About St. Francis Xavier Parish / Holy Family Cluster · Belmond, Iowa
St. Francis Xavier Parish is a Catholic parish in Belmond, Iowa, founded in 1871 by a small group of settler families and named for the Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier. It is one of three parishes in the Holy Family Cluster of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, joined with St. John Parish in Clarion and Sacred Heart Parish in Eagle Grove (Wright County) since 1999. The parish maintains its own identity while sharing clergy, staff, faith formation, Hispanic ministry, and outreach — including a long-standing sister-parish twinning with Anse-Rouge, Haiti. Weekly worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with a strong cluster-wide catechetical program and ongoing sacramental and community life rooted in the rural north-central Iowa prairie.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Rev. Jerry W. Blake
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Dubuque
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier offers the warmth of a small rural parish with the resources of a tri-parish cluster — bilingual (English and Spanish) weekend Masses, an active faith-formation program for all ages, and strong outreach through Hispanic Ministry and a long-standing sister-parish relationship with Anse-Rouge, Haiti. Visitors are welcomed by a pastor and deacons who know their parishioners personally, and the parish is deeply tied to its 1871 founding families and to the agricultural community of Wright County.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier Parish / Holy Family Cluster
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:45 am – 9:45 am (after the 8:00 am Mass)
- Available before or after most daily Masses (by approaching the priest)
History of St. Francis Xavier Parish
St. Francis Xavier was founded in 1871 by about ten Catholic families on the Iowa prairie and named for the great Jesuit missionary St. Francis Xavier. From its earliest days — when Mass was celebrated in the homes of settlers David Finn, Nick Johnson Sr., and James Welsh — the parish has been served by a succession of pastors who shaped its buildings and identity. The current church complex at Third Street and Luick Lane in Belmond was built 1968–1971 after the 1900 church was damaged by a 1966 tornado.
- 1871 — first frame church built under Fr. Peter O'Dowd (Ackley)
- 1875–1881 — served from Webster City by Fr. Eugene O'Keefe
- 1881–1883 — served from Webster City by Fr. James T. Brennan
- 1883 — Fr. John J. Hanley becomes first resident priest
- Fall 1883 — Fr. John W. Toohill becomes pastor, buys rectory
- April 15, 1888 — Fr. John Eagan appointed pastor
- April 19, 1900 — second church dedicated (~300 members)
- 1966 — tornado damages the 1900 church
- 1968 — Fr. Alvan Heuring merges with Goodell mission
- 1971 — current complex dedicated on five acres
- 2008 — new entryway built (spring–fall)
The Holy Family Cluster
St. Francis Xavier, St. John (Clarion), and Sacred Heart (Eagle Grove) have been formally clustered since July 1999, sharing one pastor, faith formation, and pastoral council resources across Wright County. The cluster was originally named the Wright County Catholic Community; in June 2010 all three pastoral councils voted on a new name, and on August 15, 2010 Fr. Nils Hernández announced that Archbishop Jerome Hanus, O.S.B. had approved the name 'Holy Family Cluster.' Its logo combines a cross (Christian symbol) with a fleur-de-lis representing the sister parish in Anse-Rouge, Haiti.
- St. Francis Xavier — Belmond (since 1871)
- St. John — Clarion
- Sacred Heart — Eagle Grove
- Hispanic Ministry established 1997 (Sr. Carol Besch, O.S.F.)
- Cluster Pastoral Planning Committee formed January 1998 by Msgr. Dean Walz
- Formal clustering effective July 1999 under Fr. David Beckman
- Haiti sister-parish twinning begun 2003 (Anse-Rouge)
- Renamed 'Holy Family Cluster' on Aug. 15, 2010
Deacons of the Holy Family Cluster
Permanent deacons assist the pastor across the cluster in liturgy, faith formation, and pastoral outreach. Two deacons currently serve alongside Fr. Blake.
- Deacon Nick Schmit — St. Francis Xavier, 1984–1998
- Deacon Dr. Michael Whitters — St. John, 1994–present
- Deacon Jerry Temeyer — Sacred Heart, 2009–2012
- Deacon Pedro García — St. John, 2009–present
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation across the cluster is governed by the Cluster Faith Formation Commission, which operates under the Archdiocesan Faith Formation Commission and the Office of Faith Formation and Education. Programs implement the six tasks of catechesis — knowledge of the faith, liturgical education, moral formation, teaching to pray, education for community life, and missionary initiation — for adults, youth, children, and the marginalized. Confirmation and OCIA/RCIA sessions are celebrated jointly.
- Cluster Faith Formation Commission (governing body)
- Gloria Kisor — Cluster CRE (since July 2010)
- Joint RCIA/OCIA sessions
- Joint Confirmation preparation
- Joint Rite of Enrollment weekend
- Annual staff calendar (since 2005)
- Youth and Young-Adult Ministry
Hispanic Ministry & Bilingual Outreach
Hispanic Ministry has been part of the cluster since 1997, when Sr. Carol Besch, O.S.F. began coordinating outreach that includes an annual celebration on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Hector Hernández led the ministry from mid-2000 to October 2008. Spanish-language Masses continue in the cluster's weekend rotation, and a Spanish Mass is offered in the cluster schedule.
- Hispanic Ministry established 1997 under Sr. Carol Besch, O.S.F.
- Annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration
- Hector Hernández served as Hispanic Minister 2000–2008
- Cluster Spanish-language Mass in the weekend rotation
Sister Parish in Anse-Rouge, Haiti
In 2003 the Holy Family Cluster established a sister-parish twinning project with Anse-Rouge, Haiti — a French- and Creole-speaking community. The relationship is symbolized by the fleur-de-lis (lily) in the cluster's official logo and reflects the cluster's commitment to serving 'the needs of our sister parish' as stated in its parish mission.
- Sister-parish twinning begun 2003
- Anse-Rouge, Haiti (French and Creole-speaking community)
- Fleur-de-lis in the cluster logo represents this connection
- Mission commitment: 'We serve the poor and the needs of our sister parish'
Cluster Staff & Parish Leadership
Cluster staff work across all three parishes to support administration, religious education, Hispanic ministry, and sacramental preparation. The St. Francis Xavier Pastoral Council is chaired by Bobbi McVey, with elected members serving alongside ex-officio non-voting members.
- Fr. Jerry W. Blake — Pastor (ex-officio voting member)
- Gloria Kisor — Cluster CRE (ex-officio non-voting member)
- Karen Newman — Cluster Pastoral Minister (ex-officio non-voting member)
- Bruce Frink, CPA — Cluster Bookkeeper (since July 2008)
- Beatriz Garcia — Cluster office staff (voice-mail line 515-293-0009)
- Bobbi McVey — Chairperson, St. Francis Xavier Pastoral Council
- Nathan McVey (elected), Chad Pliester, Peggy Wirtz (elected), Julie Schreiber (elected), Missie Niederhauser (elected)
Cluster Parish Directory & Worship Sites
The Holy Family Cluster comprises three parishes across Wright County, each with its own worship site and parish pastoral council. Cluster programs and a single bulletin link the parishes together.
- St. Francis Xavier Parish — 1207 Third St. NE, Belmond, IA 50421 — Phone 515-532-3586
- St. John Parish — 608 2nd Ave. NE, Clarion, IA 50525 — Phone 515-532-3586
- Sacred Heart Parish — 221 S. Jackson Ave., Eagle Grove, IA 50533
- Cluster Office: 608 2nd Ave NE, Clarion, IA 50525 — Office hours Mon–Thu, 8:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Fax: 515-532-2153
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
All seven sacraments are celebrated in the cluster, with Baptism, First Reconciliation/Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders supported by parish and cluster catechetical programs. OCIA (formerly RCIA) sessions are held jointly, and Confirmation is celebrated jointly across all three parishes, sharing the same Rite of Enrollment weekend.
- Baptism (infant and adult)
- First Reconciliation and First Communion
- Confirmation (joint cluster celebration)
- Marriage and Wedding preparation
- Anointing of the Sick and pastoral visits to the homebound
- OCIA / RCIA (joint cluster sessions)
- Holy Orders — four men from St. Francis Xavier have been ordained
Parish Mission & Identity
St. Francis Xavier describes itself as a diverse Christ-centered community reaching out to one another in love, service, kindness, and understanding. The parish fosters unity through education and evangelization, serves the poor and the needs of the sister parish in Haiti, and celebrates the life of Christ through the Eucharist, Scripture, and the Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church.
- 'We are a diverse Christ-centered community…'
- Unity through education and evangelization
- Service to the poor and sister parish in Haiti
- Eucharist, Scripture, and the Sacraments at the center
- Sharing resources and ministries across the cluster
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Peter O'Dowd1871–1875
Stationed at Ackley; built Belmond's first Catholic Church (1871, frame structure); celebrated Mass in parishioner homes before the church existed.
- Fr. Eugene O'Keefe1875–1881
Visiting pastor from Webster City after O'Dowd.
- Fr. James T. Brennan1881–1883
Visiting pastor from Webster City preceding Belmond's first resident priest.
- Fr. John J. Hanley1883 (six months)
First resident priest of Belmond; served only half a year.
- Fr. John W. ToohillFall 1883–1888
Purchased the parish rectory; oversaw early parish growth.
- Fr. John EaganApril 15, 1888–c.1900+
Supervised construction of the second church, dedicated April 19, 1900 with ~300 members; during his pastorate Thomas Barry became the parish's first priestly candidate.
- Fr. Alvan Heuring1968
Directed merger with the mission church of Goodell after the 1966 tornado damaged the second church; oversaw building of the present Belmond complex dedicated in 1971.
- Fr. John PaisleyJuly 1996–June 1999
Pastoral Planning Committee pastor from Belmond side; transitioned parish into the tri-parish cluster.
- Fr. David BeckmanJuly 1999–June 2005
First cluster pastor after St. Francis Xavier, St. John (Clarion), and Sacred Heart (Eagle Grove) were formally clustered in 1999.
- Fr. Christopher PodhajskyJuly 2005–February 2008
Cluster pastor; oversaw 2005 tri-parish pictorial directory.
- Fr. Paul LippstockMarch 2008–June 2008
Brief transitional cluster pastorate between Podhajsky and Hernández.
- Fr. Nils de Jesús HernándezJuly 2008–2014
Established the cluster office and consolidated cluster programs; supervised new church entryway (2008); on Aug. 15, 2010 announced cluster renaming to Holy Family Cluster.
- Fr. Jerry W. BlakeJune 2014–present
Current pastor of the Holy Family Cluster; ordained June 3, 2000; previously associate at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, then Hancock/Winnebago cluster, Key West cluster, and Traer cluster.