated church built
- 1869 — original church doubled in size
- 1887 — construction begins on present basilica (Sept.)
- 1888 — cornerstone laid June 3 by Bishop Hennessy
- 1889 — church dedicated December 3, feast of St. Francis Xavier; cost ~$100,000
- 1904 — electric lights added; interior painting by the Brielmaier siblings begins
- 1956 — elevated to minor basilica by Pope Pius XII (May 11)
- 1999 — listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 2001 — 21-month interior restoration completed (cost over $1 million)
The Church Building: Architecture, Art & Furnishings
Designed by Fridolin Heer Sr. and Fridolin Heer Jr. in the Ruskinian Gothic Revival style, the basilica is a rectangular structure 174.5 × 70 feet and 76 feet high, topped by twin 212-foot steeples with 14-foot crosses. The interior features vaulted ceilings, columns, sixty-four cathedral-glass windows installed in 1889 (ten with pictorial scenes), the great heavenly-liturgy fresco of 1905 by the Brielmaier siblings, the 1959 Native American-themed Rose Window, a 37-rank Wicks Organ (1971), and two carved-butternut confessionals by the Dubuque Altar Company (1897). The Blessed Virgin Mary altar stands 36 feet high and 15 feet wide and bears a rosary given by Pope John Paul II.
- Architects: Fridolin Heer Sr. and Fridolin Heer Jr. of Dubuque
- Style: Ruskinian Gothic Revival
- Dimensions: 174.5 × 70 × 76 ft; spires 212 ft
- Capacity: ~1,000–1,285
- 64 cathedral-glass windows (1889)
- Interior decorative painting 1904–1905 by Clotilda and Alphonse Brielmaier
- 1959 Rose Window with Native American motif
- 1971 37-rank Wicks Organ
- Two 1897 carved-butternut confessionals (Dubuque Altar Company)
- 12 interior gold crosses mark the consecration anointing points
Pastorate Succession
From its founding in 1859 the parish has been shepherded by a small succession of pastors whose tenure spans the construction of the 1862 church, the building of the present basilica, and its elevation to minor-basilica status. The complete succession includes Rev. A. Longfils (1857–1858), Father Anton Kortenkamp (1862–1889), Father George W. Heer (1890–1905), Father Theodore Warning (1905–1931), Father John B. Herbers (1931–1945), Monsignor Mathias M. Hoffmann (1945–1961), Father John H. Mayer (1961–), Msgr. Edward Petty, Rev. Dennis J. Quint (through at least 2020), and the present Pastoral Coordinator Rev. David Schatz.
- Rev. A. Longfils — 1857–c.1858
- Father Anton Kortenkamp (1834–1889) — 1862–1889
- Father George W. Heer — 1890–1905
- Father Theodore Warning — 1905–1931
- Father John B. Herbers — 1931–1945
- Msgr. Mathias M. Hoffmann — 1945–1961
- Father John H. Mayer — 1961–
- Msgr. Edward Petty
- Rev. Dennis J. Quint — through at least 2020
- Rev. David Schatz — present Pastoral Coordinator
Spires of Faith Cluster
St. Francis Xavier Basilica anchors the Spires of Faith Cluster, a pastoral collaboration of five Catholic parishes in the rural Dyersville area. Cluster bulletins, a shared website (spiresoffaith.com), and joint sacramental preparation programs allow the parishes to share clergy and formation resources while retaining their individual identities and Mass schedules.
- St. Francis Xavier Basilica — Dyersville
- St. Joseph — Earlville
- St. Boniface — New Vienna
- SS. Peter & Paul — Petersburg
- St. Paul — Worthington
Sacraments & Faith Formation
Faith Formation is led by Coordinator Tami Kelchen (ext. 233). First Reconciliation is typically celebrated in the second grade as part of the school or parish Faith Formation curriculum; First Communion and Confirmation follow the cluster's preparation programs. Marriage preparation requires a minimum of six months, and parents expecting their first or second child are asked to participate in a baptism preparation session, preferably six months before the birth. The Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation outside scheduled times are available by calling the parish office.
- Baptism preparation for first and second child
- First Reconciliation (typically 2nd grade)
- First Communion
- Confirmation
- Marriage (six-month preparation)
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
St. Francis Xavier School
St. Francis Xavier School is a parish-supported Catholic elementary school (PreK–6) located adjacent to the basilica. The current principal is Peter Smith, and Rev. David Schatz serves as Pastoral Coordinator. The Board of Education includes parish representatives from each of the five Spires of Faith Cluster parishes and meets regularly; minutes are posted on the school website.
- Principal: Peter Smith
- Pastoral Coordinator: Rev. David Schatz
- Board of Education with reps from Dyersville, New Vienna, Petersburg, Earlville, and Worthington
- PreK through 6th grade, with 3-year-old and 4-year-old early-childhood programs
- Quarterly newsletter and active social media presence
Parish Councils, Committees & Ministries
Lay leadership is organized through a Parish Council, Finance Council, and standing committees for Building & Grounds, Peace & Justice, Liturgy, Faith Formation, and Stewardship. The Music Ministry maintains a published Google Calendar of choir and cantors, and a Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the 8:30 am Sunday Mass for preschoolers through First Communicants. The parish secretary is Joyce Pasker.
- Parish Council — chaired by Fr. David Schatz
- Finance Council
- Building & Grounds
- Peace & Justice
- Liturgy Committee
- Faith Formation
- Stewardship
- SFX Music Ministry (Google Calendar)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (8:30 am Sundays)
- Parish Secretary: Joyce Pasker
Visiting the Basilica & Tourism
St. Francis Xavier is a frequent destination for Catholic pilgrims and general tourists traveling to the Field of Dreams movie site just outside Dyersville. The side doors are open daily 7:00 am to 8:00 pm, and the city lists it as 'open daily from sunup to sundown.' A self-guided walking-tour brochure is available inside near the back pew; group tours can be arranged by calling the parish office at least one week ahead (563-875-7325). The basilica has been featured on EWTN.
- Side doors open daily 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Walking-tour brochure available inside
- Group tours by appointment (call at least a week ahead)
- Featured on EWTN Catholic Television Network
- Twinning with the Field of Dreams movie site as a regional tourist destination
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. A. Longfils1857–c.1858
First resident pastor; arrived to a Catholic community worshipping in a rented frame building; built a small church in 1858; departed abruptly soon afterward.
- Father Anton Kortenkamp (1834–1889)1862–1889
Second pastor; oversaw 1869 enlargement of the original church; planned and built the present Gothic basilica on a foundation of solid rock; died shortly before the new church was completed in 1889.
- Father George W. Heer1890–1905
Succeeded Kortenkamp; paid off the parish debt, enlarged the school, brought in the Brothers of Mary (1902) and started a high school. His portrait was added to the great altar fresco during the 2000–2001 restoration.
- Father Theodore Warning1905–1931
Built a new high school in 1907; retired and became Chaplain to the Sisters of St. Francis in Dubuque.
- Father John B. Herbers1931–1945
Built the present rectory west of the church and a large addition to the former rectory for the Sisters' convent; died in office during the Depression.
- Father (later Monsignor) Mathias M. Hoffmann1945–1961
WWI and WWII military chaplain; built the new grade school, gymnasium (1950) and auditorium (1960); led the effort to elevate the church to minor basilica status, achieved debt-free status, and oversaw consecration (1955) and the 1956 elevation. Died 1961.
- Father John H. Mayer1961–
Succeeded Monsignor Hoffmann; in 1963 launched the regional Catholic high school that became Beckman High School (classes began Fall 1966).
- Msgr. Edward Petty
Long-time pastor referenced in NCR feature articles as the current pastor during the 2000s.
- Rev. Dennis J. Quintthrough at least 2020
Pastor; named in Spires of Faith parish bulletins (e.g. Nov. 22, 2020) along with associate pastors Rev. Tony Nketiah and Rev. Tyler Raymond.
- Rev. David Schatzpresent
Pastoral Coordinator of St. Francis Xavier Basilica; chairs the Parish Council and serves as Pastoral Coordinator of St. Francis Xavier School.
